3rd Annual GAR & Civil War Rededication Service
For Civil War Veterans Buried in London, Ontario, Canada
Location
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, London, Ontario
at the grave of William T. Peel, former Commandant,
London GAR Post #652, Hannibal Hamilyn
Date
Saturday, October 14th, 2006,
2:00
p.m.
(this is the first Saturday after Thanksgiving in Canada)
William T Peel, Alias ~ George Brown, Alias ~ William Anderson
97th Penn. Infantry
Image From the Tallman Collection, Archives, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Used with permission of Robert Peel, grandson of William Peel (who will be attending the ceremony)
Local re-enactors, headed up by Dave Ward, will be in attendance. Service will be performed by Rev. Brian McKay of St. Andrews Memorial Anglican Church, in London.
For more information, please contact Joseph ONeil at
519 432 7136
or email at joneil@start.ca
This event will last roughly one hour, and you are asked to bring your own lawn chair if you wish to sit during this time.
Known Burials of Veterans of the American Civil War in London, Ontario, Canada
by Joseph G. ONeil
Updated July 10th, 2006
Preface
This is a work that may never be finished. In the Fall of 2003, Tom Brooks of Gravenhurst, Ontario sent me the list of known members of the London, Ontario branch of the Grand Army of the Republic, which at the time was the equivalent of what we today call the Legion. The London Post was only open from October of 1891 to December 15th, 1911, the last entry in the cash book reading End of Orders. With thanks to the Tallman Collection at the University of Western Ontario, I was able to pour through the original documents of the Hannibal Hamilin Post #652 of the GAR and make my own notes. However, the listing goes beyond that, and thanks to many other local historians & groups (documented later on) I am constantly gaining more names.
With the exception of Forest Lawn Cemetery (which was opened after World War Two), I am of the opinion that every cemetery in the City of London that had burials from1870 to 1930 has at least one, if not more, Civil War veterans. In my opinion, with singular exceptions, it is the fault of historians, both American & Canadian to pay full heed the massive effect the American Civil War had on world history outside the boundaries of the United States. The history of Canada cannot be understood until we first understand the American Civil War, and how in so many ways directly and indirectly it changed our lives as well. Names printed in italics designate Black troops - mostly likely former slaves or the children of escaped slaves
Part One - Confirmed Burials of GAR Members
Woodland Cemetery
ALBERSTADT, Frederick Mathias
Private, Co. B, 4th Missouri Calvary, Served 38 months, discharged honourably
Born Pennsylvania, USA, Died: London, Ontario
Worked for Railroad
DUNCAN, George W.
Sergeant, Co. I, 107th USCT, served 26 months, discharged honourably
Born: USA Died: London, Ontario
NOTE: This is the only man to list his race as Black on the original GAR forms, and is, to the best of my knowledge, one of the earliest written uses of the word Black to refer to race, for at this time, the politically correct word in use was Coloured.
Note also that all Coloured Troops were usually either former slaves or the children of slaves, if they were born in Canada
Profession: Labourer
FITZGERALD, Frederick John
Corporal, Company E, 19th US Infantry
Born: Unknown Died: London, Ontario
Profession: Moulder
Mc LEAN, George
Private, 4th MO. Inf., records show served only 3 months - error?
Born: England
Profession: Moulder NOTE: - may be in error - see notes on Missing GAR Members.
PETERS, Henry
Private, Co. G, 1st NY Marine Artillery, discharged due to disability - injured?
Born: England Died: London, Ontario
Profession: Moulder
PITT, George Washington
NOTE: - I have extensive research on this man - he was a former prisoner of war who escaped from a Confederate prisoner of war camp, later became a very wealthy merchant in London, Ontario, died, and was buried alone. His story is an extensive one, and will be reviewed later.
2nd. Lt., Co. E, 85th NY Volunteers - NOTE: a Plymouth Pilgrim
Born: Granger, NY, USA, one of ten children - family were original settlers of the area.
NOTE: His younger brother was a Col. Who later built the town hall in Granger, NY.
Death Notice from the London Advertiser & London Free Press, April 29th, 1921
PITT- Suddenly at Victoria Hospital on Thursday, April 28th, 1921, George W. Pitt in his 86th year. Funeral Private form his late residence, 190 Wharncliffe Road, South London, Saturday, April 30th. Service at 2 oclock.
Buried in the DARCH family plot. Grave unmarked
THORPE, Manser John
Quartermaster Sergeant, Co. G, 16th NY Calvary, Discharged due to disability (injury?)
Born: England Died: London, Ontario
Profession: Pensioneer
NOTE: many members of the GAR appear to have hit hard times according to the local records I read. Part of the GAR charter was to look after Comrades in distress.
His death is noted in GAR records as February 3rd, 1895
*CLARK, John C.
Note: Very common name in the cemetery, not confirmed. Also, the John Clark from the GAR list is a resident of St. Thomas, Ontario - checking there for burials too.
Priave, Co. D, 102nd NY Vol Infantry - wounded right leg
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
ASHTON, Charles J
Private, Co. A. 78th Indiana Infantry, officially discharged after expiration of terms of service after only 2 months, but in his own words, became ill with Malaria during service.
Born: England Died: London, Ontario - March 7th, 1915
Cause of Death: Apoplexy
Interred: 161-H, S ½
BAILEY, James
Sergeant, Co. H, 21st NY Infantry, served 24 months
NOTE: - This man was extensively wounded at the battle of Antietham. Deaf in his left ear after the battle, he was shot through he throat and ear on his left side during the battle, and then clubbed in the head. Crippled all his life, in his own words, his head was always drawn forward, he was never able to pull his head and neck up straight ever again.
Born: Bristol, England Died: London, Ontario - October 9th, 1911
Cause of Death: arterio sclerosis and cardiac arrest
Interred: 78-B, NW 1/4
Profession: finisher
CHARLES, James M -ALIAS: MARBLE, Jas.
Private, Co. B., 6th Penn. USCT - served 6 months, seems to have signed up late in the war
NOTE: - many Coloured troops who were former slaves used Aliases during the war. In case of capture, an assumed name might offer some protection against being returned to a former slave master.
Born: Virginia, USA Died: London, Ontario, November 5th, 1908
Cause of Death: Paralysis
Interred: 145-B
Profession: Barber
COX, Charles
Private, Co I, 1st NY Engineers, served 12 months until end of war.
Born: Chester, NY, USA Died: London, Ontario May 7th, 1929
Profession: confectioneer
Interred: SG 33 T
FOUNTIAN, Oliver
Sergeant, Co. A., 12th USCT served 30 months
Born: Lewisville or Louisville, or Richmond, VA, USA
Died: London, Ontario April 11th, 1897
Cause of Death: Consumption (Tuberculosis)
Interred S.G. 273-Qc
Profession Labourer
He lived at 451 Smith St. In London, and his death in GAR records is listed as April 12th, not April 11th, but both agree on the year of 1897.
LASKEY, William John
45th Wisconsin Infantry - very little information
Born: Canada (London?) Died: London, Ontario August 17th, 1934
NOTE: - possibly one of the last known Civil War veterans buried in London.
*MILLS, Thomas
NOTE: Not 100% certain this is the same man - age discrepancy, but place of birth matches
Private, 5th Michigan Infantry
Born: Ireland Died: London, Ontario June 27th, 1903
Cause of death : Paralysis
Interred: 1 Q-C
PEEL, William
NOTE: Considerable personal information on this man, including family portraits, exists in the Tallman Collection in the GAR box. His last residence was at 538 Waterloo St. In London, and there are also portraits of Maria his wife, and a younger man identified as Norman Peel , possibly his son from the family resemblance. He was buried from the George E. Logan Funeral Home after his death on October 9th, 1927. Total cost was $224.oo Canadian, with the sum of $100 paid on February 13th, 1928 paid by the United states Veterans Bureau. The remaining balance of $124 was paid shortly after that according to the funeral account in the GAR papers.
The Logan Funeral Home still operates, however they suffered a flood in 1933 which destroyed all papers up to that time. No records exist there before 1933.
Private, 97th Penn. Infantry
Born: London, Ontario, Canada - Note - this man is so far the only veteran we can confirm 100% to be both born in & buried in London, Ontario
Interred: M 136 S ½
STEARNS, Martin V. B. (Also STERNS - possible typo)
Private, Co. E, 13th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Born: Sherman County, New York, USA Died: London, Ontario December 2nd, 1908
Suffered kidney trouble
Interred: S.G. 137-9A
St. Peters Cemetery
FLOOD, James H
Private? Co. K, 185 New York volunteer Infantry
Born: Leeds County, Ontario Died: London, Ontario, 1890 - age 78 years
Interred: 4 grave lot, St. Bridget Ward, with his wife Catherine, and what appears to be his
son and his wife
Profession: Insurance agent
REEVES, William
Private, 24th Michigan Infantry
Born: Canada Died: London, Ontario - 1929, age 84
Interred: St. Joseph War, 8 grave family lot, Row N East, Lot 19, Grave 3
Profession: Shoemaker
St. Annes Anglican Cemetery, Byron
CALDWELL, William
aka
KLBOURNE, Ira
Private, 4th US Infantry
Born: Ontario (London, Ontario region) Died 1931, London, Ontario
Interred: Directly behind rear of church. Grave is well marked.
Notes: One of the few survivors of the Battle of the Wilderness when his company was nearly wiped out. Served for a short time to US Grants personal guard. Was possibly the last known Civil war veteran to have been buried in London. No other deaths 9so far) recorded past 1931.
NOTES:
We know that a Confederate recruiting office was reported to exist in London, Ontario (Then, London, Canada West), and it is known we had a large number of deserters here in London during the war, including Confederate & Union soldiers and refugees. The term deserters was applied equally to what we now call draft dodgers and to soldiers who today are termed AWOL. I am 100% certain we have Confederate Civil War veterans buried here in London, but so far, none fo my leads has panned out yet. Seems nobody wants to admit to being on the losing side so to speak.
Another issue is the vast number of burial sites in and around London. Officially 4 major cemeteries serve 90% of the London population, with no mare than another half dozen cemeteries serving the last 10%. However, a few years ago, before the city of London physically doubled in square miles during annexation, the London Chapter of the Ontario Genealogical Society of Canada did a listing of all known European burial sites inside city limits. This number was thirty three, and is most likely an underestimate, for I know it does not include sites such as the pioneer burial ground at River Bend, nor does it include any Aboriginal burial sites, known or suspected, and finally, it does not include suspected single burials such as American soldiers killed at the Battle of Resovoir Hill here in London during the War of 1812.
When we move into Middlesex County & area, the number of cemeteries & burial sites explodes in the thousands. A special mention must also be made of the city of St., Thomas, Ontario, who has a certified and marked Civil war Veteran, Octavius Wallace, killed at the battle of Williamsburg, and transported back to St. Thomas, Ontario, during the Civil War for burial. His marker is a American Veterans Affairs marker, and his site was registered with the Son of Union Veterans a few years back, and the grave is decorated every year with a small American Flag. This is important to note because the London GAR Post included members from St. Thomas and Lucan, Ontario.
Londoners of Note & Importance Relating to the American Civil War
Many who joined the war never came back. Some died in action, some disappeared into history, and some, finding that after so many young men were killed in the war, discovered that the ratio of young women to young men was very favourable to the men, stayed in the United States and made their lives and fortunes there. When and where I can, I will track down those who had any connection to London, and their eventual outcome
Missing GAR Members
Some members of the London GAR Post moved back to the USA and died there, according to GAR documents. These men are;
MORTON, Andrew
Private, Co. D, 11th US Infantry
Born: Edinbourgh, Scotland.
According to GAR handwritten notes, he died in Dayton, Ohio on July 11th, 1894
Mc LEAN, George
Private, 4th MO. Inf.
Birthplace: England
As noted before, he may be buried in Woodland Cemetery, however, GAR records indicate he died on August 29th, 1895 in the Milwaukee Soldiers Home. It is not impossible his body was brought back to London for burial, especially since he was a British, and not an American citizen originally, but more research is needed.
NON GAR Members
Many other lists of Canadian Civil War veterans exist, and this list is only beginning to scratch the surface:
MISSING & KILLED in ACTION
BANFIELD, Wesley
2nd Michigan Infantry
Age 20, labourer
Reported MIA, Sept 30th, 1864 at Petersburg
FRY, William
2nd Michigan Calvary
Age 22, Farmer
Reported MIA, November 5th, 1864, Shoal Cr, Alabama
GODFREY, Russell B
7th Michigan Infantry
Age 23, carpenter
Killed in Action - Gettysburg, July 3rd, 1863
HILLMAN, Abner B
7th Michigan Infantry
Age 25, farmer
Drowned August 19th, 1862
JACKLIN, Christopher
8th Michigan Calvary
Age 18, bartender
Died as a POW at Andersonville, GA
McMURRAY, James A
22nd Michigan Infantry
Age 26, lumberman
Died as a POW at Danville, Va.
Stories of Note;
WHITE, Garfield H
Almost totally unknown to Londoners, there were only 14 Black Chaplains in the US Civil War, and Garfield H White, who was one of them, started as a refugee slave who escaped to Canada, and while Pastor of the BME Church in then London, Canada West, wrote to US Secretary of War offering on behalf of the black congregation here in London to raise a company of men to fight for the Union Army. Although this never happened, Pastor White later moved back to the USA, and helped raise a black regiment in the state of Illinois. Another famous story of him was one day with other soldiers of his company he encounter an old woman who asked if by chance anyone knew a Garfield White, her son who had been sold away from her many, many years beforehand. He was brought forth and rejoined his mother, a totally chance encounter.
THOMAS, Jeremiah
Age 19. Born Hamilton, Canada West (now Ontario)
Living in London, CW when enrolled in the 54th Mass. In 1863 - same regiment as seen in the movie Glory. There appears to be a large number of British born members of this regiment. Jeremiah survived the assault on Fort Wagner, and lived out to the wars end. Later married and moved to Chicago, ILL., were he became a landlord of some success.
CROMPTON, Lizzie
This is one of the great legends of the Civil War. A newspaper article on January 9th, 1864 from the Louisville Democrat (state of Kentucky) told the story of a 16 year old girl who had been discharged from the 11th Kentucky Calvary to which she belonged for several months. Her total service in Union forces, according to her own words was eighteen months, during which time her sex was discovered seven times, and each time she was mustered out of service, she re-enlisted under an assumed name. Wounded twice in battle, once at Fredericksburg, and once at the Green River Bridge fight on the 4th of July. She told the commanding officer her home town was London, Canada West, and that here parents still lived there. The commanding officer had her locked up at this time, awaiting orders, but no further information is made of her, she disappears into history. She may have lied about her hometown, but very few people at this time ever heard of London, Canada West, so its hard to imagine why she would lie about it. For example, if lying, why not say you were from Toronto, Montreal, or even New York?
Credits (so far)
Tom Brooks of Gravenhurst, Ontario (Dominion of Canada)
John Ball, authour Escape form Dixie, Hilton Head, SC
Dan Doyle, Somerset, MI
Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, London, Ontario
St. Peters Cemetery, London, Ontario
London Room, London Public Library
Tallman Collection, Archives, University of Western Ontario
John Milner, Aylmer, Ontario (see http://ca.geocities.com/docmilner/)
Addendum - July 5th, 2006
Missing Civil War veterans from London, Ontario.
Joseph G. ONeil
7th July , 2006
All of the veterans listed here had some connection to London, Ontario. Some listed their residence as London, Canada West named as their home at time of enlistment, or there are pension records after the Civil War to indicate that either they or their wives lived in London, Ontario. However, we have found that several of these people actually came from Lucan, Delaware, etc - the are around London. In the cases of soldiers who are known to be buried elsewhere, the names are listed to see if other family members still exist in and around London.
Be aware that many Canadians and Black Americans fought under aliases. Example - Ira Kilborne, buried in St. Annes Cemetery, Byron used William Caldwell while William Peel, buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, London, used George Brown. It is almost a given that Confederate Veterans hid their service record from public view. Others who were from London lied about their place of birth or residence. Many Londoners used Port Huron, Michigan on their enlistment forms. Also, some of these men where killed in action, but we have no record of burial. Octavius Wallace, buried in old St. Thomas Churchyard Cemetery was killed in action at the battle of Williamsburg, but his family had his body returned to Canada for burial, so it is possible others were returned as well. Unless otherwise noted, the soldiers here are all Union troops.
NOTE - DATES OR YEAR OF BIRTH ARE ESTIMATES ONLY
The average date of birth for Civil war veterans is from 1830 to 1846.
USCT - United States COLORED Troops (Former slaves almost always used an alias, while Canadian born men - such as Jerimiah Thomas, of London who fought with the Mass 54th, used his real name.)
BRANSTAD, George O
Sergeant, 15th Wisconsin Vol. Infantry
Born 1841, Norway.,
Died 6 August 1864 - ANDERSONVILLE Prison, Georgia
Listed his home as London, Canada West at time of enrollment
CHANDLER, William
Private, Co G, 8th Infantry, USCT
Wounded in Action
CROMPTON, Lizzie - note FEMALE
Year of birth ~ 1848
Listed her home as London, Canada West , impersonated a man, fought in several battles with up to SEVEN different units (including 11th Kentucky Calvary), wounded twice.
FRY, William
Private - Co K, 2nd Michigan Calvary
DIED of wounds on or about 30th October 1864
McILHARDY, Samuel
Corporal, Co. H, 1st Michigan Calavary
Born ~ 1831
Listed home as London, Canada West
EVANS, James
Musician - Co C, 8th Michigan Infantry
Listed home as London, Canada West
Listed as DESERTER - 29th Feb 1864 in Detriot.
Missing Civil War veterans from London, Ontario. Page Two
Joseph G. ONeil
ARMSTRONG, William C.
Captain - Co. G, 9th Michigan Infantry
Listed home as London, Canada West
Born ~ 1838
LEON, Alexander
Private - Co G, 37th Mass. Infantry and Co C, 20th Mass. Infantry
Listed home as St. Thomas, Canada
Born ~ 1841
McMURRAY, James
Buried - Section C, site 298, Danville National Cemetery (Prisoner of War)
Private, Co C, 22nd Michigan Infantry
Born ~ 1836
Note - this man has TWO records - one shows him buried in Danville, one shows him discharged a year after his burial. A mystery here.
FARRELL, Robert
aka
JOHNSTON, Robert
Private - Co A, 8th Michigan Infantry.
Wife - possibly Martha Johnston
Born ~ 1843
Died - possible death 11th August 1909 (from pension records)
SHOTWELL, Archibald
Private - Co H, 24th Michigan Infantry
Born ~ 1846 (possibly Delaware or Westminster Township)
Notes: From a large family in the area, was at President Lincolns Funeral. Thought to have moved to Michigan (Sagniaw area?) Circa 1880, but no further records.
GODFREY, Russel B
Private - Co, B, 7th Michigan Infantry
Born ~ 1838
NOTE: - Wounded at GETTYSBURG on 3rd July 1863
Died & Buried at GETTYSBURG - 4th July 1863
JACKLIN, Christopher
Private - Co E, 8th Michigan Calvary
Born ~ 1844
Died - 25th September 1864 - ANDERSONVILLE PRISON, Georgia
May have been originally from Kent County
CAREY, George
Private / Artficer - Battery M, 1st Illinois Light Artillery
Listed home as London, Canada West
Missing Civil War veterans from London, Ontario. Page Three
Joseph G. ONeil
HENDERSON, John / / James / Thomas / William / Rueben
Wife - Margaret
This one is a shot in the dark. War pension records show a Margaret Henderson of London receiving a Civil War pension. Men by the name Henderson were listed in Canada as receiving pensions are listed above.
ADAMS, John
Private - Co I, 20th Mass. Infantry
Born ~ 1842
DESERTER - from Hospital, while on sick leave 30th April 1864
Listed home as London, Canada West
FITZGERALD, Joseph W.
Private? - 9th U.S.C.H.A., also served in 20th Ohio LA, ??
Listed home as Middlesex County, Canada West,
THOMAS, Henry
Private ? - 18th U.S.C.T.
Succumbed to illness on November 25, 1864 at Benton Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri.
Born ~ 1846. He was 18 years of age.
London, Canada West,
Note - may have beena relative of Jerimiah Thomas, of 54th Mass. Inf (see movie Glory)
WHALIN, William
Corporal, Co K, 2nd Michigan Calvary
Listed home as Middlesex, Canada
Born ~ 1840
Note - Whalin may also be Whalen as in Whalens Corners, but pension record shows an I
WOLVERTON, Alonzo
Private ? - 9th USCHA, also served in 20th Ohio Light Artillery
Listed home as Middlesex County, Canada West,
Born ~ 1843
GRAHAM, William
Private - 5th Mich, unassigned, later Co U
London, C.W.
Born ~ 1838
MORGAN, John
Private - 5th Mich, unassigned, later Co U.
London, C. W.
Born ~1842
note - both men, same city, same company of enlistment. Not uncommon for friends or relatives to sign up together at same time. Did these two men know each other?
Missing Civil War veterans from London, Ontario. Page Four
Joseph G. ONeil
CARNEY, George
Private - 1st Engineers, Mich, Co M
Born ~ 1845
London . Question - London Township, Michigan, or London, Canada?
RYAN, Andrew
Private - 10th Mich Inf, Co F
Born ~ 1843
Residence Durham, Canada.
BANFIELD, Wesley
Private - 2nd Mich. Inf, Co. B
Born ~1844
Residence - Saginaw, Michigan. May be false.
Another mystery. Some records show London. Reported MIA, Sept 30th, 1864 at Petersburg, but another record shows him a POW at Andersonville, captured on 30th Sept 1864, and show him surviving Andersonville, but whereabouts after the war unknown.