Pension records are
a great resource and can provide family information not easily found in other
records. Edward Moore, my maternal 2nd great grandfather, volunteered
for service during the U.S. Civil War and his pension file is one of my
favorite records. Edward was born to Henry Moore and Nora Sullivan on 29 March
1836 near Tuosist, County Kerry, Ireland.[1] This file provided Edward's location in Ireland which was previously unknown!
A private in 16th
Regiment, Company I Pennsylvania Infantry, Edward volunteered at Pottsville,
Pennsylvania on 20 April 1861 and was honorably discharged on 30 July 1861 at
Harrisburg, PA.[2]
The 16th Regiment Infantry organized at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg on
3 May 1861. During his service, the unit moved to York then to Chambersburg and
onto Williamsport, Maryland where on 16 June, they attached to Miles’ 4th
Brigade, Cadwalader’s 1st Division of Major General Robert
Patterson’s Army.
On 2 July 1861,
Patterson’s division crossed the Potomac River near Williamsport and marched to
Martinsburg, Virginia. Under Patterson’s command were 3,500 men, comprised of
some regular troops, but mostly 90-day volunteers, whose enlistments were about
to end. Patterson was under orders to pin down a small Confederate division. On
3 July, Patterson occupied Martinsburg but made no further aggressive moves
until 15 July, when he marched to Bunker Hill. They held off the Confederate
unit but instead of moving on Winchester, Patterson turned east to Charles Town
on 17 July and withdrew to Harpers Ferry.[3]
The Battle of Hoke’s
Run (also known as The Battle of Falling Waters or The Battle of Hainesville)
was part of the Manassas Campaign of the American Civil War. While this battle
was considered a Union victory, it contributed to the Confederate victory at
the Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) less than three weeks later.[4]
On 7 April 1911,
Edward Moore, age 75, filed a Declaration of Pension and was eligible to
receive twenty dollars per month. The marriage certificate in this pension file
states that Edward Moore and Mary Curtin were married on 22 October 1866 at St.
Patrick’s Church in Pottsville. They had twelve children, four of whom
predeceased them. Research continues for a possible connection between Camp
Curtin and Mary Curtin.
Following their
marriage, Edward worked as a ‘pudler’ in the iron mills.[5] A puddler made wrought
iron using a process in which pig iron is converted to wrought iron. This was a
highly skilled and dangerous occupation which required physical strength,
stamina and sustained concentration.[6]
Based on this
information, much of which was gleaned from the pension file, it is clear that Edward
and Mary Curtin Moore were very strong and courageous people!
[1]
Edward Moore (Pvt., Co. I, 16th Reg’t PA Infantry, Civil War),
pension no. SC 569,600, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications…,
1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs,
Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington D.C.
[2]
Edward Moore Civil War pension no. SC 569,600, RG 15, NA-Washington.
[3]
Falling Waters Battlefield Association, Inc. (http://www.battleoffallingwaters.com/newbattle.htm
: 28 September 2010).
[4]
Falling Waters Battlefield Association, Inc.
(http://www.battleoffallingwaters.com/newbattle.htm : 28 September 2010).
[5]
1870 U.S. census, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Pottsville,
p. 352, dwelling 30, family 38, Edward Moore; digital image online,
HeritageQuest.com (http://heritagequest.com : 16 May 2009) citing NARA
microfilm publication M593, roll 1447.
[6]
Old Occupation Names, Article. Rodney MH Hall. Hall Genealogy Website. http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/i-k.html
: 20 April 2010.
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