Preaching to the Enemy

Thomas Mann was the brother of my gg grandmother Sarah Mann Adams. He was born September 4, 1811 and lived in what is now Newport, North Carolina. At the time it was called Shepherdsville, which is an appropriate name for his story. He was listed as a Farmer and Turpentine Maker on the census records but made his reputation by being a Preacher.

In fact during the Civil War he preached to the Union troops who were occupying Carteret County and the locals didn't like that at all. He was taken prisoner by Confederate troops who thought he shouldn't be preaching to the enemy.

The Union troops retaliated, taking several hostages until Thomas Mann was released. He died sometime before 1870 and this memorial plaque was later placed in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Newport.