It had been a really nice day, blessed with nice weather and a pleasant walk
in the woods. After I spent a few hours watching tv I settled in for sometime
working on a collateral line of my family, the Barrows. I was adding the
siblings of my 6x greatgrandfather Moses Barrows to my Ancestry.com tree
with information from the book The Ancestors & Descendants of Asa
Freeman Ellingwood and Florilla (Dunham) Ellingwood and then searching
Ancestry for records. I'd entered Samuel Barrows, then clicked on "search
rewcords"....and my pleasant day came to a screeching halt.
I was on the "new search" screen.
I don't like the "new search" screen. Not at all.
I looked in vain for the "use old search" link which I'd clicked on back when
"new search" was first introduced and continued using the "old search" right
up to this evening. Could Ancestry have decided to move everyone onto the
"new search" much in the same way Facebook handles such matters?
Speaking of which, I had Facebook up in another tab on Firefox. I made the
comment that "I hate Ancestry "new search". Just saying" and several people
commented back that they agreed with me. A discussion started and Tina
Sansone helped me figure out how to get back to "old search". Phew! Thanks,
Tina!
What surprised me was that at this late hour of the day(it was actually early in
the morning, after 1am)six of my fellow genealogists immediately agreed that
they didn't like "new search"either. I thought it was just me, grumpy old fart
that I am, who found it cumbersome and tedious to navigate but apparently that
is not the case.(and I haven't heard yet from my fellow East Coasters who were
still slumbering peacefully in bed at the time).
Now I know Ancestry and Family Search (who also is moving to a new "improved"
search engine) feel the need to refine their sites, but somebody has to say it:
not all change is good. All the filters and search fields just clutter up things, make
it more confusing and more frustrating for users like myself. The beauty of the
"old search" is its simplicity. The most relevant items are right there at the top.
I still dig through the succeeding pages but I like having some of the answers
right there at the start of the search.
If this makes me a genealogical old fuddyduddy , well then, so be it, I'll just
happily fud and dud along in "old search" while you younger more hip folks
use "new search" and more power to you!
Just stay off my lawn, you dang kids!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
NEW BACKGROUND
Well, I decided it was time to change the background to something a
little more in step with the season. So I've switched to a picture I took
a few weeks ago when my sister Cheryl and I took a long walk out at
World's End in Hingham.
It was one of the nicer Spring days so far and we had a good time!
AUGUST 1976
When I was a kid my family often visited the cottage owned by
my Mom's Aunt and Uncle Peggy and Leo McCue out at Hough's
Neck in Quincy. In later years the cottage was sold and the
scene shifted to cousin Bobby McCue's place in Marshfield. By
that time I was in my 20's and didn't go along very often. (I was
worried I'd be mistaken for a beached whale). But my younger
brother did and I think either he or my sister Cheryl took pictures
one day in August of 1976:
As you can tell from the pictures, my folks enjoyed the beach, and really enjoyed
the time spent with the cousins!
((Written for the 106th Carnival of Genealogy))
my Mom's Aunt and Uncle Peggy and Leo McCue out at Hough's
Neck in Quincy. In later years the cottage was sold and the
scene shifted to cousin Bobby McCue's place in Marshfield. By
that time I was in my 20's and didn't go along very often. (I was
worried I'd be mistaken for a beached whale). But my younger
brother did and I think either he or my sister Cheryl took pictures
one day in August of 1976:
 |
| Mom & Dad |
 |
| Mom |
 |
| I'm not sure what Dad is pointing at here. |
 | |
| Dad about to try water skiing |
 | |
| Mom & Cousins |
the time spent with the cousins!
((Written for the 106th Carnival of Genealogy))
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
THE "TO-DO" LIST
Now that I've become a "gentleman of leisure" (more on that later) I find myself
with time to do some of the things I've put off over the years. Writing a book,
for one. But I also have a list of genealogy "to dos" which include the following:
1. The BIG one: breaking down the John Cutter West brickwall.
2. Following up on finding out more about maternal grandfather Edward F.White
Sr and possibly contacting my newly discovered uncles.
3. Adding collateral branches to my family tree
4. Trimming duplicate entries from my family tree
5. Locating and correctly citing more sources
6. Photographing all the gravestones at Mt Vernon Cemetery, then posting
them to find a grave.
7. Locating and photographing the gravestones of ancestors buried in various
communities of Massachusetts.
I'm sure there's more I can add to the list, but that should keep me out of trouble
for a bit!
with time to do some of the things I've put off over the years. Writing a book,
for one. But I also have a list of genealogy "to dos" which include the following:
1. The BIG one: breaking down the John Cutter West brickwall.
2. Following up on finding out more about maternal grandfather Edward F.White
Sr and possibly contacting my newly discovered uncles.
3. Adding collateral branches to my family tree
4. Trimming duplicate entries from my family tree
5. Locating and correctly citing more sources
6. Photographing all the gravestones at Mt Vernon Cemetery, then posting
them to find a grave.
7. Locating and photographing the gravestones of ancestors buried in various
communities of Massachusetts.
I'm sure there's more I can add to the list, but that should keep me out of trouble
for a bit!
Thursday, May 05, 2011
ASA ELLINGWOOD'S PENSION FILE PT7
One of the little mysteries of the precedings on 3Apr 1884 is that there
is no indication as to what order the various witnesses testified nor is
there any notation of time of day. If Asa wife, my 2x great grandmother
Florilla Dunham Ellingwood gave her statement late in the day after all
the others it might possibly explain the somewhat (I think) prosecutorial
tone of the questioning. Despite that Florilla's responses steadily agree
with those Asa gave in his statement.
Again, the punctuation and grammar are as they appear on the original document:
On this 3rd day of April, 1884, at Upton, County of Oxford, State of Maine,
before me, F. E. Lawton, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally
appeared Florilla. Ellingwood, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination
of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: her age is 50 years. P.O. address
is Upton Hill, Maine, occupation housekeeper
Q: When did you marry the claimant Asa F. Ellingwood
A: In the year 1850
Q: Have you always lived with each other since you were first married
A: Yes sir,
Q: Do you distinctly remember when he enlisted in May 1861
A: Yes sir
Q: Did he have a rupture either over the right or left side when he enlisted
A: No sir I know he never had any ruptures when he enlisted in 1861
Q: What was the trouble with him when he enlisted in May 1861
A: I never knew that he had any.
Q: Did he never complain prior to his enlistment of pain in his hips
and on his back,
A: No Sir
Q: When did you next see him after he enlisted in May 1851
A: I saw him in June 1861.when he came home on a furlough
Q: What disease or disability did he have when he came home in June 1861
A: He had none.
Q: When did you next see him after June 1861
A: I saw him in Dec 1861 when he was discharged and came home.
Q: What was the trouble with him in Dec 1861 when you say he came home
A: He had two ruptures when he came home one on each side.
Q: Was there any other disease or disability at the time you say he came home
in Dec 1861
A: He was troubled with his back and kidneys. I know of nothing else.
Q: Has your husband been sick each and every year since Dec 1861 with
back and kidney trouble
A:: Yes sir
Q: How much of the time each and every every year has he been incapacitated
for the performance of manual labor by reason of his kidney or back trouble
and the aforesaid ruptures.
A: I should say he has been laid up one quarter of the time so he could not
work each year since he came home in 1861.
Q: What was the age of your oldest child when your husband returned from
the service in 1861
A: The child was 9 years of age and his name Walter F. Ellingwood and he
lives in Cambridge N.H.
Q: How did your husband tell you he incurred the alleged ruptures.
A: He said the Col was on his horse and ran over him which ruptured him.
Q: How did he tell you he contracted kidney disease or back disease
A: He said he got overheated on a march and laid out without blankets
and got cold which settled in his back and kidneys.
Q: What were the size of the ruptures when he came home in Dec 1861
A: They were the size of a walnut I should say..
Q:You say he had his ruptures when he came home in Dec 1861
A: Yes Sir.
Q: Are you positive that you have stated these questions correctly when I have
asked you
A: Yes Sir.
Then the signature of Florilla Ellingwood as deponent.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of Apr 1884 and I
certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
F. E. Lawton Special Examiner.
is no indication as to what order the various witnesses testified nor is
there any notation of time of day. If Asa wife, my 2x great grandmother
Florilla Dunham Ellingwood gave her statement late in the day after all
the others it might possibly explain the somewhat (I think) prosecutorial
tone of the questioning. Despite that Florilla's responses steadily agree
with those Asa gave in his statement.
Again, the punctuation and grammar are as they appear on the original document:
On this 3rd day of April, 1884, at Upton, County of Oxford, State of Maine,
before me, F. E. Lawton, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally
appeared Florilla. Ellingwood, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination
of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: her age is 50 years. P.O. address
is Upton Hill, Maine, occupation housekeeper
Q: When did you marry the claimant Asa F. Ellingwood
A: In the year 1850
Q: Have you always lived with each other since you were first married
A: Yes sir,
Q: Do you distinctly remember when he enlisted in May 1861
A: Yes sir
Q: Did he have a rupture either over the right or left side when he enlisted
A: No sir I know he never had any ruptures when he enlisted in 1861
Q: What was the trouble with him when he enlisted in May 1861
A: I never knew that he had any.
Q: Did he never complain prior to his enlistment of pain in his hips
and on his back,
A: No Sir
Q: When did you next see him after he enlisted in May 1851
A: I saw him in June 1861.when he came home on a furlough
Q: What disease or disability did he have when he came home in June 1861
A: He had none.
Q: When did you next see him after June 1861
A: I saw him in Dec 1861 when he was discharged and came home.
Q: What was the trouble with him in Dec 1861 when you say he came home
A: He had two ruptures when he came home one on each side.
Q: Was there any other disease or disability at the time you say he came home
in Dec 1861
A: He was troubled with his back and kidneys. I know of nothing else.
Q: Has your husband been sick each and every year since Dec 1861 with
back and kidney trouble
A:: Yes sir
Q: How much of the time each and every every year has he been incapacitated
for the performance of manual labor by reason of his kidney or back trouble
and the aforesaid ruptures.
A: I should say he has been laid up one quarter of the time so he could not
work each year since he came home in 1861.
Q: What was the age of your oldest child when your husband returned from
the service in 1861
A: The child was 9 years of age and his name Walter F. Ellingwood and he
lives in Cambridge N.H.
Q: How did your husband tell you he incurred the alleged ruptures.
A: He said the Col was on his horse and ran over him which ruptured him.
Q: How did he tell you he contracted kidney disease or back disease
A: He said he got overheated on a march and laid out without blankets
and got cold which settled in his back and kidneys.
Q: What were the size of the ruptures when he came home in Dec 1861
A: They were the size of a walnut I should say..
Q:You say he had his ruptures when he came home in Dec 1861
A: Yes Sir.
Q: Are you positive that you have stated these questions correctly when I have
asked you
A: Yes Sir.
Then the signature of Florilla Ellingwood as deponent.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of Apr 1884 and I
certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
F. E. Lawton Special Examiner.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
SYNCHRONICITY AND ASA ELLINGWOOD
Talk about synchronicity...
As regular readers of this blog know, I'm in the midst of transcribing the
Civil War Disability Pension file of my 2x great grandfather Asa Freeman
Ellingwood. Now, last Friday night I checked into cousin Chris Dunham's
Maine Genealogy Network website and saw his post that FamilySearch
had posted Maine court record images. I followed the link over to the
site and didn't see any listing for Oxford County yet, but there was a link
just labeled Maine,
I clicked on it. The link on the next screen said "Military Records-Civil War".
One more click and I was on a page listing the various Union Army units
from the state of Maine, and on it I found the following:
The second page of the Descriptive Roll of Co, I of the 5th Infantry. Asa Ellingwood's
name and description is on line 46. He is listed as a mechanic from Paris Me. and
described as being 31 years of age and being 5' 8" in height with light complexion:
Next I found the Enlistment Rolls for the 5th Infantry for Bethel Maine and found Asa's
signature twice: once in the right hand panel on line 34 dated May 2, 1861, then on line
34 in the second column on the right hand side of the screen:
The third image was the also from the Enlistment Rolls and might be the reverse
side of the second half of the previous image. In a group of men on the right hand
side from Oxford County taking the "oath of fidelity to the United States" on May
3rd 1861 is the name of Asa Ellingwood.
So, exactly 150 years ago to the day I am writing this, my 2x great grandfather
enlisted in the Union Army, then took the oath of fidelity the next day, and by May
28th he was part of Co I of the 5th Maine Infantry. And by some synchronicity, I
happened to see Chris Dunham's post on the Maine Genealogy Network that
lead me to these documents just in time to celebrate that anniversary.
Thanks, Chris!
.
As regular readers of this blog know, I'm in the midst of transcribing the
Civil War Disability Pension file of my 2x great grandfather Asa Freeman
Ellingwood. Now, last Friday night I checked into cousin Chris Dunham's
Maine Genealogy Network website and saw his post that FamilySearch
had posted Maine court record images. I followed the link over to the
site and didn't see any listing for Oxford County yet, but there was a link
just labeled Maine,
I clicked on it. The link on the next screen said "Military Records-Civil War".
One more click and I was on a page listing the various Union Army units
from the state of Maine, and on it I found the following:
The second page of the Descriptive Roll of Co, I of the 5th Infantry. Asa Ellingwood's
name and description is on line 46. He is listed as a mechanic from Paris Me. and
described as being 31 years of age and being 5' 8" in height with light complexion:
Next I found the Enlistment Rolls for the 5th Infantry for Bethel Maine and found Asa's
signature twice: once in the right hand panel on line 34 dated May 2, 1861, then on line
34 in the second column on the right hand side of the screen:
The third image was the also from the Enlistment Rolls and might be the reverse
side of the second half of the previous image. In a group of men on the right hand
side from Oxford County taking the "oath of fidelity to the United States" on May
3rd 1861 is the name of Asa Ellingwood.
So, exactly 150 years ago to the day I am writing this, my 2x great grandfather
enlisted in the Union Army, then took the oath of fidelity the next day, and by May
28th he was part of Co I of the 5th Maine Infantry. And by some synchronicity, I
happened to see Chris Dunham's post on the Maine Genealogy Network that
lead me to these documents just in time to celebrate that anniversary.
Thanks, Chris!
.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
VIRTUALLY THERE: MEETING MY FELLOW GENEABLOGGERS
Although I've been pretty active in the geneablogging community I have yet to
attend a meeting og a genealogy society or been to a genealogy conference.
Work and finances haven't permitted me that luxury yet, and even when my
job comes to an end in a few weeks end, the prospect of me being able to
get to, say, the Southern California Jamboree are exactly the same as for me
going to Mars: slim to none.
But while I haven't physically met any of my geneablogging colleagues, I have
met them "virtually". This began with me sitting in on Miriam Robbins Midkiff's
Scanfest chat room over at her Ancestories blog. While the stated purpose is
for us to get together and scan our troves of family photographs, the chat can
cover just about any aspect of genealogical research. Scanfest is held in the
afternoon of the last Sunday of the month.
Next came Thomas MacEntee's GeneaBloggers Radio over at BlogTalk
Radio.This is an actual radio show broadcast on the internet which began as
weekly Friday broadcasts following the genealogy television show "Who Do
You Think You Are?" which included guests whose own research areas had
something to do with the areas the tv show covered that week. But it has since
evolved in a weekly themed show, with programs on subjects like Irish, Latino,
and African American genealogy, Civil War research, or Mayfl er ancestry.
As Thomas does his excellent job interviewing the guests, the chatroom buzzes
with conversations and comments. It's fast-moving and fun stream of conversation.
My third and most recently added method of meeting other geneabloggers online
is the Genealogy in Second Life group. Second Life is an online virtual reality
world with various communities: there are buildings to enter and meet in and you
have an avatar. The Just Genealogy meetings are held in a Family History Center
and range from the Monday "Meet and Greet" to a discussion of the upcoming
release of the 1940 Federal Census. This past week there was a "scavenger hunt"
on the American Heritage website hosted by Clarisse Beaumont (aka DearMyrtle)
that was fun and educational. Another presentation earlier this year by Alice Kane
on Boston repositories was extremely useful to me.
Here are some screen shots:
There is a Genealogists on Second Life Group page on Facebook which has the list
of discussions for the upcoming week. If you decide to check it out, take a little time
to learn how to maneuver your avatar around so you won't be as much of a klutz at it
as I am!
So while my face to face encounters with other genealogists haven't happened quite
yet, thanks to computer technology I have had the pleasure of "meeting" many and
I've learned about new and useful genealogy tools to boot!
attend a meeting og a genealogy society or been to a genealogy conference.
Work and finances haven't permitted me that luxury yet, and even when my
job comes to an end in a few weeks end, the prospect of me being able to
get to, say, the Southern California Jamboree are exactly the same as for me
going to Mars: slim to none.
But while I haven't physically met any of my geneablogging colleagues, I have
met them "virtually". This began with me sitting in on Miriam Robbins Midkiff's
Scanfest chat room over at her Ancestories blog. While the stated purpose is
for us to get together and scan our troves of family photographs, the chat can
cover just about any aspect of genealogical research. Scanfest is held in the
afternoon of the last Sunday of the month.
Next came Thomas MacEntee's GeneaBloggers Radio over at BlogTalk
Radio.This is an actual radio show broadcast on the internet which began as
weekly Friday broadcasts following the genealogy television show "Who Do
You Think You Are?" which included guests whose own research areas had
something to do with the areas the tv show covered that week. But it has since
evolved in a weekly themed show, with programs on subjects like Irish, Latino,
and African American genealogy, Civil War research, or Mayfl er ancestry.
As Thomas does his excellent job interviewing the guests, the chatroom buzzes
with conversations and comments. It's fast-moving and fun stream of conversation.
My third and most recently added method of meeting other geneabloggers online
is the Genealogy in Second Life group. Second Life is an online virtual reality
world with various communities: there are buildings to enter and meet in and you
have an avatar. The Just Genealogy meetings are held in a Family History Center
and range from the Monday "Meet and Greet" to a discussion of the upcoming
release of the 1940 Federal Census. This past week there was a "scavenger hunt"
on the American Heritage website hosted by Clarisse Beaumont (aka DearMyrtle)
that was fun and educational. Another presentation earlier this year by Alice Kane
on Boston repositories was extremely useful to me.
Here are some screen shots:
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upstairs at the FHC building. Each one of those laptops link to a specific sites, like the NARA Military Records. |
 |
| The exterior of the FHC. Meetings are sometimes held on the front terrace.. |
 |
| The fire pit is another chat site. The screen is a whiteboard to display graphics. |
of discussions for the upcoming week. If you decide to check it out, take a little time
to learn how to maneuver your avatar around so you won't be as much of a klutz at it
as I am!
So while my face to face encounters with other genealogists haven't happened quite
yet, thanks to computer technology I have had the pleasure of "meeting" many and
I've learned about new and useful genealogy tools to boot!
Friday, April 29, 2011
ASA ELLINGWOOD'S PENSION FILE PT6
Before I move on to Florilla Dunham Ellingwood's testimony, I wanted to share what
I've found about two of the witnesses Asa asked to have interviewed on his behalf.
The first is James Barrows. As I previously mentioned, Asa Ellingwood's mother
was Rachel Barrows and after her death, he went to live with his Aunt Polly Barrows
and her husband Morton Curtis. Given that fact, I was fairly sure that witness James
Barrows was a relative.
On p.501 of The Hstory of Paris, Maine by Wiliam Berry Lapham, I found the
following:
James Hooper Barrows, (son of Harvey) m. Mary P., dau. of Lewis Fuller.
Settled in Paris in 1854. Has been largely engaged in the manufacture of chairs.
Unfortunately, Lapham didn't have much information on Harvey Barrows:
Harvey Barrows was of Sumner, and passed his boyhood in the family of Elder
James Hooper. He m. Hannah Beekler, whose grandfather was of German birth,
and settled in Albany. Children:
Elizabeth, m. Sullivan Barrett, s. Sumner.
Hannah, m. Wm. Richardson, s. Greenwood.
Sabrina, d. at the age of 13.
James Hooper, b. Dec, 21, 1831, m. Mary P. Fuller.
George H., b. July, 1833, s. in Ohio.
However, I had a surprise waiting for me when I checked out the other witness,
Oliver Pratt. I found this on pages 700-701, You'll see why I used red for the
above entry on Harvey Barrows.
Pratt.
Phineas and Joshua Pratt came to Plymouth in the third Pilgrim ship, Ann. and
were among the forefathers at Plymouth, and probably ancestors of most of the
name in the old colony.
Luther and Nathaniel Pratt were of Middleborough, Mass., and were early
settlers in the west part of the town. The wife of Capt. Jairus Shaw was a sister,
as was also the mother of Governor Albion K. Parris of Hebron. Luther Pratt
m. Udora Leonard. Children:
Betsey, m. Jacob Winslow.
Leonard, m. Sally Glbion.
Calvin, b. May 17, 1797, m. Deborah Barrows.
Polly, m. 1st, Solomon Knight, 2d, George Knight of Poland, and was murdered by
her husband, who is serving out a life sentence in the State prison.
Martin, d. 1827.
Sally, b. 1801, m. __________ Ricker of Poland.
Eliza, b. Aug. 12, 1804, m. Nov. 4, 1825, Ansel Cushman of Hebron.
Nancy, b. 1806, m. Stephen Mitchell.
The father d. 1818. The mother d. 1818.
Nathaniel Pratt, brother of the preceding, m. Lucy Shaw, a sister of Gilbert Shaw,
and settled on the lot now the farm of Alhert Winslow. Children:
Abagail, m. David Andrews;
Cyrene, m. David Andrews, 2d wife;
Lucy,. b. July 17, 1797, m. William Cumniings, s. Hamlin's Grant;
Nathaniel;
Lydia, b. April 15,1801, m. 1st, Moses Cummings, 2d, Daniel Cummings.
Leonard, son of Luther Pratt, m. Sarah Gibson of Waterford. Children:
Mary Jane, m. 1st, Ether Deering, 2d; Robert Sklllings
Sarah, d. young.
The father d. about 1820. The widow m. Thomas Dunham of Hebron, and settled
in Turner.
Calvin Pratt, brother of the preceding, m. Deborah, dau. of Ansel Barrows. She
was b. in Granby, Vermont, Oct. 22, 1799. Ansel Barrows came to Paris and
lived in a log house near Elder Hooper's, and moved to Sumner. Children:
Oliver Leonard, b. May 2, 1820, m. Elizabeth Fuller of Woodstock.
Theodora Leonora, b. April 20, 1822, m. Richard H. Jordan of Bethel, and
died some years ago.
Hannah Elliot, b. March 31,1829, m. John C. Warren; she is also dead.
The father d. May 15, 1871. The aged mother still lives with her son at West Paris.
Now, Ansel Barrows was the uncle of both Rachel and Polly Barrows and so the
granduncle of Asa Ellingwood. I know that he had a son named Harvey, so it's
probable that James Barrows was his grandson.
In other words, both Oliver and James were Asa's cousins, and given that he'd
probably known them all his life, they would have known precisely what his
physical condition was like before and after his enlistment in the Union Army.
I've found about two of the witnesses Asa asked to have interviewed on his behalf.
The first is James Barrows. As I previously mentioned, Asa Ellingwood's mother
was Rachel Barrows and after her death, he went to live with his Aunt Polly Barrows
and her husband Morton Curtis. Given that fact, I was fairly sure that witness James
Barrows was a relative.
On p.501 of The Hstory of Paris, Maine by Wiliam Berry Lapham, I found the
following:
James Hooper Barrows, (son of Harvey) m. Mary P., dau. of Lewis Fuller.
Settled in Paris in 1854. Has been largely engaged in the manufacture of chairs.
Unfortunately, Lapham didn't have much information on Harvey Barrows:
Harvey Barrows was of Sumner, and passed his boyhood in the family of Elder
James Hooper. He m. Hannah Beekler, whose grandfather was of German birth,
and settled in Albany. Children:
Elizabeth, m. Sullivan Barrett, s. Sumner.
Hannah, m. Wm. Richardson, s. Greenwood.
Sabrina, d. at the age of 13.
James Hooper, b. Dec, 21, 1831, m. Mary P. Fuller.
George H., b. July, 1833, s. in Ohio.
However, I had a surprise waiting for me when I checked out the other witness,
Oliver Pratt. I found this on pages 700-701, You'll see why I used red for the
above entry on Harvey Barrows.
Pratt.
Phineas and Joshua Pratt came to Plymouth in the third Pilgrim ship, Ann. and
were among the forefathers at Plymouth, and probably ancestors of most of the
name in the old colony.
Luther and Nathaniel Pratt were of Middleborough, Mass., and were early
settlers in the west part of the town. The wife of Capt. Jairus Shaw was a sister,
as was also the mother of Governor Albion K. Parris of Hebron. Luther Pratt
m. Udora Leonard. Children:
Betsey, m. Jacob Winslow.
Leonard, m. Sally Glbion.
Calvin, b. May 17, 1797, m. Deborah Barrows.
Polly, m. 1st, Solomon Knight, 2d, George Knight of Poland, and was murdered by
her husband, who is serving out a life sentence in the State prison.
Martin, d. 1827.
Sally, b. 1801, m. __________ Ricker of Poland.
Eliza, b. Aug. 12, 1804, m. Nov. 4, 1825, Ansel Cushman of Hebron.
Nancy, b. 1806, m. Stephen Mitchell.
The father d. 1818. The mother d. 1818.
Nathaniel Pratt, brother of the preceding, m. Lucy Shaw, a sister of Gilbert Shaw,
and settled on the lot now the farm of Alhert Winslow. Children:
Abagail, m. David Andrews;
Cyrene, m. David Andrews, 2d wife;
Lucy,. b. July 17, 1797, m. William Cumniings, s. Hamlin's Grant;
Nathaniel;
Lydia, b. April 15,1801, m. 1st, Moses Cummings, 2d, Daniel Cummings.
Leonard, son of Luther Pratt, m. Sarah Gibson of Waterford. Children:
Mary Jane, m. 1st, Ether Deering, 2d; Robert Sklllings
Sarah, d. young.
The father d. about 1820. The widow m. Thomas Dunham of Hebron, and settled
in Turner.
Calvin Pratt, brother of the preceding, m. Deborah, dau. of Ansel Barrows. She
was b. in Granby, Vermont, Oct. 22, 1799. Ansel Barrows came to Paris and
lived in a log house near Elder Hooper's, and moved to Sumner. Children:
Oliver Leonard, b. May 2, 1820, m. Elizabeth Fuller of Woodstock.
Theodora Leonora, b. April 20, 1822, m. Richard H. Jordan of Bethel, and
died some years ago.
Hannah Elliot, b. March 31,1829, m. John C. Warren; she is also dead.
The father d. May 15, 1871. The aged mother still lives with her son at West Paris.
Now, Ansel Barrows was the uncle of both Rachel and Polly Barrows and so the
granduncle of Asa Ellingwood. I know that he had a son named Harvey, so it's
probable that James Barrows was his grandson.
In other words, both Oliver and James were Asa's cousins, and given that he'd
probably known them all his life, they would have known precisely what his
physical condition was like before and after his enlistment in the Union Army.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
ASA ELLINGWOOD'S PENSION FILE PT5
A few comments on what we've seen so far from 2x great grandfather Asa
Ellingwood's testimony:
I am extremely fortunate to have a copy of cousin Florence O'Connor's book
The Ancestors and Descendants of Asa Freeman Ellingwood and Florilla
(Dunham) Ellingwood (West Paris, Me 1979) to draw upon in my family research.
In her section on Asa himself, she writes of how Asa and his brother Oscar were
sent to live with their Aunt Polly Barrows Curtis and her husband Morton Curtis
after their mother had died. Three years later, on 25Jan 1835, Asa's father John
Ellingwood Jr died as well, leaving Asa and his siblings orphans. This was why he
livd with the Curtises for 18 years.
Although I haven't yet filled in the collateral Barrows cousins on my family tree
it is highly probable that the James Barrows Asa refers to in his testimony is
a cousin. And Crosby Curtis was the son of Morton Curtis and his first wife,
Dorcas Young.
I believe the man named Perry who Asa was helping during the retreat from
First Bull Run was a soldier named Albert Perry who served in CO.I 5th Me.
and died in Washington. D.C. on18Sep 1862. He was 19 years old.
So from Asa's testimony and the Ellingwood book, I've constructed the
following timeline for Asa for the years up to 1874. The information from
the testimony is italicized:
4Apr 1828 Born in Milan, Coos, N.H.
9May 1832 Rachel Barrows Ellingwood dies. Asa and brother Oscar sent to live with
their Aunt Polly Barrows Curtis and her husband Morton Curtis at Woodstock, Oxford, Me.
1846-The 18 year old Asa returns to Milan, Coos, N.H. to work for his brother J. H.
Ellingwood. (Jacob Ellingwood)
1848/1849-Asa returns to Woodstock, Oxford, Me.
22Aug 1850- Marries Florilla Dunham in Woodstock, Oxford, Me.
1853-Asa goes to Paris, Oxford, Me. to work for Alfred Sterns.
1854- Asa works for 6 mos. at J. Jackson's grist mill
1855- Back to Woodstock, Oxford, Me. for a year
1856-Asa moves back to Snow Falls section of Paris, Oxford, Me. to work for Alfred
Sterns.
May 1861- Asa enlists in Co.I, 5th Me. at Portland, Me.
21Jul 1861- Asa suffers his injuries in the Union retreat from the First Battle of
Bull Run.
22Dec 1861- Asa is given a disability discharge and returns home.
1Jul 1863- Asa is counted on the Civil War Draft Registration rolls at Dummer, Coos, N.H.
Dec 1864-Asa reenlists
1865- Asa is discharged and returns to Dummer, Coos, N.H. He remains there for six years,
1871- Asa moves to Errol, Coos, N.H.
1874-Asa moves to Upton, Oxford, Me.
Next, Florilla Dunham Ellingwood's testimony.
Ellingwood's testimony:
I am extremely fortunate to have a copy of cousin Florence O'Connor's book
The Ancestors and Descendants of Asa Freeman Ellingwood and Florilla
(Dunham) Ellingwood (West Paris, Me 1979) to draw upon in my family research.
In her section on Asa himself, she writes of how Asa and his brother Oscar were
sent to live with their Aunt Polly Barrows Curtis and her husband Morton Curtis
after their mother had died. Three years later, on 25Jan 1835, Asa's father John
Ellingwood Jr died as well, leaving Asa and his siblings orphans. This was why he
livd with the Curtises for 18 years.
Although I haven't yet filled in the collateral Barrows cousins on my family tree
it is highly probable that the James Barrows Asa refers to in his testimony is
a cousin. And Crosby Curtis was the son of Morton Curtis and his first wife,
Dorcas Young.
I believe the man named Perry who Asa was helping during the retreat from
First Bull Run was a soldier named Albert Perry who served in CO.I 5th Me.
and died in Washington. D.C. on18Sep 1862. He was 19 years old.
So from Asa's testimony and the Ellingwood book, I've constructed the
following timeline for Asa for the years up to 1874. The information from
the testimony is italicized:
4Apr 1828 Born in Milan, Coos, N.H.
9May 1832 Rachel Barrows Ellingwood dies. Asa and brother Oscar sent to live with
their Aunt Polly Barrows Curtis and her husband Morton Curtis at Woodstock, Oxford, Me.
1846-The 18 year old Asa returns to Milan, Coos, N.H. to work for his brother J. H.
Ellingwood. (Jacob Ellingwood)
1848/1849-Asa returns to Woodstock, Oxford, Me.
22Aug 1850- Marries Florilla Dunham in Woodstock, Oxford, Me.
1853-Asa goes to Paris, Oxford, Me. to work for Alfred Sterns.
1854- Asa works for 6 mos. at J. Jackson's grist mill
1855- Back to Woodstock, Oxford, Me. for a year
1856-Asa moves back to Snow Falls section of Paris, Oxford, Me. to work for Alfred
Sterns.
May 1861- Asa enlists in Co.I, 5th Me. at Portland, Me.
21Jul 1861- Asa suffers his injuries in the Union retreat from the First Battle of
Bull Run.
22Dec 1861- Asa is given a disability discharge and returns home.
1Jul 1863- Asa is counted on the Civil War Draft Registration rolls at Dummer, Coos, N.H.
Dec 1864-Asa reenlists
1865- Asa is discharged and returns to Dummer, Coos, N.H. He remains there for six years,
1871- Asa moves to Errol, Coos, N.H.
1874-Asa moves to Upton, Oxford, Me.
Next, Florilla Dunham Ellingwood's testimony.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
ASA ELLINGWOOD'S PENSION FILE PT4
This is the second part of my 2x great grandfather Asa Freeman Ellingwood's
testimony on behalf of his Civil War Disability Pension claim. There are some
parts that I wasn't able to make out and other words which are my best guesses
at meaning, The latter are indicated by (?). Other that that the grammar and
punctuation are as they appear on the original document.
I will discuss what I learned from this testimony in my next post.
Q: Where, when and how did you incur the two alleged ruptures.
A: While I was a member of Co.I 5th Me. at the first battle of Bull Run on the
21st of July 1861 I was helping a man by the name of Perry who died afterwards
off the field when the Col. Mark H. Dunnell who was riding by the side of us
swung his horse around and knocked me down with the man I was helping
on top of me. We were both knocked over. We were on the retreat from Bull
Run in the woods at the time and when I was knocked over I was knocked
over a log and it was at that time I was knocked down when I was ruptured
on both sides. The right side and the left side.
Q: Is this affidavit I now show you dated and executed Nov 12 th 1880 in
which you state that you received one rupture in 1861 and in in March of 1862
signed by you.
A: Yes sir it is
Q: How do you explain the discrepancy in prior(?) affidavit and your statement
of today.
A:They misunderstood me when they made the affidavit for I never knew that
I had stated any such thing for I never got any rupture in 1862. They were both
(illegible) me in 1861 just after2 injuries by the horse.
Q: Were you sent to Hospital at the time you say you were knocked down and run
over Col Mark Dunnell's horse.
A: No sir I was not in the Hospital at any time. We had no Hospital at that time.
Q: How long after you were run over or knocked down was it before you felt or
knew you were ruptured.
A: I felt it the same day
Q: Who knew of your rupture at the time.
A:I don't know that anyone did only I told Dr Warren and he gave me some
medicine and I reported as sick and they put me onto light duty.
Q: Where was you when Dr Warren treated you for the rupture and disease
of the kidneys.
A: It was at Bush Hill Va. in July 1861'
Q: When and or where did you contract the alleged disease of kidneys.
A: At the first battle of Bull Run in July 1861. We were on a double quick march
on the 20th of July and we had just got to Fairfax and I was very sweaty and
tired and we had no blankets having (illegible) away on our retreat.
(There seems to be a page missing here as the next page starts with Asa
answering a question about him reenlisting.)
A: Yes sir I reenlisted in the V.I.R. C. in September, 1864 and stayed there for
about 16 months
Q: Who knew that you were ruptured when you came home in December 1861
A: My wife and I don't know of anyone else
Q: What was your duties while you were in the V.R. Corps
A :I was a cook
Q: Where did you live in Dec 1861 when you came home from the 5th Maine
A: I lived at Paris Maine
Q: Who treated you when you came home in Dec 1861
A: Dr Russell who now lives at Fayette(?) Maine
Q: Where have you lived since you came out of the service in 1865
A: I lived in Dummer in N.H for some 6 years and Dr Meserve of Milan N.H.
then treated me. Then I moved across the lake to Erril N.H. where I lived some
three years. Dr. Wily of Bethel treated me while I lived at Erril. I then moved here
near Upton Hill where I have been ever since,
Q: Do you wish to act as your own attorney during this examination of your claim
or do you wish to appoint some attorney to act for you
A: I am poor and have not the money to (three illegible words) my self and cannot
afford to have anyone. Therefore I shall be obliged to depend upon your honesty.
Q: Then you waive all rights to be present in person or to be represented by an
attorney during said examination of your claims
A: Yes Sir I do.
Q: Who do you wish me to see in behalf of your claims
A: I wish you to see Crosby Curtis of Woodstock Maine also his wife. James
Barrows and Oliver Pratt of West Paris Me.and those who have testified in my
claim and Mr Bradford Denning at West Paris Maine.
Q: Have you any other testimony to offer in behalf of your claims other than that
which is already mentioned
A: No Sir
There follow the signatures of two witnesses, C.L. Abbott and A. F. Abbott.
Then the signature of Asa F Ellingwood as deponent.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of Apr 1884 and I
certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
F. E. Lawton Special Examiner.
testimony on behalf of his Civil War Disability Pension claim. There are some
parts that I wasn't able to make out and other words which are my best guesses
at meaning, The latter are indicated by (?). Other that that the grammar and
punctuation are as they appear on the original document.
I will discuss what I learned from this testimony in my next post.
Q: Where, when and how did you incur the two alleged ruptures.
A: While I was a member of Co.I 5th Me. at the first battle of Bull Run on the
21st of July 1861 I was helping a man by the name of Perry who died afterwards
off the field when the Col. Mark H. Dunnell who was riding by the side of us
swung his horse around and knocked me down with the man I was helping
on top of me. We were both knocked over. We were on the retreat from Bull
Run in the woods at the time and when I was knocked over I was knocked
over a log and it was at that time I was knocked down when I was ruptured
on both sides. The right side and the left side.
Q: Is this affidavit I now show you dated and executed Nov 12 th 1880 in
which you state that you received one rupture in 1861 and in in March of 1862
signed by you.
A: Yes sir it is
Q: How do you explain the discrepancy in prior(?) affidavit and your statement
of today.
A:They misunderstood me when they made the affidavit for I never knew that
I had stated any such thing for I never got any rupture in 1862. They were both
(illegible) me in 1861 just after2 injuries by the horse.
Q: Were you sent to Hospital at the time you say you were knocked down and run
over Col Mark Dunnell's horse.
A: No sir I was not in the Hospital at any time. We had no Hospital at that time.
Q: How long after you were run over or knocked down was it before you felt or
knew you were ruptured.
A: I felt it the same day
Q: Who knew of your rupture at the time.
A:I don't know that anyone did only I told Dr Warren and he gave me some
medicine and I reported as sick and they put me onto light duty.
Q: Where was you when Dr Warren treated you for the rupture and disease
of the kidneys.
A: It was at Bush Hill Va. in July 1861'
Q: When and or where did you contract the alleged disease of kidneys.
A: At the first battle of Bull Run in July 1861. We were on a double quick march
on the 20th of July and we had just got to Fairfax and I was very sweaty and
tired and we had no blankets having (illegible) away on our retreat.
(There seems to be a page missing here as the next page starts with Asa
answering a question about him reenlisting.)
A: Yes sir I reenlisted in the V.I.R. C. in September, 1864 and stayed there for
about 16 months
Q: Who knew that you were ruptured when you came home in December 1861
A: My wife and I don't know of anyone else
Q: What was your duties while you were in the V.R. Corps
A :I was a cook
Q: Where did you live in Dec 1861 when you came home from the 5th Maine
A: I lived at Paris Maine
Q: Who treated you when you came home in Dec 1861
A: Dr Russell who now lives at Fayette(?) Maine
Q: Where have you lived since you came out of the service in 1865
A: I lived in Dummer in N.H for some 6 years and Dr Meserve of Milan N.H.
then treated me. Then I moved across the lake to Erril N.H. where I lived some
three years. Dr. Wily of Bethel treated me while I lived at Erril. I then moved here
near Upton Hill where I have been ever since,
Q: Do you wish to act as your own attorney during this examination of your claim
or do you wish to appoint some attorney to act for you
A: I am poor and have not the money to (three illegible words) my self and cannot
afford to have anyone. Therefore I shall be obliged to depend upon your honesty.
Q: Then you waive all rights to be present in person or to be represented by an
attorney during said examination of your claims
A: Yes Sir I do.
Q: Who do you wish me to see in behalf of your claims
A: I wish you to see Crosby Curtis of Woodstock Maine also his wife. James
Barrows and Oliver Pratt of West Paris Me.and those who have testified in my
claim and Mr Bradford Denning at West Paris Maine.
Q: Have you any other testimony to offer in behalf of your claims other than that
which is already mentioned
A: No Sir
There follow the signatures of two witnesses, C.L. Abbott and A. F. Abbott.
Then the signature of Asa F Ellingwood as deponent.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of Apr 1884 and I
certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
F. E. Lawton Special Examiner.
Friday, April 22, 2011
ASA ELLINGWOOD'S PENSION FILE PT3
This is the first part of 2x great grandfather Asa F. Ellingwood's pension
request affidavit. I was struck not so much by the content as I was by the
barely legible handwriting of whoever was taking the notes for Asa's hearing
and the lack ofg a question mark at the end of the questions!
That aside, there's a lot of information here about Asa's life and I'll discuss
that after I post the second half of Asa's testimony.
For now, here's part 1:
On this 3rd day of April, 1884, at Upton, County of Oxford, State of Maine,
before me, F. E. Lawton, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally
appeared Asa F. Ellingwood, who says his age is 54 years P.O. address is
Upton, Maine, occupation is Farmer.
Q: I want you to commence and tell me where you were born and where you
lived each and every year up to the time you enlisted in 1861.
A: I was b orn in Milan, N.H. and when four years old I went to live a man by the
name of Morton Austin at Woodstock, Me. where I lived until I was eighteen
years old.Then I went to Milan N.H. to work for my brother J.H. Ellingwood
where I worked for two years and six months. Then I went back to Woodstock
Maine to live where I stayed for one year. Then I went to work in Paris, Me. for
Alfred Sterns in 1853 where I worked for one year. Then I worked for J.
Jackson for six months in the grist mill at Paris, Me. Then I went back to Woodstock
again for a year doing jobbing work. Then I went back to Paris or what is known as
Snows Falls to work for Mr. Alfred Sterns where I remained until I enlisted in 1861,
Q: Who were your intimate friends when you worked at Mr. Alfred Sterns at and
prior to to the time you enlisted.
A: Mr. Oliver Pratt of West Paris, Me.
Mr. James barrows of West Paris, Me.
Mr. Benjamin Thurlow of Paris, Me.
Q: Do these above named persons know whether or not you were free from
any rupture when you enlisted.
A: Yes for they worked with me in the mill and we used to go in swimming
together very oftenjust prior to the time I enlisted.
Q: When, where, and in what Co. did you enlist.
A: I enlisted at Portland Co, I, 5th Me. in May 1861.
Q: Who examined you when you enlisted in Co. I 5th Maine
A:Surgeon Warren and he made us all strip our selves when he examined us.
Q: Who was your Doctor prior to your enlistment.
A: I never had any Dctors.
Q: For what do you claim a pension?
A: For two ruptures and disease of the kidney.
End of part 1.
request affidavit. I was struck not so much by the content as I was by the
barely legible handwriting of whoever was taking the notes for Asa's hearing
and the lack ofg a question mark at the end of the questions!
That aside, there's a lot of information here about Asa's life and I'll discuss
that after I post the second half of Asa's testimony.
 |
| Florilla Dunham Ellingwood & Asa F.Ellingwood |
For now, here's part 1:
On this 3rd day of April, 1884, at Upton, County of Oxford, State of Maine,
before me, F. E. Lawton, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally
appeared Asa F. Ellingwood, who says his age is 54 years P.O. address is
Upton, Maine, occupation is Farmer.
Q: I want you to commence and tell me where you were born and where you
lived each and every year up to the time you enlisted in 1861.
A: I was b orn in Milan, N.H. and when four years old I went to live a man by the
name of Morton Austin at Woodstock, Me. where I lived until I was eighteen
years old.Then I went to Milan N.H. to work for my brother J.H. Ellingwood
where I worked for two years and six months. Then I went back to Woodstock
Maine to live where I stayed for one year. Then I went to work in Paris, Me. for
Alfred Sterns in 1853 where I worked for one year. Then I worked for J.
Jackson for six months in the grist mill at Paris, Me. Then I went back to Woodstock
again for a year doing jobbing work. Then I went back to Paris or what is known as
Snows Falls to work for Mr. Alfred Sterns where I remained until I enlisted in 1861,
Q: Who were your intimate friends when you worked at Mr. Alfred Sterns at and
prior to to the time you enlisted.
A: Mr. Oliver Pratt of West Paris, Me.
Mr. James barrows of West Paris, Me.
Mr. Benjamin Thurlow of Paris, Me.
Q: Do these above named persons know whether or not you were free from
any rupture when you enlisted.
A: Yes for they worked with me in the mill and we used to go in swimming
together very oftenjust prior to the time I enlisted.
Q: When, where, and in what Co. did you enlist.
A: I enlisted at Portland Co, I, 5th Me. in May 1861.
Q: Who examined you when you enlisted in Co. I 5th Maine
A:Surgeon Warren and he made us all strip our selves when he examined us.
Q: Who was your Doctor prior to your enlistment.
A: I never had any Dctors.
Q: For what do you claim a pension?
A: For two ruptures and disease of the kidney.
End of part 1.
Monday, April 18, 2011
AURA LEA
I don't think there's anyone in America who isn't familiar with the Elvis
Presley recording of "Love Me Tender". But few people realize the
music is borrowed from a song popular during the Civil War, "Aura Lea"
(sometimes called "Aura Lee"). I don't recall when I first heard this or
where. Perhaps on one of Mom's "Sing Along With Mitch" albums,
although I seem to recall seeing a movie where soldiers were singing it
around a campfire. Anyway, here's the words to it:
Presley recording of "Love Me Tender". But few people realize the
music is borrowed from a song popular during the Civil War, "Aura Lea"
(sometimes called "Aura Lee"). I don't recall when I first heard this or
where. Perhaps on one of Mom's "Sing Along With Mitch" albums,
although I seem to recall seeing a movie where soldiers were singing it
around a campfire. Anyway, here's the words to it:
When the blackbird in the spring, on the willow tree,
Sat and rocked, I heard him sing, singing Aura Lea
Aura Lea, Aura Lea, maid of golden hair;
Sunshine came along with thee, and swallows in the air.
Chorus:
Aura Lea, Aura Lea, maid of golden hair;
Sunshine came along with thee, and swallows in the air.
In thy blush the rose was born, music when you spake,
Through thine azure eye the morn, sparkling seemed to break.
Aura Lea, Aura Lea, bird of crimson wing,
Never song have sung to me, as in that sweet spring.
Chorus
Aura Lea! The bird may flee, the willow's golden hair
Swing through winter fitfully, on the stormy air.
Yet if thy blue eyes I see, gloom will soon depart;
For to me, sweet Aura Lea is sunshine through the heart.
Chorus
When the mistletoe was green, midst the winter's snows,
Sunshine in thy face was seen, kissing lips of rose.
Aura Lea, Aura Lea, take my golden ring;
Love and light return with thee, and swallows with the spring. W.W. Fosdick(words)&Music by G.R. Poulton
PATRIOTS DAY 2011
Tomorrow is the 235th anniversary of the Battles of Concord and
Lexington.and in commemoration of that event I'm once more
posting the names of my Revolutionary War ancestors.
The italicized names are those whose Pension Files I've found.
If any one reading this shares my descent from these men, I'll be
glad to share the files with you if you don't already have them.:
Jonathan Barker Jr.
Was a Minuteman from Methuen Ma with the rank of Sergeant. He
was at Lexington and Concord with his sons Jonathan (see below)
and Samuel. Served in Captain Samuel Johnson's Company in
Colonel Titcomb's Regiment for 2 months in 1777 in Rhode Island
and then with Nathaniel Gage' Company in Colonel Jacob Gerrish's
guards from Dec 1777 until April 1778 guarding the captured
troops of General Burgoyne.
Jonathan Barker 3rd
Enlisted on 19 Apr 1775 in Continental Army, Capt. John Davis'
Company, Col. James Frye's Regiment, in the Massachusetts line
for 8 months in Cambridge, Ma. At the conclusion of the term, he
reenlisted for another 3 months in Capt John Allen's Company,
Colonel John Waldron's Regiment, General Sullivan's Brigade in
the New Hampshire Brigade at Charlestown, Ma. He then enlisted a
third time in June 1778 at Methuen, Ma., joining Captain Samuel
Carr's Company, Col. James Weston's Regiment, in General Lerned's
Brigade at White Plains, N.Y. and serving for another 9 months.
John Ames
Was a Minuteman under Capt. Asa Parker on April 19th, 1775. He
subsequently enlisted in the Continental Army under Captain Oliver
Parker, Col. William Prescott's Regiment and in the Brigade that
was commanded in turn by Generals Putnam, Lee, and Washington.
and served for 8 1/2 months.
Asa Barrows
A member of the militia from Middleborough , Ma. (south of
Boston) in the Company of Captain Joshua Benson, in Colonel
Cotton's Regiment, and General William Heath's Brigade for
8 months during the siege of Boston. In December 1776 he
joined a militia Company commanded by Captain Joshua
Perkins and marched to Barrington, R.I. and was stationed there
for 6 weeks. In July 1780 he again enlisted, this time in a militia
company commanded by Captain Perez Churchill that marched
to Tiverton, R.I.
Moses Coburn
Moses Coburn got into the War late and by reason of being
"hired by a certain class of men in the then town of Dunstable
to go into the Continental Army in the summer of 1781." When
he reached Phillipsburgh in New York he was placed in Captain
Benjamin Pike's Company, in the Regiment of the Massachusetts
line commanded by Lt. Colonel Calvin Smith in which he served
for nearly two years until it was broken up. He then transferred to
the Company of Judah Alden in the Regiment commanded by
Colonel Sprouts until his discharge in 1783.
Samuel Haskell
Samuel served in Captain Joseph Elliott's Company in Colonel
William Turner's Regiment and then under Captain Hezekiah
Whitney in Colonel Josiah Whitney's Regiment.
Amos Hastings
Amos responded to the Lexington Alarm as part of Captain
Richard Ayer's Company and Colonel William Johnson's Regiment.
He later served in Captain Timothy Eaton's Company in Colonel
Edward Wigglesworth's Regiment and was at the taking of the
British General Burgoyne at Ticonderoga.
Elisha Houghton
Enlisted at Harvard Ma as a Private in May of 1777in the
Massachusetts militia and was at the Battles of Bunker Hill
and Stillwater. He then enlisted for three years in the infantry
company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown in Colonel
Timothy Bigelow's 15th Regiment of the Massachusetts line.
and took part in the Battles of Monmouth and Newport and was
at Valley Forge. He twice was promoted to Sergeant and twice
was busted down to the ranks.
Amos Upton
Responded to the Lexington Alarm and marched there from his
home in Reading. He later joined the militia company commanded
by Captain Asa Prince as an orderly sergeant and then enlisted
for eight months in the Continental Army under Colonel Mansfield
He was at the Battle of Bunker Hill and was discharged in October
of 1775.
John Griffith
Enlisted in 1781 as a Matross (he swabbed out the barrel of the
cannons after they fired, or so I've been told) in Captain William
Treadwell's Company in Colonel John Crane's Artillery Regiment.
Reuben Packard
A Sergeant in Captain Josiah Hayden's Company in Colonel Bailey's
militia. They marched to Lexington at news of the Alarm. He also
responded several more times as a Minuteman for a total of nearly
8 months duty.
Jonathan Abbot
Served as a Sergeant in the Militia under Captain Henry Abbott
and responded to the Lexington Alarm
Besides those direct ancestors, these other relatives fought
in the Revolution:
Moses Barrows, brother to Asa Barrows.
Samuel, Jesse, and Benjamin Barker, sons of Jonathan Barker,
Jr. and brothers to Jonathan Barker 3rd.
James Swan, brother in law to Jonathan Barker 3rd.
Lexington.and in commemoration of that event I'm once more
posting the names of my Revolutionary War ancestors.
The italicized names are those whose Pension Files I've found.
If any one reading this shares my descent from these men, I'll be
glad to share the files with you if you don't already have them.:
Jonathan Barker Jr.
Was a Minuteman from Methuen Ma with the rank of Sergeant. He
was at Lexington and Concord with his sons Jonathan (see below)
and Samuel. Served in Captain Samuel Johnson's Company in
Colonel Titcomb's Regiment for 2 months in 1777 in Rhode Island
and then with Nathaniel Gage' Company in Colonel Jacob Gerrish's
guards from Dec 1777 until April 1778 guarding the captured
troops of General Burgoyne.
Jonathan Barker 3rd
Enlisted on 19 Apr 1775 in Continental Army, Capt. John Davis'
Company, Col. James Frye's Regiment, in the Massachusetts line
for 8 months in Cambridge, Ma. At the conclusion of the term, he
reenlisted for another 3 months in Capt John Allen's Company,
Colonel John Waldron's Regiment, General Sullivan's Brigade in
the New Hampshire Brigade at Charlestown, Ma. He then enlisted a
third time in June 1778 at Methuen, Ma., joining Captain Samuel
Carr's Company, Col. James Weston's Regiment, in General Lerned's
Brigade at White Plains, N.Y. and serving for another 9 months.
John Ames
Was a Minuteman under Capt. Asa Parker on April 19th, 1775. He
subsequently enlisted in the Continental Army under Captain Oliver
Parker, Col. William Prescott's Regiment and in the Brigade that
was commanded in turn by Generals Putnam, Lee, and Washington.
and served for 8 1/2 months.
Asa Barrows
A member of the militia from Middleborough , Ma. (south of
Boston) in the Company of Captain Joshua Benson, in Colonel
Cotton's Regiment, and General William Heath's Brigade for
8 months during the siege of Boston. In December 1776 he
joined a militia Company commanded by Captain Joshua
Perkins and marched to Barrington, R.I. and was stationed there
for 6 weeks. In July 1780 he again enlisted, this time in a militia
company commanded by Captain Perez Churchill that marched
to Tiverton, R.I.
Moses Coburn
Moses Coburn got into the War late and by reason of being
"hired by a certain class of men in the then town of Dunstable
to go into the Continental Army in the summer of 1781." When
he reached Phillipsburgh in New York he was placed in Captain
Benjamin Pike's Company, in the Regiment of the Massachusetts
line commanded by Lt. Colonel Calvin Smith in which he served
for nearly two years until it was broken up. He then transferred to
the Company of Judah Alden in the Regiment commanded by
Colonel Sprouts until his discharge in 1783.
Samuel Haskell
Samuel served in Captain Joseph Elliott's Company in Colonel
William Turner's Regiment and then under Captain Hezekiah
Whitney in Colonel Josiah Whitney's Regiment.
Amos Hastings
Amos responded to the Lexington Alarm as part of Captain
Richard Ayer's Company and Colonel William Johnson's Regiment.
He later served in Captain Timothy Eaton's Company in Colonel
Edward Wigglesworth's Regiment and was at the taking of the
British General Burgoyne at Ticonderoga.
Elisha Houghton
Enlisted at Harvard Ma as a Private in May of 1777in the
Massachusetts militia and was at the Battles of Bunker Hill
and Stillwater. He then enlisted for three years in the infantry
company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown in Colonel
Timothy Bigelow's 15th Regiment of the Massachusetts line.
and took part in the Battles of Monmouth and Newport and was
at Valley Forge. He twice was promoted to Sergeant and twice
was busted down to the ranks.
Amos Upton
Responded to the Lexington Alarm and marched there from his
home in Reading. He later joined the militia company commanded
by Captain Asa Prince as an orderly sergeant and then enlisted
for eight months in the Continental Army under Colonel Mansfield
He was at the Battle of Bunker Hill and was discharged in October
of 1775.
John Griffith
Enlisted in 1781 as a Matross (he swabbed out the barrel of the
cannons after they fired, or so I've been told) in Captain William
Treadwell's Company in Colonel John Crane's Artillery Regiment.
Reuben Packard
A Sergeant in Captain Josiah Hayden's Company in Colonel Bailey's
militia. They marched to Lexington at news of the Alarm. He also
responded several more times as a Minuteman for a total of nearly
8 months duty.
Jonathan Abbot
Served as a Sergeant in the Militia under Captain Henry Abbott
and responded to the Lexington Alarm
Besides those direct ancestors, these other relatives fought
in the Revolution:
Moses Barrows, brother to Asa Barrows.
Samuel, Jesse, and Benjamin Barker, sons of Jonathan Barker,
Jr. and brothers to Jonathan Barker 3rd.
James Swan, brother in law to Jonathan Barker 3rd.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Awhile back I discovered that the certificate of birth the hospital issued
at my birth wasn't actually a birth certificate, so I sent away to the City
of Boston for mine. It finally arrived today, and I learned a few things
I hadn't know before.
One was that it was 10 1/2 hours from the time my mother was admitted
to the Massachusetts Osteopathic Hospita at 12:12pm until I was born at
10:42 pm, The doctor who delivered me was Dr.John A.Chace. And my
parents were living at 277 Roxbury St in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston.
This last part, their residence, is of note. I'd always thought they were living on
Parker St with my mom's mother, Agnes (McFarland)White. So I looked
up the address on Google Maps street view and this is what I found :
View Larger Map
The building looked familiar:
It's where my Dad and Mom posed for their wedding picture!
at my birth wasn't actually a birth certificate, so I sent away to the City
of Boston for mine. It finally arrived today, and I learned a few things
I hadn't know before.
One was that it was 10 1/2 hours from the time my mother was admitted
to the Massachusetts Osteopathic Hospita at 12:12pm until I was born at
10:42 pm, The doctor who delivered me was Dr.John A.Chace. And my
parents were living at 277 Roxbury St in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston.
This last part, their residence, is of note. I'd always thought they were living on
Parker St with my mom's mother, Agnes (McFarland)White. So I looked
up the address on Google Maps street view and this is what I found :
View Larger Map
The building looked familiar:
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
"BARBARA FRIETCHIE"
Here's another Civil War poem in celebration of the Civil
War and National Poetry Month. This one is another I read
as a child (before I knew Whittier was a relative, btw). It also
was recited by Bullwinkle the Moose on the "Rocky & Bullwinkle
Show" of fond memory.
It's a great dramatic image: the ninety year old woman shaming
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson for firing on the Union flag.
But it's far from the truth. You can find out what really happened
in this blogpost by Dave Tabler at Appalachian History. Cousin
John really embellished history.
But then again, that's probably why they call it poetic license.
Barbara Frietchie
John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier
Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.
Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach tree fruited deep,
Fair as the garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,
On that pleasant morn of early fall
When Lee marched over the mountain wall;
Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars
Forty flag with their crimson bars,
Flapped in the morning wind; the sun
Of noon looked down, and saw not one.
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;
In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.
Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Under his slouched hat left and right
He glanced; the old flag met his sight.
"Halt!" - the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
"Fire!" - out blazed the rifle-blast.
It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.
She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.
"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag," she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;
The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word;
"Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.
All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet;
All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;
And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,
And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.
Honor to her! and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.
Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!
Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;
And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.
Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach tree fruited deep,
Fair as the garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,
On that pleasant morn of early fall
When Lee marched over the mountain wall;
Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars
Forty flag with their crimson bars,
Flapped in the morning wind; the sun
Of noon looked down, and saw not one.
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;
In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.
Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Under his slouched hat left and right
He glanced; the old flag met his sight.
"Halt!" - the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
"Fire!" - out blazed the rifle-blast.
It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.
She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.
"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag," she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;
The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word;
"Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.
All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet;
All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;
And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,
And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.
Honor to her! and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.
Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!
Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;
And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
TWO HELPFUL CIVIL WAR SITES
For those of us keeping track of our Civil War ancestors during the war,
here's two helpful sites with the events of the War in a day by day format:
Today in U.S. Civil War History at On-This-Day.com
This Day in the Civil War at Civil War Interactive & BlueGray Daily
here's two helpful sites with the events of the War in a day by day format:
Today in U.S. Civil War History at On-This-Day.com
This Day in the Civil War at Civil War Interactive & BlueGray Daily
THE CIVIL WAR GENEALOGY BLOG CHALLENGE IS HERE!
Back on February 6th I came up with the idea of the Civil War Genealogy
Blog Challenge as a way to mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the
Civil War on 12Apr 1861:
Did you have ancestors in America on 12Apr 1861? If so, where were they
and what were their circumstances? How did the Civil War affect them and
their family? Did the men enlist and did they perish in battle or die of illness?
On which side did they fight, or did you have relatives fighting on BOTH sides?
How did the women left at home cope, or did any of them find ways to help
the war effort? Were your ancestors living as slaves on Southern plantations
and if so when were they freed? Or were they freemen of color who enlisted
to fight?
If your ancestors had not emigrated to America as yet, what was their life
like around the time of the Civil War?
The 150 year celebration of the Civil War is a great source for those of us
blogging about our family history. So, let's do a little research over the coming
weeks between now and April 12th. Find out the answers to the questions
I asked and write about them. Or if you think of another topic to do with your
family history and the Civil War, write about that. Send me the link when you
publish it on your blog, and on April 12th I'll publish all the links here.
Well, quite a few of you rose to the challenge and I now present to you the
results! So get comfortable with your drink of choice and get ready for
some excellent reading!
Dorene at Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay was the first to respond to the
challenge with the story of The Civil War Service of Great Grandma Irene's
Grandfathers, Patrick Larkins and James Cross.
Angela Y. Walton Walton-Raji has an excellent entire blog devoted to telling
the African American Civil War story. It's called The USCT Chronicle and
it's great reading!
James Alexander Meek and Nathaniel C Callaway were Dee Burris’ direct
ancestors and she details their Civil War stories in two posts at her Shakin’
the Family Tree blog. Then she talks about how the War affected her various
family lines in Civil War Sesquicentennial Challenge.
Over at Nutfield Genealogy Heather Wilkinson Rojo tells the story of a distant
relation who was an officer in the Mass. 54th Regiment, the subject of the movie
Glory. Read her Captain Luis Emilio and a Brave Black Regiment to learn more!
Heather also shares a list of other Civil War era relations, some of whom she's
already blogged about, in The Civil War's 150th Anniversary.
The role of German immigrants in the Civil War was an important one. Roger
Moffat’s wife has a German immigrant ancestor who fought at the Battle of
Chancellorville and Roger shares his story in An Ancestor Honoured over at
Roger’s Ramblings.
Some medals in a box have prompted Cheryl at the Two Sides of the Ocean
geneablog to look into the mystery as to whether her own German immigrant
ancestors was a Civil War veteran. She begins her investigation in Civil War
Ancestor? A New Mystery!
Kevin Walker’s ancestor died in a tragic train wreck six weeks after enlisting.
In The Death of Henry Martin Walker, Sr (1829-1865)Kevin provides us with
eyewitness accounts at his blog, Who We Were, Are, & Will Be Our Family.
Kevin Harris is devoting a whole blog, An Indiana Soldier, to his great great
Grandfather Lewis Kinsey Harris’ Civil War experiences. He begins with
Who Was L.K. Harris? . Check it out!
Kathy Reed has written eight posts concerned with the Civil War at her blog
Family Matters. Two concern the death of her ancestor Britton Wainwright
(Part One & Part Two). Another deals with her relative Robert William Darby
who was a crew-member of an ironclad ship, and another discusses relative
Joseph Bickerdyke Darby . I look forward to reading more!
Janeen of They Came in Ships put together a list of her relatives who fought in
the War and you can see it at her post, Civil War Week . She certainly has plenty
of blog material there!
Ancestry.com opened their Civil War records up for free this past week and Frances
Elizabeth Schwab was excited with what she found out about two ancestors there.
She talks about it in Civil War Ancestors-One Young, One Old(ish) at her Fantastic
Electrisoil blog.
Many Civil War soldiers developed medical conditions that would persist throughout
their lives. Shelley Bishop’s 3x great grandfather was such a one and she tells us
about it in Newell King, 91st Ohio Volunteer Infantry at A Sense of Family.
“Across the Pond” in England Julie Goucher is exploring the possibility that a
relative of her husband emigrated to America and made a fortune as a
gunsmith during the Civil War. She describes the start of her research into
the story in The Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge at Anglers Rest.
Greta Koehl sets out the list of those of her ancestors who fought in the War
and as she says, “it’s a big honking article” with a lot of interesting facts. It’s at
The Civil War and My Ancestors at Greta’s Genealogy Blog.
Leah of Leah’s Family Tree shows us how the Civil War divided families in her
post The Mason Family and The Civil War.
Susan of Nolichucky Roots has decided to go with a Civil War Saturday approach
which I like a lot. She gives an overview with Civil War Saturdays- the war brought
home.
Linda McCauley’s 2xgreat grandfather John T, Bennett was a Confederate captured bythe Northern army . Linda gives a biography of him at John T.Bennett-41st Georgia
Infantry on Documenting the Details.
Jenny Lanctot’s cousin John W Crow likewise was a Confederate soldier
captured by Yankees after surviving many battles. H was not as fortunate as Linda’s
ancestor had been as you’ll read in Cpl. John W. Crow, 10th Alabama Infantry,
Company A, 1841-1865 at Are My Roots Showing?
Jennifer Woods got the chance to visit some of the Civil War battlefields last year
and she has some great photos and documents on both her and her husband’s
ancestors who served in the War. You can real all about it at Our Ancestors in the
Civil War on Climbing My Family Tree.
Over at Apple's Tree Apple goes through her list of cousins and relatives whose
lives were effected by the War and how she plans to explore their stories. The
post is called Civil War Stories.
Thomas L Davis was the great great grandfather of Debbie Blanton McCoy. He
enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862, and Debbie tells us of his brief military
career in Thomas L. Davis, Civil War Vet at her blog Blanton Family Roots &
Branches.
What started out as possibly two or three posts by Carol A. Bowen Stevens on
the mystery surrounding the fate of her ancestor Alfred Darden turned into a
fascinating four parter over at Reflections From the Fence. Start reading it
with Alfred Darden, Civil War Soldier Mystery, His Family .
Jean Wilcox Hibben's 2x great grandfather Nathan W. Wilcox was a Union
soldier who helped rebuild Tennessee after the War. Jean tells us about his
life and about how her family replaced his missing headstone in Tombstone
Tuesday-17 August 2010-remembering a forgotten grave, Nathan W. Wilcox.
at her blog, Circlemending.
When Linda Hughes Hiser's Dad was a Civil War buff who taught a seminar
on the War at his retirement village. This prompted Linda to research his
ancestry. What she found and how she presented it to him makes a great
read over at the Flipside blogpost, The American Civil War Genealogy
Challenge--Where Are My Paternal Bluecoats?
When Sara Byron Jeffers emailed me with a question about this challenge,
she mentioned that the ancestor she would write about was named Charles
Barker Todd from Massachusetts. It turns out Sara and I are distant cousins
through my own Barker line! Read how Sara plans to approach researching
and writing about Charles in The Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge at
Musings & Meanderings ,
Peggy Ingles has an interesting post about her 2x great grandfather Hamilton
Ingles and the battles he took part in at Civil War Sesquicentennial on her
blog, Collecting dead relatives...and live cousins!
At My Tapley Tree...and its Branches you'll find Liz' Military Monday:
My Civil War Ancestors with lots of information and some great photos.
Barbara Poole contributes the story of the first men to die in the Civil War
during an incident in Baltimore, Maryland. Read The Minutemen of 1861--
First Soldiers to Die in Civil War Were from Lowell--Tombstone Tuesday
at Barbara's Life From The Roots blog.
At Hanging from the Family Tree Donna Hansen Peterson introduces us
to two brothers from Illinois who enlisted and fought. It's in her post Military
Monday-Civil War Soldiers-Fergusons of Willow Hill, IL.
Four of Dana Swier Huff's maternal 3xgreat grandfathers fought on the
Confederate side. She shares their record and some photos in The Civil
War in My Family at Our Family History
Debi Levy Austen likewise has a 3xgreat grandfather from Illinois and she
details what she knows about Emery Waller in Civil War Break at the
Who Knew? blog.
Laurie Pratt Sisk contributes information about her Civil War ancestors,
including a summary one of them wrote himself about his service. Take a
look at it over at Yankee Cousin's Adventures in Ancestry in her
Civil War Sesquicentennial Blog Challenge: Kellogg and Towle.
At Susi's Chatty Performances on Genealogy, Susi Pentico
presents information about her ancestors Sanford Huffman/Hoffman
and Daniel Warden in Sanford Huffman/Hoffman and Daniel Warden
CW Veterans Mom's Family.
New geneablogger Sherry Kimbrough inaugurates her Searching in
Seattle blog with a post about her great grandfather, Civil War veteran
Alphonso D.L. Collins. It's entitled One of our Civil War ancestors.
Canadian Jacqueline Foster has American ancestors and one of them,
John H Littrell, served in the Civil War. She talks about what she
knows and what she needs to search for in The American Civil War-
John H Littrell at her blog My Journey Back.
Tina at Generations Past introduces us to the story of her ancestor
H B Alverson of Texas who enlisted in the Confederate Army at the
age of 44! You can read more in Civil War Ancestors- Alverson
Lisa Swanson Elam has the story of the Botkin family from Ohio whose
six sons went off to fight in the War. Find out what happened to them
in Military Monday-Botkin Soldiers-Ohio at The Faces of My Family
Stephanie Goldberg's 3x greatgrandfather Henry B Jones was charged
with desertion and she details his fight to have his dishonorable discharge
reversed in her post One Battle, Two Sides to the Story at her blog
Aquamarinesteph.
As for myself, I'm exploring the pension file of my 2x great grandfather
Asa Freeman Ellingwood, beginning with Asa Ellingwood's Pension File
Part1 here on West in New England
And finally, Karen Packard Rhodes tells us "the rest of the story" for two Civil
War ancestors who she previously blogged about in the post Bill West's Civil
War Genealogy Challenge at Karen About Genealogy. (P.S. It's also Karen's
birthday today, so Happy Birthday, Karen!!)
That concludes the Civil War Genealogy Challenge, but remember, we have
four years worth of history that can provide you with lots of information about
your ancestors that you can blog about and share with your fellow geneabloggers!
My thanks to all who have participated!
Blog Challenge as a way to mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the
Civil War on 12Apr 1861:
Did you have ancestors in America on 12Apr 1861? If so, where were they
and what were their circumstances? How did the Civil War affect them and
their family? Did the men enlist and did they perish in battle or die of illness?
On which side did they fight, or did you have relatives fighting on BOTH sides?
How did the women left at home cope, or did any of them find ways to help
the war effort? Were your ancestors living as slaves on Southern plantations
and if so when were they freed? Or were they freemen of color who enlisted
to fight?
If your ancestors had not emigrated to America as yet, what was their life
like around the time of the Civil War?
The 150 year celebration of the Civil War is a great source for those of us
blogging about our family history. So, let's do a little research over the coming
weeks between now and April 12th. Find out the answers to the questions
I asked and write about them. Or if you think of another topic to do with your
family history and the Civil War, write about that. Send me the link when you
publish it on your blog, and on April 12th I'll publish all the links here.
Well, quite a few of you rose to the challenge and I now present to you the
results! So get comfortable with your drink of choice and get ready for
some excellent reading!
Dorene at Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay was the first to respond to the
challenge with the story of The Civil War Service of Great Grandma Irene's
Grandfathers, Patrick Larkins and James Cross.
Angela Y. Walton Walton-Raji has an excellent entire blog devoted to telling
the African American Civil War story. It's called The USCT Chronicle and
it's great reading!
James Alexander Meek and Nathaniel C Callaway were Dee Burris’ direct
ancestors and she details their Civil War stories in two posts at her Shakin’
the Family Tree blog. Then she talks about how the War affected her various
family lines in Civil War Sesquicentennial Challenge.
Over at Nutfield Genealogy Heather Wilkinson Rojo tells the story of a distant
relation who was an officer in the Mass. 54th Regiment, the subject of the movie
Glory. Read her Captain Luis Emilio and a Brave Black Regiment to learn more!
Heather also shares a list of other Civil War era relations, some of whom she's
already blogged about, in The Civil War's 150th Anniversary.
The role of German immigrants in the Civil War was an important one. Roger
Moffat’s wife has a German immigrant ancestor who fought at the Battle of
Chancellorville and Roger shares his story in An Ancestor Honoured over at
Roger’s Ramblings.
Some medals in a box have prompted Cheryl at the Two Sides of the Ocean
geneablog to look into the mystery as to whether her own German immigrant
ancestors was a Civil War veteran. She begins her investigation in Civil War
Ancestor? A New Mystery!
Kevin Walker’s ancestor died in a tragic train wreck six weeks after enlisting.
In The Death of Henry Martin Walker, Sr (1829-1865)Kevin provides us with
eyewitness accounts at his blog, Who We Were, Are, & Will Be Our Family.
Kevin Harris is devoting a whole blog, An Indiana Soldier, to his great great
Grandfather Lewis Kinsey Harris’ Civil War experiences. He begins with
Who Was L.K. Harris? . Check it out!
Kathy Reed has written eight posts concerned with the Civil War at her blog
Family Matters. Two concern the death of her ancestor Britton Wainwright
(Part One & Part Two). Another deals with her relative Robert William Darby
who was a crew-member of an ironclad ship, and another discusses relative
Joseph Bickerdyke Darby . I look forward to reading more!
Janeen of They Came in Ships put together a list of her relatives who fought in
the War and you can see it at her post, Civil War Week . She certainly has plenty
of blog material there!
Ancestry.com opened their Civil War records up for free this past week and Frances
Elizabeth Schwab was excited with what she found out about two ancestors there.
She talks about it in Civil War Ancestors-One Young, One Old(ish) at her Fantastic
Electrisoil blog.
Many Civil War soldiers developed medical conditions that would persist throughout
their lives. Shelley Bishop’s 3x great grandfather was such a one and she tells us
about it in Newell King, 91st Ohio Volunteer Infantry at A Sense of Family.
“Across the Pond” in England Julie Goucher is exploring the possibility that a
relative of her husband emigrated to America and made a fortune as a
gunsmith during the Civil War. She describes the start of her research into
the story in The Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge at Anglers Rest.
Greta Koehl sets out the list of those of her ancestors who fought in the War
and as she says, “it’s a big honking article” with a lot of interesting facts. It’s at
The Civil War and My Ancestors at Greta’s Genealogy Blog.
Leah of Leah’s Family Tree shows us how the Civil War divided families in her
post The Mason Family and The Civil War.
Susan of Nolichucky Roots has decided to go with a Civil War Saturday approach
which I like a lot. She gives an overview with Civil War Saturdays- the war brought
home.
Linda McCauley’s 2xgreat grandfather John T, Bennett was a Confederate captured bythe Northern army . Linda gives a biography of him at John T.Bennett-41st Georgia
Infantry on Documenting the Details.
Jenny Lanctot’s cousin John W Crow likewise was a Confederate soldier
captured by Yankees after surviving many battles. H was not as fortunate as Linda’s
ancestor had been as you’ll read in Cpl. John W. Crow, 10th Alabama Infantry,
Company A, 1841-1865 at Are My Roots Showing?
Jennifer Woods got the chance to visit some of the Civil War battlefields last year
and she has some great photos and documents on both her and her husband’s
ancestors who served in the War. You can real all about it at Our Ancestors in the
Civil War on Climbing My Family Tree.
Over at Apple's Tree Apple goes through her list of cousins and relatives whose
lives were effected by the War and how she plans to explore their stories. The
post is called Civil War Stories.
Thomas L Davis was the great great grandfather of Debbie Blanton McCoy. He
enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862, and Debbie tells us of his brief military
career in Thomas L. Davis, Civil War Vet at her blog Blanton Family Roots &
Branches.
What started out as possibly two or three posts by Carol A. Bowen Stevens on
the mystery surrounding the fate of her ancestor Alfred Darden turned into a
fascinating four parter over at Reflections From the Fence. Start reading it
with Alfred Darden, Civil War Soldier Mystery, His Family .
Jean Wilcox Hibben's 2x great grandfather Nathan W. Wilcox was a Union
soldier who helped rebuild Tennessee after the War. Jean tells us about his
life and about how her family replaced his missing headstone in Tombstone
Tuesday-17 August 2010-remembering a forgotten grave, Nathan W. Wilcox.
at her blog, Circlemending.
When Linda Hughes Hiser's Dad was a Civil War buff who taught a seminar
on the War at his retirement village. This prompted Linda to research his
ancestry. What she found and how she presented it to him makes a great
read over at the Flipside blogpost, The American Civil War Genealogy
Challenge--Where Are My Paternal Bluecoats?
When Sara Byron Jeffers emailed me with a question about this challenge,
she mentioned that the ancestor she would write about was named Charles
Barker Todd from Massachusetts. It turns out Sara and I are distant cousins
through my own Barker line! Read how Sara plans to approach researching
and writing about Charles in The Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge at
Musings & Meanderings ,
Peggy Ingles has an interesting post about her 2x great grandfather Hamilton
Ingles and the battles he took part in at Civil War Sesquicentennial on her
blog, Collecting dead relatives...and live cousins!
At My Tapley Tree...and its Branches you'll find Liz' Military Monday:
My Civil War Ancestors with lots of information and some great photos.
Barbara Poole contributes the story of the first men to die in the Civil War
during an incident in Baltimore, Maryland. Read The Minutemen of 1861--
First Soldiers to Die in Civil War Were from Lowell--Tombstone Tuesday
at Barbara's Life From The Roots blog.
At Hanging from the Family Tree Donna Hansen Peterson introduces us
to two brothers from Illinois who enlisted and fought. It's in her post Military
Monday-Civil War Soldiers-Fergusons of Willow Hill, IL.
Four of Dana Swier Huff's maternal 3xgreat grandfathers fought on the
Confederate side. She shares their record and some photos in The Civil
War in My Family at Our Family History
Debi Levy Austen likewise has a 3xgreat grandfather from Illinois and she
details what she knows about Emery Waller in Civil War Break at the
Who Knew? blog.
Laurie Pratt Sisk contributes information about her Civil War ancestors,
including a summary one of them wrote himself about his service. Take a
look at it over at Yankee Cousin's Adventures in Ancestry in her
Civil War Sesquicentennial Blog Challenge: Kellogg and Towle.
At Susi's Chatty Performances on Genealogy, Susi Pentico
presents information about her ancestors Sanford Huffman/Hoffman
and Daniel Warden in Sanford Huffman/Hoffman and Daniel Warden
CW Veterans Mom's Family.
New geneablogger Sherry Kimbrough inaugurates her Searching in
Seattle blog with a post about her great grandfather, Civil War veteran
Alphonso D.L. Collins. It's entitled One of our Civil War ancestors.
Canadian Jacqueline Foster has American ancestors and one of them,
John H Littrell, served in the Civil War. She talks about what she
knows and what she needs to search for in The American Civil War-
John H Littrell at her blog My Journey Back.
Tina at Generations Past introduces us to the story of her ancestor
H B Alverson of Texas who enlisted in the Confederate Army at the
age of 44! You can read more in Civil War Ancestors- Alverson
Lisa Swanson Elam has the story of the Botkin family from Ohio whose
six sons went off to fight in the War. Find out what happened to them
in Military Monday-Botkin Soldiers-Ohio at The Faces of My Family
Stephanie Goldberg's 3x greatgrandfather Henry B Jones was charged
with desertion and she details his fight to have his dishonorable discharge
reversed in her post One Battle, Two Sides to the Story at her blog
Aquamarinesteph.
As for myself, I'm exploring the pension file of my 2x great grandfather
Asa Freeman Ellingwood, beginning with Asa Ellingwood's Pension File
Part1 here on West in New England
And finally, Karen Packard Rhodes tells us "the rest of the story" for two Civil
War ancestors who she previously blogged about in the post Bill West's Civil
War Genealogy Challenge at Karen About Genealogy. (P.S. It's also Karen's
birthday today, so Happy Birthday, Karen!!)
That concludes the Civil War Genealogy Challenge, but remember, we have
four years worth of history that can provide you with lots of information about
your ancestors that you can blog about and share with your fellow geneabloggers!
My thanks to all who have participated!
Friday, April 08, 2011
THE 104TH EDITION OF THE CARNIVAL OF GENEALOGY IS OUT!
As a matter of fact, it has been since this Monday. I have been so wrapped
up in researching , transcribing and posting here on my blog that I've been
a bit behind on my blog reading and just now saw the COG was out. I plead
old age and other stuff like that as an excuse. Anyway, this edition focused
on cars and you should go right over to Jasia's Creative Gene and start reading
all the great posts folks have come up with about the cars in their family's
history.
While you're at it, consider joining the fun and submitting a blog post for the
next Carnival. These are the details:
"Call for Submissions! The topic for the next edition of the COG will be:
Favorite Current Technology. What's your favorite technology of the
moment? Do you love your iPad? Do you find yourself spending a lot of
time on the site of a newly discovered database? Do you have a handy
new cell phone app you'd like to share with others? Are you learning a
new piece of genealogy software? Got a new digital camera? Tell us
all about your latest and greatest technology and how it benefits your
genealogy research or the recording of your family history. The deadline
for submission is May 1st. No limit on the number of submissions for
this edition.
Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy
using our carnival submission form. Please use a descriptive phrase in the
title of any articles you plan to submit and/or write a brief description/introduction
to your articles in the "comment" box of the blog carnival submission form.
This will give readers an idea of what you've written about and hopefully interest
them in clicking on your link. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our
blog carnival index page."
Sounds like a good topic and I have a post in mind for it.!
up in researching , transcribing and posting here on my blog that I've been
a bit behind on my blog reading and just now saw the COG was out. I plead
old age and other stuff like that as an excuse. Anyway, this edition focused
on cars and you should go right over to Jasia's Creative Gene and start reading
all the great posts folks have come up with about the cars in their family's
history.
While you're at it, consider joining the fun and submitting a blog post for the
next Carnival. These are the details:
"Call for Submissions! The topic for the next edition of the COG will be:
Favorite Current Technology. What's your favorite technology of the
moment? Do you love your iPad? Do you find yourself spending a lot of
time on the site of a newly discovered database? Do you have a handy
new cell phone app you'd like to share with others? Are you learning a
new piece of genealogy software? Got a new digital camera? Tell us
all about your latest and greatest technology and how it benefits your
genealogy research or the recording of your family history. The deadline
for submission is May 1st. No limit on the number of submissions for
this edition.
Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy
using our carnival submission form. Please use a descriptive phrase in the
title of any articles you plan to submit and/or write a brief description/introduction
to your articles in the "comment" box of the blog carnival submission form.
This will give readers an idea of what you've written about and hopefully interest
them in clicking on your link. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our
blog carnival index page."
Sounds like a good topic and I have a post in mind for it.!
Thursday, April 07, 2011
ASA ELLINGWOOD'S PENSION FILE PT2
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| Because of the length of the document, the header is missing from this image. |
On March 27th, 1877, my 2x great grandfather submitted his request
for a disabilities pension based on injuries and medical conditions suffered
during his service in the Civil War. While they weren't caused by a gunshot
or a sword cut, they were just as serious in the lifelong effect they had on
Asa Ellingwood. Unfortunately, as you will see, he had to wage a long fight
over nearly fifty years to obtain his pension. I'll be exploring that struggle
in this series.
The following is a transcription of the initial pension request filing. Again, it's
a pre-printed form and those parts are in boldface while the parts filled in
are in normal type/
Declaration for Original Invalid Pension
State of Maine County of Oxford, SS:
On the 13th day of March a.d. one thousand eight hundred and seventy
seven personally appeared before me Register of the Probate Court the
same being a Court of Record of the County and State aforesaid
Asa F Ellingwood a resident of Erol county of Coos State of N.H.
who by me being duly sworn according to law, on his solemn oath,
deposes as follows, to wit:
I am the identical Asa F Ellingwood who was enrolled on the 14th
day of May 1861 in Company I of the 5th Regiment of Maine Vols.
commanded by Captain Clark S. Edwards and I was honorably discharged
at Camp Franklin on the 23 day of December 1863 and my age is now 46
years.
While in the service aforesaid and in the line of duty, I received the
following disability, to wit:
At the first battle of Bull Run, I became over heated and took cold that settled
on my kidneys which has since greatly disabled from manual labor. I was
also ruptured caused by the Colonel driving his horse over me. I have never
recovered from said rupture.
I was treated by Dr Warren at Bush Hill, Va.in July 1861. I claim a pension
on the above declaration. Afterwards a member of Co "A" 9th Veteran R Corps.
I have never been employed in the Military or Naval Service of the
United States otherwise than set forth above. Since leaving the
Service, I have resided in Coos County, N.H. and my occupation has
been farming. I was of good sound physical health, being at enrollment
a farmer and I am now partially disabled from obtaining my subsistence
by manual labor by reason of my disabilities above stated, received in
the service of the United States, and I make this Declaration for
purpose of being places on the Invalid Pension Roll of the United States.
I hereby appoint and empower,with full power of substitution Nathan W.
Fitzgerald of Washington City, D.C.., my true and lawful attorney to
prosecute my claim. My Post Office address is Upton County of Oxford
State of Maine.
Asa F Ellingwood
Attest two witnesses: J. N. Dunham, S.S. Fanning
This Declaration MUST before some Clerk of a Court of Record. If
acknowledged before a Notary or Justice, it will be worthless.
March 27th, 1877.
DEADLINE FOR THE CIVIL WAR GENEALOGY BLOG CHALLENGE
The 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War is five days away
on April 12th and on that day I plan to post the response to the challenge.
I'm going to need time to write intros and such so I'm announcing a deadline
for entries of midnight Sunday night, April 10th for entries.
I've already received some links but not as many as I'd hoped, so if you
haven't had time to research, I'll accept even a post on what you are PLANNING
to research: an ancestor, or some event they took part in tied to the war, or how
it affected them, their family, or the town they lived in, for example.
I've already seen some great posts and I'm hoping to see more!
on April 12th and on that day I plan to post the response to the challenge.
I'm going to need time to write intros and such so I'm announcing a deadline
for entries of midnight Sunday night, April 10th for entries.
I've already received some links but not as many as I'd hoped, so if you
haven't had time to research, I'll accept even a post on what you are PLANNING
to research: an ancestor, or some event they took part in tied to the war, or how
it affected them, their family, or the town they lived in, for example.
I've already seen some great posts and I'm hoping to see more!
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