George Wilson, U S Navy

[Fritz1255]

Looking for information on George Wilson, who was in the U S Navy during the Civil War. See the pension application below, his real name was William Frye, but he enlisted under the name of George Wilson (I have no idea why). According to his father (note in John Frye's pension file, the first person mentioned in this declaration), George/William died in a Confederate prison camp, but I have not see any other mention of this.

 

[Zella]

Looking for information on George Wilson, who was in the U S Navy during the Civil War. See the pension application below, his real name was William Frye, but he enlisted under the name of George Wilson (I have no idea why). According to his father (note in John Frye's pension file, the first person mentioned in this declaration), George/William died in a Confederate prison camp, but I have not see any other mention of this.
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I'm admittedly not very skilled at finding Navy guys. Maybe @Fairfield could help?

As for the assumed name, I also have an ancestor who served under an alias. His reason was because of family disagreement over which side he picked. Fortunately, his pension clarified that--otherwise, I'd never have figured it out.

 

[DixieRifles]

See the pension application below, his real name was William Frye, but he enlisted under the name of George Wilson (I have no idea why).

It mentions the 6th Maine Volunteers. I recall that one of the Maine regiments had problems with morale and discipline and they were broken up. Some were reassigned to Chamberlain's 20th Maine. This may not be the case with this regiment but maybe he changed his name to avoid some charges and then went and joined the Navy under an alias.

 

[Zella]

It mentions the 6th Maine Volunteers. I recall that one of the Maine regiments had problems with morale and discipline and they were broken up. Some were reassigned to Chamberlain's 20th Maine. This may not be the case with this regiment but maybe he changed his name to avoid some charges and then went and joined the Navy under an alias.

If I'm not mistaken, the discipline issues with the 2nd Maine men who ended up with Chamberlain came after they were disbanded and assigned to the other regiment and was not the cause of their regiment disbanding. The tension was over confusion concerning 2 year versus 3 year enlistments (the 2 year guys went home and the others didn't), and the regiment had performed well in combat and hadn't been a noticeable disciplinary issue until they were disbanded and sent to another regiment under protest.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

@Mark F. Jenkins @AndyHall ? Ask the Navy guys! They'll know where records might be available outside of Fold 3.

Looking for information on George Wilson, who was in the U S Navy during the Civil War

If those members aren't around, try scrolling around the Naval forum? It can be a long shot but you never know when you'll find something helpful.

 

[Fritz1255]

Oops, I should have clarified my question a bit. The application was filed by Frye's/Wilson's sister. Another Frye brother who died in the war was in the Sixth Maine, but not the one I was asking about.

 

[Fairfield]

Looking for information on George Wilson, who was in the U S Navy during the Civil War. See the pension application below, his real name was William Frye, but he enlisted under the name of George Wilson (I have no idea why). According to his father (note in John Frye's pension file, the first person mentioned in this declaration), George/William died in a Confederate prison camp, but I have not see any other mention of this.

Naval Enlistments File on FamilySearch:
George Wilson, born in Machias. Enlisted 13 July 1861 (NYC) for a term of 3 years. He was 22 years old, had a florid complexion and was 6' tall.

George Wilson, born in Maine (no town). Enlisted 9 May 1864 (Boston) for a term of 1 yr., 6 mo., 11 da. He was 30 years old, had hazel eyes, dark hair, dark complexion and was 5'6" tall. There is a notation on the side of the page: "transferred from army".

William Frye, born in Custer [sic]. Enlisted 30 May 1861 (NYC)--but failed to show up--for a term of 1 year. He was 25 years old. No physical description.

William Frye, born in Cutler. Enlisted 30 May 1861 (Boston) for a term of 1 year. He was 23 years old, had a swarthy complexion and was 5'5" tall.

William Frye, born in Cutler. Enlisted on 30 May 1861 (Boston) for a term of 1 year. He was 23 years old, had a swarthy complexion and was 6' 3/4" tall.

This is mighty confusing if these are all the same person (that is why I included descriptions). It's pretty had to mistake 5'6" for 6' so it may be that there were two men, both using the same two names. Or the enlisting official was near-sighted. I think you may be using Fold3; was the pension application rejected?

 

[Fritz1255]

Naval Enlistments File on FamilySearch:
George Wilson, born in Machias. Enlisted 13 July 1861 (NYC) for a term of 3 years. He was 22 years old, had a florid complexion and was 6' tall.

George Wilson, born in Maine (no town). Enlisted 9 May 1864 (Boston) for a term of 1 yr., 6 mo., 11 da. He was 30 years old, had hazel eyes, dark hair, dark complexion and was 5'6" tall. There is a notation on the side of the page: "transferred from army".

William Frye, born in Custer [sic]. Enlisted 30 May 1861 (NYC)--but failed to show up--for a term of 1 year. He was 25 years old. No physical description.

William Frye, born in Cutler. Enlisted 30 May 1861 (Boston) for a term of 1 year. He was 23 years old, had a swarthy complexion and was 5'5" tall.

William Frye, born in Cutler. Enlisted on 30 May 1861 (Boston) for a term of 1 year. He was 23 years old, had a swarthy complexion and was 6' 3/4" tall.

This is mighty confusing if these are all the same person (that is why I included descriptions). It's pretty had to mistake 5'6" for 6' so it may be that there were two men, both using the same two names. Or the enlisting official was near-sighted. I think you may be using Fold3; was the pension application rejected?

Thanks for your help! The pension application came from the pension file of John Frye Jr, who is the other Frye brother mentioned in the application above. It was rejected. The sister who filed this application was 39 years old and married at the time it was filed in 1886, so I can't imagine what the basis was for filing. Their father was already collecting a pension based on being disabled and a dependent of his son. I do not have access to Fold3. It certainly does sound as though two different people enlisted under a couple of different names. Maybe this was some kind of bounty jumping scheme?

 

[Fairfield]

Thanks for your help! The pension application came from the pension file of John Frye Jr, who is the other Frye brother mentioned in the application above. It was rejected. The sister who filed this application was 39 years old and married at the time it was filed in 1886, so I can't imagine what the basis was for filing. Their father was already collecting a pension based on being disabled and a dependent of his son. I do not have access to Fold3. It certainly does sound as though two different people enlisted under a couple of different names. Maybe this was some kind of bounty jumping scheme?

Could be--or it simply might be the messed-up record keeping (I suspect accuracy was rather low on the list of priorities). Naval records are better than army records in one way: there is a physical description. You might make contact with the Maine Maritime Museum (just Google your way there) because the people there are interested in history--the web site is pretty useful as well. And don't forget the National Archives--it is the one sitting on all the records!

 

[Bama Mike]

Looking for information on Issac Thomas Shelby from Memphis, Tn.

 

[Fairfield]

Looking for information on Issac Thomas Shelby from Memphis, Tn.

There's a lot about men with that name online. Can you be a bit more specific?

 

[Bama Mike]

All I know is his son Issac Shelby, moved to Dayton, Tn. He was my great grandfather. The son had a son, Leonard, who was my grandfather. Thanks for any help.

 

[Gary Morgan]

I think the problem might be that Andersonville's Database of Prisoners lists George W. Wilson of the 16 Maine (not the 6th Maine) as dying August 24, 1864 and being buried in grave number 6900. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search...isonerId=C8BC784E-DDA1-4787-8DFA-94BFD4C6B8B5
Find a Grave says has two George W. Wilsons, one from Maine who it says was from Westbrook and 16 years old when he died, but it says there's no record of his enlistment, so I'd be prone to questioning this information, since there's a note that he was difficult to find. It also lists relatives, but again, I wouldn't take this as gospel. The other George W. Wilson's regiment is listed on his grave as "USA."

George Washington Wilson (1847-1864) - Find a...

Name: Geo Wilson Death Date: 26 Aug 1864 Death Place: Andersonville Enlistment State: Maine Rank: Private Company: C Regiment: 32 Me V Box Number: 21 This soldier's record is under Geo Wilson, which made finding him difficult, there is not record of his enlistment. But this is him, he died of...

www.findagrave.com

Was there a Memorandum of Prisoner of War form in his file? I think it's in the Compiled Service Record (for soldiers), but not in the pension application.

Hope this helps!

 

[Fairfield]

All I know is his son Issac Shelby, moved to Dayton, Tn. He was my great grandfather. The son had a son, Leonard, who was my grandfather. Thanks for any help.

In doing genealogical research, it is usual (and safer) to start with yourself and then work backwards--never, ever skipping a generation in the same line. There are several men with all these names so what is needed is something to differentiate them: dates (even approximate), names of wives, etc. Memphis is in Shelby County (right?) which is named for the 1st governor of Kentucky so there may be a start. It is a revolutionary line so DAR and SAR records could be helpful. However, the names "Isaac" and "Leonard" appear generation after generation. Their relationship to you is difficult to pin down because your date of birth is unknown. You see the problem. You shouldn't be jumping back like this unless you have some dates and names of wives in order to hone in on the correct family; otherwise it's all guess work.

 

[Fairfield]

I think the problem might be that Andersonville's Database of Prisoners lists George W. Wilson of the 16 Maine (not the 6th Maine) as dying August 24, 1864 and being buried in grave number 6900. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search...isonerId=C8BC784E-DDA1-4787-8DFA-94BFD4C6B8B5
Find a Grave says has two George W. Wilsons, one from Maine who it says was from Westbrook and 16 years old when he died, but it says there's no record of his enlistment, so I'd be prone to questioning this information, since there's a note that he was difficult to find. It also lists relatives, but again, I wouldn't take this as gospel. The other George W. Wilson's regiment is listed on his grave as "USA."

George Washington Wilson (1847-1864) - Find a...

Name: Geo Wilson Death Date: 26 Aug 1864 Death Place: Andersonville Enlistment State: Maine Rank: Private Company: C Regiment: 32 Me V Box Number: 21 This soldier's record is under Geo Wilson, which made finding him difficult, there is not record of his enlistment. But this is him, he died of...

www.findagrave.com

Was there a Memorandum of Prisoner of War form in his file? I think it's in the Compiled Service Record (for soldiers), but not in the pension application.

Hope this helps!

Unfortunately, George W. Wilson (16th Maine) was from Parsonfield which is on the other end of the state. He enlisted in 1862, was captured in 1863 and died in 1864. The dates don't match.

Actually, there were 20 men named George Wilson in the Maine regiments but only 4 perished during the war: these were from Atkinson, Falmouth, Parsonfield and Surry. Surry seems most reasonable but this George Wilson (15th Maine) was only 18 or 19 when he died in 1865.

 

[Gary Morgan]

Unfortunately, George W. Wilson (16th Maine) was from Parsonfield which is on the other end of the state. He enlisted in 1862, was captured in 1863 and died in 1864. The dates don't match.

Actually, there were 20 men named George Wilson in the Maine regiments but only 4 perished during the war: these were from Atkinson, Falmouth, Parsonfield and Surry. Surry seems most reasonable but this George Wilson (15th Maine) was only 18 or 19 when he died in 1865.

Sounds like you did your research! As I said, I have my doubts about what it says for biographical information on Findagrave. And another thought - if he lied at one point about his name, is it also possible that he lied about where he was from?

 

[Fairfield]

Sounds like you did your research! As I said, I have my doubts about what it says for biographical information on Findagrave. And another thought - if he lied at one point about his name, is it also possible that he lied about where he was from?

Thank you, but having worked on local ACW soldiers and sailors for so long, it isn't hard research.
The research on Find a Grave tends to come from two sources: family members who are "doing their family tree" and local history enthusiasts. If the donor of information is capable, his/her input can be invaluable--but I tend to treat these contributions with scepticism and prove each one.

Yes, it is quite possible that the enlistee lied about where he was from. First enlistments were often done in the town of residence but re-enlistments could have been done in the place of muster or even someplace in the south (in the field); however Parsonfield is nearly 250 miles from Machias. But, it isn't far from Portland, about 45 miles. However, it's the dates: if Private Wilson was fighting--and captured--at Gettysburg BEFORE Landsman Wilson was discharged, it doesn't seem likely.

There are two other George Wilsons to consider: George Wilson of Cherryfield (near Machias) who served in the 6th Maine and was transferred into 1st Maine Vet. infantry--but he was mustered out. And George Wilson of Old Town (which is near Bangor--not that near Machias but not impossible): he was in the 1st Maine Vet Infantry but transferred (1864) into the US Navy; this is an opposite "career" path.

 

[Bama Mike]

In doing genealogical research, it is usual (and safer) to start with yourself and then work backwards--never, ever skipping a generation in the same line. There are several men with all these names so what is needed is something to differentiate them: dates (even approximate), names of wives, etc. Memphis is in Shelby County (right?) which is named for the 1st governor of Kentucky so there may be a start. It is a revolutionary line so DAR and SAR records could be helpful. However, the names "Isaac" and "Leonard" appear generation after generation. Their relationship to you is difficult to pin down because your date of birth is unknown. You see the problem. You shouldn't be jumping back like this unless you have some dates and names of wives in order to hone in on the correct family; otherwise it's all guess work.

My grandfather Leonard was married to Ida Belle Gaylon and his father's wife I don't know.

 

[Bama Mike]

Thanks for your help.

 

[Fairfield]

My grandfather Leonard was married to Ida Belle Gaylon and his father's wife I don't know.

OK, I think I have him BUT there is only one Isaac in this line and I am unclear that he was in Memphis (he seems to have spent his early life in Monroe County and most of his life in Rhea County)

Going backwards, the Leonard Shelby who married Ida Belle Gaylon was the son (not grandson) of Isaac Thomas Shelby. Isaac Thomas Shelby was born in 1844 and died in 1922; I've pm'd a copy of his death certificate to you. He was a farmer but, with that birthdate, he might have served in the Civil War (it's hard to tell because the Shelbys tended to use initials). There are several Isaacs who did live in Memphis but I don't think that they're not in your line.

There's a lot of this on Find a Grave. Being suspicious, I traced Leonard Shelby's line via other records--and it agreed. If you'd like, I'll send the sources I used. But remember, long-distance genealogy isn't the best way to go about this, plus, I am in Maine have never been to Tennessee so my knowledge of what counties are where is non-existent.