The Nurse

When you think of nurses during the Civil War, you probably imagine a scene like this:



But when it comes to my 3rd Great-Grandfather, Thomas Alexander Mauldin, I am fairly certain the scene did not look like that.

I haven't spent a great deal of time in my family tree, because it has been done, and a book written, by my diligent and entertaining distant cousin, Ervin Mauldin of Norwood, NC. I thought, there really isn't any research to do, because its all there already. All  I have to do is look in the book.

But when it came to my post, Bits and Pieces of Men, I realized I didn't really know my Mauldin ancestors involvement in that important time in American History.

So I turned to the best source I've found for information of that kind, Fold3.



And there, I found the Civil War records of my double-ancestor, Thomas Mauldin. And what I found was intriguing.

First, let me explain the 'double ancestor' comment. My maternal grandmother was named Annie Maude Mauldin. She was the daughter of Jonah and Wincie Ann Mauldin. Wincie's maiden name was Mauldin. My grandmother often said her mother was born a Mauldin, she married a Mauldin and when he died she married another Mauldin. And this was true.

Walter Jonah Mauldin was the son of James Duncan Mauldin born 1842, died 1909.
Wincie Ann Mauldin was the daughter of Frank Washington Mauldin, born 1850, died 1925.

Jonah and Wincie were married December 29, 1900. Jonah died in 1930 and Wincie then married James Williams Mauldin, son of Franklin Mannasseh Mauldin.

Jonah and Wincie Mauldin and family. My grandmother was the girl in between her parents.

James Duncan Mauldin and Frank Washington Mauldin were both the sons of Thomas Alexander Mauldin and wife Mary "Polly" Blalock, meaning, they were brothers and Jonah and Wincie first cousins. First cousin marriages were not unusual in small towns and country communities during this time, whether in the North or the South, East or West. Many family trees reveal this common secret.

James Duncan Mauldin married Margaret W. Solomon, daughter of Rev. William S. Solomon and wife Tabitha Marks, and Frank Washington Mauldin married Martha Margaret Russell, daughter of Aaron Russell and wife Senith or "Sena" Elizabeth Swaim Russell.


The following information is in a folder on Fold3:

Thomas Mauldin, Private Co. K, 28th regiment, North Carolina Troops

April 8, 1864

During M fitness for field service is detailed for Hosp. or other light duty. 

April 13, 1864

Refer'd to Surgeon Hancock in chg Jackson Hospital for assignment.

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Muster Roll

Thomas Maulding
Pvt. Company K, 28th Reg't NC Calvary
Enlisted: Sept 10, 1863

Where: Albemarle
By Whom: Col. Simpson
Period: War

Absent
Detail Service Richmond, VA
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Thos Moulden
Private  28  NC  

Appears on a report of Paroles given prisoners of War by DM Evans

May 1, 1865
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Roll of Prisoners of War captured in Hospitals, Richmond, Va. 

Where captured: Richmond, Virginia   April 3, 1865

Paroled May 3, 1865

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Jackson Hospital, Richmond, VA    List of Employees

Thomas Mauldlin, Co K  28th Regt NC T

Attached to Hospital: April 13, 1864
When detailed: April 8, 1864

By Whom: GENERAL LEE

Now, wait a minute! General Lee? As in General Robert E Lee?  THE GENERAL LEE?

No way...Yes way....G, G, G Grandpa Mauldin was assigned to duty by General Lee. Wow. Just Wow.

Jackson Hospital, Richmond, Virginia

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Later installments would show that Thomas Mauldin was employed as a Nurse.

On Christmas Eve, 1864, Thomas Mauldin is issued a Passport from Jackson Hospital, Richmond, VA. Destination:Stanly County. 

Then later, on a Return slip of "Medical Officers, Hospital Stewards, Detailed Men and Attendants on Duty, for August of 1864, Thomas Mauldin has returned to Jackson Hospital and assigned again as a Nurse. 




Thomas Alexander Mauldin shows up in 4 census records:

1850, Harris Township, Stanly County, where he is listed as a miner, living near Howell Parker and David Biles, which places him in the present New London area.

NAME:	Thomas Mauldin
AGE:	28
BIRTH YEAR:	abt 1822
BIRTHPLACE:	North Carolina
HOME IN 1850:	Harris, Stanly, North Carolina
GENDER:	Male
FAMILY NUMBER:	292
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS:	NAME AGE Thomas Mauldin 28 Mary Mauldin 27 James Mauldin 7 Martha Mauldin 2 Mary Mauldin 1