Wedding Wednesday - A Quaker Union

 

Ancestry.com, U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I-VI, 1607-1943 
[database online]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013,
Henrico Monthly Meeting, Virginia.

    Transcription:

"1714/15,1, 8. Sarah, dt John, Charles City Co.; m Robert Elyson" which means:

Sarah Crew

daughter of John Crew, 

married Robert Elyson [Ellyson]

on January 8, 1714/1715

in Charles City County, Virginia, USA

    Sarah is my 7th great-grandmother.

What did a Quaker wedding look like in 1714/1715 in Charles City County, Virginia?

ChatGPT supplied the following answer:

A Quaker wedding in 1714/1715 in Charles City County, Virginia would have looked quite different from the typical Anglican ceremonies of the time. The Quakers (also known as the Religious Society of Friends) had very distinctive practices rooted in simplicity, equality, and direct spiritual experience — and their weddings reflected those values.

Here’s what you could expect from such a wedding:

🕊️ 1. No Clergy Involved

Quakers did not believe in formal clergy. The bride and groom would marry themselves, in the presence of God and the meeting. They would typically say something like:

“In the presence of God and these our Friends, I take thee [name] to be my wife/husband, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband/wife, so long as we both shall live.”

🕊️ 2. Held in a Meeting for Worship

The ceremony took place during a regular meeting for worship, likely in a meetinghouse or possibly in a home if no meetinghouse was available. The meeting would sit in silent worship, and when the couple felt led, they would stand and exchange their vows.

🕊️ 3. Simple, Modest Dress

Both bride and groom would wear plain, modest clothing, avoiding extravagance in keeping with Quaker beliefs. There would be no special wedding garments or jewelry.

🕊️ 4. Witnesses Sign a Wedding Certificate

A written marriage certificate was signed by the couple and all present Friends as witnesses — a powerful record of community support. These documents were often beautifully handwritten and are valuable genealogical records today.

🕊️ 5. Marriage “Intentions” Approved in Advance

Before marrying, the couple had to declare their intentions to the monthly meeting. The meeting would appoint a committee to ensure both parties were clear of prior commitments and were members in good standing.

🕊️ 6. Gender Equality

The ceremony emphasized mutual consent and spiritual equality — very progressive for the time. Quaker women had more agency in marriage than was typical in colonial society.

🕊️ 7. No Music, Flowers, or Festivity

Quaker weddings were deeply spiritual and free from music, decorations, or feasting — though simple gatherings afterward may have occurred, especially among family.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - "Who Was Your First Ancestor Born in...?"

 From Randy (a cousin discovery!!) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

(1)  Lorine McGinnis Schulze asked in her blog post "Who Was Your First Canadian or American Born Ancestor?"

(2)  Let's broaden it a bit to "Who was your first ancestor born in Canada, America, or your chosen country, state, province, or county?" based on your known ancestry.

(3)  Tell us all about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a post on Facebook.  

Here's mine:

None of my ancestors were from Canada.  Most were from various countries in Europe, but I haven't "jumped the pond" yet in my research.  So I'll be concentrating on various states in the United States.

- My first ancestor born in American and the state of Connecticut was my 9th great-grandmother, Mary Hubbard, born 16 Jan 1642 in Hartford, Connecticut.  She was the daughter of George Hubbard Sr and Elizabeth Watts Hubbard.

- The first of my ancestors born in Massachusetts was Stephen Snow, born before 1648, though I'm not sure exactly where in Massachusetts.  He was my 8th great-grandfather.  His parents were Nicholas Snow and Constance Hopkins Snow.  Constance came over as a teenager on the Mayflower in 1620 and Nicholas came over three years later on the Anne.

- The first of my ancestors born in New York was Jacob Isaac Osman, born 1732 in Suffolk County, New York.  He was my 5th great-grandfather.  He was the son of Isaac Osman and Mary Bayley Osman.

- Pennsylvania:  Peter Conrad Hesser was born 1760 in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He was my 5th great-grandfather.  His parents were Johann Conrad Hesser and Anna Heizer Hesser.

- After a migration to the Western Reserve, my 4th great-grandfather, Luther Boardman Ranney, was the first of my ancestors born in Ohio.  He was born in Hudson, Summit County, Ohio on 28 Nov 1809.  He was the son of Comfort Ranney and Elizabeth Hubbard Ranney.

- Soon the Ranney family migrated again... to Michigan.  The first of my ancestors born there was also named Luther Boardman Ranney (grandson of the one mentioned above).  He was born 11 Mar 1870 in Chapin, Saginaw County, Michigan.  He was my great-grandfather.  He was the son of Comfort Ranney and Mary Margaret Hesser Ranney.

Now let's head south...

- Virginia was the landing place of most of my southern ancestors.  The first of my ancestors born there was Thomas Jordan II, born 07 July 1634 in Isle of Wight County.  Thomas was my 8th great-grandfather.  His parents are unknown.

- The first of my ancestors born in North Carolina was my 5th great-grandfather, Dempsey Goff.  He was born in 1758 somewhere in the state.  His parents are unknown.  

    

    (However, this information is unsourced so to be on the safe side, let me say that it is possible that my first ancestor born in North Carolina was actually Francis Bryant Drake.  He was born 16 Oct 1806 in Nash County.  He was my 3rd great-grandfather and the son of Richard Drake and Pherabah Bryant Drake.)

- My 3rd great-grandmother, Sarah Tapley, born in 1775, was the first of my ancestors born in South Carolina.  She was born on a stopover during the family's migration from North Carolina to Georgia.  She was the daughter of Newhampton Tapley.  Her mother's identity is unknown.

- Last but not least is my home state of Georgia.  Samuel Goff was born 1790 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He was my 4th great-grandfather.  He was the son of Dempsey Goff and Catherine Herring Goff.  

    

    (Again, the Goff information is not well sourced, so it is possible that the first ancestor of mine born in Georgia was one of Sarah Tapley's twins.  George Washington Tapley (my 2nd great-grandfather) and James Marion Tapley were born 02 May 1814 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  Their father was Canneth Swain.)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 6): Same Name

Amy Johnson Crow from Generations Cafe is hosting a blog writing prompt this year called 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.  Since I need a swift kick in the you-know-what to get me blogging more regularly again, I thought I'd jump in.  I like that she gives us "permission" to interpret the prompt however we wish and share it however we wish.  It doesn't have to be a blog post; it could be a family video, a letter to a child or grandchild, an e-mail, etc.  I'm actually jumping back a week to address the prompt "Same Name."  

There are six Hosea Tapleys in my family tree.  They have been mixed up (tangled) several times over several family trees, and I am not positive that I have all the details correct for every one.

The first Hosea (that I am aware of) was born January 4, 1691 in England.  He was my 6th/7th great-grandfather.  He was married to Sarah Moore.  He died March 21*, 1778 in Caswell County, North Carolina.

His eldest son, Hosea Tapley, Jr., was born between 1708-1710 in Gloucester County, Virginia.  He was my 6th/7th great-uncle.  He was married to Sarah Green.  He died March 21*, 1770 in Orange County, North Carolina.

His eldest son, Hosea Tapley III, was born about 1730 in Brunswick County, Virginia.  He was my 1st cousin, 6x/7x removed.  He married Lucy Prior in 1765.  He died March 21*, 1779 in Caswell, Pender County, North Carolina.  I have his cause of death listed as "Killed by Indians."

* I already see a problem.  All three men died on March 21?  Possible maybe, but not likely.  Back to the research screen!

His son, Hosea Green Tapley was born in 1767 in Caswell County, North Carolina.  He is my 2nd cousin, 5x/6x removed.  He was married to Eleanor Rogers McFarland on August 29, 1795 in Caswell County, North Carolina (or June 15, 1795 in Person County, North Carolina).  He died September 3, 1799 in North Carolina.  I also have his cause of death as "Killed by Indians."

Finally, his son, Hosea Tapley, birth and death dates unknown, was my 3rd cousins, 4x/5x removed.  He married Rebecca McFalling.  I do not have any information about their children.  Perhaps one of them was named Hosea.

Otherwise, the name stopped there.

Surname Saturday: Drake

The surname Drake comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "draca" which means a dragon or sea serpent.  Draca has its roots in the Latin terms "draco" or "drago."  As a nickname, they could apply to someone fierce in battle, or a standard bearer.  Draca was used in medieval England to mean a battle standard as well as dragon.  Soon after the Norman invasion in 1066, the name appeared in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire area in the south of England.  From Saxon times, the name was found at Musbury in Devon.  A John Drake was recorded as holding lands at Musbury as early as 1272.

Outside Devon, Drakes were found in Somerset, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, and East Anglia.

In the 17th century, Drakes came to America.  Richard Drake arrived in Virginia from Somerset in 1658.  His descendants were planters in Isle of Wight county.  The Drake name cropped up in North Carolina in the early 1700's, particularly in Nash County.  These are the Drakes I am descended from. 

I have information about 11 generations of my paternal Drake line:

- Richard Drake

My 9th great-grandfather.  Birth and date information unknown, except the assumption that he was born in England.  His spouse is unknown.  I know only about three children: 

John Drake
Mary Drake
Thomas Drake
 
- John Drake

My 8th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1647 in South Petherton, Somerset, England and died about 1690, presumably in Virginia.  He married about 1670 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Jemima Parnell, birth and death information unknown.  They had the following children (there were probably more):

   John Drake
  Thomas Drake
  Richard Drake
 
- John Drake

My 7th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1675 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and died in 1753 in Southhampton County, Virginia.  His spouse is unknown, and I only have information about one of his children: 

- Barnaby Drake Sr

My 6th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1710 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and died in 1797 in Southhampton County, Virginia.  He married Mary Scott, and I only have information about one of their children:

- Exum Drake Sr

My 5th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1745 in Southhampton County, Virginia and died after 1820 in Georgia.  He married Keziah MNU (maiden name and birth and date information unknown).  They had the following children:

  Richard Drake
  James Drake
  FNU Drake
  Exum Drake Jr
  Brittain Drake
 
- Richard Drake

My 4th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1775 in Southhampton County, Virginia and died 24 January 1857 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He married 24 February 1803 in Southhampton County, Virginia, Pherabah Bryant, birth and death information unknown.  I only have information on one child:
 
- Francis Bryant Drake

My 3rd great-grandfather.  He was born 17 October 1806 in Nash County, North Carolina and died 27 December 1875 in Johnson County, Georgia.  He married 6 November 1828 in Washington County, Georgia, Selina King, born 21 July 1812 and died 27 May 1899.  They had the following children:

  James William Drake
  Pheribah Elizabeth Drake
  Bathsheba Winfred Drake
  Eliza Jane Drake
  Francis Milton Drake
  Richard Franklin Drake
  John Saffold Drake
  Thomas Lamar Drake
  Sarah Ann Selina Drake
  Robert Lemuel Drake
  Infant Drake
  Adra Ann Sarusha Drake

- James William Drake

My 2nd great-grandfather.  He was born 19 December 1829 in Washington County, Georgia and died 14 December 1908 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He married 29 June 1856 in Washington County, Georgia, Mary Ann R. Brantley, born 19 December 1837 in Georgia and died 5 May 1891 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  They had the following children:

  William John Drake
  Francis Richard Drake
  James Thomas Drake
  Willie Elizabeth Drake
  Martha Loueazer Drake
  George Franklin Drake
  Mary Selina Drake
  Nancy Elizabeth Winfred Drake
  Lovick Pierce Drake 

- William John Drake

My great grandfather.  He was born 23 September 1857 in Emanuel County, Georgia, and died 19 August, 1927 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He married (1) 24 July 1879 in Johnson County, Georgia, Willie Elizabeth Allen, born 23 January 1864 and died 21 January 1882.  They had one child:

  Samantha Augusta Drake

He married (2) 30 July 1883, Emma Vermell Harrell, born 4 September 1867 in Emanuel County, Georgia and died 19 October 1935 in Sandersville, Washington County, Georgia.  They had the following children:

  Hattie Lay Drake
  Kenneth Catherine Drake
  Willliam Lovick Drake
  Nealie Vermell Drake
  William Robert Drake
  James Weldon Drake
  Keland Lawton Drake
  Nancy Mary Ann Drake
  Martha Lou Drake

- Nealie Vermell Drake Tapley

My grandmother was born 29 January 1895 and died 4 July 1970 in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia.  She married 5 April 1914 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia, Lusion Keman Tapley, born 31 March 1870 in Johnson County, Georgia and died 3 July 1935 in Wadley, Jefferson County, Georgia.  They had the following children:

  William Lamar Tapley
  John Russell Tapley
  (Hugh) Dorsey Franklin Tapley
  Jack Dempsey Tapley
  Irene Tapley
  Gilbert Earl Tapley

- Gilbert Earl Tapley

My father was born 19 June 1928 in Johnson County, Georgia and died 15 December 2008 in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia.  He married (1) Margaret E. Skipper, born 7 November 1927 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and died 27 May 1984 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.  They had two children.  Gilbert married (2) Annie Eloise Lee, born 27 February 1910 and died 8 July 1988 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.  They had no children.  (3) He and my mother had the following children:

  Michael Edward Tapley
 
- And ME. 

Sources:  

House of Names.com, http://www.houseofnames.com/drake-family-crest
Select.Surnames.website,  http://selectsurnames.com/drake.html

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Day 2

Today was a long and busy day... especially since I didn't feel well. Being sick when you're away from home is the worst.

Our first stop this morning was breakfast. Must have fuel to be a tourist for the day! Then we headed out to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. From the brochure:

"Monticello is the home of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. Monticello conducts guided tours of the main house -- Thomas Jefferson's "essay in architecture," - throughout the year and guided tours of the scenic gardens and grounds and the historic plantation areas on a seasonal basis."

You must purchased timed tickets to tour Monticello. We purchased tickets online for 11am since the web site explained that we need to arrive one hour ahead of our ticket time in order to watch a film and take a shuttle up to the house. So we arrived promptly at 10am. When we picked up our tickets, they had openings in the 10:30 time slot, so they moved us up. That's great except we don't have time to watch the film! Oh well. We took a quick pic of Mom with Mr. Jefferson:

And then hopped on the shuttle bus... for all of five minutes. That's really how long the trip is to the house. The trick is that it's uphill. It's quite mountainous here. So the shuttle bus is a good move.

We had a few minutes before our tour time, so we looked around the gardens. I was interested to see that Monticello have archeologists on staff:

They are excavating along Mulberry Row, which was a very busy area where woodworkers, blacksmiths, and other artisans worked during the years that Jefferson had the plantation. The archeologists are trying to find proof of how the workers lived during that time, what kinds of tools they used, what the buildings were like, etc. Over the next few years, the staff plans to recreate some of the buildings and landscape in this area for visitors to see.

Promptly at 10:30, we were taken to the house and met Harriett, our tour guide. Harriett was very knowledgeable about Thomas Jefferson and the house; we didn't ask her a question that she couldn't answer. Jefferson never met a subject he wasn't interested in. He taught himself architecture from a book and is considered the "Father of Architecture"; he read in 7 languages: English, Olde English, Italian, French, Latin, Spanish, and Greek; he kept weather information for 50 years and is considered the "Father of Meteorology"; he was constantly designing gadgets to improve people's lives; and of course, he was very active in politics and was the author of what is undoubtedly our country's greatest document: The Declaration of Independence!!! I do not believe they make them like him anymore!

His house is an architectural marvel with octagon-shaped rooms; many, many windows in order to make it look the outside comes inside; and the Dome Room. The plantation itself is covered with many different kinds of beautiful flowers and a very large and diverse vegetable garden.


After the house tour, we took a garden tour, also. Jefferson was very hands on at the plantation... for at least the last 17 years of his life. For the 40 years before that, he was very hands on with serving this country.


After purchasing some postcards and a magnet at the Gift Shop, we walked down the mountain (it was quite steep) to view Jefferson's grave. It is located in a private cemetery on the property that is owned by his descendants.

Jefferson wrote his own epitaph, and you will note that for all of his accomplishments, writing the Declaration of Independence, writing the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and being the Father of the University of Virginia were the only three he wanted included on his grave stone. Jefferson was 83 years old when he passed away on July 4, 1826; exactly 50 years to the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Mom and I walked on down the mountain to the parking lot rather than take the 5 minute shuttle ride. Then we got to watch the 20 minute film that we were supposed to watch BEFORE we took the house tour. It was informative, all the same.

We left Monticello and drove 1/4 mile back toward Charlottesville to the Michie Tavern for lunch and a tour. The lunch, held in what they call "The Ordinary," is in 18th century style with pewter plates and cups, benches to sit on, and the hostess and servers dressed in period costume. The menu included mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, coleslaw, black-eyed peas, fried and baked chicken, BBQ pork, biscuits, and cornbread. Drinks and desserts were extra. It was outrageously priced but the food was good, and the atmosphere was neat.


After eating, we toured the Tavern and learned how to play a dice game called "Shut the Box." We also learned how to dance the Virginia Reel! That was the most fun I had all day!

About 3 pm, we left the Tavern and continued to Ash Lawn Highland, the plantation once owned by our fifth president, James Monroe. Mom and I knew very little about Monroe, so the information provided on the tour was fascinating. Monroe purchased that plantation to be next to his good friend, Thomas Jefferson. There was a 2.5 mile path between the two plantations - a 20 minute ride on horseback. Unfortunately, Monroe had to sell the place in 1823 when he and his wife realized that her health prevented her from retiring there. The plantation is now owned by William and Mary University, which was Monroe's alma mater. They have been able to obtain many authentic pieces of furniture and household items that belonged to James and Elizabeth Monroe from their descendants. This plantation is absolutely beautiful and peaceful, with a long drive that looks just like you would imagine the winding roads of Virginia to look like.

The house is no where as elaborate as Monticello, but the property is breathtaking.

After a stop at the gift shop and purchasing a couple MORE magnets, Mom and I headed back to Charlottesville and our motel. I really didn't feel well by this time. We ordered in pizza and rested this evening. Tomorrow is not quite as busy. We will tour James Madison's home, Montpelier, and travel to Manassas.

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Day 1

My mother and I headed out today on another one of our trips. Tonight we are in Charlottesville, Virginia, the first stop of our 7-8 day journey.

"The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area & National Scenic Byway stretches 180 miles along the Route 15 Corridor from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania through Frederick County, Maryland and ends at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello near Charlottesville, Virginia. Its ground is a treasure trove of history - Native and African-American sites, restored architectural gems, Presidential homes, battlefields - but the land is also alive with vibrant downtowns, rich agriculture and an abundant bounty of wineries, inns, beds-and-breakfasts, fairs and antique dealers. The Journey is, indeed, Hallowed. It deserves to be cherished. It must be celebrated. But most of all, it yearns to be enjoyed!" From a map/brochure produced by The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, www.hallowedground.org.

Of course, Mom and I are doing the trip backwards. We got a later start today than we had planned, so we had to move Appomattox Court House (the site of the peace accord that ended the Civil War) to the end of our trip. So we simply drove up here to Charlottesville, settled into the Holiday Inn, and are supposed to be getting some sleep so that we can get up bright and early and get busy being tourists!

Tomorrow we plan to tour Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Home, have lunch at the historic Michie Tavern ("a complete 18th century experience!"), and tour Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of President James Monroe, in the afternoon. I will blog about our experiences tomorrow night.

Along the way, we did manage to take a couple of snapshots...

Is THIS state big enough for us?!

So THIS is where all of your Facebook farms are really located!

Military Monday: My Civil War Ancestors

I am too late for Bill West's Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge, but I thought I would go ahead and do a post about my Civil War ancestors.

TAPLEY:

Francis M. Tapley
  Eldest son of George Washington "Wash" and Elizabeth Tapley, brother of James Madison Tapley, and he was my great grand uncle

  Francis enlisted in the 48th Regiment Georgia Infantry, "The Battleground Guards" on March 4, 1862 in Johnson County, Georgia.  He is present and accounted for on every muster roll until July-August 1863, where he is noted as being absent with the remark "Absent without leave July 10, 1863."  He is again marked absent with the same remark for September and October.  He is back with his company in November.

  Further along in his Civil War file, we find that on July 19, 1863, Francis was admitted to Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia.  The very next day, July 20, it shows he was transferred to Chimborazo Hospital, No. 2, Richmond, Virginia, for some sort of fever.  Then on August 5, he appears on a Morning Report of Jackson Hospital, Richmond, Virginia.  He appears on that hospital's muster roll until August 31, 1863.  However, he also appears on a receipt roll for clothing issued to soldiers at the same hospital issued September 22, 1863.

  So obviously, Francis was not AWOL; he was sick with a couple of different, apparently serious, ailments in various hospitals around Richmond. Sometime between September 22 and November 1, he rejoined his unit.
  Sadly, Corporal Francis M. Tapley was killed on July 30, 1864, at the Crater, Petersburg, Virginia.  He was only 19 or 20 years old.  The story that has been passed down through the family is that he was killed during the initial explosion of the mine.  I have no way of knowing if that is true, but I do know that he is buried somewhere there in that field.

Looking up the hill from the mine entrance, 2009

  My mother and I visited this battlefield in 2009.  It was a moving experience.  Knowing that your ancestor fought and died there added a whole other dimension to it.  We visited the nearby Confederate cemetery and saw the unknown solider monuments there.

 James Madison Tapley
  Second son of George Washington "Wash" and Elizabeth Tapley, brother of Francis M. Tapley, and he was my great-grandfather

  Jim Tapley enlisted in the same unit as his brother, Company F, 48 Regiment Georgia Infantry, on March 15, 1864.  He was six weeks shy of his 17th birthday. 

  It is highly probable that he was there at the Crater on the day his brother was killed. Again, the story passed down through the family is that Jim saw his brother get killed in the initial explosion of the mine.

  Private James M. Tapley took part in many battles, along with his unit, including several more at Petersburg, and other locations around Virginia.  It does not appear he was seriously injured during this time.

  The final document in his Civil War file looks like this:

"James Tapley
Pvt., Co. _____, 48 Georgia Regiment.

Appears on a

List

of Prisoners of War belong to the Army of Northern Virginia, who have been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A., commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U.S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States.

Done at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865."
 
Jim then proceeded to walk all the way back to his home in Georgia, as so many others did. 

Federal troops in front of Appomattox Court House after Lee's surrender.

SCHWALLS:

  George W. Schwalls (or Schwall  - he did not add the "s" at the end until after the war)
   Parents unknown; he was my great-great-grandfather.

  George W. Schwalls enlisted in Company E of the 48th Regiment Georgia Infantry on March 4, 1862.
 
  He is listed on the Company Muster Roll for June 3 to October 31, 1862 as being absent with the remark "sick in hospital."  He appears on a Register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond Virginia dated October 13 and on a Hospital Muster Roll of sick and wounded soldiers at General Hospital No. 1, Richmond on October 17.  His Company Muster Rolls for Nov. & Dec. 1862 and Jan. & Feb. 1863 indicate he is still in the hospital.  He is back with his unit as of March 1, 1863.

  By September later that year, he is back "sick in hospital".  This time he is at 1st Division, General Hospital Camp Winder, Richmond, Virginia.  In November, he is back with his unit.

  On April 1, 1864, George Schwalls was transferred to the Confederate Navy by order of General Lee.  On his pension application made 37 years after the war, he indicated that he was transferred on January 1, 1865 to a gun boat and made an engineer.  

  Private George Schwalls was discharged from service at the end of the war in April 1865.

  On his pension application, he indicates many health problems; some due to his war service:  has lost his sight "for 4 years," "asthma in severest forms, also heart dropsy - was wounded in head from which I am almost totally deaf; suffer intensely from war wound in right leg."

DRAKE

James William Drake

  Son of Francis Bryant Drake and Selina King Drake; he was my great-great-grandfather.

  James W. Drake enlisted on May 7, 1862 as a Private into Company G, 32nd Georgia Infantry.  He was 32 years of age, which is a good deal older than what we mostly hear of serving in that war.

  He appears on a Regimental Return dated October 1862 with the remark "Absent on sick furlough for 30 days from 29 October 1862."  He again appears on a Regimental Return, this one dated November, with the remark "in Hospital."

  I have no records of him during 1863 in his Civil War file.  Then on January 9, 1864, there is a page in his file that indicates "Subject:  Court Martial."  On February 9, 1864, there appears to be a summons:  "Subject:  Report to Brig-Gen. Walker."  There is no other information about a court martial in his file and by June of 1864, he is appearing regularly on receipt rolls for clothing with his unit.    The book "The Drake Family of Washington County, Georgia" by Charles Edward Francis Drake offers the following explanation:

  "On 9 January 1864 he was court-martialed for being absent without leave from 7 July 1863 to 5 September 1863. I believe he went home to visit ill family members. He was acquitted and rejoined service with his unit."

  James W. Drake surrendered with his unit at Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 26, 1865:

  "Jas. W. Drake, Pvt, Co. G, 32 Reg't Georgia Infantry
Appears on a 
    Muster Roll
of Officers and Men paroled in accordance with the terms of a Military Convention entered into on the 26th day of April, 1865, between General Joseph E. Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army, and Major General W. T. Sherman, Commanding United States Army in North Carolina.

Roll dated near Greensboro, N.C., April 28, 1865.

Paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina, May 1, 1865." 

  I assume James also walked to his home in Georgia.

 According to Charles Edward Francis Drake's above mentioned book, "When he [James Drake] made his pension application in 1899, he complained of chronic bronchitis and a double hernia." (I do not have a copy of this pension application and obviously need to add it to my to do list.)

  James had a brother, Francis Milton Drake, who served in the same unit.  Another brother, John Saffold, was also in the same unit for a short time, but he shows up as AWOL and there is no further record for him during the war that I have located thus far.  A third brother, Thomas Lamar Drake, also served in the Civil War, but I do not know the details of his service.


PAGE

  I find that I have no information on whether any of my Page ancestors served.  Another item for the to do list!

I apologize for the long post, and if you are still reading, bless you!