Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum.
I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. For several years I've been trying to research my great great grandfather, Henry Baldwin, born in Newark NJ in September 1848. Family lore says that he served as a substitute in the war and was paid $200 to serve in the place of a wealthy man's son. He was 16 & was a drummer boy.
Henry doesn't show up in either the Federal census or the NJ state census records until after the Civil War, when he married my GG grandmother, Elena Hoffman, at the age of 22 or so. It just doesn't make any sense. I've had a copy of his pension record from the National Archives for a number of years, and I did learn a few things I hadn't known before, such as his parents' names, John and Mary, who were also supposedly born in NJ. I knew that NJ didn't begin keeping birth records until 1848, and I've looked through every single one and can't find a match. I believe there were a John & Mary Baldwin who had a son, Henry E., in 1848, but he's the wrong guy.
I've pored through every page of this pension record trying to find any clues that might possibly help me find info on my ancestor, and I'm completely stuck. I've looked through lists of Union soldiers and can't find a match either. He's always been a mystery, and I'd really appreciate any suggestions you all might have. Most family papers were destroyed intentionally years ago by my great-uncle's wife, who was jealous of the relationship he had with his family. If we still had those we might have some answers. Can anyone suggest a starting point for my research? Thanks!
I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. For several years I've been trying to research my great great grandfather, Henry Baldwin, born in Newark NJ in September 1848. Family lore says that he served as a substitute in the war and was paid $200 to serve in the place of a wealthy man's son. He was 16 & was a drummer boy.
Henry doesn't show up in either the Federal census or the NJ state census records until after the Civil War, when he married my GG grandmother, Elena Hoffman, at the age of 22 or so. It just doesn't make any sense. I've had a copy of his pension record from the National Archives for a number of years, and I did learn a few things I hadn't known before, such as his parents' names, John and Mary, who were also supposedly born in NJ. I knew that NJ didn't begin keeping birth records until 1848, and I've looked through every single one and can't find a match. I believe there were a John & Mary Baldwin who had a son, Henry E., in 1848, but he's the wrong guy.
I've pored through every page of this pension record trying to find any clues that might possibly help me find info on my ancestor, and I'm completely stuck. I've looked through lists of Union soldiers and can't find a match either. He's always been a mystery, and I'd really appreciate any suggestions you all might have. Most family papers were destroyed intentionally years ago by my great-uncle's wife, who was jealous of the relationship he had with his family. If we still had those we might have some answers. Can anyone suggest a starting point for my research? Thanks!