Notes for Joseph Summers PENTECOST

Notes for Joseph Summers PENTECOST

Joseph Summers Pentecost, the seventh son of John Wesley and Mary
Pentecost, was born in Cowetta Co., Georgia, on January 18, 1831.
Although he was still living at home in 1850, he was married on January
22, 1852 to Francis Caroline Burnette. In 1860 they were living in the
Tricum District(now Lowell) in Carroll Co., and had four children. His
mother Mary and brother Matthew Wood, were also living in the household
and Joseph and Matthew were engaged in farming. Joseph enlisted as a
private in Company C, 56th Georgia Regiment and fought in the Valley
Campaign and the Battle of Chattanooga. He was transferred from
Chattanooga to Vicksburg and in the seige of the city, he was killed in
action at Baker's Creek on May 16, 1865. The Battle of Baker's Creek (or
Champion's Hill) was the bloodiest action of the Vicksburg campaign and
because of the large number of casualties and the fact that the battle
raged on for several days, it was not possible for the burial detail to
enter the area immediately. Those men who could be indentified were
buried in the Vicksburg City Cemetery. Confederates were not aligible
for burial in the Military Cemetery. The fallen soldiers who bore no
identification were buried in mass graves on the battlefield. No
registration of the grave of Joseph Summers Pentecost is on file with
National Headquarters and it is assumed by them that he was interred with
his comrades where they fell.
Frances Burnette Pentecost remained on the land left to her at
Joseph's death, adjacent to the farm of his brother, John Samuel
Pentecost, who accepted his duty as substitute father and farm manager
for Frances. When John S. lost his wife, Temperance, several years
later, Frances was able to return his kindness by assisting with his nine
children. As a result of this sharing of responsibilities, the children
grew up almost as one family. Frances was born on October 16, 1833 and
was almost eighty-four at the time of her death on July 09, 1917. She is
buried in the New Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery, located on Route 5,
east of Roopville, Georgia.