The Civil War Roster of Davidson County, North Carolina: Biographies of 1,996 Men Before, During and After the Conflict [Hardcover]

Christopher M. Watford (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786408731 | ISBN-13: 978-0786408733 | Publication Date: December 2000

During the War Between the States, Davidson County, North Carolina, sent nearly 2,000 men into service with the infantry, cavalry, artillery, navy, militia, and home guard. Each of these men left behind home, family, and occupation in order to serve; some would never return; others would return wounded in body and in spirit; 47 served in the Union Army. This is a roster with full biographies of each one of them. (Their lives were far more than just their service records.) The data were researched for years in four census records (1840-1870), marriage records, land transfers, cemetery records, family file folders, books, journals, obituaries. Each man's entry includes rank, unit(s), and personal and military history. Birth, death, marriage dates, parents, spouses, children; letters, journals, news articles: all are set forth in each entry, edited only for overall length. Photographs are included for many of the men. Also included is an overview of Davidson County's involvement in the conflict, and a bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Comb[s] genealogical sources" -- -Civil War Book Review

About the Author

High school teacher Christopher M. Watford is a member of the Central Piedmont Historic Preservation Association and the Davidson County Genealogical Society. He lives in the Light area near Thomasville, North Carolina.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786408731
• ISBN-13: 978-0786408733
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,311,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Incorrect information, November 8, 2007

By 

Joseph Humber "Catwoman" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Civil War Roster of Davidson County, North Carolina: Biographies of 1,996 Men Before, During and After the Conflict (Hardcover)

This book was very badly researched. Julius C. Loftin was my great grandfather. The author has part of the information correct, his birth place, his Civil War Record, the name of my great grandmother and where they were married. However, he listed his birthday wrong, ALL of his children wrong (I should know who my grandfather and father were!), his death date wrong and the place that he died and is buried wrong.

I contacted the publisher about this mistake and they said that they would pass the information on to the author. However, I have never heard a word from the publisher again or from the author.

I was so livid with rage at this mistake that I did not bother with the rest of the book even though many of my ancestors were listed in it.

Save your money on this one. You can get the book through interlibrary loan if you just must see it, but please keep in mind it was done by a 27 year old who probably has very little interest in YOUR history.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Haphazard research, March 21, 2011

By 

Leslie Bucher - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Civil War Roster of Davidson County, North Carolina: Biographies of 1,996 Men Before, During and After the Conflict (Hardcover)

As stated in prior reviews the research for this book was haphazard at best. Many of Mr Wafford's biographies have incorrect or incomplete family data, or the families of similarly named soldiers were intermingled. A simple review of census records might have straightened out some of the misinformation.

Although much of the biographical information is suspect, the book is helpful as a research tool. Rather than going to each regiment and company roster to compile a list of Davidson County Civil War soldiers, they are already listed. Individual data can then be cross referenced with Civil War records, censuses, marriage records, cemetery surveys, etc.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Research issues, April 25, 2010

By 

Barry Miller (Winston-Salem, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Civil War Roster of Davidson County, North Carolina: Biographies of 1,996 Men Before, During and After the Conflict (Hardcover)

I commend Mr. Watford for his effort, but he seems to have gotten mixed up on his facts. My ancestor too, is misrepresented. Watford records him as having never married (something his numerous descendants find either vexing or humorous) and attending a college he did not attend. I think that data got garbled in his notes, and that the bio he gives probably connects to someone else. There's likely no demand, but a corrected second edition would keep a lot of family researchers from going off base.