African-American Brokets in the Civil War
12 Apr 1861 – 13 May 1865
A search for Brocket/t on the Fold3 web database 12 Feb 2020 produced 5 results.1 No results were found for the variants Broket, Brokett, Brockette, Brockit or Brockitt. The surname of all except Isaac was spelt both Brocket and Brockett. A search for Bracket/t produced 6 results, one—Isaac—is listed here under Broket. For 2 of the Brakets owners were recorded. Other related information has been added since, like the Civil War Pension of Peter Brockett. Comments by myself are preceded by the word ‘Comment:’
Contents of this page:
Brokets
Dagan Brockett
Also Dagon and Dagen, and a note saying “Name appears also as H Brocket”.
Estimated Birth Year: 1843-1844
Military Unit: Co K, 36th US Colored Infantry
Joined (as a recruit) as Private 28 Dec 1863 at Norfolk VA for 3 years, aged 19, born Princess Anne Co, VA, occupation Farmer, height 5 ft 8 in. Mustered in Ft Monroe VA 28 Dec 1863. Sharp Shooter. Promoted to Sergeant 20 Sep 1866. Mustered out 28 Oct 1866 Brazos, Santiago, Texas.2
Henry Brockett
Estimated Birth Year: 1844-1845
Military Unit: Co K, 37th US Colored Infantry
Enlisted (Volunteer) as Private 5 Sep 1864 at New Berne for 3 years, age 19, born Camden NC, occupation Lab., height 5 ft 6 in. Sick in hospital in VA 18 Feb 1865 to May 1865. Promoted to Corporal 20 Apr 1866. Signed with a mark.3
Isaac Brockett
Estimated Birth Year: 1838-1839
Military Unit: Co A, 31st US Colored Infantry
Joined (as volunteer) as Private 22 Feb 1864 at Cuyler NY, for 3 years, age 25, born Tyrel Co, NC,4 occupation Farmer, height 5 ft 9 in. Mustered 22 Feb 1864 at Syracuse, NY. Wounded in action at Deep Bottom (Petersburg)VA 30 Jul 1864, GSW of left leg and ankle by a Conical Ball. Sick in hospital till mustered out a hospital Phila, PA. 24 May 1865. Signed with mark. Unmarried. Residence: Cortland Co NY.
One card called him Isaac Broschitt, another Bracket. He is therefore also listed in the Fold3 database under Bracket, but since it is only on one card, whereas he is listed as Brockett on 27+ pages, he has been listed here under Broket.
Comment: He was probably the Isaac Brockett who died 16 Jul 1870 in the Alms House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aged 30.5
Joshua Brockett
Estimated Birth Year: 1817-1818
Military Unit: Co A, 38th US Colored Infantry
Joined (as a recruit) as Private 18 Jan 1864 at Norfolk VA for 3 years, age 46, born Currituck County NC, occupation Farmer, height 5 ft 8 in. Mustered 23 Jan 1864 Norfolk VA. Wounded in action 29 Sep 1864 (by a Mine (?) Ball) and sent to hospital through Feb 1865. Pay stopped Jan 1865 for destruction of hospital property. Discharged 10 Apr 1865 at General Hospital Philadelphia PA, on Surgeon’s Certificate of disability. Amputation of lower third of left arm 29 Sep 1864. Mustered out 25 Jan 1867 Indianola, Texas. “Soldier desires to be addressed at Norfolk, Princess Ann Co, VA.” Wife Sarah Brockett, address Norfolk City Browns Offace [sic].6
London Brockett
Estimated Birth Year: 1824-1825
Military Unit: Co A, 36th US Colored Infantry
Joined (as a recruit) as Private 27 Nov 1863 Norfolk VA, for 3 years, age 38, born Currituck County NC, occupation ?Shingler, height 5 ft 10 in. Mustered 30 Dec 1863 at Ft Monroe VA. Wounded in action at Deep Bottom VA 29 Sep 1864. Sick in hospital Sep-Nov 1864. On detached service as Teamster Jan 1865 to Sep 1866. Mustered out 28 Oct 1866 Brazos, Santiago, Texas.7 For more on London, see separate page.
Peter Brocket/t
Estimated Birth Year: 1813—as per the 1880 Federal census record of Peter Brocket in Crawford, Currituck Co, NC, head, aged 67 [i.e. b c 1813], Farmer; with wife Luciney Brocket, 35, House Keeper; son Geo LINDSEY, 25, Farmer; with wife Dora LINDSEY, 17; and grand daughter Pacience BLUNT, 12; all race: Black, born NC, as also their parents.8
1890: Civil War Pension record of Peter Brockett, filed in NC 10 Sep, Unit B. 36. Mass. Infantry.9 If this means the 36th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, then he was on the Union side.
Listed in the Jun 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census, residing Moyock, Currituck, NC.10
Brakets
George F Brackett
Estimated Birth Year: 1839-1840
Military Unit: Co D, 79th US Colored Infantry (Old)
Volunteered at NY City 27 Feb 1863, Captain. No birth information. Invalided out at Boston MA with malaria 5 Aug 1864 (since Jul 1863). Mustered out 7 Dec 1864 Morganza, LA. Four letters written by him in a stylish hand and signed.11
Henry Brackett
Estimated Birth Year: 1846-1847
Military Unit: Co M, 6th US Colored Cavalry. Transferred from Co A, 120th US Colored Infantry
Born Ohio Co, KY. Volunteered at Henderson KY 29 Apr 1865, mustered at Owensborrow KY 12 May 1865, Private, age 18 height 5 ft 5½ in, Farmer. Sick in hospital Jul 1865 till he died 23 Feb 1866. Signed with mark. Owner: PO Belt Brackett Cromwell KY.12 Similar to John.
John Brackett
Estimated Birth Year: 1841-1842
Military Unit: Co A, 122nd US Colored Infantry
Born Harden KY. Volunteered at Louisville KY 9 Oct 1864, Private, age 22 height 5 ft 9 in, Lab. Signed with mark. Discharged 12 Mar 1866.13
John Brackett
Estimated Birth Year: 1842-1843
Military Unit: Co C, 120th US Colored Infantry, transferred to Co F 125th 30 Jun 1865
Born Ohio Co, KY. Volunteered at Henderson KY 29 Apr 1865, mustered at Owensborrow KY 12 May 1865, Private, age 22, height 5 ft 4½ in, Farmer. Mustered out 21 Dec 1867 Ft Leavenworth ?Kan. Signed with mark. Owner: PO Jas B Bracket Cromwell KY.14 Similar to Henry.
Tucker Brackett
Estimated Birth Year: 1844-1845
Military Unit: Co M, 3d US Colored Heavy Artillery
Joined 22 Dec 1863 in Memphis Tenn, aged 18 as Private. Born Hardiman Co Tennessee, died by disease in the Regimental Hospital, Fort Pickering, Tenn. 15 Feb 1864.15
Page Last Updated: March 22, 2023
[1] All images for each entry were checked.
[2] NARA M1993. Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 36th through 40th infantry units, organized for service with the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Roll: 0003. No further records were found for him on Ancestry.com 12 Feb 2020.
[3] NARA M1993. Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 36th through 40th infantry units, organized for service with the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Roll: 0029. No further records were found for him on Ancestry.com 12 Feb 2020.
[4] Tyrrell county was formed in 1729 as Tyrrell Precinct of Albemarle County, from parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct (Wikipedia).
[5] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1803-1915, FHL Films 1994772 and 1003697, transcript accessed from Ancestry.com 12 Feb 2020.
[6] NARA M1993. Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 36th through 40th infantry units, organized for service with the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Roll: 0054. No further records were found for him on Ancestry.com 12 Feb 2020.
[7] NARA M1993. Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 36th through 40th infantry units, organized for service with the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Roll: 0025. No further records were found for him on Ancestry.com 12 Feb 2020, Microfilm Serial: M1993; Microfilm Roll: 4, frames 1-23/967.
[8] 1880 US Federal Census for Crawford, Currituck, North Carolina; Roll: 961; Page: 22D; Enumeration District: 046.
[9] The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; NAI Number: T288; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773-2007; Record Group Number: 15; Series Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; Series Number: T288; Roll: 52; image accessed on Ancestry.com 10 May 2022.
[10] The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Series Number: M123; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Record Group Number: 15; image accessed on Ancestry.com 10 May 2022.
[11] Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890-1912, documenting the period 1861 – 1866. Short Description: Textual records not filed with the other service records for the U.S. Colored Troops. Roll: RG94-USCT-MISCPP-Bx012; and Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 56th through 138th infantry units, United States Colored Troops (USCT), 1864-1866. Roll: RG94-USCT-079-Bx0 .
[12] Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890-1912, documenting the period 1861 – 1866. Short Description: NARA M1817. Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers in the 1st through 6th U.S. Colored Cavalry and the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored). Roll: 0095.
[13] Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890-1912, documenting the period 1861 – 1866. Short Description: Textual records not filed with the other service records for the U.S. Colored Troops. Roll: RG94-USCT-MISCPP-Bx012; and Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 56th through 138th infantry units, United States Colored Troops (USCT), 1864-1866. Roll: RG94-USCT-122-Bx04.
[14] Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890-1912, documenting the period 1861 – 1866. Short Description: NARA M1818. Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the artillery units organized for service with the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Roll: 0030.
[15] Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890-1912, documenting the period 1861 – 1866. Short Description: Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 56th through 138th infantry units, United States Colored Troops (USCT), 1864-1866. Roll: RG94-USCT-120-Bx02.