MattL
Guest
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2015
- Location
- SF Bay Area
Of my 10 direct ancestors who fought in the the Civil War only one died during it... I am definitely fortunate they beat the odds overall.
The one who died has been a challenge to track down and confirm, in no small part due to his death. In the 1860 census he, his wife, and his young children are all living in Dawson Co., Georgia listed next to his father in-law, likely living on his land. By 1870 he and his wife were gone from records and their four children were split between the households of families.
Though it was never passed down to me directly I later discovered the story. That my ancestor, the youngest child of her parents, was born after her father died in the war and her mother died shortly thereafter leaving her an orphan at 7 days. That her father died in the battle of Manassas which is why she was named Nancy Manassas Thomas.
Everything I've found supports most of that story, her parents seemingly were both dead or gone by 1870 leaving their orphans divided amongst multiple family members. The two daughters living with their maternal grandmother, one son living with his paternal grandmother, and another son living with his paternal aunt.
Because of this it's not surprising details of his claimed service weren't passed down. I have found the most likely match in Confederate War records... a William C Thomas/W C Thomas who enlisted in Murray County, Georgia. Murray County was where his parents were living in 1860 and likely where he was before he was married. He enlisted in 1861 in the 11th Georgia Infantry regiment which missed the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run by 1 day. He was at the Second Battle of Manssas and survived, he also survived Antietam and Gettysburg. Unfortunately this W C Thomas which I believe is mine disappears in Virginia in early 1864... likely one of the unknown deaths by unknown cause or at least lost information.
In one of my first threads on this forum I posted my research into him and got some great help here:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/wanted-william-c-thomas-11th-georgia-infantry-co-c.117090/
At this point I'm pretty confident these are right records, his age is right, he lists his birth county as Lumpkin Co., GA and though my William C Thomas was probably not born in Lumpkin he was raised partially there and his family bounced around neighboring counties as they were formed. Additionally I haven't found another who fits for that W C Thomas. I hope to tie it down even better some day... maybe even find records of how he died.
The one who died has been a challenge to track down and confirm, in no small part due to his death. In the 1860 census he, his wife, and his young children are all living in Dawson Co., Georgia listed next to his father in-law, likely living on his land. By 1870 he and his wife were gone from records and their four children were split between the households of families.
Though it was never passed down to me directly I later discovered the story. That my ancestor, the youngest child of her parents, was born after her father died in the war and her mother died shortly thereafter leaving her an orphan at 7 days. That her father died in the battle of Manassas which is why she was named Nancy Manassas Thomas.
Everything I've found supports most of that story, her parents seemingly were both dead or gone by 1870 leaving their orphans divided amongst multiple family members. The two daughters living with their maternal grandmother, one son living with his paternal grandmother, and another son living with his paternal aunt.
Because of this it's not surprising details of his claimed service weren't passed down. I have found the most likely match in Confederate War records... a William C Thomas/W C Thomas who enlisted in Murray County, Georgia. Murray County was where his parents were living in 1860 and likely where he was before he was married. He enlisted in 1861 in the 11th Georgia Infantry regiment which missed the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run by 1 day. He was at the Second Battle of Manssas and survived, he also survived Antietam and Gettysburg. Unfortunately this W C Thomas which I believe is mine disappears in Virginia in early 1864... likely one of the unknown deaths by unknown cause or at least lost information.
In one of my first threads on this forum I posted my research into him and got some great help here:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/wanted-william-c-thomas-11th-georgia-infantry-co-c.117090/
At this point I'm pretty confident these are right records, his age is right, he lists his birth county as Lumpkin Co., GA and though my William C Thomas was probably not born in Lumpkin he was raised partially there and his family bounced around neighboring counties as they were formed. Additionally I haven't found another who fits for that W C Thomas. I hope to tie it down even better some day... maybe even find records of how he died.