John Belt
John Belt served in the 22nd United States Colored Troops with Company I from January 2, 1864 to September 8, 1864. He was born around 1835 in Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania to unknown parents.1 The "1900 United States Federal Census for John Belt" claimed that his mother and father were born in Pennsylvania.2 There are no census records showing John's occupation or situation before 1860, but the "1860 United States Federal Census for John Belt" showed he was living in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in Dwelling 532.3 He was a farm laborer living with his wife, Mary, and his four kids - Maria (8 years old), Mary (2 years old), Amanda (six and a half years old), and Selestine (5 years old).4 He enlisted and mustered into the United States Colored Troops on January 2 of 1864 by Captain Henderson.5 According to his Company Description Book in "Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry", he was 26 years old when he enlisted; he was five foot, six-and-a-half inches, had a "copper" complexion, and was a farmer.6 In the civil war, he served as a private for three years, but was wanted for absence without leave.7 His Military Record Muster Rolls from "Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry" mention that he was charged a month of pay and "$2.06" for transportation.8 The rest of his records do not state whether he was wounded. On September 8 of 1865, he discharged in Brownsville, Texas and owed $3.31 for "clothing overdrawn".9
A year after that (1870), he was living in Carlisle, West Ward, Dwelling 126.10 In the "1900 Federal Census Record for James Bailey", he was 64 years old and living on Chapel Avenue in Carlisle Ward 2, Pennsylvania.11 This record states that he married Mary in about 1858 and that he was working as a "day laborer".12 He married Mary (unknown last name) in about 1858 and conceived six children: Maria (born 1852); Celestine (born 1855); Mary (born 1858); Amanda (born 1859); Amanda (born 1871); and John (born 1878).13 Research on pension records for John Belt show that he filed for an "invalid pension" on July 22, 1890 in Pennsylvania; his wife filed for a "widow" status on April 4, 1904 in Pennsylvania.14 A 2012 article titled, "Book to highlight Perry County's forgotten history", from The Sentinel by reporter Joseph Cress, mentioned that John Belt and another man wrote a voucher letter for a U.S. Colored Troop (Jesse Davis) for approving a pension.15 The article also states that Belt worked as a "journeyman barber" (someone skilled in a trade but not a professional in it) for Davis.16 There are no records stating when or where John worked as a journeyman barber. Unfortunately, John passed away on March 29, 1907 (about 75 years old) on 110 East Chapel Alley, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (shown on the right) - "110 East Chapel Avenue."17 His death certificate claims that he was suffering "senile gangrene" for six months from an unknown cause.18 His obituary in The Sentinel states that his wife and six children survived and that he was buried in Union Cemetery, Carlisle, Pennsylvania at 2 p.m.19 His burial record states the place of interment was Franklin St. Carlisle, PA and that his grave was located in "Section B, Lot number 79".20 He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.21 The image on the right - Photoprint of John Belt Tombstone - shows the actual tombstone of John Belt .22 Ten years later, on February 9, 1917, his wife, Mary A. Belt (85 years old) passed away from "acute indigestion".23 She was also buried in Union Cemetery, but it does not state whether she was buried near her husband, John Belt.
1. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for John Belt, 2012.
2. 1900 United States Federal Census for John Belt, 2004.
3. 1860 United States Federal Census for John Belt, 2009.
4. 1860 United States Federal Census for John Belt, 2009.
5. Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry, Records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops: infantry organizations, 20th through 25th.
6. Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry, Records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops: infantry organizations, 20th through 25th.
7. Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry, Records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops: infantry organizations, 20th through 25th.
8. Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry, Records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops: infantry organizations, 20th through 25th.
9. Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry, Records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops: infantry organizations, 20th through 25th.
10. 1870 United States Federal Census for John Belt, 2009.
11. 1900 United States Federal Census for John Belt, 2004.
12. 1900 United States Federal Census for John Belt, 2004.
13. 1900 United States Federal Census for John Belt, 2004.
14. Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry, Records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops: infantry organizations, 20th through 25th.
15. Cress, J., 1-4.
16. Cress, J., 1-4.; "110 East Chapel Avenue", n.d.
17. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967 for John Belt, 2014.
18. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967 for John Belt, 2014.
19. Thompson, D., 4.
20. Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012 for John Belt, 2010.
21. Donson, 34.
22. Photoprint of John Belt Tombstone, 2011.
23. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967 for Mary Belt, 2014.
Bibliography:
Belt, John - Age 26, Year: 1864 - 22nd US Colored Infantry. Records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops: infantry organizations, 20th through 25th, Record Group 94. National Archives at Washington, D.C. (ARC identifier 45815814); at www.archives.gov; May 30. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/45815814.
Cavenaugh. Photoprint of John Belt Tombstone. 2011. P.1000.001. Folder 26A-12-04, Past Perfect, Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. \\cchsserver\pp5\images\047\26A1204.JPG.
Cress, Joseph. "Book to Highlight Perry County's forgotten history." The Sentinel, February 26, 2012. https://cumberlink.com/news/local/book-to-highlight-perry-county-s-forgo...(accessed May 26, 2019).
Donson. Report for Veterans' Registration Record. Cumberland County Historical Society: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1934.
1860 United States Federal Census for John Belt. Ancestry.com. Pg. 64. NARA: Washington, 2009. ancestylibrary.com/interactive/7667/4288995.
1870 United States Federal Census for John Belt. Ancestry.com. Pg. 301B. NARA: Washington, 2009. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/7163/4278552.
1900 United States Federal Census for John Belt. Ancestry.com. Pg. 11. NARA: Washingotn, 2004. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/7602/4115075.
110 East Chapel Avenue. Google Maps. Google: USA, n.d. https://www.google.com/maps/place/110+E+Chapel+Ave,+Carlisle,+PA+17013/@40.1989334,-77.1891743,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c8e1d182a0dfbb:0x7d1c37be1d91b9eb!8m2!3d40.1989334!4d-77.1869856.
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967 for Mary Belt. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission: PA, 2014. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/5164/41381.
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967 for John Belt. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission: PA, 2014. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/5164/41381.
Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012 for John Belt. Ancestry.com. Series 1. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: PA, 2010. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/1967/3150.
Thompson, D. "Death Record." The Sentinel, March 30, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=31882966&fcfToken=eyJhbGci....
U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for John Belt. Ancestry.com. Find A Grave:USA, 2012. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130696964.