Willis Hatcher is the son of Merritt and Amanda Hatcher. His father, Merrit Hatcher (b. ca 1836 in Cumberland Co., VA) was a slave owned by Josiah Hatcher (Hatcher family history by Nell Hatcher). Willis was born in Virginia in November of 1865. Willis is listed as 15 in the 1880 Virginia census as a farm laborer. The 1870 Cumberland County, Virginia census lists him as 4 years old and his parents as Meredith [sic] (head) and Bermanda (mother) are 40 years old. Also living with them are the grandparents, Sampson and Amy Hatcher.
In the 1900, Holguin, Cuba, US Military and Naval Forces, census he is listed as a Sgt. in the 10th Cavalry from Farmsville, VA and states he was born in November of 1865 and is single. Willis was wounded at the Battle of San Juan Hill. http://www.afrocubaweb.com/history/spanishamericanwar.htm
Willis Hatcher is listed in the 1910 Census, Fort Ethan Allen, Colchester, VT as a private, black, male, single, 44 years old from Virginia.
The 1920 Colchester Township, Winooski Village, Vermont census lists him as William Hatcher, white [sic], married and 45 years old (he is actually 55). Also in the household are his wife, Mary, daughter, Mary, and another 10th Cavalry soldier, George Osborne and his wife, Vesta, are listed as boarders.
The 1930 census show him living on LaFountain Street in Winooski City, VT with his wife, Mary, and daughter, Mary. They are listed as negro.
Willis Hatcher is buried in the Fort Ethan Allen Cemetery.
rev. 11/23/2008
Last modified November 24 2008 07:51 AM
