Private Eddy Mitchell of the 6th Regiment, United States Colored Heavy Artillery

Remembering Eddy Mitchell aka Eddy (Attie) Whalum
Born About 1837 - Died March 24, 1928
by Linda Durr Rudd


Atty and Hager Whalum with a Grandchild
Photograph Courtesy of Christopher Whalum,
Direct Descendant of Atty and Hager

Eddy (Attie) Whalum was born about 1837 on John Mitchell’s plantation in Union Church, Jefferson County, MS, to Henderson Whalum and Mary Mitchell. The Union Church Presbyterian Church Session Records has recorded an Atty, an infant slave who was baptized May 17th 1840. Several of John Mitchell's slaves were members of the church including Eddy/Attie's first cousins. No other information was recorded about this Atty.

Eddy’s mother Mary was a member of a large family. Mary lived on the Mitchell Plantation with her mother Suckey Mitchell, sisters Sidney Mitchell Smith, Sarah Mitchell Joshua, and other relatives. Attie's father Henderson Whalum was a slave of Gilbert Buie of Jefferson County. Henderson and Eddy(Attie) lived next door to Gilbert Buie according to the 1870 census for Jefferson County, MS.

Eddy was described as 5 feet 5 inches tall with dark complexion, hair and eyes. He was 23 years of age at enlistment with Company B, 6th Regiment, United States Colored Heavy Artillery. He enlisted April 01, 1864 at Natchez, MS, using his slave name, Eddy Mitchell. Eddy’s first cousins, Sidney Mitchell Smith's five sons, also, served with the United States Colored Troops. William, Anderson, Bluford, and Daniel Mitchell served with the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, Willis Mitchell served the same regiment as Eddy, 6th Regiment, USCHA. Eddy and Bluford were the only survivors of the group of brothers and cousin.

Company B of the 6th Regiment, USCHA spent most of their time at Natchez, MS, across the river at Vidalia, LA. Eddy was discharged May 13, 1866 at Natchez.

After the Civil War, Eddy returned to Jefferson County, MS. He married Hagar Nevils in 1869 on the George Torrey’s place. Hager was born in Jefferson County to John Nevils and Mary ?. This was a first and only marriage for Eddy and Hagar. The children of Eddy and Hager were: Mary b. 1871, Daniel b. 1876, Alex b. 1878, Sylvester b. 1880, Lou Fannie b. 1882, Lou Augusta b. 1882, Lester b. 1884, Laura b. 1886, Lillie b. 1891, and Thomas b. 1894.

Eddy died March 24, 1928 in Union Church. Hager died Arpil 05, 1924. Both are buried at Hickory Block Church Cemetery near Union Church.


Headstone of Atty/Eddy Whalum

Headstone of Hager Whalum
Photographs Courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas



Federal Census Records

1870 - Jefferson County, Union Church, MS - Page 68
Attie Whalum, 30
Hagar Whalum, 20
Harriet Buie, 5

1880 - Jefferson County, MS - Beat 1 - Page 129
Atty Whaland, 40, farmer, MS, MD, MS
Hagar Whaland, wife, 27, MS, NC, TN
Mary Whaland, daughter, 8
John Whaland, son, 6
Danl Whaland, son, 3
Aleck Whaland, son, 1

1900 - Jefferson County, MS - Beat 1 - Page 15
Awdy Whalum, 61, married 20 years
Hagar, wife, 40, 13 births, 9 living
Sylvester, son, 18
Lou F., daughter, 12 (Fannie)
Lou A., daughter, 12, (Gusta)
Lillie, daughter, 7
Thomas, son, 6

1910 - Jefferson County, MS - Beat 1 - Page 20
Atty Whalem, 70
Hager A., wife, 60
Thomas, son, 14
Lilly Tillman, 17, wd
Sylvester, grandson, 4
Hager, granddaughter, 10 months

1920 - Jefferson County, MS - Beat 1 - Page 17
Attie Whalem, 80
Hagar, wife, 55
Lillie Berry, daughter, 25
Monroe Berry, son-in-law, 25
Mary Thompson, granddaughter, 17
T. J. Thompson, grandson, 12
Lester Thompson, grandson, 10
Daniel O’Quin, grandson, 7



Slave Owners

John Mitchell was a member of the Union Church Presbyterian Church in Union Church, Jefferson County, Mississippi. He was born in Rowan County, NC in 1770, and died February 22, 1859 in Jefferson County, MS. John left his estate to his two children, John Irvin Mitchell and Sarah (Sallie) Mitchell McMillan. He gave 45 slaves to his son John Irvin via a 1852 deed of gift, to his daughter Sarah McMillan he gave the remaining of his slaves via his 1852 will. John is buried at the Union Church Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Gilbert M. Buie was born February 19, 1795 in Moore County, NC, and died November 20, 1873 in Union Church, Jefferson County, MS. He married Lovedy Caroline Brown April 20, 1824 in Jefferson County, MS. Gilbert M. Buie was a deacon at Union Church Presbyterian Church. He was buried at the Nebo Cemetery, Jefferson County, MS. According to the 1860 Jefferson County slave schedule, Gilbert owned 41 slaves. Seven of his slaves are named on the Union Church Presbyterian Church List of Servant Members: Sarah, Roda, Selia, Adam, John, Perry, and Dick.



SOURCES

Eddy Mitchell’s Federal Military Pension Records
Anderson Mitchell’s Federal Military Pension Records
Eddie Whalem’s MS Death Certificates - 1928-5616 and 1928-22445
Hager Whalom's MS Death Certificate - 1924-6653
John Mitchell’s 1825 Deed of Gift
1860 Jefferson County Slave Schedule - MS
1860 Jefferson County Federal Census - MS
1870 Jefferson County Federal Census - MS
1880 Jefferson County Federal Census - MS
1900 Jefferson County Federal Census - MS
1910 Jefferson County Federal Census - MS
1920 Jefferson County Federal Census - MS
Union Church Presbyterian Church Cemetery Survey
Union Church Presbyterian Church Session Records, 1849-1951 - Microfilm Number: 36274
Microfilm found at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Buie Home Page

Church Record - The Singing so Beautiful

Private Anderson Mitchell of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry

Remembering Their Names