Joseph Street (1775-1815)

In November of 1814 Joseph Street answered the call of the local Tennessee Militia led by Major General William Carroll. Joseph's young family had left Georgia for Lincoln County Tennessee only a couple years prior to his enlistment. They settled on Coldwater Creek along the Elk River just north of the Alabama border (though at the time Alabama was still the Mississippi Territory).  They settled not far from James McBride who was on the headwaters of Kelly's Creek.  Joseph's daughter, Louisa subsequently married into the McBride family bringing about the union of the two families that now exists in my tree.  Joseph is a fourth great-grandfather-- one of at least 11 to have served during the War of 1812.

Joseph and the rest of Carroll's men left their families and farms in Tennessee and traveled by flatboat down the Mississippi river to New Orleans where they answered Andrew Jackson's call to help defend against the considerable threat posed by a menacing British force then sailing about in the Gulf of Mexico. Joseph was present for the storied battle that ensued that cold January of 1815 but pension records show he was sick after the battle. Because there is no indication of when he fell ill, we can't be certain if he actually fought during the battle or if he missed the action entirely while in hospital at the New Orleans encampment.

After the battle, Joseph's ailing body was loaded with other sick and wounded on the steamboat "Vesuvius" bound for Natchez in the Territory of Mississippi. This would be the first leg of the return trip back to their homes in Tennessee and other points north. Pension records show Joseph Street died on board the Vesuvius en-route to Natchez on April 3, 1815. He was buried with other soldiers somewhere in the vicinity of Washington, three miles east of Natchez.

Pension records say Joseph was put on a steam boat. The only one in service in New Orleans at the time was the "Vesuvius" 

I've been interested in locating Joseph's grave. A couple historians I've bumped into in the last couple years tell me they theorize many War of 1812 soldiers were buried without markers in the Methodist Church graveyard there in Washington. Their specific location has been lost. 

Others suggest that Joseph is likely buried at Camp Dearborn or the Washington Cantonment as it was also called.  This camp was located near Washington, Mississippi.  Washington was the capital of the US Territory of Mississippi at that time. The territory was a couple years shy of statehood.

 The healthier members of Joseph's unit marched right through Washington on their way home up the Natchez Trace celebrating their great victory all along the way.

The old Methodist Church in Washington, Mississippi is still there. This structure was erected the year after Joseph's death and served as the first State House of Mississippi. Joseph could be buried behind or beside it. 

I tend to believe Joseph was likely buried at Fort Dearborn.  It makes sense that troops tasked with burying a fellow soldier would tend to bury him alongside other military burials.  There were at least 200 soldiers' graves already interred at Fort Dearborn before Jackson's troops passed through in 1814.  They were the unfortunate victims of General James Wilkinson's trek through the swamps of south Louisiana.  They died of dysentery and other horrible swamp diseases.  Unfortunately, Fort Dearborn's whereabouts has been lost to time. We know the general area was behind Jefferson College and across St. Catherine's Creek on private property that for many recent years has served as a dairy farm.  There is no evidence of the fort buildings or a cemetery in the area.

Joseph's wife, Lucinda, provided several witness testimonies to validate the service and death of her husband in her claim for pension...

NASHVILLE, May 18th 1816: I certify that Joseph Street, Private, in my division of Tennessee Militia and performed acts of duty of _____ months and nine days in the service of the United States – that his good conduct, _____ and valor under the most trying hardships entitle him to the gratitude of this country; and he is hereby Honorably discharged. (Signed: Wm. Carroll; Major-General, () Division; Tennessee Militia)

STATE OF TENNESSEE COUNTY OF LINCOLN: Personally came before me, William C. Abel, one of the justices of the Peace for said county, Timothy Stamps, and being duly sworn saith on oath that he was present and witnessed thereof when Lucinda Street, widow of Joseph Street, deceased, was lawfully married according to law. Sworn to and subscribed the 10th day of August 1818. (Test: Wm. C. Abel); (Signed: Timothy Stamps).

STATE OF TENNESSEE COUNTY OF LINCOLN: Michael Robison and personally appeared before me, Robert __________, an acting Justice of the Peace for said county and made oath that Joseph Street (as they believe) is dead, that no administration has been had on his estate, that he died without a will and that Lucinda Street is the lawful widow of the deceased. Sworn to before me this 10th day of June 1816. (Robert _______); (Michael Robinson / John Caruthers).

16 January 1819, Fayetteville, Tennessee: Dear Sir: Enclosed is the papers relative to the situation of Lucindy Street, the widow of Joseph Street who died while in the service of US in March 1815. Please to favor her with your interest in getting her name placed on the pension list, and advise me of your success as soon as possible. It is at her request that I trouble you with the business, but I feel much pleasure in doing any thing toward procuring her relief believing as I do that h—w------ requires, and that she merits the relief which government enterist ‘s to others in her situation. I am sincerely your friend, (Thomas Claiborne) (Signed: Francis Porterfield)

STATE OF TENNESSEE COUNTY OF LINCOLN: This day personally came before me William Obediah Waller, and made oath that Joseph Street late of said county was drafted as a Militia Man on the 10th day of November 1814 and was under the command of said Waller as Captain in the 1st regiment of Tennessee Militia in Maj. Genl. Carroll’s Division in the service of the United States – and on the 15th day of March 1815 the said Joseph Street was put on board of a steam boat at Camp Henderson near New Orleans (he being sick) in order to be brought up the river to Natchez, which is the last he know of said Street, but report says he died on his way to Natchez. Sworn to & subscribed the 9th Dec, 1818. (Wm Dickson, JP); (Signed: Obadiah Waller, Capt. 1st T. T. M.) Note: Died 3rd April 1815.1775-1815)