Birth: Feb. 18, 1843 Maysville Mason County Kentucky, USA
Death: Mar. 18, 1915 Gist Settlement Highland County Ohio, USA
Harrison Pearl (he was married to Charity Good) was born near Maysville, Kentucky in Mason County as a slave under his master Joseph Firman; the date of his birth was unknown, as was common with many slaves. In 1863, around the age of 21, Harrison left for Ohio to enlist in the United States service. Sister-in-law, Malinda Curtis, said that Pearl left and settled in the "colored settlement" before enlisting: "Said soldier came to what is known as the Colored Settlement near New Vienna Ohio from which place he went to Hillsboro and enlisted… When he was discharged he settled at or near New Vienna, where he has resided until his death."
Pearl enlisted in Hillsboro 11 June 1863. He enlisted with friends Samuel January, Edmond Williams,
Andrew Essex at the age of 21. He was a private in Company K of the 55th Massachusetts. Time of Pearl's military experience was his participation in the Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina. Pearl later "[claimed] a pension for a G.S.W (gun shot wound) in left arm above the elbow and a G.S.W. of left hand, received at Honey Hill, Va during the Siege of Richmond Va. He cannot state the date, and deafness of his left ear caused by the explosion of cannon at Honey Hill Va…That when he got shot they were making a charge on the Fort at honey Va. that was struck by a ball in the left arm above the elbow and struck by a shell in his left hand injuring the three fore fingers, and all except his little finger…That the next day after he was shot he commenced to get deaf, and said to the boys he could not hear and they said it was caused by the cannon…That he did not go in any hospital and his wounds were just wrapped up by the Doctor …That he remained with the company all the time after he was carried off of the field. Randall Goins and Samuel January took him off of the field.. does not remember any other comrades who saw the wounds at the time."
As a former slave and uneducated man, it seems Pearl had confused the geography of Honey Hill, and had mistakenly said that it was in Virginia instead of South Carolina. But he had admitted to possibly forgetting where they were at during the battle. Unfortunately, this ignorance was really indicative of the racial dichotomy that was ever so present, even in the Union army. This seems to be evidenced throughout Pearl's arduous attempts to get confirmation of his injury from his officers and their lack of memory of his injury. In particular, Charles Soule (Pearl's captain) seemed to lack memory or care of Pearl's injury. — in Gist Settlement. AKA Peril. Occupation: farmer. Enlisted in the 55th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, U.S. colored Troops, June 11, 1863 for a three-year term of service August 29, 1865, at Charleston, South Carolina. Rank: Private.
Family links: Spouse:
Charity Good Pearl (1844 - 1923)
Children: Mariah Pearl Rollins (1879 - 1951)*
Elsie Mae Pearl Nance (1882 - 1963)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial: Gist Settlement Gist Settlement Highland County Ohio, USA
Created by: Norette Cassell Cowin
Record added: Oct 02, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 98149433
