John and Permelia Bobbitt were both reared in families who owned and were served by slaves. John and Permelia never owned slave

The Bobbitt Family In America

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John and Permelia Bobbitt were both reared in families who owned and were served by slaves. John and Permelia never owned slaves and in fact the studies of their lives show that they had difficulty in feeding their own children, much less needed was the feeding of slaves. Greenville, Tilman, and Oregon Bobbitt owned slaves. I have never found any reference or account where Gibson Bobbitt ever owned a single slave. People who lived in Monroe and Greenbrier counties were divided in their philosophy and politics when it came to who would choose between the Union and the Confederacy. The sons of John and Permelia Bobbitt all chose the causes of the Confederacy. We will never know, but I will always wonder why.

One of the first members of the Bobbitt family to get involved in the brewing civil war was James Tolliver Bobbitt, son of Tilman Bobbitt. He joined the Confederate Army before the war had started. His qualities of leadership undoubtedly had the eligible Bobbitt males ready to fight for all the Confederate causes.

Lewis Hamilton Bobbitt, Allen Caperton Bobbitt, and Issac Newton Bobbitt, all sons of Gibson and Elizabeth Bobbitt were among the first to enter the Confederate Army.

Lewis Hamilton Bobbitt enlisted as a private on October 20, 1861 at Red Sulphur Springs, Virginia. He was discharged on October 31, 1864. He served in Captain Thurmonds Company, Virginia Cavalry A and B of the 166th Virginia Militia. He was described as Age 33, fair complexion, blue eyes, blonde hair, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, son of Gibson and Elizabeth Bobbitt. Lewis Bobbitt survived the war and returned to his home after the war was over.

Allen Caperton Bobbitt enlisted as a private on September 27, 1662. He was soon made a Sergeant in Company E, 26th Battalion of the Virginia Infantry and Edgar's Battalion. He was stationed at a camp near Charleston, Virginia. While in battle and serving as a Sergeant, he was killed on July 24, 1864. Allen Bobbitt was buried near the spot where he fell in battle.

Issac Newton Bobbitt enlisted as a private in Company 60, Rowan's Virginia Infantry, on June 15, 1861. He was described as 19, fair complexion, blonde hair, hazel eyes, 5 feet, 8 inches, unmarried, son of Gibson and Elizabeth Bobbitt. He took sick on the battle field with a high fever and was taken into Bookline Church just outside of Richmond, Virginia. He died in the church on June 15, 1861. Gibson Bobbitt had been notified that his son Issac was seriously ill and not expected to live. Gibson and his son Lewis rode on horse back to Richmond, Virginia but arrived one day too late to see Issac Bobbitt. Issac was buried in the Confederate cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

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