John Adams HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#789, b. 20 April 1840, d. 5 May 1862
Father*Marshall HAIRSTON1,2 b. 4 Jul 1802, d. 20 Jan 1882
Mother*Ann Marshall HAIRSTON3 b. 2 Dec 1802, d. 11 Jul 1888
Birth*John Adams HAIRSTON was born on 20 April 1840 in Virginia. The Marshall Hairston Bible list him as "Jack A., son of Marshall and Ann Hairston, born April 20, 1840."2,4 
He was the son of Marshall HAIRSTON and Ann Marshall HAIRSTON.1,2,3 
Census 1850John Adams HAIRSTON appeared on the 1850 census of Marshall HAIRSTON on 24 August 1850 in Henry, Virginia; Marshall 48, Ann 47, Virginia Nelson 25 (not Hairston), Elizabeth P 14, Ann M 12, Ruth 12, John 10, Bethenia H 6.1 
College*John Adams HAIRSTON graduated college on 12 December 1861 in Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.5 
Military*Private 24th Virginia Infantry, Confederate States of America.5

 
Death*He died on 5 May 1862 in Williamsburg, Virginia, at age 22; Battle of Williamsburg.5,4 
Burial*He was buried in Beaver Creek Plantation, Henry, Virginia; Marker inscription - "Fell May 5th, 1862 at th Battle of Williamsburg Va. Fighting an an independent Volunteer in the Confederate Army." 
Anecdote*"JOHN A. HAIRSTON, OF HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA; PRIVATE, 24TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY.

This young man was the only son of Marshall Hairston and Anne, his wife, and was born at his father's residence in Henry County, Virginia, on the 2Oth day of April, 1840. He entered the Institute as a pay-cadet on the 24th of July, 1858; but, as his constitution was naturally delicate, his health became so impaired that he was unable to undergo the discipline and perform the duties required by the regulations of the Institute, and he therefore resigned in January, 1860. He shortly after went to Philadelphia for medical treat ment, and then spent the winter of 1860-1 on a plantation of his father's in Mississippi with the rest of the family. While there, the raising of troops for the impending war commenced, but his health was too feeble to permit him to join the volunteers, though he contributed a part of the expense of raising and equipping a company from the county in which he was staying. He subsequently returned to Virginia; and being a very ardent advocate of the Southern cause, though he was unable to endure constant service in camp, yet, when it was apparent that a battle was impending at Manassas, he repaired to the camp near that place, and connected himself temporarily with the 24th Virginia Regiment, in the brigade of Colonel (afterwards General) Early. Acting with Captain Bentley's company of the 24th, he was present at the affair at Blackburn's Ford, on Bull Run, on the 18th of July, and also at the same point under the fire of the enemy's artillery on the 21st, though the regiment did not participate in the battle, which was fought on the left. On both occasions the coolness and cheerfulness with which he took his place in the ranks and performed the duties of a soldier were conspicuous. After the battle was over he returned home and spent the next winter in Mississippi, but returned to Virginia in time to rejoin the 24th Virginia Regiment in the trenches near Yorktown, where he again took his position in the ranks. He was present at the battle of Williamsburg on the 5th of May, 1862 and in the charge of the 24th on Hancock's Brigade, on the extreme Confederate left, he was killed while fighting most gallantly. In this charge the 5th North Carolina Regiment soon came to the assistance of the 24th, and the conduct of the two regiments (both of Early's Brigade) was such as to elicit even from the correspondents of Northern papers the highest praise. It was reported by Confederate surgeons left in charge of our wounded that both Generals McClellan and Hancock remarked that these two regiments deserved to have the word "immortal" inscribed on their flags. Among the bravest and most devoted of those who went into that charge was young HAIRSTON, and his name well deserves to be enrolled among those of the heroes whose lives were given to their country's cause. The infirmity of his health would have enabled him to keep out of the sendee, and his father's ample fortune would have furnished him the means of obtaining an exemption had his health been good; but he voluntarily did all of which he was capable, and sought the battle-field when there was danger, thus furnishing a most striking contrast to the conduct of those able-bodied young men who procured substitutes and sought exemptions in other ways. He was as conspicuous for the amiability of his character and a high sense of honor as he was for patriotic devotion and heroic courage."
from the "Memorial, Virginia Military Institute - Biographical Skethches of the Graduates and Eleves of the Virginia Military Institute who fell During the War Between the States."6 
ChartsDescendant Chart (#1)
Descendant Chart (#2)
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S1850] 1850 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  2. [S249] George Hairston Family Bible - 1750-1916, Peter Hairston Bible - 1750-1928, The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated Out of the Original Greek: and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. Cooperstown, (N.Y.) Sterotyped, Printed and Published by H. & E. Phinney, 1829., Library of Virginia - http://www.lva.virginia.gov
  3. [S24] Hall, Wm. Kearney 1918-. Descendants of Nicholas Perkins of Virginia. 1957 Ann Arbor, Michigan.
    https://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89069618338, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  4. [S3500] Bible - Marshall Hairston 1750, owned by Mrs. Anne Covington of "Beavercreek" transcribed by Mrs. Lillian Schwertz and printed in "Local History & Genealogical Society" Volume VII, March 1961, Number 1. (NOTE: There are several errors in this transcription.), Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  5. [S114] Virginia Military Institute.
  6. [S3037] Memorial, Virginia Military Institute - Biographical Skethches of the Graduates and Eleves of the Virginia Military Institute Who Fell During the War Between the States (J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia - 1875).
Last Edited26 Nov 2020