- Joined
- Jun 24, 2011
- Location
- Middle Tennessee
Put it back together and have plenty of photos. You know it's there! Let it be and glow in it's history!
It gets even better!The family homestead is a museum, it even has a facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bric...-Society-Havens-Homestead-Museum/275363753515 Check it out.
The family homestead is a museum, it even has a facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bric...-Society-Havens-Homestead-Museum/275363753515 Check it out.
In a brief session poking around I discovered he was born about 1838. He was from Brick, NJ. Married Sarah Dorset July 1865, less than a month after the regiment mustered out.
Jacob lived a long life. He died in 1926. Appears to have been a carpenter and looks like he lived at least all of the post war years in Brick.
I could not find him or his supposed father (Jesse) in the 1860 census. I suspect they are somewhere in Brick, but I didn't do any alternate spelling searches.
He had 4 kids, I think.
Also, there are a few others with the Havens surname in his regiment. Suspect they are probably all related somehow. The ancestors of Jacob came to New Jersey in the 17th century according to published family trees. The founding ancestor in America was from England and settled in Rhode Island originally.
I found a little info on the museum at www.bricktwphistoricalsociety.com. It mentions who owned the house and a little about it. There is also info and a picture of a Henry Clay Havens who was a 1st sergeant in Co F of the 14th NJ, but no mention of Jacob.
I love when I find names like that. Good evidence for political beliefs. A little more insight than just cold facts. I have found a few of those in my lines---an Andrew Jackson Bennett here, a Winfield Scott Beck there (WSB was captured at Stone's River and died as a POW in the Civil War).
Cool find, Frank.
Keep it unless it was absolutely necessary to sell it. I would always regret selling itThat's what I was talking about. With this unexpected discovery documenting the provenance of the weapon, I've been asking myself if it were mine would I keep it ? or put it back on the market and make a substantial profit ?
Keep it unless it was absolutely necessary to sell it. I would always regret selling it
Wow!! just wow!! that gun was at Cold Harbor, the wilderness, I mean holding it in your hand and knowing where it's been and what it's done. History coming alive
With the provenance, it is worth about three pristine examples of the same. I'd like to see a Havens have it, but it is not my decision to make.I'm thrilled to have it. I was pretty excited about getting it before I found the name, but it really has a special aura around it now. Discovering the history (much thanks to this forums members) has changed the look and feel of this musket. I believe I would regret selling it. It would be anticlimactic to try and replace it!
Should I start a new thread with his information or continue on this one? Anything I should take particular note of?
Personally I'd like to see you continue this thread. I get lost too easily Don't forget to look for pension applications, lots of personal info there...
Will be devoured avidly. Much appreciated.Thanks for your interest and I will add more information to this thread. I did order and receive his federal pension records. Mr. Havens lived a long life but suffered from rheumatism and some other ailments starting at a young age. I'll try to put together a brief timeline from what I find this weekend.
From the script, the Co. letter can be H or F --not "A" as it wouldn't be disconnected.Hello,
I am lightly oiling the metal and waxing the wood to preserve my newly acquired original CW Bridesburg musket. I found this piece of paper with what looks like a soldiers name and unit information attached to the inside of the buttplate.
I thought I had read that someone found similar information or discussed soldiers doing this with their weapons but I can't find that thread.
The name looks like "Jacob Havens" and after the name it looks like "Co" and a letter H or A,(I can't really tell), the number 14 followed by "N." Gr or Jr (not sure)? The paper is glued to the plate from the top of the paper strip and folds down to read the name
If anyone has any information or comments that would be great and appreciated.
Also, should I lightly oil around the paper and leave it there or not touch the inside of the buttplate at all?
Thanks again for all the help!
FrankView attachment 23165