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| Warren Westcott Grant abt 1940 |
Friday, January 11, 2019
My dad, Warren Westcott Grant, was born 97 years ago today
It's hard to believe how fast time passes. If my dad was still alive, he would have turned 97 years old today! He was born 11 January 1922 at St Mary's Hospital in Passaic, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Clifton, New Jersey. He died on 22 January 2005, just 11 days after he turned age 83.
Miss you Dad!
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
The Establishment of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) - Ballou Post #3
After the end of the Civil War, many of the Union Army veterans joined branches (or posts) of the national fraternal organization, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The GAR was formed in 1866 and at the peak of its popularity in 1890, the GAR had more than 490,000 members, all veterans of the Union Army. The GAR was immensely popular during its time and many of the veterans attended regional or national 'encampments'. The GAR founded soldiers' homes, and was active in relief work and in advocating for pension legislation. The organization was dissolved in 1956, when the last surviving member died. The GAR was succeeded by several other groups of descendants of veterans, the most popular being the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW). This is the official successor group to the Grand Army of the Republic. The SUVCW is still active with its mission of preserving the GAR, honoring Union veterans, and patriotic education. There are several allied organizations, including some for women descendants of Union Veterans.
I knew that my Great-Great-Grandfather, Zophar Skinner was a member of Ballou Post #3 of the GAR based in Central Falls, Rhode Island. According to one of his grandsons, Zophar attended many of the encampments and held positions as an officer of the Post. His obituary in the Pawtucket Times, 15 November 1926, page 6, states that
What I found tonight while doing a google seach on "Zophar Skinner" was that he was actually one of the founders of Ballou Post! Google books had a copy of an 1887 publication listing -
"An Act to Incorporate Ballou Post, No. 3, G. A. R."
Along with James Mulligan, Edson F Spring, Lucius F.C. Garvin, Nathan N. Knight, George W. Gooding, and B. Frank Bowen, Zophar was one of the founders of the Post. It was established for "literary and charitable purposes" as set forth in the state statutes. The bill was passed during the RI State Assembly on 10 February 1887. Several other Rhode Island GAR posts came into being during the same legislative session.
Ballou Post obviously got off to a great start since a large advertisement was placed in the local paper in 1889, advertising the Third Grand Fair of the Ballou Post.
At the bottom of the advertisement, it says -
I knew that my Great-Great-Grandfather, Zophar Skinner was a member of Ballou Post #3 of the GAR based in Central Falls, Rhode Island. According to one of his grandsons, Zophar attended many of the encampments and held positions as an officer of the Post. His obituary in the Pawtucket Times, 15 November 1926, page 6, states that
"The ritual of the G.A.R. was read by Commander Henry Clark of the Ballou Post, G.A.R. As the body was borne from the house, former comrades representing the Ballou Post, G.A.R., the Prescott Post, G.A.R., and the State Department [of the G.A.R.] acted as a guard of honor."Zophar died on what was then called Armistice Day (now Veteran's Day) on 11 November 1926 at the age of 83. I don't imagine there were many other veterans left in the post to participate in his funeral. The obituary states that Members of S.B. Hiscox Camp, No. 14, Sons of Veterans officiated in the firing squad and three volleys were fired as the casket was lowered into the grave.
What I found tonight while doing a google seach on "Zophar Skinner" was that he was actually one of the founders of Ballou Post! Google books had a copy of an 1887 publication listing -
"An Act to Incorporate Ballou Post, No. 3, G. A. R."
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Acts, Resolves and Reports of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Part I- May Session, 1886. Part II-January Session, 1887. State of Rhode Island, Etc., Office of the Secretary of State, July 1886. Published by E.L. Freeman & Son, State Printers, Providence, 1887.
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Ballou Post obviously got off to a great start since a large advertisement was placed in the local paper in 1889, advertising the Third Grand Fair of the Ballou Post.
"Send $1.00 and your address to Zopher Skinner, Treas., P.O. Box 521, Central Falls, R.I., and receive a ticket in return."I think I need to do more research in the Pawtucket Times and the Providence Journal to see who won some of these big prizes! I'm also interested in researching more of the history of Ballou Post as well as the other Rhode Island posts that some of my other Civil War ancestors probably joined.
Friday, June 27, 2014
The establishment of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Ballou Post # 3
After the end of the Civil War, many of the Union Army veterans joined branches (or posts) of the national fraternal organization, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The GAR was formed in 1866 and at the peak of its popularity in 1890, the GAR had more than 490,000 members, all veterans of the Union Army. The GAR was immensely popular during its time and many of the veterans attended regional or national 'encampments'. The GAR founded soldiers' homes, and was active in relief work and in advocating for pension legislation. The organization was dissolved in 1956, when the last surviving member died. The GAR was succeeded by several other groups of descendants of veterans, the most popular being the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW). This is the official successor group to the Grand Army of the Republic. The SUVCW is still active with its mission of preserving the GAR, honoring Union veterans, and patriotic education. There are several allied organizations, including some for women descendants of Union Veterans.
I knew that my Great-Great-Grandfather, Zophar Skinner was a member of Ballou Post #3 of the GAR based in Central Falls, Rhode Island. According to one of his grandsons, Zophar attended many of the encampments and held positions as an officer of the Post. His obituary in the Pawtucket Times, 15 November 1926, page 6, states that
What I found tonight while doing a google seach on "Zophar Skinner" was that he was actually one of the founders of Ballou Post! Google books had a copy of an 1887 publication listing -
"An Act to Incorporate Ballou Post, No. 3, G. A. R."
Along with James Mulligan, Edson F Spring, Lucius F.C. Garvin, Nathan N. Knight, George W. Gooding, and B. Frank Bowen, Zophar was one of the founders of the Post. It was established for "literary and charitable purposes" as set forth in the state statutes. The bill was passed during the RI State Assembly on 10 February 1887. Several other Rhode Island GAR posts came into being during the same legislative session.
Ballou Post obviously got off to a great start since a large advertisement was placed in the local paper in 1889, advertising the Third Grand Fair of the Ballou Post.
At the bottom of the advertisement, it says -
I knew that my Great-Great-Grandfather, Zophar Skinner was a member of Ballou Post #3 of the GAR based in Central Falls, Rhode Island. According to one of his grandsons, Zophar attended many of the encampments and held positions as an officer of the Post. His obituary in the Pawtucket Times, 15 November 1926, page 6, states that
"The ritual of the G.A.R. was read by Commander Henry Clark of the Ballou Post, G.A.R. As the body was borne from the house, former comrades representing the Ballou Post, G.A.R., the Prescott Post, G.A.R., and the State Department [of the G.A.R.] acted as a guard of honor."Zophar died on what was then called Armistice Day (now Veteran's Day) on 11 November 1926 at the age of 83. I don't imagine there were many other veterans left in the post to participate in his funeral. The obituary states that Members of S.B. Hiscox Camp, No. 14, Sons of Veterans officiated in the firing squad and three volleys were fired as the casket was lowered into the grave.
What I found tonight while doing a google seach on "Zophar Skinner" was that he was actually one of the founders of Ballou Post! Google books had a copy of an 1887 publication listing -
"An Act to Incorporate Ballou Post, No. 3, G. A. R."
|
Acts, Resolves and Reports of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Part I- May Session, 1886. Part II-January Session, 1887. State of Rhode Island, Etc., Office of the Secretary of State, July 1886. Published by E.L. Freeman & Son, State Printers, Providence, 1887. |
Ballou Post obviously got off to a great start since a large advertisement was placed in the local paper in 1889, advertising the Third Grand Fair of the Ballou Post.
"Send $1.00 and your address to Zopher Skinner, Treas., P.O. Box 521, Central Falls, R.I., and receive a ticket in return."I think I need to do more research in the Pawtucket Times and the Providence Journal to see who won some of these big prizes! I'm also interested in researching more of the history of Ballou Post as well as the other Rhode Island posts that some of my other Civil War ancestors probably joined.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Rescued Photo #5 - Clarence Sidney Verrill
When I was in Vermont last year, I spent an hour or so browsing at the Antique Center at Camelot Village in Bennington, VT. This shop is huge and is composed of many individual 'stalls' where all kinds of antiques are sold.
I spent most of my time there looking thru old photos and was amazed at how many of them had identification written on the back. If only all my old family photos were identified! I bought a few that caught my eye and to see if I could identify the families of the individuals, and possibly to locate a living descendant who would like to have these photos. Please contact me if you are related to these people and would like the original photo.
From a quick search of records -
Clarence Sidney Verrill was born 6 May 1877 in New Haven, Connecticut. He was the son of Addison Emery Verrill and Flora Louisa Smith. Clarence was the 5th of six children, and the 3rd son. Clarence's father, Addison was Yale University's first Professor of Zoology and later, curator of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.
Clarence married Dorothy Lord Maltby in California in 1906, and their only child, Rae Maltby Verrill, was born 2 September 1907 in Soulsbyville, California.
A biography/obituary for Clarence was found in the Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, issue 145, January, 1919, pages xlii - xliii, and available on Google Books. Clarence was a mining engineer and worked in many areas of the American west. He and his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia around 1910 where Clarence opened an office as a consulting engineer. He died in a wreck of the steamship, Princess Sophia, on 25 October 1918 as he was returning from a mine visit near Juneau, Alaska. At least 343 people were on board the vessel when it struck a reef and all died in this disaster. According to the biographical sketch, Clarence is buried in Juneau, along with many of the other passengers.
Clarence's daughter Rae Maltby Verrill married Ralph Gordon McDiarmid in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1928. They had at least one son, Neil Verrill McDiarmid who was born and died in North Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1976 at age 42.
I spent most of my time there looking thru old photos and was amazed at how many of them had identification written on the back. If only all my old family photos were identified! I bought a few that caught my eye and to see if I could identify the families of the individuals, and possibly to locate a living descendant who would like to have these photos. Please contact me if you are related to these people and would like the original photo.
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| Clarence Sidney Verrill M. Moulthrop, Photo. 298 Chapel St. New Haven, CT |
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| "Clarence Sidney Verrill 3 years old May 6 -80 Taken June 10 - 1880" |
Clarence Sidney Verrill was born 6 May 1877 in New Haven, Connecticut. He was the son of Addison Emery Verrill and Flora Louisa Smith. Clarence was the 5th of six children, and the 3rd son. Clarence's father, Addison was Yale University's first Professor of Zoology and later, curator of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.
Clarence married Dorothy Lord Maltby in California in 1906, and their only child, Rae Maltby Verrill, was born 2 September 1907 in Soulsbyville, California.
A biography/obituary for Clarence was found in the Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, issue 145, January, 1919, pages xlii - xliii, and available on Google Books. Clarence was a mining engineer and worked in many areas of the American west. He and his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia around 1910 where Clarence opened an office as a consulting engineer. He died in a wreck of the steamship, Princess Sophia, on 25 October 1918 as he was returning from a mine visit near Juneau, Alaska. At least 343 people were on board the vessel when it struck a reef and all died in this disaster. According to the biographical sketch, Clarence is buried in Juneau, along with many of the other passengers.
Clarence's daughter Rae Maltby Verrill married Ralph Gordon McDiarmid in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1928. They had at least one son, Neil Verrill McDiarmid who was born and died in North Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1976 at age 42.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Girl Scout Memories
Thinking Day is coming up! Thinking Day is a Girl Scout and Girl Guide tradition which is celebrated on February 22 each year. From page 213 in my Brownie Girl Scout Handbook -
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| Brownie Girl Scout Handbook Published by the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, New York: 1963 |
"On Thinking Day, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, in every country have special thoughts of their sister Scouts and Guides in other lands. They do something special to show their friendship for them.
Thinking Day is celebrated on February 22. Perhaps you already know this date as the birthday of our own George Washington. But February 22 is the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell and of his wife, Lady Baden-Powell;, too! Lord Baden -Powell was, of course, the Founder of Scouting for boys and girls round the world; Lady Baden-Powell is the World Chief Guide".I was in Girl Scouts for around 6 years when I was a young kid. As I remember, I was a Brownie for two years, a Junior Girl Scout for three years and a Cadette for a year or two before I gradually lost interest as I moved into the middle school years. I know we celebrated Thinking Day in Scouts but I don't have any specific memories of it.
I loved Scouts when I was involved in it. I especially liked the Girl Scout summer camp I attended - Camp TeAta in Central Valley, NY. I was a camper there for around 5 summers and they were great summers. I started off with two week sessions, and stayed for 7 weeks my last year. The last 3 weeks of that last summer I was in what was called 'Wilderness Unit'. We lived in tents (not the cabins the rest of the camp stayed in) out in the woods and cooked our own breakfasts and dinners over a campfire. This experience started my life-long love of camping.
One of my best memories of Girl Scouts were some of the trips we did when I was a Junior Girl Scout. During the three years I was in Troop 225 in Little Falls, NJ, we went on three separate trips to Washington, DC, Niagara Falls, and Williamsburg, VA. Up until a few years ago, it was the only time I had been to each place.
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| Wendy at the Lincoln Memorial, 14 May 1967 |
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| Wendy Grant and best friend, Wendy Sarafine and charter bus to Washington DC |
I found some old notes in my Junior handbook. We went to Washington DC on the weekend of May 13-14, 1967. We left Little Falls at 7 AM and arrived in Washington DC by noon. My notes said we went sight-seeing for 5 hours and went to the Wax Museum . We stayed at the Whitehouse Motel in Fairfax, VA. I remember epic pillow fights and many reminders from the troop leaders to quiet down. On Sunday we visited Arlington Cemetery (spelled Alarton in my notes), Mount Vernon, and somewhere I wrote as "Amtion Theatre". I have no idea where that was. Could it have been another name for Ford's Theater (where Lincoln was shot)? I think we saw that. Supper was in Washington, DC. We were scheduled to leave there at 6:00 PM and arrive back in Little Falls by 11 PM after a stop or two. It was a great trip!
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Share some of your memories
Randy Seaver has a long-running blogging prompt - Saturday Night Genealogy Fun. This week's prompt is based on a keynote talk Judy Russell aka The Legal Genealogist gave at the RootsTech 2014 conference last week in Salt Lake City. I was not at RootsTech but watched her address recorded at this link. The link to Randy's post is here.
Here is Randy's task and my answers-
1) Judy Russell asked six questions in her Keynote address at RootsTech to determine if audience members knew certain family stories about their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. She demonstrated very well that family stories are lost within three generations if they are not recorded and passed on to later generations.
2) This week, I want you to answer Judy's six questions, but about YOUR own life story, not your ancestors. Here are the questions:
a) What was your first illness as a child?
I had to get out the baby book my mom made to look this one up. The first recorded illness for me was measles during the summer of 1962 when I was 6 1/2 years old. I am sure I had many colds and other mild illnesses before then too. Summers were rough for childhood diseases in my family. All three of us kids had measles, German measles, chicken pox and mumps during June and July and in 3 successive years in the early 1960s. Because of advances in vaccines, my children only had to suffer one of these - chicken pox. They got it a year or two before the vaccine was available.
b) What was the first funeral you attended?
We did not have a lot of close relatives so the first funeral I attended was for my grandfather, Harold Veith, who died in December of 1978. I was in my last year of college and home for Christmas break.
c) What was your favorite book as a child?
d) What was your favorite class in elementary school?
I'm not sure about this one. In general I liked school and I loved to read.
e) What was your favorite toy as a child?
My doll who I named Merry Christmas. I was 4 or 5 when I received her (for Christmas, duh!)
f) Did you learn how to swim, and where did you learn?
My brother and sister and I learned to swim at Lake Rickabear in Kinnelon, NJ. When I was in elementary school, my dad worked as an engineer at Curtis-Wright. An employee perk was membership at Lake Rickabear which I think was owned by the company. It was a great place to go when we were little, and I think my mom took us 3 days a week for swimming lessons. The lessons were taught by the lifeguards who were all youngish school teachers during the school year. I remember thinking it was so strange that we called them by their first names during the summer. None of them taught in my school, but I was aware they were teachers.
Here is Randy's task and my answers-
1) Judy Russell asked six questions in her Keynote address at RootsTech to determine if audience members knew certain family stories about their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. She demonstrated very well that family stories are lost within three generations if they are not recorded and passed on to later generations.
2) This week, I want you to answer Judy's six questions, but about YOUR own life story, not your ancestors. Here are the questions:
a) What was your first illness as a child?
I had to get out the baby book my mom made to look this one up. The first recorded illness for me was measles during the summer of 1962 when I was 6 1/2 years old. I am sure I had many colds and other mild illnesses before then too. Summers were rough for childhood diseases in my family. All three of us kids had measles, German measles, chicken pox and mumps during June and July and in 3 successive years in the early 1960s. Because of advances in vaccines, my children only had to suffer one of these - chicken pox. They got it a year or two before the vaccine was available.
b) What was the first funeral you attended?
We did not have a lot of close relatives so the first funeral I attended was for my grandfather, Harold Veith, who died in December of 1978. I was in my last year of college and home for Christmas break.
c) What was your favorite book as a child?
Holiday for Edith and the Bears - This was one of a series of books by author and photographer Dare Wright. Edith was a doll and the bears were stuffed animals. I vividly remember a photo of Edith falling out of a rowboat, after she and Little Bear went out in the boat without permission. The photo fascinated me - I am not sure why.
After I learned to read and I was a bit older, my favorites were any of the books about the detective children in the series The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West.
d) What was your favorite class in elementary school?
I'm not sure about this one. In general I liked school and I loved to read.
e) What was your favorite toy as a child?
My doll who I named Merry Christmas. I was 4 or 5 when I received her (for Christmas, duh!)
f) Did you learn how to swim, and where did you learn?
My brother and sister and I learned to swim at Lake Rickabear in Kinnelon, NJ. When I was in elementary school, my dad worked as an engineer at Curtis-Wright. An employee perk was membership at Lake Rickabear which I think was owned by the company. It was a great place to go when we were little, and I think my mom took us 3 days a week for swimming lessons. The lessons were taught by the lifeguards who were all youngish school teachers during the school year. I remember thinking it was so strange that we called them by their first names during the summer. None of them taught in my school, but I was aware they were teachers.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving!
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| undated vintage postcard |
Monday, November 25, 2013
Rescued Photo #4 - Ann Eliza Turner Hulet Niles
When I was in Vermont last September, I spent an hour or so browsing at the Antique Center at Camelot Village in Bennington, VT. This shop is huge and is composed of many individual 'stalls' where all kinds of antiques are sold. I could have spent days in this place, and hope to go back on my next visit.
I spent most of my time there looking thru old photos and was amazed at how many of them had identification written on the back. If only all my old family photos were identified! I decided to buy a few that caught my eye and see if I could identify the families of the individuals, and possibly to locate a living descendant who would like to have these photos. Please contact me if you are related to these people and would like the original photo.
This photo was found in the same lot of photos (dealer #356) as were the 3 previous photographs in my Rescued Photos series of blog posts and these people are all probably related. I am slowly building a family tree to resolve family relationships.
" Ann Eliza Turner
daughter of
Dr and Mrs Gideon Turner"
There is no photographer's name or studio, or location of where the photo was taken.
From doing some basic research, it appears that Ann Eliza Turner was the daughter of Dr Gideon S Turner and his wife, Eliza T. Atwood. No birth record has been found for her but the US census records for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 indicate she was born in 1842 or 1843 in New York. The 1900 US census indicates her birth in October 1842 in NY, and a record on Findagrave and a gravestone image gives her birth date as 25 October 1842. Her second marriage record indicates that she was born in Salem, Washington County, New York. She died 1 April 1911 in Danby, Rutland County, Vermont at age 68. She is listed as a nurse to a private family, and she was probably still living with her daughter as she was when enumerated there in the 1910 US census.This 1910 census record lists her as widowed, with one child.
Ann Eliza was married twice. Her first marriage was to Aaron Hulet. After his death in 1894, she married Joseph Burr Niles in 1896. According to the marriage record for this 2nd marriage, Ann Eliza was living in White Creek, New York at the time of her marriage. The marriage was registered in Shaftsbury, Vermont. Although the 1910 census shows her as widowed, in actuality Ann Eliza was either separated or divorced from Joseph Niles since he did not die until 1920.
The 1880 US census for Shaftsbury, VT shows Aaron and Ann E Hulet living with adopted daughter Winnie B Hulet, age 7, born New York. Winnie married Theodore Woodward around 1890, and they were living in White Creek, New York according to the 1900 census along with their 3 children, Winona Woodward, Leon D Woodward, and Clinton Woodward.
In summary, this is what I know about Ann Eliza Turner -
Ann Eliza Turner, daughter of Gideon S Turner and Eliza T. Atwood, was born on 25 October 1842 in Salem, Washington County, New York. She died on 1 April 1911 in Danby, Rutland County, Vermont (age 68). She married (1) Aaron Hulet. He was born on 27 March 1835. He died on 20 November 1894 (age 59). She married (2) Joseph Burr Niles, son of Jonathan Niles and Mary Slocum, on 23 December 1896 in Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont. He was born on 6 July 1837 In Shaftsbury. He died on 13 Jan 1920 in Shaftsbury (age 82).
I spent most of my time there looking thru old photos and was amazed at how many of them had identification written on the back. If only all my old family photos were identified! I decided to buy a few that caught my eye and see if I could identify the families of the individuals, and possibly to locate a living descendant who would like to have these photos. Please contact me if you are related to these people and would like the original photo.
This photo was found in the same lot of photos (dealer #356) as were the 3 previous photographs in my Rescued Photos series of blog posts and these people are all probably related. I am slowly building a family tree to resolve family relationships.
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| Ann Eliza Turner photograph |
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| Ann Eliza Turner photograph back side |
This photo is labeled on the back -
" Ann Eliza Turner
daughter of
Dr and Mrs Gideon Turner"
There is no photographer's name or studio, or location of where the photo was taken.
From doing some basic research, it appears that Ann Eliza Turner was the daughter of Dr Gideon S Turner and his wife, Eliza T. Atwood. No birth record has been found for her but the US census records for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 indicate she was born in 1842 or 1843 in New York. The 1900 US census indicates her birth in October 1842 in NY, and a record on Findagrave and a gravestone image gives her birth date as 25 October 1842. Her second marriage record indicates that she was born in Salem, Washington County, New York. She died 1 April 1911 in Danby, Rutland County, Vermont at age 68. She is listed as a nurse to a private family, and she was probably still living with her daughter as she was when enumerated there in the 1910 US census.This 1910 census record lists her as widowed, with one child.
Ann Eliza was married twice. Her first marriage was to Aaron Hulet. After his death in 1894, she married Joseph Burr Niles in 1896. According to the marriage record for this 2nd marriage, Ann Eliza was living in White Creek, New York at the time of her marriage. The marriage was registered in Shaftsbury, Vermont. Although the 1910 census shows her as widowed, in actuality Ann Eliza was either separated or divorced from Joseph Niles since he did not die until 1920.
The 1880 US census for Shaftsbury, VT shows Aaron and Ann E Hulet living with adopted daughter Winnie B Hulet, age 7, born New York. Winnie married Theodore Woodward around 1890, and they were living in White Creek, New York according to the 1900 census along with their 3 children, Winona Woodward, Leon D Woodward, and Clinton Woodward.
In summary, this is what I know about Ann Eliza Turner -
Ann Eliza Turner, daughter of Gideon S Turner and Eliza T. Atwood, was born on 25 October 1842 in Salem, Washington County, New York. She died on 1 April 1911 in Danby, Rutland County, Vermont (age 68). She married (1) Aaron Hulet. He was born on 27 March 1835. He died on 20 November 1894 (age 59). She married (2) Joseph Burr Niles, son of Jonathan Niles and Mary Slocum, on 23 December 1896 in Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont. He was born on 6 July 1837 In Shaftsbury. He died on 13 Jan 1920 in Shaftsbury (age 82).
Saturday, November 23, 2013
GRANT surname distribution
Randy Seaver over at the blog Genea-Musings has an on-going series, Saturday Night Genealogy Fun. I decided to try out tonight's exercise, which is to map out where families with the Grant surname resided In the USA in a few selected census years - 1840, 1880 and 1920. The Surname Distribution Map is located at the link here on Ancestry.com. Besides the maps, the page also presents some facts about families with the chosen surname.
For my GRANT surname, I learned that -
The Grant surname distribution map for 1840 -
In 1840, New York and Maine had the highest number of Grant families. My direct descendants were living on both sides of the Rhode Island/Massachusetts border in Bristol County, RI and Bristol County, MA. Some families had moved in the proceeding 20 years to early mill towns in Rhode Island.
The GRANT surname distribution map for 1880 -
New York and Maine are joined by Massachusetts, and the two southern states of Georgia and South Carolina as having the largest numbers of Grant families in 1880.
New York, Massachusetts, Georgia and South Carolina have the most Grant families in 1920. Maine has dropped down to the next category size. Notice that the "number of Grant families" color divisions do not stay constant for all three map time periods. There is a large increase in total Grant families in 1880, and a decrease in number in 1920. Randy noticed the same thing in his post for the Seaver surname distribution, and this is counter-intuitive to me. I would think, in general, that the total number of families in a not uncommon surname would increase with time. It is possible, however that both the Seaver and Grant surnames buck that trend. Perhaps the Ancestry.com counter does not work the same for both census years??
There are a few other facts about the Grant surname from the same link on Ancestry -
Family origin of the Grant surname in the US -
Ancestry computes the number of Grant families who immigrated to the United States thru New York for the period, 1851 - 1891. These Grant families came after my direct ancestors who were living in Massachusetts and Rhode Island by the mid-17th century.
In general, the following chart shows that Grants tended to live as long as the general public for the years tracked by the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), 1940 - 2000. It is interesting how life expectancy slowly increased in the post-war period, increased steeply after 1960, and leveled off for the next 40 years. Ancestry says "An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family." I think there are too many Grant families to detect any meaning from this chart.
Family Occupations from the 1880 US census data-
Families with the Grant surname are over-represented with respect to the general public in farming occupations in 1880. This is probably due to the many people of the Grant surname in the mostly rural southern states of Georgia and South Carolina, as well as the mostly rural state of Maine. By 1880, most of my Grant ancestors had moved from farming and were working as spinners in the Rhode Island mill towns.
Ancestry.com has a large index for Civil War soldiers. From its Civil War Service Records index, there were 2845 men with the Grant surname in the Civil War. Twice as many served in the Union Army as the Confederate Army - the numbers were 1881 for the Union and 964 for the Confederates. All of my known Grant ancestor Civil War soldiers were in the Union Army. This is not surprising since they all came from Rhode Island and Massachusetts!
And lastly, Ancestry maintains the message boards on Rootsweb. There are 34 messages on 2347 threads. Some might have been posted by me way back when I first started looking into my family history about the year 2000. Now social media is used much more for querying about ancestors.
All in all, this was an interesting project. I think I need to do it also soon for my maternal line of Veith. I suspect there will be far fewer individuals with that surname, and possibly more useful information can be gleamed.
Thanks Randy for a fun project!.
For my GRANT surname, I learned that -
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press
The Grant surname distribution map for 1840 -
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| Grant surname distribution in 1840 |
The GRANT surname distribution map for 1880 -
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| Grant surname distribution in 1880 |
The GRANT surname distribution map for 1920 -
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| Grant surname distribution in 1920 |
There are a few other facts about the Grant surname from the same link on Ancestry -
Family origin of the Grant surname in the US -
from the New York Passengers List
Ancestry computes the number of Grant families who immigrated to the United States thru New York for the period, 1851 - 1891. These Grant families came after my direct ancestors who were living in Massachusetts and Rhode Island by the mid-17th century.
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| Grant immigration information, 1851- 1891 |
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| Average Life expectancy for persons with the Grant surname |
Family Occupations from the 1880 US census data-
Ancestry.com has a large index for Civil War soldiers. From its Civil War Service Records index, there were 2845 men with the Grant surname in the Civil War. Twice as many served in the Union Army as the Confederate Army - the numbers were 1881 for the Union and 964 for the Confederates. All of my known Grant ancestor Civil War soldiers were in the Union Army. This is not surprising since they all came from Rhode Island and Massachusetts!
And lastly, Ancestry maintains the message boards on Rootsweb. There are 34 messages on 2347 threads. Some might have been posted by me way back when I first started looking into my family history about the year 2000. Now social media is used much more for querying about ancestors.
All in all, this was an interesting project. I think I need to do it also soon for my maternal line of Veith. I suspect there will be far fewer individuals with that surname, and possibly more useful information can be gleamed.
Thanks Randy for a fun project!.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Harwich, MA World War I & World War II Memorial
In honor of Veteran's Day 2013 -
There is a rock with a memorial plaque in Doane Park in Harwich Port, Massachusetts. This small park lies in between Main Street (Route 28) and Lower County Road, and is across the street from the Harwich Port Post Office.
There is a rock with a memorial plaque in Doane Park in Harwich Port, Massachusetts. This small park lies in between Main Street (Route 28) and Lower County Road, and is across the street from the Harwich Port Post Office.
In Memory of the Men ofHarwichWho Made the Supreme Sacrifice
World War I World War II
Valmer H Bassett Raymond A Arsenault Clarence L Berry Donald H Barrett J Wilton Berry George R Dreher Earle M Chase Watson B Eldredge, Jr Leslie M Clark Robert H Megathlin Scott C Nickerson Robert V Paine Josiah D Nickerson Clarence C Peters
Dedicated 1948
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Rescued Photo #2 - Eliza Turner Savage
When I was in Vermont last September, I spent an hour or so browsing at the Antique Center at Camelot Village in Bennington, VT. This shop is huge and is composed of many individual 'stalls' where all kinds of antiques are sold. I could have spent days in this place, and hope to go back on my next visit.
I spent most of my time there looking thru old photos and was amazed at how many of them had identification written on the back. If only all my old family photos were identified! I decided to buy a few that caught my eye and see if I could identify the families of the individuals, and possibly to locate a living descendant who would like to have these photos. Please contact me if you are related to these people and would like the original photo.
This photo is approximately 4 1/4" by 2 1/2" and is identified as Eliza Turner Savage. The location of the photographer is Waukesha, Wisconsin. I believe I may have found Eliza in the Wisconsin Deaths and Burials index on FamilySearch.org. (citation at bottom of page). According to the transcribed information in the Index, Eliza was born 11 May 1802 in Salem, Washington County, New York. Her father is listed as James Turner. Eliza died in Wisconsin at age 81 on 20 May 1883 and the burial place is noted as Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The original death record should be examined to confirm this information.
The 1860 U.S. Federal census shows John A Savage (age 60) and Eliza Savage (age 54) living in the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Living in the same household are John A. Savage, age 28, Eliza Savage, age 24, Edward Savage, age 18, and William Savage, age 16. All of these people were born in New York. It appears the family was in western New York at the time of the 1850 census - they are enumerated in Oswegatchie, Saint Lawrence County. Two additional probable children are listed with the family that were not there in the 1860 listing: Mary Savage, age 25 and Harriet Savage, age 12.
There is a public family tree on Ancestry.com that seems to include this person. Eliza is identified in this tree as Elizabeth Turner born 11 May 1802 in Lisbon, New York to James Turner and Eleanor Hunsdon.. Lisbon is on the other side of New York state, but the date is the same. The husband is identified as John Adams Savage who was born 9 Oct 1800 in Salem, New York and died 13 December 1864 in Wisconsin. His parents were Abraham Savage and Mary Adams.What is pretty exciting is that the owner of the tree has a photo of John Adams Savage already posted but none for wife Elizabeth/Eliza. I have sent an email to the owner of the tree and hope that I can return this photograph to a descendant!
_______________________
"Wisconsin, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XL6V-JLC : accessed 03 Mar 2013), Eliza Turner Savage, 11 May 1802.
1860 U.S. Census, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, population schedule, Waukesha city, page # 10, sheet 20, family 76, John A Savage household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 March 2012), citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 1436.
1850 U.S. Census, Saint Lawrence County, New York, population schedule, Oswegatchie, page 100A, family 293, John A Savage household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 March 2012), citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 589.
I spent most of my time there looking thru old photos and was amazed at how many of them had identification written on the back. If only all my old family photos were identified! I decided to buy a few that caught my eye and see if I could identify the families of the individuals, and possibly to locate a living descendant who would like to have these photos. Please contact me if you are related to these people and would like the original photo.
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| Eliza Turner Savage |
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| back of Eliza Turner Savage photo |
The 1860 U.S. Federal census shows John A Savage (age 60) and Eliza Savage (age 54) living in the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Living in the same household are John A. Savage, age 28, Eliza Savage, age 24, Edward Savage, age 18, and William Savage, age 16. All of these people were born in New York. It appears the family was in western New York at the time of the 1850 census - they are enumerated in Oswegatchie, Saint Lawrence County. Two additional probable children are listed with the family that were not there in the 1860 listing: Mary Savage, age 25 and Harriet Savage, age 12.
There is a public family tree on Ancestry.com that seems to include this person. Eliza is identified in this tree as Elizabeth Turner born 11 May 1802 in Lisbon, New York to James Turner and Eleanor Hunsdon.. Lisbon is on the other side of New York state, but the date is the same. The husband is identified as John Adams Savage who was born 9 Oct 1800 in Salem, New York and died 13 December 1864 in Wisconsin. His parents were Abraham Savage and Mary Adams.What is pretty exciting is that the owner of the tree has a photo of John Adams Savage already posted but none for wife Elizabeth/Eliza. I have sent an email to the owner of the tree and hope that I can return this photograph to a descendant!
_______________________
"Wisconsin, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XL6V-JLC : accessed 03 Mar 2013), Eliza Turner Savage, 11 May 1802.
1860 U.S. Census, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, population schedule, Waukesha city, page # 10, sheet 20, family 76, John A Savage household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 March 2012), citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 1436.
1850 U.S. Census, Saint Lawrence County, New York, population schedule, Oswegatchie, page 100A, family 293, John A Savage household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 March 2012), citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 589.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
One thing I learned today at GRIP
I am attending the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) this week and am taking the Military Records: From Cradle to Grave course taught by Craig Scott. I've been learning about the nuances of what one can find out from muster and pension records as well as gaining some much needed basics in military history and military organization. Craig has asked us to bring in photos or records for group examinations and one of the photos we examined today is of my grandfather, Harold Theodore Veith, in his World War I uniform.
I had known that Grandpa had served in the Navy during World War I and knew that he never went to sea but was stationed near to where he had been living in Hoboken, New Jersey. However I knew none of the details of his service, not even his rank or rating.
From the above photo, we were able to identify what the rank and rating were for Harold from the winter uniform he was wearing in this portrait. The insignia on his left arm signifies that his military rating was 'shop-keeper' (confirmed by the keys under the eagle in the patch), and that the three chevrons meant that he was a first class petty officer. Craig mentioned that the troops that embarked for Europe left from the port of Hoboken, and I imagine my grandfather was kept busy in his post there.
Oh, and I also learned that a hat or cap is called a 'cover' in Navy speak!
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| Harold Theodore Veith 1891 - 1978 |
From the above photo, we were able to identify what the rank and rating were for Harold from the winter uniform he was wearing in this portrait. The insignia on his left arm signifies that his military rating was 'shop-keeper' (confirmed by the keys under the eagle in the patch), and that the three chevrons meant that he was a first class petty officer. Craig mentioned that the troops that embarked for Europe left from the port of Hoboken, and I imagine my grandfather was kept busy in his post there.
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| detail of insignia |
Options
Saturday, June 15, 2013
My Dad - August 1990
In honor of my dad, Warren Westcott Grant, 1922 - 2005, on Father's Day.
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| Warren W Grant at "Tall Pines" |
Miss you, Dad!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
What does a mule spinner do?
Many people are familiar with how the New England mill towns got their start due to the Industrial Revolution. The early mills were built where there was water power from rivers and diverted channels - later mills were powered by steam. The first mill in New England was built in 1793 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island by Samuel Slater, who had learned the mechanized spinning process in England. Mills were quickly added along rivers in much of New England - particularly in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, southern New Hampshire and Maine - and mechanization of yarn manufacture was quickly followed by the production of whole cloth in the mills. Early on in Rhode Island, mill owners built whole villages around the mill and housed entire families who worked together in the mills. In contrast, the mills first formed in Waltham, MA and later in Lowell, MA and along the Merrimack River relied on young women recruited from New England farms as their labor source.
By the 1920s, the heyday of the New England mills was over and textile production went into a decline as textile manufacturing moved out of the region. However, the mechanized production of yarn and cloth had radically changed New England - prior to the textile mills, yarn was spun on individual spinning wheels and cloth was made on small looms, usually within family units. The invention of mechanized spinning and weaving created an entire new industry which radically transformed a rural mostly farm-based economy into centers of manufacturing and trade.
In my family tree, there are many of my ancestors who moved from farms in both Bristol County RI and Bristol County MA to the early mill towns surrounding the Blackstone River in Rhode Island in the early 1800s. Succeeding generations worked in the mills and related industries until the mill closures in the early 20th century. Their job titles are often machinist or operative, and sometimes 'mule spinner'. A few were even listed as 'overseer' which generally meant they had managerial or supervisory roles in the mills.
The subject of my last blog post, was Ira W Grant. His father, Sylvester Grant, Jr was employed in the mills in Fall River by 1844 when Ira was born and in Smithfield RI where he was enumerated in the 1850 Federal census. In both documents, Sylvester's occupation was listed as 'mule-spinner'. So what was a mule-spinner?
Specifically, mule spinners operate the spinning machinery that create yarn of any kind - in early Rhode Island mills, it was cotton thread. Mule spinners worked a dangerous job and injuries were common, particularly among the young boys who worked in tandem with the adult men. The machinery was heavy and the mules (spinning machinery) moved quickly back and forth on tracks. Repairs to broken threads, and spool changes, were done on moving machinery. Another hazard was a particular type of cancer caused by the lubricating oil used by mule spinners in cotton yarn production.
For an interesting interview of the life of a mule spinner in an 1883 Fall River, MA textile factory see the account at History Matters. It references the testimony of mill-worker Thomas O'Donnell and was originally published in:
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Education and Labor, Report on the Relations Between Labor and Capital, Vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1885), 451–457.
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| Slater Mill Complex, Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
In my family tree, there are many of my ancestors who moved from farms in both Bristol County RI and Bristol County MA to the early mill towns surrounding the Blackstone River in Rhode Island in the early 1800s. Succeeding generations worked in the mills and related industries until the mill closures in the early 20th century. Their job titles are often machinist or operative, and sometimes 'mule spinner'. A few were even listed as 'overseer' which generally meant they had managerial or supervisory roles in the mills.
The subject of my last blog post, was Ira W Grant. His father, Sylvester Grant, Jr was employed in the mills in Fall River by 1844 when Ira was born and in Smithfield RI where he was enumerated in the 1850 Federal census. In both documents, Sylvester's occupation was listed as 'mule-spinner'. So what was a mule-spinner?
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| Mule spinner creating cotton thread. Museum of Work and Culture. Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Photograph by George P. Landow, October 2004. http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/technology/textiles/t2.html |
For an interesting interview of the life of a mule spinner in an 1883 Fall River, MA textile factory see the account at History Matters. It references the testimony of mill-worker Thomas O'Donnell and was originally published in:
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Education and Labor, Report on the Relations Between Labor and Capital, Vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1885), 451–457.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Ira Whitaker Grant, 1842 - 1864
For Memorial Day, this post is honoring one of my ancestors who died in battle during the Civil War.Although I have many ancestors who fought in all of this country's wars, I only know of two who died while in service. I wrote about Clifford E. Stalls, who died during World War II here. Clifford was known as "Buddy" and he was my mother's cousin or my first cousin, once removed. In this post, I honor the memory of another first cousin, three times (3 generations) removed, Ira Whitaker Grant, who died during the Civil War.
Ira was the son of Sylvester Grant, Jr and his wife Susan L Boomer. He was born 28 January 1844 possibly in Fall River, Massachusetts. His family moved soon after to Valley Falls, Rhode Island, where his father was a shoe-maker. Ira had nine known brothers and sisters - he was the fifth child as well as fifth son, and had six brothers and three sisters who lived to adulthood. In the 1860 census for Valley Falls, Ira's occupation is that of jeweler, and he is living with his parents, his next older brother George, and five younger siblings.
Ira enlisted for service in Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment of the Rhode Island Volunteers on 11 August 1862 when he was 18 years old. He mustered into service on 6 September, on the same day his older brothers, Samuel and George mustered into service in the same company. Ira died during the battle at Cold Harbor, Virginia on 3 June 1864 - his two brothers had been previously discharged on surgeon's certificates - George in December 1862 and Samuel in March 1863. George died a month after he was discharged, of consumption, and is buried in the Grant family plot at Moshassuck Cemetery in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Samuel died in 1915 at age 82 of pneumonia and also is buried in Moshassuck Cemetery in a different plot with no headstone.
From "The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers in the Civil War, 1862-1865" by William P. Hopkins, Snow & Farmham Printers, Providence, RI, 1903: p 386-387, copy found in Google Books:
Ira was the son of Sylvester Grant, Jr and his wife Susan L Boomer. He was born 28 January 1844 possibly in Fall River, Massachusetts. His family moved soon after to Valley Falls, Rhode Island, where his father was a shoe-maker. Ira had nine known brothers and sisters - he was the fifth child as well as fifth son, and had six brothers and three sisters who lived to adulthood. In the 1860 census for Valley Falls, Ira's occupation is that of jeweler, and he is living with his parents, his next older brother George, and five younger siblings.
Ira enlisted for service in Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment of the Rhode Island Volunteers on 11 August 1862 when he was 18 years old. He mustered into service on 6 September, on the same day his older brothers, Samuel and George mustered into service in the same company. Ira died during the battle at Cold Harbor, Virginia on 3 June 1864 - his two brothers had been previously discharged on surgeon's certificates - George in December 1862 and Samuel in March 1863. George died a month after he was discharged, of consumption, and is buried in the Grant family plot at Moshassuck Cemetery in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Samuel died in 1915 at age 82 of pneumonia and also is buried in Moshassuck Cemetery in a different plot with no headstone.
From "The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers in the Civil War, 1862-1865" by William P. Hopkins, Snow & Farmham Printers, Providence, RI, 1903: p 386-387, copy found in Google Books:
IRA W. GRANT
Ira Whitaker Grant, fifth child of Sylvester and Susan Boomer Grant, was born at Valley Falls, Cumberland, April 12, 1842. [ I think this might be the birth-date of brother George, not Ira, and birth location of his younger siblings]. There were three daughters and ten sons in the family of whom only three sons are now living (November, 1902). Ira received a common school education and was employed as a clerk at the time of his enlistment. Two brothers, George S. and Samuel, accompanied him to the field. He was mortally wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Joseph Taylor was ordered to assist him to the rear and see him well started toward a field hospital. Now Grant was a small man so his comrade could readily handle him. They had reached the border of the swamp to the rear of the line of battle when he became exhausted from loss of blood. Taylor laid him down and he fainted. Just then a rebel shell knocked a large limb from an overhanging tree which fell and covered them both. Taylor finally succeeded in throwing off the limb, but Grant still remained in his faint. The former had never seen a person in that condition and had not the slightest idea what should be done. None were near to call. Shells and bullets filled the atmosphere above them. He feared his comrade was dead and that he would be obliged to leave him. Just then he noticed Grant's head was settling in the swampy water to his face and lips, and began to move. He then seized him by the shoulders and dragged him through the swamp where in places both sank knee deep in the soft mud. Beyond they found some men with stretchers, on one of which the wounded soldier was placed and hastily borne to the field hospital. A surgeon examined him and found that while one bullet had gone through his left thigh, another had entered his breast just below his heart. The former was supposed to be his only injury until the search revealed the other. He lived but half an hour longer.
According to family papers, Ira had a headstone on the family plot at Moshassuck Cemetery but it is no longer there. In the same family papers, he is listed as "left on battlefield". I called Richmond National Battlefield Park headquarters around 10 years ago and was told by the Park historian that many bodies were lost in temporary graves before they were repatriated back to home cemeteries. There is no record for Ira's body - presumably his is one of those that was never found, or if found was never identified.
The battle at Cold Harbor was a major defeat and disaster for the Union Army. Under the direction of General Grant (no relationship) the Union Army tried a frontal assault on the Confederate Army in the hopes of breaking thru the rebel lines and taking the Confederate capitol at Richmond. Instead, the Union Army lost around 7000 men in less than an hour to the well-entrenched rebel soldiers. It is not clear exactly how the Union Command miscalculated the battle so badly, except that it appears there was conflict between Generals Grant and Meade. And it was the common soldiers, including Ira Grant, who paid the price.
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"Grant at City Point [i.e. Cold Harbor], Va., June 1864 Library of Congress image |
Saturday, May 11, 2013
My Mom - 1953
In honor of Mother's Day, here is a photo of my mom, Dorothy Veith Grant.
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| Dorothy Veith Grant Atlantic City, NJ August 1953 |
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Zophar Skinner and the 2nd RI Infantry at Gettysburg
Last summer I wrote in this post about a visit I made to Gettysburg and the Civil War battlefield monuments for the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. My 2nd great-grandfather, Zophar Skinner, was in Company C of the 2nd RIV (Rhode Island Volunteers). He enlisted in the unit on 5 June 1861 and mustered out on 17 June 1864. Zophar was not yet 18 when he enlisted. His 20 year old brother, Joseph Godfrey Skinner enlisted on the same day and mustered into Co. H of the 2nd RIV. Youngest brother, Henry Skinner, was only eleven years old and he might have envied his older brothers marching off to war.
My father's cousin is Zophar's grandson and knew him when he was a young boy. He has the powder horns that Zophar used during the war, and also a small diary that Zophar kept for the year 1863. The diary is a small leather-bound book not much larger than a pack of cards, around 5" x 3". Each page covers 3 days, with 6 short lines for journaling. The diary is in quite good condition but the ink on many pages has faded too much to be read.
Zophar recorded the weather every day and briefly detailed his activities. He mentions writing and receiving letters, drawing rations, drills, inspections, dress parades, and marches among the daily occurrences.
Gettysburg
The decisive battle at Gettysburg, PA occurred over the 3-day period of July 1-3, 1863. The battle began before Zophar's unit arrived in mid-afternoon on the 2nd day after marching all night with only brief stops for breakfast and dinner. When they arrived at Gettysburg, they were held in reserve near Little Round Top and probably fell asleep in exhaustion. Zophar, in his diary, claimed they had marched 42 miles in the last day and a half, and they marched 140 miles in the six days since they left Centreville, VA on June 26th.
Below is a transcription from the diary for July 1 - July 5. I have tried to retain original spelling, spacing, and punctuation.
Wednesday, July 1
"Showery all day. drawed one days rait-
ons. packed up at six this evening and took
the road to Gettysburg and marched all
night. Gen. Wheaton took command of ou-
e Division this Evening"
Thursday, July 2
"Plesant all day stopt one hour for bre-
akfast and one for dinner. passed tho-
rgh Middletown and arrived at Gettys-
burg at three this afternoon. distance
was 42 miles."
Friday, July 3
"Cloudy all day. got up at two this mo-
rning and got breakfast. Our brigade was
detached to the 12 Armee cops. went to
the right of the line of battle and back
again. sharp shelling by the rebels.Charles
Powers was killed this afternoon by a shell".
Saturday, July 4
"Showery all day. got up this morning at
7 and went to the front reserve for pickets
the rest of our Brigade was digging rif-
le pits. relieved at half past seven th-
evening by the 10 regiment Mass Vols".
Sunday, July 5
"Showerly all day. got up early this m-
orning and joined our Corps. rested a sho-
rt time and started after the rebs they ha-
ving left during the night. halted at d-
ark. Distance five miles. my Company was
detailed as rear guard".
The Union Army, under General Meade's command pursued the Confederate Army as they moved south back into Maryland and then across the Potomac River and into Virginia in the days following. Zophar's unit crossed the Potomac on July 19th. It is hard for me to imagine what this young man saw and experienced during the Gettysburg battle and throughout the War. The diary does not reveal Zophar's emotions or state of mind but is very straightforward. What a time he lived through.... And in the end, I wonder if his little brother Henry was grateful or envious that he was too young to go to war like his older brothers, Zophar and Joseph.
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| Zophar Skinner |
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| Zophar Skinner's diary for the year 1863 |
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| inside cover of diary "Zophar Skinner Co. C. 2nd reg. R.I. Vols. Valley Falls, Rhode Island Enlisted June 5th, 1861. 2nd Brigade 3rd Division 6th Corps" |
Gettysburg
The decisive battle at Gettysburg, PA occurred over the 3-day period of July 1-3, 1863. The battle began before Zophar's unit arrived in mid-afternoon on the 2nd day after marching all night with only brief stops for breakfast and dinner. When they arrived at Gettysburg, they were held in reserve near Little Round Top and probably fell asleep in exhaustion. Zophar, in his diary, claimed they had marched 42 miles in the last day and a half, and they marched 140 miles in the six days since they left Centreville, VA on June 26th.
Below is a transcription from the diary for July 1 - July 5. I have tried to retain original spelling, spacing, and punctuation.
Wednesday, July 1
"Showery all day. drawed one days rait-
ons. packed up at six this evening and took
the road to Gettysburg and marched all
night. Gen. Wheaton took command of ou-
e Division this Evening"
Thursday, July 2
"Plesant all day stopt one hour for bre-
akfast and one for dinner. passed tho-
rgh Middletown and arrived at Gettys-
burg at three this afternoon. distance
was 42 miles."
Friday, July 3
"Cloudy all day. got up at two this mo-
rning and got breakfast. Our brigade was
detached to the 12 Armee cops. went to
the right of the line of battle and back
again. sharp shelling by the rebels.Charles
Powers was killed this afternoon by a shell".
Saturday, July 4
"Showery all day. got up this morning at
7 and went to the front reserve for pickets
the rest of our Brigade was digging rif-
le pits. relieved at half past seven th-
evening by the 10 regiment Mass Vols".
Sunday, July 5
"Showerly all day. got up early this m-
orning and joined our Corps. rested a sho-
rt time and started after the rebs they ha-
ving left during the night. halted at d-
ark. Distance five miles. my Company was
detailed as rear guard".
The Union Army, under General Meade's command pursued the Confederate Army as they moved south back into Maryland and then across the Potomac River and into Virginia in the days following. Zophar's unit crossed the Potomac on July 19th. It is hard for me to imagine what this young man saw and experienced during the Gettysburg battle and throughout the War. The diary does not reveal Zophar's emotions or state of mind but is very straightforward. What a time he lived through.... And in the end, I wonder if his little brother Henry was grateful or envious that he was too young to go to war like his older brothers, Zophar and Joseph.
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