Daniel P. Peters

Daniel was born in 1825 in Brooklyn, CT to George and Lucinda Peters. He had at least one younger sister named Clarissa J. She was around 12 years his junior, and was born in either New Hampshire or Worcester, MA.

Some time before 1860 Daniel and Clarissa moved to Grafton, MA. There was a five year-old girl living with them named Sarah Wilson Peters. She may have been their sister, or perhaps a relative of some sort. The Peters were all listed as black on the census, as were their neighbors the Ciscoes.

Daniel served in the US Civil War, enlisting in nearby Worcester. He was mustered into the 54th Massachusetts as a Private on September 1, 1864 and transfered to Company C of the 55th Massachusetts on October 23rd. The 54th and 55th Massachusetts were African-American regiments with white officers. He mustered out 11 months later on August 29, 1865 in Charleston, SC. His papers describe him as being 39 years of age, 5' 10" tall , a "mulatto" complexion with black eyes and black hair. His name was alternately listed as "David" occasionally in the daily rolls.

When the 1865 Census was taken Daniel and Clarissa and Sarah were still living together in Grafton. Daniel had married a woman by the name of Ellura B. who was 11 years younger than him. Clarissa had also married, and was now Clarissa Cisco. Interestingly Daniel's race on the Census is "looks white". Clarissa and Sarah were "mulatto", and Ellura was "white". Daniel's occupation is given as soldier.

I couldn't find Daniel in the 1870 US Census.

Daniel and Ellura were living alone together in Grafton in 1880. His race was back to being listed as black, and he was now working as a stone mason. Over the next 25 years his name appears as a stone mason in directories in several area towns, including Worcester, Millbury, and Holden. I wasn't able to find either of them in the 1900 or 1910 Censuses.

Daniel died in Grafton of Bronchial Pneumonia on September 30, 1912. His race was listed as white. His widow was granted his pension a few months later.