Pease, Alonzo
Alonzo Pease (b.1846/1848)
Richmond, NH; Swanzey, NH; Winchester, NH
Civil War veteran of color Alonzo Pease grew up in southwest New Hampshire prior to enlisting in the Navy. Military records indicate that he was born in Swanzey, New Hampshire, around 1846. By the age of two, he and his family had moved to Winchester, NH.
The 1850 census records 2-year old Alonzo Pease living with his parents, Justin and Mrs. Justin Pease, in Winchester. Neither parent was working and both had moved into Cheshire County from Massachusetts. Alonzo’s older brothers were also listed in the household. Six-year old Oliver was attending school and 4 year old Charles was at home. All of the children were born in New Hampshire, indicating that they had moved into the state sometime before Oliver’s birth in 1846.
The family is listed as white in this census record. Starting in 1850, census takers were instructed to use abbreviations to identify each person's race or color: "W" for white, "B" for Black, or "M" for mulatto. In New Hampshire where the vast majority of citizens were white so many census takers left the race column blank, unless the individual appeared to be Black or Mulatto. In the case of the Pease family, it is highly probable that the census taker believed the family to be white. It wasn’t until later in the 20th century that citizens were allowed to self-identify on the census.
By the time Alonzo reached the age of 12, the Pease family had fallen on hard enough times financially and the children were split up to live elsewhere. Alonzo and his little brother Justin (9) were sent as ‘mulatto’ paupers to live in Richmond, NH within the household of Sylvestor Aldrich, farmer. Both children attended school in 1860, according to the census.
On September 19, 1864, Alonzo Pease made his way to Portsmouth, NH, as a teenager, to enlist in the Union Navy. He was assigned to serve as a 1st Class Boy from September 19, 1864 - February, 15, 1869. At the time of his enlistment, Alonzo was described as a farmer having black eyes, black hair, black complexion and a height of 5’1”. According to subsequent Civil War military records, Pease served on one or more of the following ships: USS Vandalia; USS Colorado; USS Fort Jackson; USS Eolus; USS Shokokon; and USS Lackawanna.
In January 1866, Alonzo came down with pneumonia and was admitted to the New York Naval Hospital, where he stayed for three months recuperating. Hospital records describe his home state as Vermont at that time. In February 1869, Alonzo Pease was discharged. No documentation on Alonzo Pease’s whereabouts has been discovered, to date, following his service in the war.
GENEALOGICAL SUMMARY
ALONZO PEASE was born in Swanzey, NH, to Justin Pease c.1846-1848.
SOURCE MATERIALS
Bassett, William. "History of the town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire," 1884. (no mention of Pease)
Richmond Town Archives, Box RIC 50, Folder 6, "Paper notice served by the Town of Swanzey" (no mention of Pease)
US, African American Civil War Sailor Index, 1861-1865- National Parks Service, Civil War Soldiers & Sailors- nps.gov
U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, Historical Data Systems.- Ancestry.com
U.S. Navel Enlistment Rendezvous, 1855-1891; Enlistments in Portsmouth NH for the week ending in September 24, 1864.- Ancestry.com
U.S. Federal Census, 1850, 1860- Ancestry.com