Trunk from Maine Regiment

[lelliott19]

Now the next mystery is - how did the trunk get to Pennsylvania? If you could trace the descendants - maybe a child of one of the men moved there and took the trunk with them. It's obviously a sturdy piece so it would have been useful well after the war

If this is the correct Alonza and Sarah Mitchell in Bowdoin listed in the 1870 US census, they had two boys Guy and Frank

By 1880, Alonzo is no longer shown with the family, but there are two more children, both girls.

In 1900, we find Guy W Mitchell, now age 32, living in Portland with his wife, Lydia, and two daughters. His occupation is listed as laborer on the railroad.

Here's a snip from a photo that appears here . The photo is from July 1914; Guy W. Mitchell is on the right of the bottom row of the snip. He is listed as the "barn foreman" for the Lewiston terminal of the Lewiston to Portland Interurban line. He would have been 47 in this picture.

Guy W Mitchell

 

[Fairfield]

If this is the correct Alonza and Sarah Mitchell in Bowdoin listed in the 1870 US census, they had two boys Guy and Frank
View attachment 382533

If that's the 1870 census, it won't state relationships. You'll need to go ahead to the 1880 census--if the same boys are with them, the relationship will be listed. The boys might be nephews or cousins or lots of things. The 1880 census is the first where the relationship among household members is given.

 

[lelliott19]

You'll need to go ahead to the 1880 census--if the same boys are with them, the relationship will be listed.

Thanks. I did that down lower in the post. By the 1880 census, Alonzo is no longer listed with the family (which supports the 1879 dod). In 1880, Sarah is listed with four children which are listed as her two sons (Guy W and Frank A) and two daughters (Alice and Edith P).

 

[Georgia]

...yes...for our reproduction of the Lee Camp Chest, I found a fellow to hand forge these as a "close copy"...as per original hasps, no two alike...his name is Daniel Young, a friend for over 25 years who still sets up at reenactments...saw him at Blountville, TN event this Fall...now in his mid eighties and still runs the coal fired forge and anvils !!

My husband's forge is also coal. I approve of Mr. Young's methods.

 

[A. Roy]

Roy,I'm about 25 miles east of Raleigh near Zebulon. My wife loves the old boxes and primitive antiques and already stacked it with some more boxes.She claims it her box now.

That's a nice arrangement - that box fits right in!

Roy B.

 

[Fairfield]

Thanks. I did that down lower in the post. By the 1880 census, Alonzo is no longer listed with the family (which supports the 1879 dod). In 1880, Sarah is listed with four children which are listed as her two sons (Guy W and Frank A) and two daughters (Alice and Edith P).

Poor woman--left a widow with 4 children! And that pension she got would have been small. I hope she had family in the area to see her through.

 

[Josie Wales]

My husband's forge is also coal. I approve of Mr. Young's methods.

... his Trade Name is "The Blacksmith"... accomplished and sought after craftsman...

 

[Georgia]

... his Trade Name is "The Blacksmith"... accomplished and sought after craftsman...

Not sure I'm following you here. I'm up on Blacksmiths and Farriers. My husband has his grandfather's anvil and did some apprenticing with a local blacksmith located within sight of Pea Patch Island before setting up his own blacksmithing forge as a hobby.
We collect hand forged pieces and appreciate the skill that it takes to make every hinge, pintle, thumb latch and chain link. Since I hearth cook, forged and cast iron are the mainstays of my kitchen.

 

[TommyK]

I was at the flea market last Saturday with my wife when she saw an old trunk she liked.It was really dirty but decided to get it for her.When I cleaned it up on Sunday I found the inscription C G Hall or A Mitchell Co G Maine 5th Regiment Personal belongings.I was really shocked but glad she talked me into getting it.

View attachment 382357

View attachment 382358

It's serendipity that I came across your post today, so I just became a member of the forum in order to share some interesting information related to your find. Over 30 years ago, I purchased a Civil War belt and Union buckle from a collector in Central Florida. The old tag on the belt identified it as belonging to Alonzo Mitchell, Co. G, 5th Maine. As you can see in the attached pictures, "Lewiston ME" is stamped into the leather as a manufacturer's mark. I've also included a couple of pages of Mitchell's muster rolls that show the date of his promotion to Sgt., and the fact that he was wounded in the battle of Gaines Mill VA on June 27, 1862 (it is incorrectly listed as Gaines "Hill" in the muster paperwork). Hope this adds a little more interest to the story of your treasure!

 

[47thNCancestor]

Thanks so much for the reply and information you have provided me..What a great find you have also.I found that Charles G Hall was promoted to sergeant in 1863 but was unable to find when Alonzo was promoted as sergeant. I am planning to print this off and place it in the chest.I was also unaware that he was wounded at Gaines Mill.Thanks so much;Lee Perry from NC

 

[TommyK]

Thanks so much for the reply and information you have provided me..What a great find you have also.I found that Charles G Hall was promoted to sergeant in 1863 but was unable to find when Alonzo was promoted as sergeant. I am planning to print this off and place it in the chest.I was also unaware that he was wounded at Gaines Mill.Thanks so much;Lee Perry from NC

Lee, one additional thought occurred to me... is it possible that both Mitchell and Hall were wounded around the same time or same battle and that their personal belongings were placed in the trunk for safekeeping while they convalesced? Just thinking it's kinda unique to see a trunk that has 2 soldier's names attached to it. Anyway, great find and glad to help!

 

[47thNCancestor]

Tommy.thanks again for your replies.Another thought of mine is were they able to carry only one chest due to them being non commisionable officers.

 

[Fairfield]

but was unable to find when Alonzo was promoted as sergeant

According to his service card, it was March 1863 (it was written "3/23/63--but the "23" is crossed over).

 

[TommyK]

According to his service card, it was March 1863 (it was written "3/23/63--but the "23" is crossed over).

Is the service card different from the muster roll copies in my pictures above? If you look closely at the last pic it state "promoted from the ranks April 26, 1862". Each entry prior to that date listed him as private, and each entry afterward lists him as Sgt. Interesting...

 

[Fairfield]

Is the service card different from the muster roll copies in my pictures above? If you look closely at the last pic it state "promoted from the ranks April 26, 1862". Each entry prior to that date listed him as private, and each entry afterward lists him as Sgt. Interesting...

HDS also gives 1862 as the date however, after many years working on soldiers from my own Maine town, I've come to rely on the service record card. It is interesting that his widow filled in an entry for him on the 1890 Vet Schedule--and she listed only his rank as private. She also says that he was discharged in 1863.

 

[Fairfield]

Is the service card different from the muster roll copies in my pictures above? If you look closely at the last pic it state "promoted from the ranks April 26, 1862". Each entry prior to that date listed him as private, and each entry afterward lists him as Sgt. Interesting...

The service card is the record kept by the state of Maine. According to HDS, he had two promotions: to sergeant and to "3rd sergt." (I don't know what a third sergeant is so I can't tell you which came first). But this may be a source of the confusion.

 

[Fairfield]

Service Card from Maine State Archives

 

[TommyK]

View attachment 385232Service Card from Maine State Archives

Awesome... thank you!

 

[47thNCancestor]

According to his service card, it was March 1863 (it was written "3/23/63--but the "23" is crossed over).

 

[47thNCancestor]

Thanks so much to all of you guys.There is a wealth of knowledge on this board.