Thomas Lankford

Other Events:

• Petition: 1770; Petition to create Surry Co from Rowan Co was sent to the NC House of Burgesses. In addition to John Deatherage, who initially requested the petition, names listed: Jos. Cloud, Sr., Jos. cloud, Jr, Wm Cloud, Issac Cloud, James Sr, John, Tho. & Wm Lankford
• Court Minutes: May 1779, Surry County, North Carolina; Deed from Rachel Hockett, widow of Nath'l Hockett to John ? 500 acresoath James Gaines and Thomas Lankford; Deed from John Dyckes to Thomas Lankford, 100 acres
• Military: 1780, Kings Mountain; September 1780 at King's Mountain, while serving in the American Revolution, Thomas Lankford and John Martin, under the command of Captain Cloud, were ambushed by Tories while under patrol and John Martin was wounded while Thomas Lankford escaped.
• Court Minutes: 15 February 1782, Surry County, NC; Deed from Sarah Lankford and Thomas Lankford to Jos. Shipoath Thomas Ship.
• Court Minutes: 16 August 1782, Surry County, North Carolina; Thomas Lankford vs. John Lankford (brother?) assault and battery.
• Land Entries: 9 March 1792, Stokes County, North Carolina; Void no land found entry withdrew & money returned to JW & TL. May 11, 1791 (Joseph Cloud & Thomas Lankford enter 10 ac - lined out) includes an iron ore bank & beech tree marked "JCTL 1791" on bank of Buck Island Cr and runs into E side of said creek
• Land Entries: 30 May 1793, Stokes County, North Carolina; Wt. Granted Peter Perkins & James Martin enter 50 ac in Stokes ab "bounty claim" for iron works on N side of Dan R about 0.5 miles from Buck Is. in Dan R on waters of Island Br (more)
• Tax List: 1794, Stokes County, North Carolina; Capt. Clouds District 150 acres1 w poll
• Deed: 2 June 1794, Stokes County, North Carolina; Thomas Lankford to Joseph Cloud 100 pds Va money 100 ac Peter's Ck, being part former survey Jos Tate in Granvilles land (John Martin, Peter Beller) s/Thomas Lankford

Thomas married in 1781 in Surry County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Tax List: 1807, Peters Creek, Stokes, North Carolina, United States; Living in William Lankford's household are Daniel Tilly, Griffith Lankford and West Lankford.
• Census 1810: 1810, Peters Creek, Stokes North Carolina, USA; Living next to Thomas Lankford, close to Featherstone Holt and William Collins. Same people listed in both Surry and Stokes census, they must have lived close to the county lines and both counties took the census, including that section twice.
• Tax List: 1815, Stokes County, North Carolina; Stone Chimney District - West Lankford 1 white poll
• Deed: 23 Dec 1816, Stokes County, North Carolina; From Charles Newman to West Lankford for $100, 150 acres on Buck Island Creek
• Deed: 17 Jan 1818, Stokes County, North Carolina; West Lankford to Abner Mabe for 100 pounds, 100 acres on the Waters of Buck Island Creek
• Census 1820: 1820, Stokes, North Carolina, USA
• Tax List: 1824, Stokes County, North Carolina; William Lankford: 140 A, no polls West Lankford: 150 A, no polls
• Tax List: 1825, Stokes County, North Carolina; William Lankford: 60 A, no pollsWest Lankford 150 A, 1 White Poll
• Tax List: 1826, Stokes County, North Carolina; Wm lankford: 69 A, no pollsWest Lankford: 150 A, 1 white poll
• Land Grant: 17 Dec 1829, On Waters of Buck Island (Creek) Stokes NC; Bk 138Grant #1110; 40 Acres File No.1144, Westley Lankford Warrant # 2693 Location: On waters of Buck Island adjoining this own land
• Voters List: 2 Mar 1833, Peters Creek, Stokes County, NC; On voter's list for Peter's Creek
• Deed: 11 Sep 1833, Stokes County, North Carolina; Chr McAnnaly & Elisha Bonner of Stokes to Tucker Lawson & West Lankford for $1.00, a tract of land on waters of Buck Island Creek: This is a mortgage deed of trust identifying West Lankford as an heir of William Lankford.
• Deed: 18 Mar 1843, Stokes County, North Carolina; Deed of Trust between Wesley & son Braxton, Braxton owing his father money.
• Deed: 18 June 1844, Stokes County, North Carolina; Wes lankford puts land, livestock and house items in trust to Frederick Hill for security against a debt of 100 dollars that he owns to a W. McConley

Notes:

West (Westley) Lankford, one in the same person, as a deed from Elisha Banner uses the two names interchangeably. By law, West should have been listed in the Poll tax records beginning in 1795 if his year of birth 1774 is correct. I still do not have 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806 Poll Tax records but West was not listed in the poll tax until 1807. He was possibly there from 1803 - 1806 but he was not listed from 1795-1802 when he should have been. There are only two possibilities to explain this - West was not born in 1774 or he was not in Stokes County prior to 1807 (maybe as early as 1803). By law, West had to be listed, because the poll was on every freeman. If a freeman did not have taxable property to a certain value, he still paid a tax unless exempted as an insolvent.
I believe the date of his birth is 1784 not 74, and the two census records for 1850-60 (which is where the date comes from) is incorrect. With all the records and age of his wife, the age that makes sense is for him to have been born around 1784


Deed:
This Indenture made this 23rd day of December in the year of our Lord 1816 Between Charles Newman of the court of Stokes in the state of North Carolina of the one part and West Lankford of the same county and state of the other part. Witnesseth that for and in ?? of the sum of $100 current money of said state to him ?? and paid the ?? whereas is hereby fully acknowledged hath granted, bargained and sold 7 do by these present, grant, bargain and sells ?? unto said West Lankford a tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the county of Stokes and state of NC on Buck Island Creek and bounded as follows: beginning at a chestnut on the west side of said creek, thence north 15 chains with Charles Elberts line to a red oak west 35 chains and 50 ? to a chestnut oak south 40 chains to a white oak. East 38 chains and 70 ? to spanish oak ?? said creek, north 75 chains to a stake thence cast there ?? chains ??erossing? said creek to the beginning, containing 150 acres be the same more or less to have and to hold the aforesaid granted land with the appurtenances, all rights, privliges ?? to the same in any ?? belonging ?? to heirs the said West Lankford and the said Charles Newman hath by these present bind himself and his heirs, administrors and assigns to warrant ?? the aforesaid granted land & permission? to him the said West Lankford his heirs and assigns forever free from the right ? rights of ?? t??ful claim or demand of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof the aforesaid Charles Newman hath here ?? hand and affixed his seal. Witnesses: John Hart, Elisha Nelson

Died:
Was in the 1860 census, but not 1870

Wesley married Docia in 1809 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Docia was born in 1786 in North Carolina; died after 1860 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
What is the source for death date? She is not named in the 1872 deed for the division of land of Tucker Sr dec'd among his children, so indicates she died before that time, but don't have a source for the 1862 date.

Elizabeth married Tucker Lawson Sr. in 1825 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Tucker (son of Thomas Lawson and Celia Hall) was born in 1803 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died in Mar 1866 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Ruey in 1829 in Stokes County, North Carolina. was born in 1807 in North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married Flynt Lawson, Sr. in 1838 in North Carolina. Flynt (son of Thomas Lawson and Celia Hall) was born in Jul 1812 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died after 1900 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Raid: 9 April 1865, Stokes County, North Carolina; Braxton Loses a mare to the Union Army
• Claims Commission: 20 Dec 1875, Stokes County, North Carolina; Files claim for mare lost during war with the Southern Claims Commission which recognized the Federal Government's debt to loyal citizens for property loses suffered during the Civil War.
• Newspaper: 22 Sep 1887, Danbury, Stokes County, NC; Owners of Mineral Lands in Danbury
• Newspaper: 11 April 1907, Stokes County, North Carolina; It is learned that Mr. Braxton Lankford, of Campbell Rt. 2 fell & hurt himself a few days since & is seriously ill from the effects of the fall & other complications. Mr. Lankford is one of the oldest citizens of the county.

Notes:

Newspaper:
Stokes County Minerals

We learn that one or more realroad Co's want to accertain the fact whether we have iron ores, and other minerals in the section of Stokes just around Danbury. Our word for it, we have in great abundance, but we say come and see for yourselves. This section of Stokes county will furnish more freight to the square mile, than any section of the same extend in the state, we mean in tonage, the freights will be heavy, magnetic iron ore, the hemetites, manganese, graphite and several other minerals, such as lime, mica, asbestos, building stone, etc.

Below we give a partial list of those who own iron and other minerals here, and as we have said before, the existence of those minerals is no theory, some of them having been worked near one hundred years.

J.H Fagg, magnetic iron good out crop, Powell Lawson, undeveloped, Brax Lankford, undeveloped, William Nelson good veins 6 to 8 feet thick, Julius Lawson, undeveloped, B.R. Lawson, undeveloped, William Fagg, old works good vein, Mastin Mabe, good veins.

The above is only a partial list of those who own mineral lands in this section the mineral right on which in most cases may be brought not only reasonable but low considering the real value.

Died:
(Danbury Reporter Feb 6) Mr. Braxton Lankford who was one of the oldest citizens in the co., died a few days since at his home near Lawsonville. Mr. Lankford was born in 1818 and was therefore 90 years of age.

Braxton married Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" Fagg on 07 May 1865 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Nancy (daughter of John Fagg and Frances Lawson) was born in May 1842 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died on 8 Feb 1930 in Peters Creek, Stokes, North Carolina, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Braxton married Jincy/Quincy Unknown in 1840 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Jincy/Quincy was born in 1815. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lucinda married Robert Smith in 1851. Robert was born in 1785. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Military: 04 May 1861, Stokes County, North Carolina; Civil War

Wyatt married Elizabeth "Dolly" Mabe on 04 Jan 1846 in Stokes County, North Carolina, and was divorced in Fall 1854 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Elizabeth was born in 1828 in North Carolina; died in in North Carolin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Larkin married Matilda Bullin on 27 Feb 1851 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Matilda (daughter of Martin VanBuren Bullin and Rita Lawson) was born in 1829 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married William Masten Mabe on 11 Aug 1887 in Patrick, Virginia, USA. William (son of Abner Mabe and Hettie) was born in 1822 in North Carolina; died on 29 Jun 1894 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Date based on the fact that she isn't found in the 1870 census and she was not mentioned on the division of the land of Tucker Lawson Sr. among his children, in 1872.

Family/Spouse: Unknown (Not married?). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Terry Lawson. Terry was born in in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Military: 04 May 1861, Stokes County, North Carolina; Enlisted as a Private on 04 May 1861 at the age of 18; Enlisted in Company A, 2nd Battn Regiment North Carolina on 04 May 1861; Absent in arrest on 30 March 1863; Deserted Company A, 2nd Battn Regiment North Carolina on 15 July 1863
• Newspaper: 22 Sep 1887, Danbury, Stokes County, NC; Owner of Mineral Lands in Danbury (Danbury Reporter)

Notes:

Newspaper:
Stokes County Minerals

We learn that one or more realroad Co's want to accertain the fact whether we have iron ores, and other minerals in the section of Stokes just around Danbury. Our word for it, we have in great abundance, but we say come and see for yourselves. This section of Stokes county will furnish more freight to the square mile, than any section of the same extend in the state, we mean in tonage, the freights will be heavy, magnetic iron ore, the hemetites, manganese, graphite and several other minerals, such as lime, mica, asbestos, building stone, etc.

Below we give a partial list of those who own iron and other minerals here, and as we have said before, the existence of those minerals is no theory, some of them having been worked near one hundred years.

J.H Fagg, magnetic iron good out crop, Powell Lawson, undeveloped, Brax Lankford, undeveloped, William Nelson good veins 6 to 8 feet thick, Julius Lawson, undeveloped, B.R. Lawson, undeveloped, William Fagg, old works good vein, Mastin Mabe, good veins.

The above is only a partial list of those who own mineral lands in this section the mineral right on which in most cases may be brought not only reasonable but low considering the real value.

Buried:
Hard Bank Cemetery

Braxton married Lodosca M. Tucker on 25 Feb 1867 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Lodosca (daughter of Gabriel Walter Tucker and Sarah E. Tilley) was born on 18 Nov 1844 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died on 1 Feb 1926 in Danbury, Stokes, North Carolina, USA; was buried on 02 Feb 1926 in Hard Bank Cemetery, Danbury, Stokes County, North Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Killed at Battle of Gettysburg

Family/Spouse: Martha. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Civil War: 2 Sep 1864, Stokes County, North Carolina; Enlisted as a Private on 02 September 1864Enlisted in Company D, 27th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 02 September 1864; Deserted Company D, 27th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 05 October 1864 (More...)
• Military: 2 Sep 1864, Camp Holmes, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Deed: 1 Feb 1872, Stokes County, North Carolina; Partition the lands belonging to the estate of Tucker Lawson, deceased, among the heirs. Tucker Lawson got No. 2 beginning at a locust sprout in the field thence W on the division line 18 chains to a stake in said line thence south on the line of lot 3
• Newspaper: 21 Mar 1872, Danbury, Stokes, North Carolina, USA; Public auction of Tucker Lawson's 350a on waters of Buck Island Ck, adjoining Braxford Landford's lands (brother in law), that was seized by the court (probably for not paying taxes). Is this was part of his estate that was divided bet the heirs in Feb?
• Moved: 1882, North Carolina or Virginia; From 1883-1888 records show they were in Patrick County, Virginia.
• Moved: 1889-1893, Virginia, United States; Sometime between the birth of LL and Samuel, the family moved to Tazewell
• Deed: 14 Feb 1907, Tazewell County, Virginia; Between L.D. Boyd and Eliza J. Boyd, his wife to Lucinda R. Lawson (wife of Tucker Lawson) for $65 1 acre on E side of turnpike road, bear Raven. Why is the sale just to her (and not Tucker) and why 1 acre?
• Deed : 17 Dec 1910, Tazewell County, Virginia; Tucker and Lucinda Lawson to son D.W. Lawson in consideration of the love & affection they have for their son - convey parcel of land to secure that comfortable maintenance for them during their natural lives. Deed book 70 page 586
• Deed : 21 Jan 1913, Tazewell County, Virginia; Tucker & Lucinda Lawson to D.W. & Bessie Lawson and Sarah Lawson (Wife of JT Lawson) Deed book 73 page 513
• Deed: 10 Jan 1924, Tazewell County, Virginia; Sam & Tucker Lawson to P.O Palmer for $340 1/4a near Raven on W side of County rd, leading to Buchanan Co. Tucker & Lucinda to retain possession of land until they pass, then possession to go to Powell. This wasn't a lot of land. Water rights?

Notes:

confederate veterans roster of Tazewell:
http://www.newrivernotes.com/va/tazewell1898.htm


Died:
Cause of death: myocarditis and chronic nephritis. Burial 7 Sep 1924 Smith Cem, Red Root Ridge, Tazewell County, Virginia

Tucker married Lucinda R. Hill on 27 Dec 1863 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Lucinda (daughter of Thomas Hill and Louisa Lankford) was born on 13 Sep 1848 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died on 19 Feb 1929 in Tazewell County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Newspaper: 22 Sep 1887; Owner of Mineral Lands in Danbury (Danbury Reporter)
• Newspaper: 18 Dec 1912, Danbury, Stokes County, NC; Mr. Julius Lawson expects to move next Friday to Mr. Buck Sands, near Piney Grove.

Notes:

Newspaper:
Stokes County Minerals

We learn that one or more realroad Co's want to accertain the fact whether we have iron ores, and other minerals in the section of Stokes just around Danbury. Our word for it, we have in great abundance, but we say come and see for yourselves. This section of Stokes county will furnish more freight to the square mile, than any section of the same extend in the state, we mean in tonage, the freights will be heavy, magnetic iron ore, the hemetites, manganese, graphite and several other minerals, such as lime, mica, asbestos, building stone, etc.

Below we give a partial list of those who own iron and other minerals here, and as we have said before, the existence of those minerals is no theory, some of them having been worked near one hundred years.

J.H Fagg, magnetic iron good out crop, Powell Lawson, undeveloped, Brax Lankford, undeveloped, William Nelson good veins 6 to 8 feet thick, Julius Lawson, undeveloped, B.R. Lawson, undeveloped, William Fagg, old works good vein, Mastin Mabe, good veins.

The above is only a partial list of those who own mineral lands in this section the mineral right on which in most cases may be brought not only reasonable but low considering the real value.

Julius married Martha B. Mabe on 26 Dec 1875 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Martha (daughter of Washington Mabe and Alice) was born in Dec 1861 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died on 13 Mar 1938 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Frances Shelton on 05 Oct 1850 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Josiah married Sally Ann Smith on 01 Aug 1853 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Military: 01 June 1861, Stokes County, North Carolina; Civil War

Alfred married Lucy Ann Tilley on 28 Dec 1858 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1 BIRT
2 DATE 1844
2 PLAC Stokes County, North Carolina

William married Letta Nelson on 03 Jan 1867 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Letta was born in 1850 in North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1 BIRT
2 DATE 25 MAY 1845
2 PLAC Stokes County, North Carolina
1 DEAT
2 DATE 15 SEP 1926
2 PLAC Stokes County, North Carolina

Wyatt married Hettie Keziah Fagg in 1897 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Hettie (daughter of John Fagg and Frances Lawson) was born on 04 May 1845 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died on 15 Dec 1906 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Flynt married Sarah "Sallie" Jane Hill on 13 Mar 1864 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Sarah (daughter of Thomas Hill and Louisa Lankford) was born on 16 Mar 1838 in Stokes County, North Carolina; died in 1910 in Prob, Stokes, North Carolina, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Flynt married Martha S. Wilson on 15 Oct 1881 in Patrick, Virginia, USA. Martha (daughter of Riley Wilson) was born in 1845. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1 BIRT
2 DATE 1848
2 PLAC Stokes County, North Carolina

Elizabeth married Walter Riley HICKS on 14 Feb 1874 in Patrick, Virginia, USA. Walter was born about 1858 in North Carolina; died in in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: E.M. Tilley. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Military: 1861, Stokes County, North Carolina; Civil War
• Newspaper: 24 July 1879, Stokes County, North Carolina; Moody Lankford, new confined to our jail, is suffering with dyspepsia in an aggravating form.

Notes:

This story links West Lankford as the son of Thomas Lankford, but could be that was the general conscious of the researchers, as Thomas has been listed for some time as West's father. The assumption could be incorrect.
Wilkes County Newspaper "The Record" May 8, 2013

Grave marker dedicated Descendants of Moody "Cappy" Lankford turn out for event Descendants of Moody "Cappy" Lankford gathered on Saturday to dedicate his grave marker at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Millers Creek. Lankford, a veteran of the Confederate Army during the Civil War, was honored by not only relatives, but also by members of the General James B. Gordon Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

About 50 people attended the event on a chilly May afternoon. Pat McNeil, the commander of the General James B. Gordon Camp, which hosted the dedication, welcomed the crowd gathered in the church cemetery. Rev. Mark Rupard gave the invocation.

A history of Moody "Cappy" Lankford was given by Jerry Lankford, who is a great grandson of the honoree. In his remarks he told the crowd how Moody, who was called Cappy later in life, was a native of Stokes County, who moved to Wilkes sometime in the 1870's. Moody was married three times and had 22 children. He was the son of Wyatt Lankford, who also served in the Confederate Army, the grandson of Wesley Lankford, a Stokes County farmer, the great grandson of Thomas Lankford, who fought with the Overmountain Men during the Kings Mountain campaign during the Revolutionary War, and the great great grandson of James Lankford, who served in the Virginia Militia during the French and Indian War. Moody died in September of 1932. His grave had been unmarked for 80 years.

Jerry Lankford told how he and his wife, Larissa, researched genealogy with the help of Burl Lankford and were able to acquire a head marker for Moody through the Veterans Administration.

According to his obituary: Moody (Cappy) Lankford, who resided on Reddies River about four miles from North Wilkesboro, was taken by death Monday, September 19 (1932). He was 86 years, 10 months and 19 days of age. Mr. Lankford was born and reared in Stokes County, coming to Wilkes early in life. He was married three times, 22 children born to these unions. His three wives and eight children preceded him in death. Surviving him are the following children: J.M. Lankford, of Moravian Falls; Mrs. Larkin Brown, Hays; Richard, Zack, Fred and Joe, of Cricket; Mrs. Milton Rash and Mrs. A.C. Williams of Millers Creek; Jesse and Sam Lankford, of Fairplains; Roby Lankford, of Winston-Salem; P.A. Lankford, of Liberty, and Millard Lankford, of Coolleemee.

"Cappy" as he was familiarly known to his acquaintances throughout his long residence in Wilkes, was well and favorably known. The funeral service was conducted at Oak Grove Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock by Rev. Hubert Bullis. A large number of relatives and friends of the deceased gathered to pay their last tribute of respect. Interment was made in the church cemetery.

Jerry Lankford explained that the church was originally founded in 1899 as a Methodist church. It became a Baptist church in the 1940s. He also told how Burl Lankford, also a great grandson of Moody "Cappy" Lankford, helped determine where to place the headstone in the cemetery. He went on to thank Oak Grove Baptist Church Rev. Keith Lyon and cemetery superintendent Kenneth Sebastian for being ever agreeable in the quest to place to marker.

I called Pat McNeil and told him about our findings and he brought me a copy of the Veterans Administration application and gave me guidance as to where to look for Cappy's military records, Jerry Lankford said. I found plenty on the website Civil War Soldiers and Sailors and also the Civil War roster books in the Genealogy Room of the Wilkes County Public Library. According to the North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865 - A Roster, Vol. XVII: Moody Lankford - Enlisted at Camp Holmes, near Raleigh, September 2, 1864, for the war. Reported present sick in September-October, 1864. Hospitalized at Wilmington on November 16, 1864, with scabies. Returned to duty on December 9, 1864. Captured at Fort Fisher on December 25, 1864. Confined at Fort Monroe, Virginia, December 29, 1864. Sent to Point Lookout, Maryland, December 31, 1864. Transferred to Company C, 3rd Regiment N.C. Junior Reserves, January 3, 1865, while prisoner of war.

The big white marble, upright grave marker arrived at the offices of The Record on Friday, Nov. 30. It was placed on Saturday, Jan. 5, by members of the family and the General James B. Gordon Camp. A history of the unit in which Moody "Cappy" Lankford served was given by Gerald Lankford, also a great grandson of the honoree.

During his remarks, Gerald Lankford said: The 3rd Battalion of the N.C. Junior Reserves was formed in January, 1865, by consolidating the 4th, 7th, and 8th Junior Reserves Battalions after the Battle of Fort Fisher. The 4th Battalion of the N.C. Junior Reserves, which Moody "Cappy" Lankford was originally attached to, was organized with three companies in Raleigh on May 30, 1864. Moody was transferred to the 3rd Battalion as a prisoner of war following his capture by Union troops at Fort Fisher.

N.C. Junior Reserves battalions contained soldiers between the ages of 15 and 18. Although their members were young, the youths assigned to the Junior Reserves were said to have fought bravely in all actions they saw. Members were drawn from Moody's native county of Stokes, along with the counties of Guilford, Alamance, Forsyth, Person, New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Catawba, Iredell, Rowan, Burke, Caldwell, Cumberland, Robeson, Richmond, and Rockingham.

These young soldiers stationed at Fort Fisher expected an assault from the north and it came in the winter of 1864. Union forces prepared to leave Hampton Roads, near the border of Virginia and North Carolina, on Dec. 10, 1864, but a winter storm hit the fleet for three days, preventing the fleet's departure until Dec. 14. The transports carrying Union forces arrived at Fort Fisher near Wilmington, N.C., first, since the Navy took longer to refuel at Beaufort than expected. When ships arrived on Dec. 19, another storm hit the fleet, causing some ships to scatter and forcing the Union Army transports to return to Beaufort. After the storm subsided on Dec. 23, Union commanders decided to start the attack, ordering the U.S.S. Louisiana to be blown up that night. Near midnight, the ship was towed close to the fort's seawall and set on fire. However, the Louisiana was farther out to sea than the Union Navy thought, perhaps as far as a mile offshore. As a result, Fort Fisher was undamaged by the blast.

Moody "Cappy" Lankford would have no doubt heard and seen this spectacular explosion.

The following morning, the Union Navy moved closer to shore and began a bombardment of the fort, hoping to damage the earthworks and forcing the garrison to surrender. Despite firing close to 10,000 shells that day, only minor damage was caused, with four seacoast gun carriages disabled, one light artillery caisson destroyed, and 23 casualties in the garrison. Meanwhile there were 45 Union casualties from exploding guns aboard ships, and the Confederate gunners were able to score direct hits on three ships.

Although the defenders of the fort fought hard, the transports carrying the Union soldiers began landing on Christmas morning, 1864. N.C. Junior Reserves units were stationed north of the battery walls and acted as skirmishers as the first Union troops came ashore. These units were then cut off from the main body of Confederate forces.

Many, including Moody "Cappy" Lankford, were captured the first day of battle on Christmas Day, 1864 as Union officers accepted the surrender of the 4th and 8th Junior Reserve battalions. The sandy soil Cappy and his comrades battled on is now part of the Atlantic Ocean according to National Park officials.

As for the remainder of the Battle of Fort Fisher, a brigade of Union troops, after setting up a defensive line, advanced toward the fort to see if it could be attacked. Union commanders were convinced that the fort was undamaged and too strong for an assault. The landings were halted and the Union forces returned to their ships.

After regrouping, the Union Army, Navy and Marines, managed a joint landing, and captured the fort on Jan. 15, 1865. Attached to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, remaining members of the N.C. Junior Reserves served in the Kinston area, then moved to Smithfield. Later it was assigned to General L.S. Baker's Brigade, saw action at Bentonville, and surrendered with the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865.

The songs Dixie and Lorena were then performed by Herb Key, Bill Williams, Jim Lloyd and Trevor McKenzie of the Elkville String Band. The band appeared courtesy of David Absher, a Wilkes native and descendant of Moody "Cappy" Lankford, who now resides in Las Vegas, Nev. Gabriella Lankford, 10, the daughter of Jerry Lankford, then unveiled the marker as the crowd looked on. Members of the 28th N.C. reenactors group from Yadkin County including Greg Cheek, Tony Hines, Michael Reynolds, Andrew Cheek and Edwin Osborne fired three volleys to salute the marking of the grave. Larry Griffin and Heather Dean also came dressed in period clothing. Samuel "Sammie" Alexander Osborne, the 3-month-old grandson of Jerry Lankford, placed the flag on the grave with the help of his mother, Jennifer Lankford Osborne. The Elkville String Band then performed the hymns Where the Roses Never Fade and Amazing Grace. McNeil then gave observance of Confederate Memorial Day, which is on May 10 and is a legal holiday in the state of North Carolina. During his remarks, McNeil quoted from Terrell T. Garren's book Mountain Myth: Unionism in Western North Carolina, giving the totals of men from Wilkes who served in the Confederate Army.According to the book, a total of 1,599 served in the ranks with 477 being wounded, 533 being captured, 161 killed in battle, 238 dying from non-combat deaths and 63 dying in Union prison camps for a total of 472 deaths from Wilkes.McNeil also told the crowd that there will be a wreath placing ceremony at the Confederate monument outside the Old Wilkes Jail on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.Members of the 28th N.C. then fired three more volleys. Andrew Cheek played Taps from a lonely spot in the cemetery. Rupard closed by reading a poem, singing Johnny Comes Marching Home and by giving the benediction. Programs for the event were provided by Ken Welborn of The Record and Thursday Printing.

Moody married Mary Elizabeth Fagg on 14 Apr 1865 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Mary (daughter of John Fagg and Frances Lawson) was born in 1837 in Stokes County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]