George William Stafford

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. enlisted in the 9th MA Independent Battery Light Infantry as a Private. His occupation is given as clerk, which it also was on the MA Census in 1855 and US Census in 1860. He died of scurvy in Harper’s Ferry, VA just a few months later on November 10, 1862.

In his will he left almost his entire estate to his step-sister Frances Ann (whom he called his sister in law). She died of consumption in 1872. George also left money to his aunts Laura Elizabeth Stafford, Sylvia Stafford, and Caroline Jenison, and to his step-mother Emily (he called her his mother in law in his will). The remainder of his estate was left to one Smardus Fetzson Snell.

This gravestone, which may be a cenotaph, can be found in Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence, MA.