Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameJohn Wiseman "Doc" Box 
Birthabt 1812, Fayette Co, AL
Census2 Aug 1860, Twp 18, Choctaw Co, MS
Memoroll#579, pg 0
Death29 Nov 1871, Garland Co, AR
FatherRev. Josiah Box (1785-1844)
Misc. Notes
He is apparently listed as John in many of the earlier references, and later as James.
John was suppose to be 3/4 Cherokee but it hasn't yet been proven. He was a sharpshooter for the Confederacy.
His midlle initial as “W” is from Nancy's application for a Civil War Widow's Pension #4556 and the 1860 census. Virgie Box's great granddaughter said her mother told her the W. was for Wiseman. The pension record is also where it is obvious that James Robert Box is his step son. It states that at the time of John's death he had known James Robert for ten (10) years. That meant James Robert would have been 5 years old when they first met. Based on their age difference, it seems that Nancy may have been his second wife.
In 1860, he is listed as a farm laborer (48, AL) with his wife Nancy (22, GA) and sons James and George. Also living with them is his brother, Hariam Box (47, AL) who is deaf and dumb.
He was a private in Company L, 24th Regiment, of Hill’s Mississippi (Confederate) Infantry 1862 - 1865. A family story is that he waited a year for a baby to be born after he enlisted as scout and sharpshooter in Aberdeen, MS on 10 Mar 1862. The baby would have been Jennie. The July1 to Oct.31, 1862 muster roll reports him absent, left in hospital in Danville, KY. The Nov.-Dec. 1862 muster roll he is still absent from his company but a note that he was paroled from Danville, KY Oct. 12, 1862. The last muster roll is for March-April 1863, he is present and bounty due $50.00. He must have shot a union officer...Apparently he was captured sometime after April 1863 and was sent to a prison near Chicago, Illinois. He survived his imprisonment and after his release he walked home from Illinois to Mississippi. Found his family even though they had moved several times during the war, and daughter Virgie Barbara was conceived.
He is not listed with his family in the 1870 census, shortly before his death. It may be he was already in a veterans hospital.
Died shortly after the Civil War on 29 Nov 1871.
John was suppose to be 3/4 Cherokee but it hasn't yet been proven. He was a sharpshooter for the Confederacy.
His midlle initial as “W” is from Nancy's application for a Civil War Widow's Pension #4556 and the 1860 census. Virgie Box's great granddaughter said her mother told her the W. was for Wiseman. The pension record is also where it is obvious that James Robert Box is his step son. It states that at the time of John's death he had known James Robert for ten (10) years. That meant James Robert would have been 5 years old when they first met. Based on their age difference, it seems that Nancy may have been his second wife.
In 1860, he is listed as a farm laborer (48, AL) with his wife Nancy (22, GA) and sons James and George. Also living with them is his brother, Hariam Box (47, AL) who is deaf and dumb.
He was a private in Company L, 24th Regiment, of Hill’s Mississippi (Confederate) Infantry 1862 - 1865. A family story is that he waited a year for a baby to be born after he enlisted as scout and sharpshooter in Aberdeen, MS on 10 Mar 1862. The baby would have been Jennie. The July1 to Oct.31, 1862 muster roll reports him absent, left in hospital in Danville, KY. The Nov.-Dec. 1862 muster roll he is still absent from his company but a note that he was paroled from Danville, KY Oct. 12, 1862. The last muster roll is for March-April 1863, he is present and bounty due $50.00. He must have shot a union officer...Apparently he was captured sometime after April 1863 and was sent to a prison near Chicago, Illinois. He survived his imprisonment and after his release he walked home from Illinois to Mississippi. Found his family even though they had moved several times during the war, and daughter Virgie Barbara was conceived.
He is not listed with his family in the 1870 census, shortly before his death. It may be he was already in a veterans hospital.
Died shortly after the Civil War on 29 Nov 1871.
Spouses
Birth28 Dec 1834, Georgia
Death10 Feb 1909, Hot Springs, Garland Co, AR
BurialMorning Star Cem, Hot Springs, Garland Co, AR
Misc. Notes
Her father is believed to be named John Harrison and family history is that he came over from England.
She appears to be listed with her parents in Arkansas for the 1850 census, with parents Jasper and Mary Harrison, 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
Nancy and John Box had four children
1- James Robert b. 1856 MS
2- George Washington (Uncle Wash) b. 1859 MS
3- Jennie b. 1862 MS and
4- Virgie Barbara b. 1/12/1872 Jackson, MS d. 10/10/1951 Little Rock, AR.
Listed in 1860 at age 22, born in Georgia, with her husband and 2 children.
1870 census lists her at age 34, born in South Carolina with 3 children. They are listed with the family of Robert Williams, and her husband is not listed. It is possible he was gone, in a veteran’s hospital or separated. Nancy and children left for Arkansas in the spring of 1872.
Listed as Nancy L. Box in 1880 census (but indexed as Mary) with her children, but no husband. Age 44 born in GA, father born GA, mother SC.
1900 census lists her birth in Dec 1834 and both parents as being born in Georgia, a widow. She is living with the family of her daughter, Jenny Armstrong.
Nancy applied for a Confederate Pension on 20 Aug 1901 in Hot Springs, Garland Co, AR.
She is then listed in the Hot Springs city directory in 1905, living with son James.
She appears to be listed with her parents in Arkansas for the 1850 census, with parents Jasper and Mary Harrison, 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
Nancy and John Box had four children
1- James Robert b. 1856 MS
2- George Washington (Uncle Wash) b. 1859 MS
3- Jennie b. 1862 MS and
4- Virgie Barbara b. 1/12/1872 Jackson, MS d. 10/10/1951 Little Rock, AR.
Listed in 1860 at age 22, born in Georgia, with her husband and 2 children.
1870 census lists her at age 34, born in South Carolina with 3 children. They are listed with the family of Robert Williams, and her husband is not listed. It is possible he was gone, in a veteran’s hospital or separated. Nancy and children left for Arkansas in the spring of 1872.
Listed as Nancy L. Box in 1880 census (but indexed as Mary) with her children, but no husband. Age 44 born in GA, father born GA, mother SC.
1900 census lists her birth in Dec 1834 and both parents as being born in Georgia, a widow. She is living with the family of her daughter, Jenny Armstrong.
Nancy applied for a Confederate Pension on 20 Aug 1901 in Hot Springs, Garland Co, AR.
She is then listed in the Hot Springs city directory in 1905, living with son James.
ChildrenJames Robert (1856-1919)
George Washington (1859-1915)
Susan Jane “Jennie” (1862-1940)
Virginia Barbara (1872-1951)