Moses Curtis

Moses Curtis was the son of Hillary Curtis, b. 1795 SC, and Susannah Gulley, b. 1797 Virginia. Records show that Hillary Curtis brought his family to Tishomingo County, Mississippi before 1837. Hillary Curtis Sr and his wife Susannah both died in Pope County, Arkansas before the 1870 US census was taken there. Moses Curtis was the grandson of Moses Curtis who was born in Virginia about 1760 and died after 1830 in Jackson County, Tennessee.

In 1839, Moses Curtis married Louisa Nixon (1819-1841). After her death, he married Elizabeth Blackshire on 08 Oct 1842 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. To the union were born ten known children:

Moses Curtis was the son of Hillary Curtis, b. 1795 SC, and Susannah Gulley, b. 1797 Virginia. Records show that Hillary Curtis brought his family to Tishomingo County, Mississippi before 1837. Hillary Curtis Sr and his wife Susannah both died in Pope County, Arkansas before the 1870 US census was taken there. Moses Curtis was the grandson of Moses Curtis who was born in Virginia about 1760 and died after 1830 in Jackson County, Tennessee.

In 1839, Moses Curtis married Louisa Nixon (1819-1841). After her death, he married Elizabeth Blackshire on 08 Oct 1842 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. To the union were born ten known children:

1. John (b 1844); 2. Robert (1847-1923) m. #1 Martha Russell, #2 Josephine McClure; 3. Elisha L.W. (b 1849) m. Lucinda Russell; 4. Thomas J. (b 1853) m. Martha "Jennie" Tuberville; 5. Louisa E. (b 1855); 6. Joseph Hillary (1856-1932) m. Rebecca Ann "Annie" Branson; 7. Emily C. (b 1858); 8. Jefferson Davis "Jeff" (1861-1926) m. Mary Ellen Osborn; 9. Tennie Eveline (b 1869) m. Columbus Charles Weldon Curtis, her cousin, s/o William F. Curtis & Columbia E. Palmer; grandson of Russell Curtis & Anna Gulley. Russell Curtis was brother of Hillary Curtis who m. Susanna Gulley, Anna Gulley's sister. 10. Samuel (b 1869).

Moses and Elizabeth Curtis moved to Tishomingo Co Mississippi in 1845. On Sept 12, 1850, Moses Curtis purchased 160 acres in Tishomingo County from his brother, Bilbray Curtis. Deed was filed and recorded on March 23, 1852, in Iuka. Property situated on what is now Hwy 365 on west side Highway 25 (Section 4, Township 2, Range 10-NW 1). Moses is listed on the March 1852 Jurors list for Old Tishomingo County.

• * HE DID NOT SERVE IN C.S.A. ARMY ** Many Curtis researchers have erroneously identified our Moses Curtis as having served during the Civil War with CSA Capt. Roberts' Company (Seven Stars Artillery) Mississippi Artillery. HOWEVER,that is wrong...the Moses Curtis who served with the CSA was from South Mississippi/Louisiana, not from Tishomingo County.

Records obtained by me from the National Archives show that OUR Moses Curtis was a Union Man.

Our Moses Curtis testified on December 4, 1877, BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS OF CLAIMS, WASHINGTON, D.C., held at Iuka, Tishomingo County, Mississippi, Southern Claims Commission Petition No. 1141. Some of the witnesses who testified on behalf of Moses Curtis were: JOHN ARMSTRONG, JOHN P. MEDLEY, HENRY BICKENSTAFF, ROBERT CURTIS [son of Moses] and E. CURTIS [wife of Moses]. Following are abstracts:

TESTIMONY OF MOSES CURTIS: Moses Curtis being duly sworn to speak the truth & nothing but the truth testifies as follows viz:

Answer to Question to No. 1: My name is Moses Curtis. I am 58 years old. I live in Tishomingo County Miss. I have lived here 32 years. I am a farmer.

Answer to Question No. 3: I was born in Jackson County Tennessee

Answer to Question No. 4: I lived in Tishomingo County Miss. I was overseeing on a farm I resided in Tishomingo County from the beginning to the close of the War and was farming. I changed my residence twice during the war. I did this to keep out of the way of conscription and to make a support for my family.

Answer to Question No. 15: I was allowed to pass to and from the Camp when I pleased, buy & sell any thing I could get. I also had protection papers from Gen Rosencrantz

Answer to Question No. 36: I had two brothers in the rebel army from Arkansas. Their names were Hillery & Thomas Curtis. Their ages was about 27 and 21 years. I had not seen them for seven years before the war.

Answer to Question No. 41: I was arrested by some private soldiers and brought to Gen'l Rosencrantz Head quarters and he released me immediately. This happened some time in 1862 or 1863.

Answer to Question No. 67: From my farm 2-1/2 miles South of Iuka Miss. It consisted of about 160 acres, about 14 or 15 acres in corn, about 120 acres woodland, the balance sown in wheat and oats.

Answer to Question No. 77: It was. They were camped all around my house it was Just after the battle of Iuka in 1862. My house was being used for a hospital for the wounded Union soldiers and most of the items taken were for the use of the wounded soldiers.

Signed: Moses Curtis X (his mark) 4th day of December 1877

ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY OF MOSES CURTIS:

I never sold the confederate army or government one bushel of corn or any thing during the war nor at any other time. They may have bought corn from a brother of my father who was in this county during the war and bears the same name as myself. I think as well as I remember it was the first year of the war that I hoisted the Union flag at Iuka Miss. I was told before I hoisted it that if I did so I would be shot. I told them this was a free country and I would do as I pleased about it. I had a perfect right to raise the flag of my country and did raise it - when a shot was fired but did not hit me or the flag either. I think the shot was fired at the flag and not myself. After the shot was fired there was a considerable row raised and I was threatened but my friends interfered and saved me from harm.

Signed: Moses Curtis X (his mark) 5th day of October 1878.

• **

TESTIMONY OF HIS SON ROBERT CURTIS:

Answer to Question No. 1: My name is Robert Curtis. I am 30 years old. I live in Tishomingo County Miss, have lived hear all my life. I am a farmer.

Answer to Question No. 2: Moses Curtis is my father.

Answer to Question No. 4: I lived with Moses Curtis during the war.

Answer to Question No. 77: Yes they were camped all round the house, they had just fought the battle of Iuka and stopped there to camp.

Signed: Robert Curtis X (his mark) 4th day of December 1877

• ***

TESTIMONY OF HIS WIFE MRS. ELIZABETH CURTIS

Answer to Question No. 1: My name is Elizabeth Curtis. I am 52 years old. I live in Tishomingo County Miss. I have lived here since 1845. I am a farmer.

Answer to Question No. 2: The claimant is my husband.

Answer to Question No. 77: They were camped all round the house, they had just fought a battle near the house.

Signed: Elizabeth Curtis X (her mark) 4th day of December 1877

• **

Although Moses Curtis testified that his brothers Hillary and THOMAS were in the "rebel army from Arkansas," his brothers Hillary and WILLIAM B. Curtis served with the Union; brother James Thomas Curtis served with the Confederate forces in Co E, 17th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Lemoyne's).

Moses's brother Hillary "Heck" Curtis enlisted at Lewisburg, Pope County, Arkansas on 15 January 1864 with the 3rd Arkansas Union Cavalary, Co. I - Ht 5' 10", eyes blue, hair lt, complx drk, farmer, age 37, born at Jackson [County], Tennessee.

Moses's brother William B. Curtis enlisted 15 Jun 1864 in Pope County, Arkansas, AR. 3RD ARKANSAS CAVALRY REGIMENT, CO I, UNION, height 6' eyes black, hair black, complx dark, farmer, age 45, born in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

All three brothers -- Hillary "Heck", William B. and James Thomas Curtis -- are buried at Forks of the Creek Cemetery, Hector, Pope County, Arkansas.

My gg-grandfather Moses Curtis was the son of Hillary Curtis, b. 1795 SC, and Susannah Gulley, b. 1797 Virginia. Records show that Hillary Curtis brought his family to Tishomingo County, Mississippi before 1837. Hillary Curtis Sr and his wife Susannah both died in Pope County, Arkansas before the 1870 US census was taken there. Moses Curtis was the grandson of Moses Curtis who was born in Virginia about 1760 and died after 1830 in Jackson County, Tennessee.

In 1839, Moses Curtis married Louisa Nixon (1819-1841). After her death, he married Elizabeth Blackshire on 08 Oct 1842 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. To the union were born ten known children:

1. John (b 1844);
2. Robert (1847-1923) m. #1 Martha Russell, #2 Josephine McClure;
3. Elisha L.W. (b 1849) m. Lucinda Russell;
4. Thomas J. (b 1853) m. Martha "Jennie" Tuberville;
5. Louisa E. (b 1855);
6. Joseph Hillary (1856-1932) m. Rebecca Ann "Annie" Branson;
7. Emily C. (b 1858);
8. Jefferson Davis "Jeff" (1861-1926) m. Mary Ellen Osborn;
9. Tennie Eveline (b 1869) m. Columbus Charles Weldon Curtis, her cousin, s/o William F. Curtis & Columbia E. Palmer; grandson of Russell Curtis & Anna Gulley. Russell Curtis was brother of Hillary Curtis who m. Susanna Gulley, Anna Gulley's sister.
10. Samuel (b 1869).

Moses and Elizabeth Curtis moved to Tishomingo Co Mississippi in 1845. On Sept 12, 1850, Moses Curtis purchased 160 acres in Tishomingo County from his brother, Bilbray Curtis. Deed was filed and recorded on March 23, 1852, in Iuka. Property situated on what is now Hwy 365 on west side Highway 25 (Section 4, Township 2, Range 10-NW 1). Moses is listed on the March 1852 Jurors list for Old Tishomingo County.

• * HE DID NOT SERVE IN C.S.A. ARMY **

Many Curtis researchers have erroneously identified our Moses Curtis as having served during the Civil War with CSA Capt. Roberts' Company (Seven Stars Artillery) Mississippi Artillery. HOWEVER, that is wrong ... the Moses Curtis who served with the CSA was from South Mississippi/Louisiana, not from Tishomingo County.

Records obtained by me from the National Archives show that OUR Moses Curtis was a Union Man.

Our Moses Curtis testified on December 4, 1877, BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS OF CLAIMS, WASHINGTON, D.C., held at Iuka, Tishomingo County, Mississippi, Southern Claims Commission Petition No. 1141. Some of the witnesses who testified on behalf of Moses Curtis were: JOHN ARMSTRONG, JOHN P. MEDLEY, HENRY BICKENSTAFF, ROBERT CURTIS [son of Moses] and E. CURTIS [wife of Moses]. Following are abstracts:

TESTIMONY OF MOSES CURTIS:
Moses Curtis being duly sworn to speak the truth & nothing but the truth testifies as follows viz:

Answer to Question to No. 1: My name is Moses Curtis. I am 58 years old. I live in Tishomingo County Miss. I have lived here 32 years. I am a farmer.

Answer to Question No. 3: I was born in Jackson County Tennessee

Answer to Question No. 4: I lived in Tishomingo County Miss. I was overseeing on a farm I resided in Tishomingo County from the beginning to the close of the War and was farming. I changed my residence twice during the war. I did this to keep out of the way of conscription and to make a support for my family.

Answer to Question No. 15: I was allowed to pass to and from the Camp when I pleased, buy & sell any thing I could get. I also had protection papers from Gen Rosencrantz

Answer to Question No. 36: I had two brothers in the rebel army from Arkansas. Their names were Hillery & Thomas Curtis. Their ages was about 27 and 21 years. I had not seen them for seven years before the war.

Answer to Question No. 41: I was arrested by some private soldiers and brought to Gen'l Rosencrantz Head quarters and he released me immediately. This happened some time in 1862 or 1863.

Answer to Question No. 67: From my farm 2-1/2 miles South of Iuka Miss. It consisted of about 160 acres, about 14 or 15 acres in corn, about 120 acres woodland, the balance sown in wheat and oats.

Answer to Question No. 77: It was. They were camped all around my house it was Just after the battle of Iuka in 1862. My house was being used for a hospital for the wounded Union soldiers and most of the items taken were for the use of the wounded soldiers.

Signed: Moses Curtis X (his mark) 4th day of December 1877

ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY OF MOSES CURTIS:

I never sold the confederate army or government one bushel of corn or any thing during the war nor at any other time. They may have bought corn from a brother of my father who was in this county during the war and bears the same name as myself. I think as well as I remember it was the first year of the war that I hoisted the Union flag at Iuka Miss. I was told before I hoisted it that if I did so I would be shot. I told them this was a free country and I would do as I pleased about it. I had a perfect right to raise the flag of my country and did raise it - when a shot was fired but did not hit me or the flag either. I think the shot was fired at the flag and not myself. After the shot was fired there was a considerable row raised and I was threatened but my friends interfered and saved me from harm.

Signed: Moses Curtis X (his mark) 5th day of October 1878.

• **

TESTIMONY OF HIS SON ROBERT CURTIS:

Answer to Question No. 1: My name is Robert Curtis. I am 30 years old. I live in Tishomingo County Miss, have lived hear all my life. I am a farmer.

Answer to Question No. 2: Moses Curtis is my father.

Answer to Question No. 4: I lived with Moses Curtis during the war.

Answer to Question No. 77: Yes they were camped all round the house, they had just fought the battle of Iuka and stopped there to camp.

Signed: Robert Curtis X (his mark) 4th day of December 1877

• ***

TESTIMONY OF HIS WIFE MRS. ELIZABETH CURTIS

Answer to Question No. 1: My name is Elizabeth Curtis. I am 52 years old. I live in Tishomingo County Miss. I have lived here since 1845. I am a farmer.

Answer to Question No. 2: The claimant is my husband.

Answer to Question No. 77: They were camped all round the house, they had just fought a battle near the house.

Signed: Elizabeth Curtis X (her mark) 4th day of December 1877

• **

Although Moses Curtis testified that his brothers Hillary and THOMAS were in the "rebel army from Arkansas," his brothers Hillary and WILLIAM B. Curtis served with the Union; brother James Thomas Curtis served with the Confederate forces in Co E, 17th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Lemoyne's).

Moses's brother Hillary "Heck" Curtis enlisted at Lewisburg, Pope County, Arkansas on 15 January 1864 with the 3rd Arkansas Union Cavalary, Co. I - Ht 5' 10", eyes blue, hair lt, complx drk, farmer, age 37, born at Jackson [County], Tennessee.

Moses's brother William B. Curtis enlisted 15 Jun 1864 in Pope County, Arkansas, AR. 3RD ARKANSAS CAVALRY REGIMENT, CO I, UNION, height 6' eyes black, hair black, complx dark, farmer, age 45, born in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

All three brothers -- Hillary "Heck", William B. and James Thomas Curtis -- are buried at Forks of the Creek Cemetery, Hector, Pope County, Arkansas.

[Abstracts were taken from my copy of the 85-page file I paid for and obtained May 2010 from the United States National Archives & Records Administration -- See: RG 217, SCC, Moses Curtis, Tishomingo, MS, Box 205, 19W4/22/09/03. Bonnie Gober Crocker, gg-granddaughter of Moses Curtis.]* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 11 2022, 17:00:40 UTC