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John Richard "Dick" Sensaboy, 1836 - July 5, 1862

Contributed by Wayne Billings


Dick was born Ca. 1836, according to his age of twenty four given in the 1860 census of the 11th district of Roane Co., Tn. His post office address is Cross Keys and the members of his family in 1860 are; Martha age 27, Marion F. age 6, George W. age 3 and Mary Jane age 1. Also listed in the SENSABOY home is Malinda Davis 23.

Dick may have been born in Indiana according to his son Francis Marion Sensaboy in the following census. 1880 Roane County Census listed the following Sensaboy family members, Marion age 24, farmer, b. TN, Father b. Ind., Mother b. TN, Ellen Sensaboy age 24 b. TN Father b. NC, Mother b. TN.Dick was born Ca. 1836, according to his age of twenty four given in the 1860 census of the 11th district of Roane Co., Tn. His post office address is Cross Keys and the members of his family in 1860 are; Martha age 27, Marion F. age 6, George W. age 3 and Mary Jane age 1. Also listed in the SENSABOY home is Malinda Davis 23.

Dick may have been born in Indiana according to his son Francis Marion Sensaboy in the following census. 1880 Roane County Census listed the following Sensaboy family members, Marion age 24, farmer, b. TN, Father b. Ind., Mother b. TN, Ellen Sensaboy age 24 b. TN Father b. NC, Mother b. TN.

Martha Sensaboy's application #115.969 for a pension, as the widow of civil war veteran John R. Sensaboy gives the following information; Dick and Martha Dixon were married Sept 24, 1854 in Roan Co., TN. by J.P. Lenzy P. Mathis, according to a publication entitled ATennessee Marriages. Henry Dixon is listed as bondsman. It was customary for the Father of the bride or other close male relatives to act as bondsman, therefore, Henry may be Martha's Father.

Dick's Grand daughter Bertie Katherine Sensaboy Reed is certain that John married a Davis who had a sister named Linda Davis who never married and another sister named Eliza Davis who married a Gage. The Linda Davis mentioned is probably the Malinda Davis living with Dick's family in the 1860 TN. censuses.

Bertie Reed maintains that after learning of Dick's death, from three soldiers who were passing through near the Sensaboy home, that Dick's wife worried herself sick, lost her mind and died at an early age. The soldiers said they had been in a prisoner of war camp South of Chattanooga, TN with Dick Sensaboy and that while they were imprisoned there Dick had died of measles and starvation.

Bertie Reed then said, after the death of their Mother, Dick's boys Francis Marion and George were then raised by the Davises who were sisters of Dick's wife. The 1880 Roane Co., TN census does list George Sensabough 28 as a nephew in the household of Eliza Gage and sister Belinda (Malinda?) Davis . Bertie says Malinda never married.

Whatever the case, Martha Sensaboy's Pension application dated Aug. 27, 1865 reveals her maiden name was Dixon and that her marriage to Dick Sensaboy was her first. Martha gives her age as 34 and she is residing in Ro. Co., TN. Her post office address is given as Ten Mile in Meigs Co. , TN in 1867. Therefore, Martha Dixon Sensaboy hasn't died for at lest 6 yrs. after Dick's death as Bertie Sensaboy Reed earlier contended. (i.e. she worried herself sick and lost her mind.)

In Martha's pension application Eliza (Davis) Gage and Elizabeth Dixon state they were present at the birth of John Richard and Martha Sensaboy's children and the following are their legitimate children; Francis Marion Gage Sensaboy b. July 20, 1855, George Washington Sensaboy b. April 1857 and Mary Jane Sensaboy b. April 7, 1860.

Elizabeth Dixon is probably Dick's Sister, because according to Ro. Co., TN Marriages Elizabeth Sensabaugh was married to Thomas Dickson (Dixon) Sept. 24, 1854 by J.P. Lenzy Mathis with John Sensabau acting as bondsman. this was probably a double ceremony in which Martha and Dick married a Dixon brother and sister. This is probably Dick acting as bondsman for his sister though it was usually the Father's place to do so.

Eliza Gage who testified as to the legitimacy of Dick's children is probably the Eliza Gage in whose home George W. Sensaboy is residing, and is listed as nephew, in the 1889 Ro., Co. , TN census. Eliza may be the wife of Roan Co. , TN. Justice of the Peace F.M. Gage, who authenticated part of Martha Sensaboy's pension application on March 9 1868.

It also seems likely that Dick Sensaboy's son, Francis Marion Gage Sensaboy, was named after F. M. Gage. This raises the question as to why Francis Marion Sensaboy was named for a Gage who was married to a Davis when the records show Francis Marion's mother was a Dixon.

The fact that F. M. G. Sensaboy was named after the husband of a Davis could lend credibility to Bertie Reed's contention that Dick Sensaboy married a Davis and not a Dixon as the written records of the time indicate.

Dick's son George W. Sensaboy was only five when his father died and told his daughter Bertie Sensaboy Reed that he couldn't even remember his father's face. George said that probably the last time he saw his Father was around 1862 when Dick had used the cover of darkness to penetrate Confederate lines and reach his home. Tennessee had seceded from the union in June 1861 and Dick was a Union Soldier in 1862. The family met Dick in the dark outside the house, since he was concerned that Confederate sympathizers in the area might see him and turn him in if they saw him inside the lamplit Sensaboy home.

Bertie Reed remarked that her Grandfather Dick was Aa Strong Republican and would fight over politics. Feeling as he did about politics, Dick left his Roan Co. home in confederate controlled East TN and traveled, probably on a foot or horse back, to Camp Carter Kentucky. At Camp Carter, on Aug. 10, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 2nd TN Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers Company A. Company A was commanded by Capt. Amos Marney whose First Lt. was 2nd Lt. D. F. Quadrille.

Union forces under the command of Brig. Gen. George W. Morgan evacuated Cumberland Gap, TN Sept. 17 through 3 Oct., 1862 according to AThe Official Record of the Union and Confederate Armies A series I, Vol. 16. A dispatch dated Sept 18, 1862 reads; ATroops on half rations for three weeks and without flour or bread for a week prior to this dispatch. Considering Killing the mules to feed the men, Mules are without feed and will starve in two weeks anyway. Under these conditions Dick Sensaboy died July 15, 1862 as a member of the Union Army occupying Cumberland Gap.

In an affidavit to the pension commission Thomas J. Bowman 1st Lieutenant 2nd TN Volunteers states; I can only recall that A Dick died of some kind of fever. I have no distinct recollection, since the A Company books were captured at Rogersville, TN.

D.F. Kittrell 2nd Lt. A company 2nd reg. TN Volunteers states in his affidavit to the pension commission; ADick Sensaboy was sick at Cumberland Gap around July 1, 1862 of some kind of fever in conjunction with chronic diarrhea which caused his death. Sensaboy had served with Co. A for ten or eleven months and that I (Lt. Kittrell) helped Lay him out after he was dead. (Meaning he had helped prepare Dick's body for burial.)

It may be reasonably assumed that Dick was buried at Cumberland Gap along with many others since he died July 15 1862 and Union forces didn't evacuate the area until Sept. 1862.

Ruth Jarvis of the Tennessee State Library and Archives states that several National cemeteries were temporarily created in the Cumberland Gap area. By 1869 the US Quartermaster Dept. had interred these graves in the Knoxville, TN National Cemetery.

John Richard Sensaboy was not located on the National Roll of Honor which lists Soldiers who died in defense of the American Union. And who are interred in national and other cemeteries Mrs. Jarvis further states, A98 unidentified graves were located at Cumberland Gap, apparently John Richard's grave was not originally identified.

This writer has been informed by the Veterans Dept. of memorial affairs that A the remains of John Richard Sensaboy are not interred in any of our burial facilities as a known veteran. During the Civil War soldiers were buried near the place of death and the grave marked with a wooden head board on which the name etc. was painted. This type marker often deteriorated before the body was removed to a National Cemetery necessitating that the soldier's final resting place be marked as an Unknown. This may be the case with John Richard Sensaboy.

Mr. William E. Land of the National Archives in Wash., D.C. writes; A We have ascertained that the soldier in whom you are interested (John Richard Sensaboy) died July 15, 1862 according to his company's original muster roll. We examined the burial registry for the cemetery at Cumberland Gap, TN But were unable to find a listing for John Richard Sensaboy.

The foregoing seems to indicate that Dick sensaboy probably rests in an unknown soldier's grave at the National Cemetery in Knoxville, TN, IF his original grave was ever located at Cumberland Gap, TN For removal to Knoxville.

Martha Dixon sensaboy received a widow's pension of $14.00 per month for herself and her Three children commencing Sept. 1, 1862. Her pension applications # 115.969 and # 136.286 are based on her husband, John Richard Sensibough's Civil War service in the U. S. Army.

Martha Sensaboy's application #115.969 for a pension, as the widow of civil war veteran John R. Sensaboy gives the following information; Dick and Martha Dixon were married Sept 24, 1854 in Roan Co., TN. by J.P. Lenzy P. Mathis, according to a publication entitled ATennessee Marriages. Henry Dixon is listed as bondsman. It was customary for the Father of the bride or other close male relatives to act as bondsman, therefore, Henry may be Martha's Father.

Dick's Grand daughter Bertie Katherine Sensaboy Reed is certain that John married a Davis who had a sister named Linda Davis who never married and another sister named Eliza Davis who married a Gage. The Linda Davis mentioned is probably the Malinda Davis living with Dick's family in the 1860 TN. censuses.

Bertie Reed maintains that after learning of Dick's death, from three soldiers who were passing through near the Sensaboy home, that Dick's wife worried herself sick, lost her mind and died at an early age. The soldiers said they had been in a prisoner of war camp South of Chattanooga, TN with Dick Sensaboy and that while they were imprisoned there Dick had died of measles and starvation.

Bertie Reed then said, after the death of their Mother, Dick's boys Francis Marion and George were then raised by the Davises who were sisters of Dick's wife. The 1880 Roane Co., TN census does list George Sensabough 28 as a nephew in the household of Eliza Gage and sister Belinda (Malinda?) Davis . Bertie says Malinda never married.

Whatever the case, Martha Sensaboy's Pension application dated Aug. 27, 1865 reveals her maiden name was Dixon and that her marriage to Dick Sensaboy was her first. Martha gives her age as 34 and she is residing in Ro. Co., TN. Her post office address is given as Ten Mile in Meigs Co. , TN in 1867. Therefore, Martha Dixon Sensaboy hasn't died for at lest 6 yrs. after Dick's death as Bertie Sensaboy Reed earlier contended. (i.e. she worried herself sick and lost her mind.)

In Martha's pension application Eliza (Davis) Gage and Elizabeth Dixon state they were present at the birth of John Richard and Martha Sensaboy's children and the following are their legitimate children; Francis Marion Gage Sensaboy b. July 20, 1855, George Washington Sensaboy b. April 1857 and Mary Jane Sensaboy b. April 7, 1860.

Elizabeth Dixon is probably Dick's Sister, because according to Ro. Co., TN Marriages Elizabeth Sensabaugh was married to Thomas Dickson (Dixon) Sept. 24, 1854 by J.P. Lenzy Mathis with John Sensabau acting as bondsman. this was probably a double ceremony in which Martha and Dick married a Dixon brother and sister. This is probably Dick acting as bondsman for his sister though it was usually the Father's place to do so.

Eliza Gage who testified as to the legitimacy of Dick's children is probably the Eliza Gage in whose home George W. Sensaboy is residing, and is listed as nephew, in the 1889 Ro., Co. , TN census. Eliza may be the wife of Roan Co. , TN. Justice of the Peace F.M. Gage, who authenticated part of Martha Sensaboy's pension application on March 9 1868.

It also seems likely that Dick Sensaboy's son, Francis Marion Gage Sensaboy, was named after F. M. Gage. This raises the question as to why Francis Marion Sensaboy was named for a Gage who was married to a Davis when the records show Francis Marion's mother was a Dixon.

The fact that F. M. G. Sensaboy was named after the husband of a Davis could lend credibility to Bertie Reed's contention that Dick Sensaboy married a Davis and not a Dixon as the written records of the time indicate.

Dick's son George W. Sensaboy was only five when his father died and told his daughter Bertie Sensaboy Reed that he couldn't even remember his father's face. George said that probably the last time he saw his Father was around 1862 when Dick had used the cover of darkness to penetrate Confederate lines and reach his home. Tennessee had seceded from the union in June 1861 and Dick was a Union Soldier in 1862. The family met Dick in the dark outside the house, since he was concerned that Confederate sympathizers in the area might see him and turn him in if they saw him inside the lamplit Sensaboy home.

Bertie Reed remarked that her Grandfather Dick was Aa Strong Republican and would fight over politics. Feeling as he did about politics, Dick left his Roan Co. home in confederate controlled East TN and traveled, probably on a foot or horse back, to Camp Carter Kentucky. At Camp Carter, on Aug. 10, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 2nd TN Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers Company A. Company A was commanded by Capt. Amos Marney whose First Lt. was 2nd Lt. D. F. Quadrille.

Union forces under the command of Brig. Gen. George W. Morgan evacuated Cumberland Gap, TN Sept. 17 through 3 Oct., 1862 according to AThe Official Record of the Union and Confederate Armies A series I, Vol. 16. A dispatch dated Sept 18, 1862 reads; ATroops on half rations for three weeks and without flour or bread for a week prior to this dispatch. Considering Killing the mules to feed the men, Mules are without feed and will starve in two weeks anyway. Under these conditions Dick Sensaboy died July 15, 1862 as a member of the Union Army occupying Cumberland Gap.

In an affidavit to the pension commission Thomas J. Bowman 1st Lieutenant 2nd TN Volunteers states; I can only recall that A Dick died of some kind of fever. I have no distinct recollection, since the A Company books were captured at Rogersville, TN.

D.F. Kittrell 2nd Lt. A company 2nd reg. TN Volunteers states in his affidavit to the pension commission; ADick Sensaboy was sick at Cumberland Gap around July 1, 1862 of some kind of fever in conjunction with chronic diarrhea which caused his death. Sensaboy had served with Co. A for ten or eleven months and that I (Lt. Kittrell) helped Lay him out after he was dead. (Meaning he had helped prepare Dick's body for burial.)

It may be reasonably assumed that Dick was buried at Cumberland Gap along with many others since he died July 15 1862 and Union forces didn't evacuate the area until Sept. 1862.

Ruth Jarvis of the Tennessee State Library and Archives states that several National cemeteries were temporarily created in the Cumberland Gap area. By 1869 the US Quartermaster Dept. had interred these graves in the Knoxville, TN National Cemetery.

John Richard Sensaboy was not located on the National Roll of Honor which lists Soldiers who died in defense of the American Union. And who are interred in national and other cemeteries Mrs. Jarvis further states, A98 unidentified graves were located at Cumberland Gap, apparently John Richard's grave was not originally identified.

This writer has been informed by the Veterans Dept. of memorial affairs that A the remains of John Richard Sensaboy are not interred in any of our burial facilities as a known veteran. During the Civil War soldiers were buried near the place of death and the grave marked with a wooden head board on which the name etc. was painted. This type marker often deteriorated before the body was removed to a National Cemetery necessitating that the soldier's final resting place be marked as an Unknown. This may be the case with John Richard Sensaboy.

Mr. William E. Land of the National Archives in Wash., D.C. writes; A We have ascertained that the soldier in whom you are interested (John Richard Sensaboy) died July 15, 1862 according to his company's original muster roll. We examined the burial registry for the cemetery at Cumberland Gap, TN But were unable to find a listing for John Richard Sensaboy.

The foregoing seems to indicate that Dick sensaboy probably rests in an unknown soldier's grave at the National Cemetery in Knoxville, TN, IF his original grave was ever located at Cumberland Gap, TN For removal to Knoxville.

Martha Dixon sensaboy received a widow's pension of $14.00 per month for herself and her Three children commencing Sept. 1, 1862. Her pension applications # 115.969 and # 136.286 are based on her husband, John Richard Sensibough's Civil War service in the U. S. Army.