James was born in Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland in 1832, and came to the US as a young man through New York in the 1850s. At some point before the Civil War he came to Massachusetts. He enlisted as a Private in the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry in late 1863, and was transferred to the 32nd Massachusetts in 1864 when the 32nd was absorbing units from other regiments that were disbanding. His life after the War is just as tricky to track as his life before the War. There we

“He from earth did suddenly retreat, To the grand lodge above: We trust he’s gone to take his seat, Where masons dwell in love.”

George was born in Bangor, ME around 1840. His birth was recorded in Boston, MA on December 20, 1840. All of his military records indicate Maine as his birthplace. I have been unable to find any information about his early life. Shortly after the US Civil War George enlisted in the US Navy. He was described as being 5’10” with blue eyes, light brown hair, and a fair complexion. He served on several ships, serving the longest aboard the USS Wachusett. In the summer and early f

George William Stafford was born around 1840 to George L. and Samantha Stafford in New Hampshire or Massachusetts. His mother died of consumption when he was about 4, and his father remarried to Sophronia C. Goodrich. After her death in 1857 his father married again to a woman named Emily. He had at least one half sister from his father’s second marriage. Her name was Frances Ann. His father George died of consumption in June of 1862. In early August of 1862 George W. enliste

"My glass is run" Jonas was born in Concord, MA on December 3, 1710. He was the third child and second son born to Samuel and Abigail (Reed) Stone, and the last of their children born in Concord: in 1712 the family moved to the "Pelham's Island" farm in neighboring Sudbury. This area is now in the town of Wayland. In all the Stones had eleven children. On November 5, 1731 he married Elizabeth Adams of Framingham in Framingham. Shortly after their marriage they moved to what

"Memento mori"

"Time was I stood as thou dost now, And view'd ye dead as thou dost me Ere long you lie as low as I, And others stand & gaze at thee."

William was born on April 26, 1839 to William Henry and Mary Jane (Shaw) Barr in Spencer, MA. During the US Civil War he served as a wagoner, teamster, and forage master in the 21st Massachusetts Infantry, Company C. Private Barr enlisted in July 1861 and served faithfully until he mustered out in October 1864. During his service he contracted malaria but survived. After the War William returned to Massachusetts and worked as a teamster and laborer, taking on odd jobs. He mar

Elijah Flagg Jr. was born in Lunenburg, MA on August 17, 1779 in the midst of the American Revolution. His father may be the Elijah Flagg who lived in Worcester, MA. More research is needed. In the early 1800s he worked as a school master in Lunenburg, MA. He married Mercy Osborne of Bolton on January 12, 1808. Elijah was living in Marlborough, MA and working as a physician. The couple had four daughters, and at least three of them lived to adulthood. Dr. Flagg died on consum

Andrew was born on May 14, 1838 in Charlton, MA to Lyman and Hannah (Brown) Knight. He was the oldest of their three children, born only three months after their marriage. Lyman died in 1844 at age 24 of a gangrenous infection. I wasn’t able to find Andrew in the 1850 Census, but in 1855 he is living in Charlton with Andrew McIntyre and working as a shoemaker in his shop—perhaps an apprentice? On October 21, 1858 he married Catherine A. “Kate” Olds. The marriage was registere

William Pettingill Fabens was born to Elias White Fabens, keeper of the City Scales, and Susan S. Fabens on February 12, 1833. He was baptized in Salem, MA on September 15, 1839. William had four younger sisters: Emily, born in 1834, who married Silas S. Smith, Abby, born in 1837 who never married, Harriet H., born in 1841 and died the following year, and Alice, born in 1844 and died in 1846. When his father died in 1858, William became the primary breadwinner for his family,

George was born around 1839 to Daniel and Mary H. (Stevens) Eveleth in either Dorchester or Dedham — his death record says Dorchester but his marriage record lists Dedham. He was the youngest of their children on the 1850 and 1855 Censuses. In his youth he and his family moved frequently, and can be found in various locations in eastern Massachusetts: Dorchester, Boston, Lynn, Amesbury… In December 1861 he went to Providence, RI and enlisted as a Private in the 1st Rhode Isla

Anchor'd in the haven of Rest In Memory of JABEZ SMITH Junr Lieut of Marines on board the Continental Ship Trumbull born in Groton State of Connecticut August 31, 1751 departed this Life in Boston June 28, 1780 Aged 29 Years Jabez was the third child and oldest son of Captain Jabez Smith and his second wife, Amie (Avery) Smith. He was born in Groton, CT on August 31, 1751. The Smith family was one of the oldest families in Groton, and remained prominent well into the 19th c

Jared was born in Westampton, MA around 1834 to Elihu B. and Cynthia W. (Chapin) Hunt. His father had been married previously and was almost 20 years older than his mother, which was not at all unusual for the time. Jared was raised with siblings from his father's first marriage. By 1840 the family had moved to Springfield, MA and Elihu was one of the town butchers. Jared had finished school and was working as a laborer and sometimes clerk by the 1850 US Census. His unmar

In memory of DEACON JOSIAH HAYNES who died in Freedom's Cause ye 19th of April, 1775 in the 79th Year of his Age.

Sacred to the memory of Edward Goddard Esq. who departed this life, Oct. 13th 1777 in the 80th year of his age. As he liv'd so he died, in full expectation of a glorious inheritance.

Nancy Ruth was born in Stetson, ME on October 5, 1823 to Oliver Hartwell Jr. and Keisha (Matthews) (Chase) Hartwell. Her father had served during the Revolutionary War. Both of her parents had been married previously, and surprisingly she was not the youngest—she had a sister named Roxanna born in 1826. In 1840 Nancy married Robert Stetson. He died in 1850, and she married his younger brother Sherbourne in 1851. He died around 1861. She had six children, two with her first hu

Orlando was born on December 8, 1843 in Douglas, MA to shoemaker and trader Comfort and Mary J. (Simmons) Carpenter. He had an older brother named Merrill Edwin who was born about a year before him who died young, so Orlando was his parents' oldest surviving child. His siblings included Julia Ann, Edwin Cook, Mary A., Herbert Irving, and Alice Jane. He enlisted as a Private into Company B of the 25th Massachusetts Infantry on September 30, 1861 a few months before his 18th b

Peter was born to Timothy and Mary (Rice) Bancroft on June 23, 1783 in Auburn, MA. His birth came a little over a year after his parent's marriage. In January of 1786 he was joined by a sister named Comfort. Peter would have six total siblings, but Comfort was the only one of them that he was able to meet. He died on October 26, 1786 and is buried in Auburn Center Burial Ground near his parents and several of his siblings who also died young. His gravestone was carved by Ja

The Robert Smith House taken by Harriette Merrifield Forbes in 1927 Robert was born in Worcester, MA on January 8, 1730/1 to John and Rebeckah (Batty) Smith. He was the second child and oldest son of their six children. The Smiths were some of the early settlers of Worcester, coming with the other "Scotch-Irish" families in the 1720s. There was a large anti-Presbyterian movement in Worcester in the 1740s and many families left. I believe John and Rebeckah were among them