Toney Boyd

Escaped Slave Joins Company K, 37th Infantry, USCT
by ccwinslow394 | Sep 2, 2018 | Craven, Union affiliation

AUTHOR: Kenneth Whitehurst (originally posted 9/2/2018; edited and vetted by Cheri Todd Molter 7/22/20)

My great-great-grandfather, Toney Boyd, was a slave of Frederick Boyd at a place called Long Acre, near Bath, in Beaufort County, North Carolina. Around 1850, with permission from both parties’ owners, Toney married my great-great-grandmother, Harriett Ann Windley, who was enslaved by John Windley of Beaufort County, North Carolina. In 1862, the couple escaped from enslavement, first fleeing to Washington, North Carolina; however, by 1864, the couple had made their way to James City, outside of New Bern, North Carolina.

On September 3, 1864, 40-year-old Toney Boyd, escaped slave, joined the Union Army for a 3-year enlistment, swearing to bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America. Private Boyd served in Company K, 37th Infantry, United States Colored Troops [USCT]. Private Boyd went with his company to Wilmington, N.C., in November 1864, and, in December of the same year, his regiment was ordered to the first battle against Ft. Fisher. During the second battle, Ft. Fisher fell. Afterward, Boyd’s unit joined General William T. Sherman’s Army and remained under that command until the surrender of the Confederate General Johnston in North Carolina. After the war ended, Boyd and Company K of the 37th USCT was eventually garrisoned at Fort Macon, N.C.

His wife, Harriett Ann Windley Boyd, traveled with him to his posts; she was with him at Wilmington in 1864 and at Ft. Macon during the summer of 1865. She remained with him until he mustered out in February of 1867 at Raleigh, North Carolina. Toney Boyd later moved to Elizabeth City, N.C. and then relocated to Princess Anne County, Virginia, where he died on June 16, 1885. Pvt. Toney Boyd’s name is inscribed, alongside the names of the other members of his regiment, on the wall of the African American Civil War Memorial at Washington, D.C.

As a result of a dispute between my great-great-grandmother, Harriett Ann Windley Boyd, and Boyd’s second wife, Philis Boyd, for a widow’s pension, a folder of very informative affidavits is stored at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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HISTORY OF THE
Thirty-Seventh Regt. U.S.C. Infantry

HISTORY OF COMPANY " K "

Company K was formed of recruits received from Newbern, North Carolina, during the months of August and September, 1864, and organized by Lieutenant WITHINGTON. It joined the Regiment in November, at Chapin's Farm, Virginia, where the Company remained during the winter, drilling and receiving military instructions until February, 1865, when it rejoined the Regiment at North-East Station, Virginia, and marched with it on the campaign to Raleigh, against General JOHNSTON, forming a junction at Mt. Olive, North Carolina, with General SHERMAN'S army. Was in Raleigh at the time of JOHNSTON'S surrender; returned with the regiment to Wilmington in June, and in November, it was detailed to garrison Fort Macon, North Carolina, in connection with Company I.

The following is a list of the officers:

Commissioned Officers

S. B. HUESTED - Captain. Entered the United States Service in Kentucky, as First Lieutenant in the 116th U. S. C. I. and was promoted to Captain of Company K, in the 37th U. S. C. T., December 6, 1864.

R. M. DRINKER - First Lieutenant. Was promoted into the 37th U. S. C. T., as First Lieutenant, from a private in the 28th New York Light Battery, March 16, 1866.

Non-Commissioned Officers

Sanders KINSEY - First Sergeant. Appointed January 1, 1865.

John DOUGHTY - Second Sergeant. Appointed January 1, 1865.

Richard SPARROW - Third Sergeant. Appointed January 1, 1865.

Edward HICKS - Fourth Sergeant. Appointed February 1, 1866.

Thomas KELLY - Fifth Sergeant. Promoted from Corporal April 17, 1866.

John MAHO - First Corporal Appointed June l, 1866.

Dora BURT - Second Corporal. Appointed August 11, 1865.

Demmar HARGET - Third Corporal. Appointed August 10, 1865.

William DAVIS - Fourth Corporal. Appointed January l, 1866.

Littleton T. KING - Fifth Corporal. Appointed January l, 1866.

Irving CHERRY - Sixth Corporal. Appointed January l, 1866.

Isaac MILLER - Seventh Corporal. Appointed April 17, 1866.

Henry BROCKET - Eighth Corporal. Appointed April 17, 1866.

Privates
(When and Where Enlisted)

[Many of the privates in this Company enlisted only for one year,
and were mustered out when their time expired.]

Jacob ARNOLD - September 1, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died March 2, 1865.

Benjamin ALLEN - January 25, 1865, Norfolk, Virginia.

William BARBER - September 5, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

John BARBER - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Discharged September 15, 1865.

Anderson BEST - September 12, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Peter BOYD - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted.

Tony BOYD - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Nathan BRYANT - September 5,1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Henry BROCKETT - September 5, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal April 17, 1866.

Dora BURT - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Promoted Corporal August 11, 1865.

Spencer BOWSER - September 2, 1864, Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Died February 19, 1865, at Hospital, Fort Monroe, Virginia.

Madison BACHUS - August 31,1864, Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

Jonn BOWDEN - August 17, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Hannibal BOND - September 3,1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal April 1, 1865. Mustered out September 12, 1865.

Gideon BURGESS - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Michael BRITTON - September 17, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Henry BRYAN - September 14, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Jacob CARTER - August 12, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Sergeant January 1, 1865; reduced to ranks and deserted at Fort Macon, North Carolina.

Irving CHERRY - August 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal January 1, 1866.

Henry COTANCH - September 1, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Shot at Morehead City, December 16, 1865.

Montgomery COLLINS - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Sylvester CORDON - August 11, 1864. Mustered out June 29, 1865.

John DOUGHTY - September 2, 1864, Newbern; North Carolina. Appointed Sergeant January 1, 1865.

Henry DOVE - September 19, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Jacob DAVIS - September 12, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Sergeant January 1, 1865.

William DAVIS - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal January 1,1866.

Thomas DOZIER - August 24, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died December, 1865.

Thomas DOUGLASS - August 31, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died April 25, 1865.

Willis ELLIOT - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

James EVERETT - August 18, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal January 1, 1865. Died May 7, 1865.

James EDWARDS - August 27, 1864. Deserted March 23, 1865 at Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Cudjo EVERIDGE - August 31, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Samuel EDWARDS - September 3, 1864. Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Wilmington, North Carolina September, 1865.

James FLOWERS - September 19, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Miles FELTON - September 9, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Rufus FASON - September 5, 1861, Newbern, North Carolina.

William H. FIELD - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Newbern, North Carolina October 15, 1865.

Daniel FOSKEY - February 21, 1865, Norfolk, Virginia.

William GRAY - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Discharged.

Nathan GRISE - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out Corporal.

Louis GRISE - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted June 6, 1865.

James GREEN - August 22, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Newbern, North Carolina September 1, 1864. Died at Newbern, September 1, 1864.

Willis GRISE - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out May 15, 1866.

Edward HICKS - August 27, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Promoted Corporal August 16, 1865. Appointed Sergeant February 1, 1866.

Jacob HATCH - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal September 12, 1865. Mustered out.

Samuel HOLLOWAY - September 8, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Demmar HARGET - September 12, 1864, Moorehead City, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal August 10, 1865.

Stephen HATCH - September 12, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Newbern, North Carolina October 20, 1864.

John HAWKINS - March 1, 1865, Wilmington, North Carolina. Deserted.

Francis HOWARD - March 16, 1865, Wilmington, North Carolina.

William HARRIS - March 1, 1865,Wilmington, North Carolina. Died October 2, 1865.

William HOWARD - February 1, 1865, Norfolk, Virginia.

Robert IRVIN - August 23, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Newbern, North Carolina in October, 1864.

Edward JOHNS - August 18, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Sergeant December 1, 1865; deserted from Fort Macon, North Carolina.

William JAMES - August 29, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died July 30, 1865, at Hilton, North Carolina.

Anthony JAMES - September 5, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Fleet JOHNSON - August 18, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Cabe JOHNSON - September 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Peter JOHNSON - September 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Henry T. JOHNSTONE - August 23, 1864, Beaufort, North Carolina. Deserted January 26, 1866.

Ned JOHNSON - September 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted December 21, 1865, while on duty.

William JARVIS - September 2, 1864, Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

Charles JONES - September 4, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Gilbert JOINER - August 24, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Portsmouth, Virginia March 1, 1865.

Bryant JOHNSON - August 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Newbern, North Carolina October 30, 1865.

Samuel JAMES - March 1, 1865, Wilmington, North Carolina. Deserted at Moorehead City, North Carolina December 25, 1865.

Sanders KINSEY - August 18, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Sergeant January 1, 1865.

Thomas KELLEY - September 6, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal June 1, 1865; promoted Sergeant April 17, 1866.

Littleton T. KING - September 2, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal June 1, 1865.

Bryant KING - August 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Solomon KING - February 8, 1865, Newport News, Virginia. Deserted from Moorehead City, North Carolina January 10, 1865.

Southy KEYS - August 29, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died in Hospital, Morehead City, North Carolina December 25, 1865.

Jerry LEE - September 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted from Fort Macon, North Carolina, June l4, 1866.

Abram LEITH - September 4, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted at Goldsboro, North Carolina May 16, 1865.

Otto LINDSLEY - August 30, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out September 12, 1865.

James LYONS - September2, 1864, at Newbern. Died at Newbern, North Carolina.

Godfrey LANE - February 20, 1865, Norfolk, Virginia. Deserted June 21, 1865.

Lot LEWIS - February 20, 1865, Norfolk, Virginia.

Wilson LILLY - March 9, 1865, Newport News, Virginia. Discharged December 15, 1865, on Surgeon's certificate.

Joseph MESSICK - August 8, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Isaac MILLER - August 31, 1864, Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal April 17, 1866.

John R. MOORE - September 5, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia March 1, 1865.

Zachariah McNEAR - August 11, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Wilmington, North Carolina, October 23, 1863.

Moses McCULLOUGH - September 8, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out September 12, 1865.

Luke McCABE - September 21, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted October 20, at Newbern, North Carolina.

John MAHO - August 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Promoted Corporal June 1, 1865.

John MULLEN - August 23, 1864, Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Mustered out May 5, 1865.

Richard MORGAN - September 5, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina Deserted October 20, 1864, at Newbern, North Carolina.

Stephen MORGAN - September 12, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted October 20, 1864, at Newbern, North Carolina.

Starkey ODEN - September 1,1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

John O'GREEN - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out November 16, 1865.

Daniel OATS - September 1, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Charles OATS - August 26, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted September 6, 1865.

Caswell OATS - August 22, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out September 12, 1865.

Abram OATS - August 22, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died October 19,1864, at Newbern.

Daniel PERRY - September 21, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Henry POWELS - September 16, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Fort Macon, North Carolina April 6, 1866.

Nelson PERRY - August 29, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Isaaa PETTAWAY - September 19, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

John POWELL - February 8, 1865, Newport Nears, Virginia. Died at Wilmington, North Carolina October 10, 1865.

Isaac REDDICK - August 24, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out September 12, 1865.

David REDDICK - August 29, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

John REAM - August 29, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out.

William ROBINSON - February 28, 1865, Norfolk, Virginia.

Albert H. ROBERTS - March 9, 1865, Newport Nears, Virginia.

Richard SPARROW - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Sergeant January 1, 1865.

Stephen SHEPPARD - September 7, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal January 1, 1865; deserted from Hilton, North Carolina, while under arrest.

Shedwick STANLEY - August 29, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out September 12, 1865.

William STANLEY - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out.

William STEWART - August 29, 1864, Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Discharged September 8, 1865.

Joseph SHARPNESS - September 21, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Tim SEWALL - September 21, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Appointed Corporal January 1, 1865; deserted May 26, 1865 at Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Wilson SIMPSON - September 3, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Henry SMITH [1st] - September 1, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Henry SMITH [2nd] - August 31, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Died at Fort Monroe, Virginia Hospital May 15, 1865.

George SLOAN - Died unknown.

Anderson SLADE - August 29, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

Allen STILLEN - August 17, 1865, Newbern, North Carolina.

John WINDFIELD - September 5, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina.

John WHITFIELD - September 7, 1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Mustered out September 12, l865.

Lewis WILLIS - August 29, 1864, Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

George WASHINGTON - September 12,1864, Newbern, North Carolina. Deserted.

Charles YOUNG - January 20, 1865, Norfolk, Virginia. Died at Wilmington, North Carolina November 18, 1865.
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Source: http://nccivilwarcenter.org/escaped-slave-joins-co-k.../...

Source for the list of formerly enslaved Black men who joined.
http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncusct/37usct11.htm