Authentic Photo?

[East Tennessee Roots]

National Archives NextGen Catalog

The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.

catalog.archives.gov

This is reportedly a photo of Grief Mason, Company F 13th NC Infantry. He was killed while carrying the Flag on May 5, 1864, in the battle of the Wilderness. I'm wondering if this is an actual era photo or a modern photo of a reenactor.

Grief G. Mason

Residence Davie County NC; a 21-year-old Tobacconist.

Enlisted on 4/26/1861 at Davie County, NC as a Private.

On 4/26/1861 he mustered into "F" Co. NC 13th Infantry
He was Killed on 5/5/1864 at Wilderness, VA
(Was carrying Regimental Colors)


Promotions:
* Corpl 6/1/1861

 

[WMW1861-1865]

I'm not seeing a photo. I am seeing the records from the archives though.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I'm not seeing a photo. I am seeing the records from the archives though.

The photo should be there now. My bad!

 

[WMW1861-1865]

I've seen that photo and can't speak to it's provenance other than the database I saw it in credited the photo to "Michael Williams". Interesting post. I'll continue to poke around and see if I can find anything additional.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Of all the unusual first names I've seen from the 1700-1800s, naming your son Grief is the one that gives me the most pause.

 

[Championhilz]

Of all the unusual first names I've seen from the 1700-1800s, naming your son Grief is the one that gives me the most pause.

My 5th Great-Grandmother's name was Mourning McGlauhon.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Of all the unusual first names I've seen from the 1700-1800s, naming your son Grief is the one that gives me the most pause.

Maybe his mother had a hard delivery or possibly didn't survive.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

My Great-Great-Grandfather, David Land Company I 13th NC Infantry | Researching Civil War Records & Ancestry

The photographic image looks reversed/mirror image judging by the vest. Here is a reversed version...

civilwartalk.com

I've read that this was the flag Mason was carrying. I mistakenly refer to it as a "battle flag" when it's the "colors" of the regiment. There is a painting of the incident and I believe the battle flag" is in the painting. The artist probably assumed it was the Stars & Bars.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

My Great-Great-Grandfather, David Land Company I 13th NC Infantry | Researching Civil War Records & Ancestry

I posted several times over the years about my paternal 2nd great-grandfather. I was pleasantly surprised last week by receiving a photo of him. I was first told the photo existed some 10-12 years ago by a cousin in North Carolina. He promised on several occasions to have a digitized photo made...

civilwartalk.com

I used to think this was the captured flag. I've since learned it was surrendered at Appomattox.

 

[TnFed]

Maybe his mother had a hard delivery or possibly didn't survive.

Some interesting names Glenn. I wonder how many folks in the States are named Adolf,Judas, Ichabod, Benedict or Misery?

I know that Adolf and Judas were common names in different areas at some point in history. In fact I knew two Adolfs. One African American, the other of Cuban descent. Don't know a Judas. I know a man with the middle name Ichabod. Don't know any Americans named Benedict, thought I see a couple of actors on British TV named that. Don't know a Misery. I had an ancestor from the civil war with the first name of Nimrod...interesting fellow.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Some interesting names Glenn. I wonder how many folks in the States are named Adolf,Judas, Ichabod, Benedict or Misery?

I know that Adolf and Judas were common names in different areas at some point in history. In fact I knew two Adolfs. One African American, the other of Cuban descent. Don't know a Judas. I know a man with the middle name Ichabod. Don't know any Americans named Benedict, thought I see a couple of actors on British TV named that. Don't know a Misery. I had an ancestor from the civil war with the first name of Nimrod...interesting fellow.

My great great grandfather (my avatar) had a brother named Nimrod Land.

 

[TnFed]

My great great grandfather (my avatar) had a brother named Nimrod Land.

Mine was Nimrod Lunsford

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

I've seen that photo and can't speak to it's provenance other than the database I saw it in credited the photo to "Michael Williams". Interesting post. I'll continue to poke around and see if I can find anything additional.

Can you link the database?

 

[R. Porter]

Apparently there are a lot of odd names that have appeared in the census record over the years. If you do a google search you will run across articles that mention some of them:

https://blog.genealogybank.com/parent-pranksters-funny-names-recorded-on-the-u-s-federal-census.html

https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/04/bizzare-entries-you-would-never-expect-to-see-in-the-u-s-census/

There were so many that a book came out around 2008 called Bad Baby Names:

https://www.ancestry.com/corporate/...uels-tongue-cheek-look-bad-baby-names-parents

But sometimes it wasn't the fault of the parents:

https://larasgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/11/funniest-census-record-ever.html

 

[WMW1861-1865]

Can you link the database?

www.civilwardata.com (It is subscription based)

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

www.civilwardata.com (It is subscription based)

Oh I remember this now! I'll send you a pm.

 

[nc native]

My 5th Great-Grandmother's name was Mourning McGlauhon.

I have a 3x Great Grandmother named Mourning Thomas. She was the daughter of William H. Thomas who served in the 8th NC Senior Reserves as a private. I have a distant cousin who was named Workman Hardlabor Honeycutt.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Workman Hardlabor Honeycutt

Imagine what kind of nickname this man may have had…..maybe the guys called him "Honeycutt" and the ladies called him Honey or….?

 

[steamboater]

I've seen that photo and can't speak to it's provenance other than the database I saw it in credited the photo to "Michael Williams". Interesting post. I'll continue to poke around and see if I can find anything additional.

I use the same base, civilwardata.com. Yes, a Michael Williams supplied the photo and some supporting info. I then went to the regimental photo listing, and found another soldier of Company F listed, a Philip A. Nail. The subscriber who furnished the photo was also Michael Williams. Seems as if Mr. Williams has a fancy of soldier images of Davie County, NC, pics from North Carolina, or that from this specific regiment, or of this regiment's Co.F.

I see nothing to suggest that this image is anything other than a photo taken during the war, although the image is a bit unusual. The uncommon part is that the rifled-musket (of the model 1863 pattern), is shown with the correct side to the viewer. This indicates the image is not reversed, but this would have been easily accomplished by taking the image with the ambrotype process, then merely flipping the image over. Either that, or we might be enjoying the view of the subject that is on albumen paper, and the ambrotype plate had been flipped and the plate was being used as a negative.

A fine historical prize!

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Hey ya'll I was thinking about whether or not it'd be a good idea to admit this because my account name is my online alias but I thought I'd come out from the shadows and say that the subscriber is me.

I don't have any particular interest in North Carolina images and such but I do have a keen interest in all who were involved in the conflict.

Yes the photo is authentic. But I'll have to track down its source again.

Here's the source for Philip A. Nail.

[Private Philip A. Nail of Co. F, 13th North Carolina Infantry Regiment in uniform with North Carolina state seal buttons and Co. F, 3rd North Carolina Volunteers (13th North Carolina Infantry) Regiment hat]

1 photograph : sixth-plate ambrotype, hand-colored ; 9.5 x 8.2 cm (case) | Photograph shows identified soldier who died of fever.

www.loc.gov