James Walden
(Northampton County)
Featured Character – 1863
James
Walden
Courtesy of the Chowan Discovery Group
Born in July 1842, James M. Walden came from a
long-established free black family in Northampton County. His father, Squire Walden, worked as a day
laborer. The 1860 Census lists his personal
estate at only $83. On January 1, 1864,
James M. Walden enlisted in the 2nd United States Colored Cavalry at Fortress
Monroe. He gave his occupation as
carpenter. Quickly promoted to corporal,
Walden became a sergeant in Company E on February 1, 1864. During the last year-and-a-half of the Civil
War, he spent a majority of his time in the Ambulance Corps, serving as a guard
and driver. On August 1, 1865, he became
first sergeant of his company. Upon
leaving the army in 1866, he returned home to Northampton County. After marrying Milly Weaver, Walden moved
close to her family in Hertford
County. Active in the black community, Walden
worshiped at Pleasant
Plains Baptist
Church. Together with Arajah Smith, the Waldens also
founded Waters Training School (presently C.S.
Brown High School) in Winton,
North Carolina. James M. Walden
died on May 21, 1908.