They intended to come beat me.
William H. Haithcock, age 56, filed claim #20604 with the Southern Claims Commission. He lived in Fayetteville and worked as a carpenter. Haithcock testified that he was born in Johnson [sic] County and moved to Fayetteville about 1850. He lived in Fayetteville up to 1863; then in the country 4 miles from Fayetteville, where he had a farm; then, in 1864, to another plantation one mile from Fayetteville, where he made another crop. He was living there when the United States Army came through. He moved back to Fayetteville after. He worked his trade as a carpenter until he went into farmer.
When he was living on the east side of the Cape Fear River, the Confederates took corn, fodder, chickens and other property. He was living on the west side of the river when the Union army came. His house was robbed once by Confederate deserters. “I talked about it, they sent me word that they intended to come beat me and take what money I had but they never came. Some of the white men up the river above me. I understood that I should not make another crop at the place I was living and that I ought to be in the war.”
Lucien Bryant, age 50, testified to Haithcock’s loyalty. Bryant was a farmer and lived in Fayetteville. Others who testified were: William S. Taylor, 58, painter; Jonathan Revels, 52, farmer; and son James Haithcock, 19, a farmer and wood hauler.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 