Individual Details

Thomas Jefferson O'Quinn was born October 11, 1830 in Jefferson County, Mississippi. His parents were Ross O'Quin (age 22) and Hannah Ross Sims O'Quinn (age 25). He married on January 13, 1852 to Minerva L. Vause. He fought as a brave Confederate in the Civil War and was captured in the Battle of Fort Blakely April 2-9, 1865, a seige which was the last "combined force" battle of the war involving African-American forces playing a major role. He was held in prison at Ship Island after his capture. According to historical records, the first Confederate prisoners had not arrived at Ship Island until October of 1864, when General E.R.S. Canby ordered more than 1,200 Confederate captives transferred from New Orleans. O'Quinn arrived in early April. The number of Confederates on Ship Island peaked a couple of weeks later in late April 1865 when 3,000 prisoners taken with the capture of Mobile arrived. Their stay was short, however, for all of the prisoners of war were sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi, to be exchanged for Union soldiers in late April and early May. Afterwards, during the reconstruction era in Mississippi, he continued to raise his family. My wife is descended from his son, John Singleton O'Quinn.

Birth	11 Oct 1830	Jefferson County, MS
Marriage	13 Jan 1852	Minerva L. VAUSE
Death	18 Apr 1899	Mississippi
Burial		Sims Cemetery, Jefferson County, MS

Spouse	Minerva L. VAUSE (1832 - 1907)
Child	Marcus Stanhope O'QUINN (1864 - 1935)