Pelham Taxpayers Funded Westchester County Bonds to Pay Bounties During the Civil War
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By 1863, it was clear to President Abraham Lincoln and to the U.S. Congress that the Civil War was progressing slowly and would require massive numbers of additional men. On March 3, 1863, President Lincoln signed into law The Enrollment Act, 12 Stat. 731, also known as the Civil War Military Draft Act. The statute required the enrollment for conscription purposes of every male citizen between ages of twenty and forty-five and every male immigrant who had filed for citizenship and who was between the same ages. The Federal government promptly established quotas of new troops to come from each Congressional District.
The controversial statute repealed an earlier ban on sending "substitutes" to serve in place of those drafted who did not want to serve. It authorized "any person to furnish an acceptable substitute to take his place" and limited the amount that could be paid to such a substitute to $300 (under the philosophy that the price should not be unreasonable out-of-reach of less wealthy men and thus, should be limited). Nevertheless, the allowance of substitutes was widely criticized as an effort to protect affluent draftees by allowing them to hire the poor to fight the war. Controversies surrounding The Enrollment Act led to the New York Draft Riots July 13-16, 1863.
"ENROLLMENT!" Poster Dated June 23, 1863
Posted in New York City After Enactment of The
Enrollment Act. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
Despite the controversy, as the year progressed, President Lincoln called for 500,000 additional men to fight on behalf of the Union. Local newspapers filled with summaries of the enrollment and what was required in local Congressional Districts. For example, the September 5, 1863 issue of the Rockland County Journal included such information for Pelham and others within the 10th District:
"Recapitulation of the Enrollment in the 10th District.
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Showing the number in each Class in each Sub-District, with the number required from each town on the basis of one-fifth of the First Class, and the number, including the 50 per cent added, to be taken from the wheel. . . . .
No. 22
SUB-DISTRICTS New Rochelle and Pelham
No. of Whites. 744
No. of Colored 52
Total number enrolled 796
First Class. 604
Second Class. 192
Quota Called for 121
50 per ct. added 181"
Source: Recapitulation of the Enrollment in the 10th District, Rockland County Journal, Sep. 5, 1863, Vol. XXV, No. 10, p. 2, cols. 5-6
Local authorities undertook to use taxpayer funds to offer bounties to volunteers and to substitutes who met the call. (In the case of substitutes, such bounties could be paid in addition to the $300 paid by the draftee to his substitute.)
The substitution system was rife with abuses. According to one account:
"The policy of substitutions was continued throughout the war. The problem with substitution was that it provided substitutes with powerful incentives to desert soon after enlisting. Career 'jumpers' made a living off of enlisting as a substitute, collecting their compensation, deserting before their units were dispatched to the front, and repeating the process. The problem was well known to the military commanders who regularly saw the same recruits repeatedly. In addition, troops furnished by substitution were considered to be of an inferior quality in comparison to regulars and volunteers."
Source: "Enrollment Act" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia (visited Feb. 20, 2017).
"THE RECRUITING BUSINESS"
A Political Cartoon that Appeared
in Harper's Weekly, Jan. 23, 1864.
NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
During 1864, the County of Westchester sold $562,000 worth of County Bonds to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers and substitutes. The County apportioned the funds and distributed them to the various towns within the County for those towns to use the money to pay the bounties necessary to meet their various conscription quotas. The County Board of Supervisors apportioned responsibility for the principal of the bonds and future interest payments among the various towns within the County and enacted legislation to require the various towns within the County to levy, assess, and collect taxes to pay the principal and interest due.
Various of the Westchester County bonds sold had principal redeemable in each of the years 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881. Pelham was apportioned responsibility for $11,000 of principal on the bonds (plus $27.41 of the expenses for issuing and printing the bonds, etc.) plus its proportionate share of future interest payments on the principal.
Until the first series of county bonds became redeemable in 1876, Pelham was required to make its proportionate annual interest payments of $771.92. Beginning in 1876, when the first series of county bonds became redeemable, Pelham would have to make annual principal payments of $1,962.18 through 1780 (plus successively smaller interest payments as each successive series of bonds was redeemed). In 1881, Pelham would have to make a final principal payment on the last series of maturing bonds totaling $1,216.57 (plus some interest), thereby ending its obligation to repay the funds provided it by the county to pay bounties to volunteers and substitutes.
Although only secondary sources are available, it appears that Pelham's quota for helping meet the President's most recent call for 500,000 men was twenty men. It further appears that Pelham chose not to make bounty payments to substitutes, but only to volunteers. Thus, on January 21, 1864, the Town of Pelham held a special meeting at 10:00 a.m. "to take into consideration the propriety of raising money by tax for payment of bounties to such men as may enlist in the service of the United States."
On that day, the electors of the Town of Pelham voted to approve the following resolution: "Resolved: That the Town offer a bounty of $325 to each man who shall volunteer, to be paid when mustered into the service of the United States."
In short, as the Civil War continued to drag into early 1864, the citizens of the Town of Pelham continued their work on the home front to support their nation's dire need for the men and resources necessary to fight the good fight.
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Below is the text of several items that shed light on the subject of today's Historic Pelham article. Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.
"REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY TREASURER, ON THE REPORT OF THE COUNTY TREASURER.
To the Honorable the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester:
The Committee on County Treasurer respectfully report that they have examined the accounts of the Treasurer and the vouchers for the charges therein stated, and find them correct. . . .
During the current year the Treasurer has undertaken [illegible] the purpose of paying bounties to volunteers or to those furnishing substitutes under the last call of the President for 500,000 men --
To the amount of.........................................$562,000.00
Which be negotiated at a premium of......... 5,593.13
Maturing as follows:
$100,000............................March 1, 1876
100,000............................March 1, 1877
100,000............................March 1, 1878
100,000............................March 1, 1879
100,000............................March 1, 1880
62,000............................March 1, 1881
And under like authority in anticipation of the issue
of said bonds, borrowed the sum of............106,000.00
Total...........................................................$673,593.13
Which he has disbursed as follows:
Paid Supervisor's bounty money....................$560,600.00
Paid for temporary loans and interest............ 106,655.89
Paid for printing bonds................................... 327.50
Paid for advertising for proposals for bonds.. 77.21
U.S. Internal Revenue stamps upon
notes and bonds....................................... 266.00
Treasurer's fees (1 per cent on
amount of bonds issued).......................... 5,620.00. -- $673,546.60
Leaving in the Treasurer's hands.................. 46.53
The amount of bonds issued as above is...... $562.000.00
The amount paid to Supervisors is................ $560,600.00
Making the net expense attending
the issue of these bonds.......................... $1,400.00
-- to be borne by the towns which have availed themselves of the issue, in proportion to the amount taken by the towns.
For particulars regarding the issue of bonds your Committee refer the Board to the annexed statement (marked A) showing the amount of money paid to the Supervisors, who, on behalf of their towns, have availed of the issue: an apportionment of the $1,400; expenses according to the amount taken; and the total amount chargeable on each town; -- also to statement B, showing the amount due from each town for interest payable during 1865, with Treasurer's fees; -- also to statement C, showing the amount of interest payable by each town annually after 1865 until maturity of first series of bonds; -- and, finally, to statement D, showing the amount of principal due from each town upon the maturity of the bonds.
Your Committee offer for adoption the following resolutions: . . .
Resolved, That there be levied, assessed, and collected, upon the taxable property within the town of --
Cortlandt.................$8,276.85
East Chester........... 1,266.86
Mount Pleasant...... 1,274.84
North Castle........... 890.65
New Castle............. 1,036.51
New Rochelle......... 1,827.33
North Salem........... 929.62
Morrisania.............. 5,244.05
Poundridge............ 545.14
Ossining................. 3,300.59
Mamaroneck.......... 583.53
Pelham................... 844.67
Scarsdale............... 276.41
West Farms............ 2,549.09
White Plains........... 1,144.62
Yonkers.................. 11,056.27
Yorktown................ 1,407.26
-- together $43,042.63 -- to pay the interest due in 1865 on $562,000 -- County bonds issued in 1864, to pay bounties to volunteers or substitute soldiers under the last call of the President for 500,000 men, and Treasurer's fees. . . .
Your Committee have found the books of the Treasurer posted to the date of this report, vouchers for all the charges therein, and the business of the office systematically conducted. By law the Treasurer is entitled to fees of one per cent. on the amount of money received and disbursed, under the resolutions of your Board and authorizing the issue of bonds for the payment of bounties, and to borrow money in anticipation of such issue, but he has liberally waived his claim for fees on the temporary loan, charging only on the nominal value of the bonds issues.
Respectfully submitted,
ISAAC H. KNOX, ]
COFFIN S. BROWN, } Committee on County Treasurer.
FRANCIS M. CARPENTER ]
Dated November 28, 1864
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(A.)
APPORTIONMENT OF THE BONDS ISSUED TO PAY BOUNTIES, &C., WITH THE EXPENSES.
Principal
used by each
Towns Town. Expenses. Total.
Cortlandt................$107,800 $269.21 $108,069.21
East Chester.......... 16,500 41.20 16,541.20
Mount Pleasant..... 16,600 41.45 16,641.45
North Castle.......... 11,600 28.94 11,628.97
New Castle........... 13,500 33.71 13,533.71
New Rochelle........ 23,800 59.44 23,859.44
North Salem.......... 12,100 30.22 12,130.22
Morrisania............. 68,300 170.57 68,470.57
Poundridge........... 7,100 17.73 7,117.73
Ossining................ 49,500 123.62 49,623.62
Mamaroneck......... 7,600 18.98 7,618.98
Pelham................. 11,000 27.47 11,027.47
Scarsdale............. 3,600 8.99 3,608.99
West Farms.......... 33,200 82.91 33,282.91
White Plains......... 14,900 37.21 14,937.21
Yonkers................ 144,000 359.62 144,359.62
Yorktown.............. 19,500 48.70 19,548.70
Totals................... 560,600 $1,400.00 $162,000.00
(B.)
INTEREST PAYABLE IN 1865, WITH TREASURER'S FEES.
Principal Treasurer's
Towns sum. Interest fees. Total.
Cortlandt.............$108,069.21 $8,194.90 $81.95 $8,276.85
East Chester....... 16,541.20 1,254.32 12.54 1,266.86
Mt. Pleasant....... 16,641.45 1,261.92 12.62 1,274.54
North Castle........ 11,628.97 881.83 8.82 890.65
New Castle.......... 13,533.71 1,025.25 10.26 1,086.51
New Rochelle...... 23,859.44 1,809.24 18.09 1,827.33
North Salem........ 12,130.22 919.82 9.20 929.02
Morrisania........... 68,470.57 5,192.13 51.92 5,244.05
Poundridge......... 7,117.73 539.74 5.40 545.14
Ossining.............. 49,623.62 3,762.26 37.63 3,800.59
Mamaroneck....... 7,618.96 577.75 5.78 583.53
Pelham................ 11,027.47 836.21 8.36 844.57
Scarsdale............. 3,608.99 273.64 2.74 276.41
West Farms [All Illegible]
White Plains [All Illegible]
Yonkers [All Illegible]
Yorktown.............. 19,548.70 1,482.38 14.82 1,497.20
Totals.................$562,000.00 $42,616.46 $436.17 $43,042.63
(C.)
INTEREST PAYABLE ANNUALLY AFTER 1865, UNTIL MATURITY OF FIRST SERIES OF BONDS.
Towns. Principal Interest
Cortlandt....................$106,099.21 $7,564.84
East Chester............. 16,541.20 1,157.88
Mount Pleasant......... 16,641.45 1,164.90
North Castle.............. 11,628.94 814.03
New Castle............... 13,533.71 947.35
New Rochelle........... 23,850.44 1,670.16
North Salem............. 12,130.22 849.11
Morrisania................ 68,470.57 4,792.94
Poundridge............... 7,117.73 498.24
Ossining................... 40,623.62 3,473.65
Mamaroneck............ 7,618.98 553.33
Pelham..................... 11,027.47 771.92
Scarsdale................. 3,608.99 252.63
West Farms.............. 33,282.91 2,329.80
White Plains............. 14,987.21 1,045.60
Yonkers.................... 144,350.62 10,105.20
Yorktown.................. 19,548.70 1,368.41
Totals.......................$562,000.00 $39,340.00
(D.)
MATURITY OF PRINCIPAL
Principal
redeemable
Principal in each of
of bonds the years Principal
used by each 1876, 1877, redeemable
Towns. Town. 1878, 1879, in the year
and 1880. 1881.
Cortlandt...................$106,099.21 $19,299.40 $11,923.22
East Chester............. 16,541.20 2,943.27 1,824.85
Mount Pleasant......... 16,641.45 2,961.11 1,835.90
North Castle.............. 11,628.97 2,069.21 1,282.92
New Castle................ 13,533.71 2,408.13 1,493.06
New Rochelle............ 23,859.44 4,245.45 2,632.19
North Salem.............. 12,130.22 2,158.40 1,388.22
Morrisania................. 68,470.57 12,183.38 7,568.67
Poundridge............... 7,117.73 1,266.50 785.23
Ossining.................... 49,623.62 8,829.83 5,474.47
Mamaroneck............. 7,618.58 1,355.69 840.53
Pelham...................... 11,027.47 1,962.18 1,216.57
Scarsdale.................. 3,608.99 642.17 398.14
West Farms............... 33,282.91 5,922.22 8,671.81
White Plains.............. 14,987.21 2,657.87 1,647.86
Yonkers..................... 144.359.62 25,686.77 15,925.77
Yorktown................... 19,548.70 3,478.42 2,156.60
Totals.........................$562,000.00 $100,000.00 $62,000.00"
Source: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY TREASURER, ON THE REPORT OF THE COUNTY TREASURER, The Statesman [Yonkers, NY], Dec. 29, 1864, Vol. IX, No. 463, p. 3, cols. 2-3.
"PRESIDENT'S ANCESTORS MADE PELHAM POLITICAL HISTORY
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Elbert and Peter Roosevelt Appear in Old Minutes as Justice Of Peace, School Commissioner and Highway Director
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(Special To The Daily Argus)
PELHAM, Oct. 15. -- Pouring over the old minute books of the town meetings of a century ago, one learns the Roosevelts were doing pretty well politically in Pelham.
The Town meeting of 1805 (that's 129 years ago) states Elbert Roosevelt was elected Commissioner of Highways.
In 1834, Peter C. Roosevelt was Justice of the Peace. In the next year, 1835, Peter was elected as one of the three School Commissioners, and in that year Elbert, either the same Elbert or his son, perhaps, was again Commissioner of Highways.
F. D. R.'s Antecedents
It's a pretty safe guess that Elbert and Peter were antecedents of Franklin D., because Pelham Manor has been a Roosevelt stamping [sic] ground in recent years.
Stephen S. Pell and David Pell were also names prominent in those days. The Pell names and the Roosevelt names appear frequently as Town officials.
Oct. 10, 1834, almost an exact 100 years ago a town meeting voted to raise $100 by taxation 'for the support of the Town District School that it may be kept throughout the year.'
Today the running of the School District hits well over the half-million dollars mark.
Civil War Epoch
Further along in the minute books one gets the smell of gun powder and reverberations of Gettysburg and other major Civil War engagements.
Jan. 21, 1864, at a special meeting held in the Town House at 10 A. M., here's what the electors did:
'Resolved: That the Town furnish its quota of 20 men under the last call of the President of the United States at the expense of the Town.'
Also -- 'Resolved: That the Town offer a bounty of $325 to each man who shall volunteer, to be paid when mustered into the service of the United States.'
The meeting had been duly advertised in bulletins posted Jan. 11. They gave the purpose of the special meeting as 'to take into consideration the propriety of raising money by tax for payment of bounties to such men as may enlist in the service of the United States.'"
Source: PRESIDENT'S ANCESTORS MADE PELHAM POLITICAL HISTORY -- Elbert and Peter Roosevelt Appear in Old Minutes as Justice Of Peace, School Commissioner and Highway Director, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 15, 1934, p. 11, cols. 6-7.
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Tue., Dec. 13, 2016: Rare and Stunning Images of Civil War Pelham Engraved from Photographs Taken In 1864.
Thu., Nov. 24, 2016: An Important Thanksgiving Sermon Delivered in 1865 at Christ Church at the Close of the Civil War.
Mon., May 02, 2016: Additional Research on the Confederate Prisoner of War Camp During the Civil War on Hart's Island in the Town of Pelham.
Wed., Feb. 24, 2016: What is Pelham's Connection to the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor that Fought in the First Battle of Ironclads?
Mon., Feb. 22, 2016: Report on Prisoner Deaths at the Confederate POW Camp in Pelham During the Civil War.
Wed., Oct. 21, 2015: Ministering to Troops on Hart and Davids Islands During and Shortly After the Civil War.
Mon., Jul. 07, 2014: More About Pelham Residents Who Served Their Nation During the U.S. Civil War.
Thu., Jun. 12, 2014: Eyewitness Account of Prisoner of War Concentration Camp That Once Stood in Pelham.
Fri., May 21, 2010: The Announcement of President Abraham Lincoln's Assassination in Pelham, NY on April 15, 1865.
Tue., Mar. 30, 2010: Obituary of William McAllister Who Built Civil War Gunboats in Pelham.
Mon., Mar. 29, 2010: Nathaniel H. Bouldin, a Poor Confederate Prisoner of War Who Died in Pelham in 1865.
Tue., Nov. 03, 2009: Pelham Students Help Civil War Soldiers on Davids' Island in 1864.
Fri., Nov. 18, 2005: A List of Pelham Residents Who Served the Union During the Civil War.
Mon., Jul. 11, 2005: Pelham Cemetery on City Island.
Fri., Jun. 3, 2005: Davids' Island Off the Coast of Pelham Manor During the Civil War.
Tue., Apr. 12, 2005: Pelham and the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor.
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