Nathanial Inman 1806-1880

Nathanial Inman was Jonathan Jordan's father-in-law and they are both my direct ancestors.

Mr. Miller is Alexander Miller and was in the same unit with Thomas O. Brown. They were both discharged from service on the 13th of April, 1862 in Springfield. Jeremiah Bassett was one of their neighbors down on Bennett’s Bayou.

The edges of this page were black and very hard to read. And, one sentence in the middle of the page I just could not make out.

Personally appears before me this day Thomas O. Brown who being duly sworn deposes as follows

Some time in April 1862 Nathanial Inman took me prisoner. Dorsey Spaulding and Randy Nicks was with him. I was in Howell County MO they took me some six (6) miles down in to Arkansas at the time of my capture Inman reared back in his stirrup’s and swore that this is our country and we are going to protect it we are not going to allow you damned Black Hearted Republicans to rule over us. I asked him if he did not think this was my country also, Said NO! it does not belong to any damned Black Hearted Republicans that have moved away and left it. I told him that I have a right to it for was there before he was. he then a………that I’d …..by that. For he was going to take me before my betters. I asked him who that was! Telling him I was a prisoner and wished to be treated as such. He answered that he was going to take me before Col. Coleman. I asked permission of him to go by Mr. Millers and get some clothing. They went by with me and from there they took me to Jerry Bassetts in Arkansas. He Inman, goes up and asks Mrs Bassett where Mr. Bassett was! She answered that he was not home. One of the Party asked her where he was so that he could go and scare him up out of the brush, she told them that she did not know and if she did would not tell you.

They kept me at Bassetts all night. They wanted to administer the Confederate oath of allegiance I agreed to take it and they released me in the morning.

Subscribed and sworn before me Thomas O. Brown
? day of June 1864
Thomas H. Meackline (hard to read)
Lt. and Asst. P. Mar.

             Here is what I know about Nathanial Inman, b 1806 in North Carolina. In 1840 he was living in Concord Township, Washington County, MO in fairly close proximity to Ben Talbot. By 1850 he was the father of nine kids by his wife, Elizabeth Criswell-Inman. His farm was valued at $1,000.00 according to the census, and this seems somewhat typical for the neighborhood.

By 1860 the family is living near Ironton in Iron County and Nathanial no longer owns any Real Estate, but is still farming. He and Elizabeth have two more children than they had in 1850 but only six of their eleven children are living with them. Living nearby is Nathanial’s brother Hezekiah and his family. Hezekiah and his two oldest boys appear to be working as mine laborers, but it looks like they do own their home.

I have found some vague information that sometime after the 1860 census was enumerated the two families moved to Texas County, but this is unproven at this time.

What I do know is that by sometime in 1862 two of Nathanial’s sons, James H. Inman and Carrol B. Inman are both in Co. B of the 4th Infantry and two of Hezekiah’s sons, Alvah Inman and Manuel Inman are in Co. F of the 12th along with Nathanial’s son Joseph Inman. And Nathanial is having trouble with the Fed's in Howell County.

From the following transcribed deposition, and although he is denying wrong doing, it appears that 56 year old Nathanial is doing some night riding with Capt. Randy Nicks down in Howell County and doing some conscripting. Sounds like some of the stuff Billy Monks was complaining about.

(I did the best I could to transcribe this document just as I interpreted the words and spelling)

MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES
PO

BOX 1747
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI

UNION PROVOST MARSHALL
REEL F1346

Nathanial Inman being duly sworn deposes and says 58 years old, lives about 14 or 15 miles NE from Ironton, Madison Co. MO formerly lived in Howell Co, MO near the Arkansas line left there about the 10th May 64 – to go to Madison sometime in April 62. I with two others, Dorsey Spaulding and Randy Nicks- arrested a man by the name of Thomas O. Brown. We arrested him in the woods somewhere near the line of Arkansas, am not certain whether it was Howell or Fulton Co. There were two other men with him. Miller didn’t know the names of the other men with him. They were armed with Rifle and Pistols. They were on foot. My party were also armed- we were mounted- we went out looking for suspicious characters. There had been horses stolen in the vicinity and suspicious characters- I ¬¬¬ask… told them that 3 suspicious persons were lurking around the neighborhood. They said they were not that kind. Said they were loyal late from Springfield MO discharged from the Federal 6 month mil. Ask? For their discharges + he, Brown I think, show it me. I handed it back to him. I took them towards Col. Colemans Rebel camp Headquarters. Same evening on the way there I told them on considering I did not think I has a right to do this I gave them their supper and Breakfast and in the morning give them their arms just as I received them + traveled with them back to near the place where I arrested them. They told me on the way that they would have to report the thing, which they did and I answered to the charge at West Plains, Howell Co MO before the Pro Marshall in May following, do not recollect of making use of any expression “that I am not going to allow you Black Republicans to over run us. I did not tell him that that country did not belong to any damned Black Republicans- I did not ask him or know of anyone asking him to take the oath of allegiance to the southern confederacy to Brown or anyone in his party- I can’t say I am a southern sympathizer at this time – I want the US government established as it was – I have had three sons in the Rebel army, two of them are dead – I don’t know whether the other is living or not. I have been striving to get him out of the army since they have been in it. Never done any bushwacking. They have entered my house several times to rob me. Charged me with being a Union man. They have robbed me of corn, fodder. They stole two horses. I reported them and I found my horses in the morning. They have once ordered me out and threatened to shoot and hang me for being a Union man. I never assist or fed any persons since – or before. I belong to no secret society or know of any. I know of no organization for carrying on contraband trade. I have sold … to some of the neighbors but never to any rebels or any person or persons suspected in so doing. I think Randy Nicks was engaged as a Rebel mail carrier from Howell County to the Rebels. I have heard so. Don’t know of his so doing, know of no other doings though. I may have fed bushwackers as men would come to my house armed and take what they wanted and I could not prevent them. I moved away from that county as my life and my families lives and property were continually in danger. I believe they would kill me if they could catch me in that county now. Never was in the Rebel army. I am now farming in Madison Co Mo as before stated.

Sworn to and subcribes before me this 10th June 1864, Nathaniel Inman (with mark)
Geo. J. W. Nelson?
Capt Ex officer

It appears that Nathaniel Inman was quite well known by the Provost Marshall service. He ended up in Gratiot Prison and subsequently released. Apparently he and Thomas Brown did not get along as nearly identical charges were filed against him April 10 1862 and he was acquitted by the Provost Marshall in Springfield Missouri as early as late 1862.

1. Cohort Names in Provost Marshall files include

2. Accusers: Thomas O Brown, Alex Miller

3. Partner's in Crime: Dorsey Spaulding, Randy Nicks, ? Bassett

4. He apparently was re-arrested in Iron County near Pilot Knob late May 1864.

Thomas O Brown has an interesting trail. He is in Phelps Regiment Inf Volunteers and is discharged April 13 1862 Springfield MO. He then shows up again in the 68th EMM operating out of Ironton MO Sept 26th 1862 through April 1863. I expect Inman and Brown crossed paths again in Iron Co in 63 or 64 and thus the re-arrest by a more sympathetic Provost Marshall.

UNION PROVOST MARSHALL
REEL F1346

Statement of Nathanial Inman of Madison County MO

Saturday last I came to Pilot Knob to purchase some corn and a little before sundown I handed a friend some money to get me a ½ gallon of Whiskey, this was in Ironton MO. I do not know the man who I gave the money to get the Whiskey nor who he got the Whiskey from. I have been since the war broke out a Constitutional union man. I have never taken any part in the Rebellion neither one way or the other for or against the government.

Subscribed and sworn before me
Nathanial x Inman
31st day of May 1864
At Pilot Knob MO
Thomas H. Meackline (hard to read)
1st Lt. 3rd Cav. M.S.M.
Asst. Pro. Mar. 2nd Sub. Dist.
Of St. Louis, MO

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Gratiot Street

Prison

St Louis, MO

Col.  July 15, 64

Sanunsan:

Provost Marshal

Gen of St. Louis, MO

Dear Sir, allow me to ask your kind self to look to my case—as I am and old man and almost worn out and can’t know what your charges is against me—I would like to here from you in regard to my case—Sir I have not at any time taken up arms and have not said (?) anything as my nabours can testify, to dishonor (?) And there fore ask your honor to look to this if you please and no one at Gratiot prison (?)

Sir I have administrated to the necessity of all Ladies union and southern alike and have moved several union family where they wanted to go and have done all I could to relieve their distress.  These facts I can prove if you want gave one the chance –Sir I ask as person(?)  as soon as you have a moment of time you will do me a great favor to grant this request.

Very Respcetfully

Your obedient servant

Nathaniel Inman

Extract from Roll of Prisoners sent forward from Pilot Know Mo by Lieut. Thomas H. Macklind Asst Pro. Mar.  June 7^th 1864, Nathaniel Inman, citizen Iron Co Mo

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Nataniel Inman

Citizen of Madison Co. Mo

114

Gratiot

Examined June 10, 1864 States

58 years old live 14 miles NE from Ironton Madison Co Mo family lives in Howell Co MO and in Arkansas part time in Apr 62  I with Dorsey Spaulding and Randy Nicks,  arrested  Thomas O Brown & Alex Miller in the woods in Howell  or Fulton Co? just over the line.  They were armed our party was armed and mounted. We were looking for horse thieves and for suspicious characters.  Told them so, they said they were not that kind and were loyal men from Springfield discharged from the Fed service.  Asked them for their discharge A man showed his I returned them to him, took them towards Col Coleman’s rebel camp on the way I told them considering I did not think I was right to do this I gave them their supper and breakfast and in the morning gave them their arms just as I received them and traveled back part of the way with them.  They told me they would have to inform on me and they did do.  I answered the charge at West Plains, Howell Co Mo to the PM  Don’t recollect of making use of any expression like the following.  “ that I am not going to allow you Black Republicans rule us ?? did not tell him that ?? did not belong to any ???? did not administer the oath of Allegiance to the Southern Confederacy to anyone in his party.  I can’t say I have southern sympathies at this time.  I want the US Govt established as it was.  Has 3 sons in Rebel Army 2 dead and don’t know whether the other is dead or not.  Have striven to get him out ever since they went in, never done any Bushwacking.  They have visited my house several times to get me.  Took corn, fodder and once 2 horses ? them off.  And received them ?? for this morning?  They once orders me out ?? intended to kill or hang me for being a union man.  I never an?? ? before or since.  Belong to a secret society of know of any.  Know of no organization or any person ?? in buying  ? contraband, trade  I have sold salt to some of my neighbors but never to any reble.  Soldiers think ?? has came  ?? to rebles don’t know of his doing as or any one else.  May have fed bushwhackers  armed men have come to my house and taken what they wanted, I could not  ? them.  ?? ?? that  ?? my life and my families   ? continually in danger I believe they would  kill me now if they would catch me  ? that section where formerly? Lived  Never in the reble army- I am living now in Madison Co Mo as often stated.

Resp Ref to Capt Lvt B

In PM ?

Gratiot Street

Prison

August 12^th 1864

Inman  Nathaniel

State that he was tried and acquitted on this crime  ? by order of ? ??

Headquarters Department of the Mo

Office Provost Marshal General.

St Louis MO August 13thj1864

Respectfully ? to Lieut A.G. Clark Jude Advocate.

J Dodge?

? Pro Mar Gen

2^nd G.C.M Aug 18, 1864

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Gratiot St

Prison Aug 18^th 1864

Col JP Sanderson

Dear Sir

I received last evening the charge and specification for which I was arrested, and upon which I suppose I am soon to be tried.  It may save much time, expense, and trouble for me to inform you that I was tried for this identical offense before Provost Marshal McNutty at West Plains, in Howell county, Mo under the directions of Maj. Gen Curtis in or about the month of May 1862, and acquitted on the testimony in part of one Alex Miller, one of the parties arrested with and at the same time of the same? Thos. O. Brown who now maliciously prosecutes.  Trusting that your office contains the records of said McNutty which will vindicate my statement and achieve,  I trust, both you and I from further trouble, I remain,

Respectfully yours,

Nathaniel Inman