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Monday, December 15, 2008

Liederkranz Club - Rochester, NY

There is an interesting item in the Rochester City Directory for 1891 in the section for organizations.

Rochester Liederkranz Organized 1873 Pres Geo ะก Stand; Vice Pres PM Eagan; Rec Sec Joseph A Staud; Fin Sec Louis H Daus; Trea Wm Haitz Charles Schied. Meets second Sunday of each month at Wagner's Hall.

My great-grandfather, Patrick M. Eagan, is the only P. M. Eagan in the City Directory for that year. Why would my great-grandfather, an Irishman, be the vice-president of a German organization?

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: McCain Drops Palin

Following a week a bad reviews of the Sarah Palin interviews by conservative voices, the McCain campaign announced today that Sen. McCain will drop Gov. Palin from the number two spot on the Republic ticket. Campaign insiders explained that after reviewing the interviews Sen. McCain had decided that Gov. Palin should return to Alaska and spare any further embarrassment to his campaign. To replace Gov. Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate, Sen. McCain has announced that he has chosen Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live as his running mate. Ms. Fey, reached at her home, said that she was thrilled to be chosen. She added, "I am a bit surprised at this as I can't see any foreign countries from my house. Even from the attic windows."

In a related item, a spokesman for NBC has stated that Lorne Michaels is in talks with Sarah Palin concerning her replacing Ms. Fey on Saturday Night Live.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Rochester: A City of Quality - Part II

Here is Part II after the jump.




Rochester: A City of Quality - Part I

The Internet Archive has movies, still photos, music, etc. to view, listen to and download. Among these is a two-part film about Rochester, NY. Filmed in the 1960's it shows parts of Rochester that I can remember from that period 40 years ago - Southtown Plaza, Midtown Plaza, etc. Here is the first part:

The video is after the jump.



Saturday, September 27, 2008

Sarah Palin - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Like everyone else on the planet my first question when John McCain picked Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate was, "Gov. Who?" Since then I have had the opportunity to see and hear the two sessions she had with news persons. (Conservatives like to include the session with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity but that session might as well have been conducted by Rick Davis - McCain's campaign manager - or someone from the Republican National Committee.) Recently some prominent conservatives have raised concerns about the agonizing interviews. Some have even suggested that she be replaced. As a Democrat, I say, "Keep her! She is a gift that keeps on giving!" However, I must admit that watching some of her interviews makes me feel sorry for her. She seems like a school kid who is giving a oral book report when she had neglected to read the book or even to read the Cliffs Notes!

Each time I see a rerun of some of her atrocious answers I have a vague feeling that I have seen it before. And then it dawned on me what it was. See after the jump.


Wednesday, September 10, 2008

From Miami to Athens: An Adventure

Toward the end of Ocrober my wife and I are taking a three and a half week cruise that starts in Athens, Greece and ends in Fort Lauderdale. Getting home at the end of the cruise is fairly easy. A limo will pick us up at Port Everglades and we will be home in about 45 minutes. Getting to Athens requires a bit of planning and scheduling.

More after the jump . . .

There are a couple of rules that I impose on myself when making schedules like this. (1) Use stand-by passes (our daughter is a flight attendant) to get to Europe, (2) once in Europe, use the cheapest flight to final destination, (3) arrive at the cruise embarkation location at least a day before the cruise starts. Not a rule but this time we would like to be in Athens a couple of days before the cruise. We have been in Athens before and love the city.

Miami to London

For this leg of the trip we will be "non-revenue" passangers which means that we will fly only if there is space. Sometimes that means that we may not take our first choice but the second choice (or even third or fourth choice). We also like to fly first class or at least business class. An eight hour flight in coach is not something I would look forward to! Therefore I listed all flights on Oct 26 via American Airlines from Miami to London and there are about nine or so flights. Only one is direct and the others fly from Miami to London via NYC, Chicago, Dallas and Boston. Therefore we will be "wait-listed" for the first flight out of Miami and see what happens.

Overnight in London

We will arrive in Heathrow early in the morning after and overnight flight from Miami (or NYC, or Chicago, . . .). We know that the flights that we would take to Athens we fly from Gatwick so we take the bus for Heathrow to Gatwick (about an hour and a half trip) and will spend the night there. We have done this before so I booked a room at the Copthorne Hotel outside the Gatwick Airport. The hotel is a refurbished manor house with gardens, a stream, swans, etc. Nice place.

London to Athens

Remember one of my rules: use the cheapest airline! As a result of this rule we have been able to fly from Miami to Shannon, Ireland on Aeroflot (the Russian National airline), and from Copenhagen to London on Maersk. (That's right, Maersk the Danish ocean shipping company. They also had a small airline division but sold it a couple of years ago.) So what is the cheapest airline flying from London to Athens - EasyJet! Kayak.com shows rates from about $200 per person to $3,000 per person. It also shows EasyJet at $102 per person. Such a deal! Unfortunately, the flight is at 6:20 AM and EasyJet does not assign seats before hand so we will have to get to the airport about 4:00 AM to get to the head of the line. Also free luggage is limited to about 20 lbs per. Our cruise is three and a half weeks! I suspect extra luggage will cost us about another $100. Still a bargain.

In Athens

We will arrive in Athens on the afternoon of the 28th and want to spend some time there until the cruise that starts the afternoon of the 30th. Previously we had stayed at the Attalos Hotel in the Plaka area, the old section of Athens near the Acropolis. Every travel search site I used (Kayak, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc.) shows no rooms available on the dates we need. Therefore, we found a hotel in the downtown area but not in Plaka and we thought we could walk or metro from there anyplace we wanted to. Booked it for two nights through Travelocity. Then I was looking for something about Athens and came across comments from persons who had stayed at the hotel I had just booked. The first comment was, "Don't ever stay at this place!" The next was, "I am a fairly big guy but I was leary about going out in the neighborhood at night." Next just said, "A vice hotel." Gee, maybe I don't want to stay there. Went back to Travelocity, cancelled my reservation (still cost me $25), found another hotel with fairly good reviews and so we're all set.

All in all it only took three and a half hours to make reservations!

Monday, September 01, 2008

Joseph Weed and Deborah Moses

Joseph Weed and Deborah Moses of Simsbury, CT are descendants of two Puritan immigrants that came to New England during the Great Migration of the 1630's.

Joseph was the great-grandson of Jonas Weed who came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late spring of 1630 with the Gov. John Winthrop fleet. Jonas settled in Watertown, MA and moved with others in 1636 and 1637 south along the Connecticut River and settled the town of Wethersfield, CT, the oldest established settlement in the Colony of Connecticut. In 1641 he was an early settler in Stamford, CT and he died there in 1676. Descendants of the line of Jonas Weed to Joseph Weed were in Stamford, Derby, Waterbury and finally Simsbury, where the subject Joseph settled by 1757.

Deborah Moses was the second great-granddaughter of John Moses of Plymouth, MA who came to New England between 1630 and 1640. Her great-grandfather, also named John, was in Windsor, CT in 1647. Her grandfather, another John Moses, was also born in Windsor and was the first of the Moses family to came to Simsbury, CT about 1681.

I am a fifth great-grandson of Joseph Weed and Deborah Moses through my mother, Mary Frances Maloney, my grandfather, Frederick George Maloney, and my great-grandmother, Sarah Weed.

SIMSBURY AND GRANBY, CONNECTICUT

In the seventeenth century, Simsbury - or Massacoe, as it was originally known - comprised all of that area that today includes the Hartford County towns of Simsbury, Granby, East Granby, West Granby, Canton and North Canton. Although never included within the town limits of Windsor, it was generally considered a parish of that town and the early settlers of Simsbury were from Windsor. In 1642, an act of the General Court specified that, "It is ordered, that the Governor and Mr. Haynes shall have liberty to dispose of the ground upon that part of Tunxus river, called Massacoe, to such inhabitants of Windsor, as they shall see cause."

The first Indian deed for any of this area was given in 1648 by three Indians, Pacatoco, Pamatacount and Youngcoout, to John Griffin with the two witnesses to this deed given on the 28th day of June, 1648 were Windsor residents, George Abbet and John Moses, the great-grandfather of Deborah Moses. Grants of land were made by the General Court to numerous persons but a permanent settlement was not established until about 1664, and it was not until 1666 that a committee, appointed by the General Court, specified the terms upon which Windsor residents may take up land in Massacoe. The first grants of land were made by that committee the following year and it is believed that all of the first settlers were there by 1669. One of those grants in "Weatogue, east" was to John Moses, Sr., Deborah's great-grandfather.

Until 1668 Massacoe was still associated with the town of Windsor but that year the General Court "doth desire that Massacoe, which hitherto hath been an appendix to the town of Windsor, may be improved for the making of a plantation." Further, the Court went on to order the previosly appointed committee to "make such just orders as they shall judge requisite for the well ordering of the said plantation, so they be not be repugnant to the public order of this Colony." As a result of this order, Massacoe had some measure of local control as a plantation and in 1670 the General Court incorporated it as a separate town and the name changed to Simsbury. The Court set Simsbury's boundaries as running "from Farmington bounds to the northward tenn miles, and from Windsor bounds, on the east, to run westward tenn miles."

In 1679, grants of land were made to thirteen families in the Salmon Brook area that was later to become Granby and in 1688 additional lots were granted in the area of Turkey Hills. However, despite the granting of land the population of this section of Simsbury remained quitesmall. In 1709 there were but eleven families, nine on the west side of the Salmon Creek and only two on the east. In 1728 the number of families on the west side had increased to twenty-seven, on the east it had increased to eleven and there were now twenty-four families on the east side of the mountain.

Even though these families had settled a quite distance from the meeting house in Simsbury they still travelled for Sabath and midweek meetings to Simsbury. As a result, two Ecclesiastical Societies were established in 1736 at Salmon Brook and Turkey Hills, and the first meeting of the Salmon Brook Society was held in May of 1739. The following year a Congregational Meeting House was constructed to serve the families of Salmon Brook and Turkey Hills. Finally, on October 12, 1786 the Salmon Brook and Turkey Hills Ecclesiastic Societies were incorporated as the Town of Granby.

In Granby, Joseph Weed and his family lived in the western portion of Granby near the West Branch of the Salmon Brook and an elevation called Tree Hill. Tree Hill is today, I believe, the Weed Hill shown on current maps of Hartford County, Connecticut. As a result of subdividing and creating new towns, the family of Joseph and Deborah Weed lived in three towns - Simsbury, Granby and West Granby - without ever having to move!



Joseph Weed and Deborah Moses

Joseph WEED, the son of John Weed and Mary Jackson Beaman, was born on 2 Nov 1708, in Derby, New Haven, CT. Joseph was the great-grandson of Jonas Weed, the first of the Weed family in New England who came from England with the Winthrop Fleet in the Spring of 1630. Joseph's father and his family had come from Derby to the Oxford Parish of Waterbury, CT and it was in Waterbury that he married on 5 Jun 1740, Deborah MOSES. At the time of their marriage in Waterbury, Joseph was noted as being "of Derby".

Joseph's wife, Deborah, was born on 3 Nov 1718, in Simsbury, Hartford, CT, the daughter of John MOSES and Hannah HOSKINS ("Debrath Moses third daughter of John Moses of Simsbury was born the third day of November 1718."). She was the great-great-granddaughter of John Moses of Plymouth, MA who came to New England between 1630 and 1640.

On 29 August 1749, Joseph paid Timothy Moses (probably his brother-in-law, and his wife's step-brother) £300 for a 113 acre parcel of land located in "1/2 mi. tier lying on Mt. south of Joseph Cases house." The land was bounded on the south on a division lot laid out to the heirs of John Slater; west on the division land; north to a parcel owned by Josiah and Joel Case; and east on land of Josiah and Joel Case, fromerly granted to John Humphrey, long deceased. On 25 June 1763, he deeded a portion of that parcel near the east side of West Mt. to Josiah Case. This parcel was described as, "begin at the West End of tier lots wh. I now live upon at ye N.W. corner of my sd. Lots and bounds on my own land, West on the next tier, North on Joel Cases land, S. on undivided land being 8 rods 3/4 in breadth the same in length and number of A[cres] m or l [more or less]." Finally, on 8 January 1768, Joseph deeded to Elijah Tuller the "land bought of Timothy Moses with house barn and orchards, etc."

Joseph died 30 Nov 1771, in Simsbury ("Jofeph Weed Departed this Life November 30th 1771."). Following his death, his estate was inventoried by Abel Gofard and Simeon Holcomb on 13 January 1772. "The Inv. of the real & personal estate of Joseph Weed as followeth, viz:


£ s d
1 yoke Oxen 10 0 0
2 Sheep 7 14 0
1 Cow 2 10 0
1 Mare 6 0 0
2 Barrels 0 3 0
1 Pitch Fork 0 1 6
1 Dung Fork 0 2 6
Horse Traces 0 5 0
3 Pieces Old Chains 0 3 0
Caps & Pins 0 2 0
2 Geese 0 5 0
Sett of Dragg Teeth 1 0 0
Horse Collar & Hook 0 2 6
1 Iron Skillet 0 2 6
1 Iron Pot 0 7 0
Frying Pan 0 3 0
Iron Kettle 0 10 0
Gun Barrel & Fork 0 5 0
Slice & Tongs 0 2 6
1 Trammel 0 4 2
1 Trammel 0 5 2
4 Chairs 0 4 0
1 Iron Wedge 0 1 0
1 Pewter Porringer 0 0 8
2 ditto 0 1 0
6 Pewter Plates 0 7 6
2 Pewter Basons 0 2 0
1 Pewter Platter 0 6 0
1 ditto 0 3 0
1 Pewter Basin 0 2 0
1 Pewter Basin 0 2 9
1 Quart Cup 0 4 3
1 Teapot 0 2 6
1 Old Pewter Bason 0 2 0
1 ditto 0 1 6
1 ditto 0 1 6
1 Old Pewter Platter0 2 0
4 Lbs of Old Pewter 0 4 8
1 Psalm Book 0 1 9
1 Sermon Book 0 1 0
1 Glass Bottle 0 0 6
1 Old Quart Cup 0 1 9
1 Knott Dish 0 1 6
1 ditto 0 0 9
1 ditto 0 1 0
4 Milk Trays 0 9 0
2 Small ditto 0 3 0
1 Saddle 1 10 0
Pulion 0 5 0
1 Pair Sheets 0 8 0
3 Sheets 0 8 0
3 Moslin Sheets 0 15 0
1 Table Cloth 0 3 0
2 Old Towels 0 1 0
4 Pillow Cases 0 1 6
2 Caps 0 0 6
1 Shagg Rugg 0 12 0
Dutch Blanket 0 4 0
1 Pillow 0 1 6
2 ditto 0 2 0
1 Bed 2 5 0
1 Bedsted 0 5 0
1 Bed Rope 0 1 0
1 Bed 2 5 0
1 Rag Rugg 0 8 0
Old Coat 0 10 0
4 Baggs 0 16 0
Ftetchets 0 6 0
Set of Cart Bands 0 14 0
Cart Boxes
10 Linch Pins
4 Washers 0 14 0
Dutch Wheel
A Gun 1 19 0
3 Reeds 0 9 0
Loom/Spindle 1 1 0
1 Pair Stilhards 0 3 6
2 Barrels 0 3 0
Butter Churn 0 1 6

On the 15th of October, 1772, Dorcas and Hannah, the two daughters of Joseph and Deborah, executes the following, "I Dorcas Weed and Hannah Weed have recd of our Brothers Aaron Weed & Moses Weed of Simsbury the sum of Thirty Pounds lawful money which is in full of our Dues and Demands we have or ever had or ought to have to all or any of our honoured Father Joseph Weed's late of Simsbury Dec'd Estate that is especially two Notes the said Aaron & Moses took of Elijah Tuller of our one hundred and Seventy pounds money which money belonged to our said Father and we do hereby discharge the sd Aaron & Moses from said money and from all other Demands we have or had sd estate Excepting that has been set out & Distributed to us this the above 15th day of Oct as our sd Fathers moveable Estate." Dorcas signed the document, Hannah made her mark and it was witnessed by Francis Barnard and Peter Rice.

The distribution of Joseph's estate was distributed on 19 October 1772 and the distribution was exhibited on 3 November of the same year.

Seven years after Joseph's death a series of documents were executed by his children that would "give and devise" to their mother all of their father's estate. The first in May of 1778 was as follows: "Know all men by these pre that whas - we the Subsc. of Sims in Co. Hart. heirs at law of the Estate of Joseph Weed late of sd Simsbury Decd find by cert. memo, under the hands of said Dec'd signifying that it was his last will and purpose to give and devise to his and our honoured Mother Deborah Weed of sd Simsbury all ye estate both real & personal that belonged to sd Joseph Weed at the time of his death and we being willing to comply with ye will of ye sd Decd do realise qtclaim, resign and relinquish to our sd Honoured Mother all Right Title Claim & Interest we or other of us had have or may have hereafter to any of ye sd estate in manner aforesaid for us and our Heirs and assigns forever. In Witness Thereof we have set our hds and Seals." The document was signed by Aaron Weed, Moses Weed, Dorcas [Weed] Matson, Otheniel Gillet, Jr., and Hannah [Weed] Gillet made her mark. To one side of this is the following note, "Benjamin Weed Signed on the 6th day of Sept. 1795." This note may account for the following in the Granby town records that reads: "Granby October 27 1795 Recvid of Diborah Weed & aron Weed & Moses Weed & Benjamin Weed & Dorcas Matson one Pound Lawfull money in full of all Demands of Law or Equity Whatsoever in witness our hands

Zebah Matson: } Othenial Gillett Jur
Hannah (her mark) Gillett"

Zebah Matson was the grandson of Joseph and Deborah, and is the son of Dorcas (Weed) Matson.

The following month, 15 June 1778, Deborah deeds land to her sons Moses and Benjamin. "For love and good will of my son Moses & Benj. Weed of their Mother Deborah widow and relict Joseph Weed give to my two sons M[oses] & B[enjamin] I pc land - Tree Hill." This parcel was bounded on the North by Thomas Holcomb's land, on the South by Benjamin's land, on the East by her daughter Hannah's land, and on the West by the common or undivided land and lying West of the so-called "long lots." This was a 20 acre parcel that he deceased son Joseph had purchased of his brother Aaron. Of the 20 acres, Moses was given 5 acres and Benjamin was given 15 acres.

Deborah and her children, Aaron, Moses, Benjamin and Dorcas Matson, are listed in order in the 1790 census for Granby and she died on 15 Dec 1809, in Simsbury.

Children of Joseph Weed and Deborah Moses:

i Isaac WEED born 22 Mar 1741, Waterbury, New Haven, CT, died 18 May 1741, Waterbury, New Haven, CT.

ii Aaron born 28 May 1742.

iii Moses born 5 Jan 1745.

iv Dorcas born 19 Mar 1747/8.

v Joseph WEED born 8 May 1757, Simsbury, Hartford, CT, Simsbury town records note: "Joseph Weed the son of Joseph Weed was born the 8th day of May Anno Domini 1757." In October, 1772, following the death of his father, Joseph appeared at the Court of Probate held in Simsbury. "Present Joseph Weed a minor of 15 years of age the 8th day of May last. Apprd before the Ct. and made choice of Moses Weed of sd Sims to be Guardian of his person & estate until he shall arrive to the ae of 21 yrs and the sd Moses apprd and accptd trust to take the care and guardianship of said Joseph until he shall arrive to the ae of 21 yrs. and render and acct of his Gdship to the Ct. when required or to the sd minor when he shall arrive to the ae aforesaid and the sd. Moses entered Recogt. in bond £ 50-0-0 lawful money to fulfill sd Trust."
Joseph died sometime prior to 15 June 1778. "Deborah Weed moves to take Admin. of the Est. of Joseph Weed the younger late of Sims Decd which was granted and she and Moses Weed gave bonds of som of 80 £ Lawful money in manner accustomed to fulfill sd Trust and took out letters of Adm. and also exhibited Inventory of Est. of the Decd which was accepted and ordered to be recorded and kept on file."

vi Benjamin born 18 Sep 1761.

vii Hannah WEED married 28 Jan 1778, in Simsbury, Hartford, CT,19 Othniel GILLETT Jr.. A record for Hannah's birth has not been found but she is mentioned in her father's will and subsequent probate documents.


Saturday, August 23, 2008

My Newest Granddaughters


100_0386
Originally uploaded by pjeagan2001
I almost forgot. Introducing Maeve Carlyle Likens and Nola Kathleen Likens.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Great Wall of China

Watching the Olympics this past week or so, I'm thinking back on our visit to Beijing last Fall. I especially remember two signs posted on a very steep and very long set of steps leading up to the Great Wall. Obviously the signs were made by someone for whom English is a second language (or maybe third or fourth).







Monday, August 18, 2008

Edward Franklin Weed Papers

Edward Franklin Weed, a genealogist, did extensive research into the Weed family, a family of which my great-grandmother, Sarah Weed, was a member. Around 1900 Edward Weed sent questionnaires concerning their families to hundreds (possibly thousands) of Weeds. More than 800 completed questionnaires are at the New Canaan Historical Society in New Canaan, CT. In addition to the questionnaires are notes and letters sent to Mr. Weed from persons who completed the questionnaires. Among those are two 1902 letters from M. Frances Maloney of Detroit, my grandaunt. These letters are found after the jump.

106 W. Elizabeth St.
Detroit, Mich. 5/12-02


Mr. Edward F. Weed
Rowayton, N.Y.

Yours of the 9" inst. at hand, and in reply to same will explain my
relationship to the Weed family, by giving you a list of the descendants
of my grandfather, Fellows Weed:

Sons -
William Amos Weed (dead) - No children
Eli Weed, Rochester, N.Y.
John " (dead) No children
James Levi Weed (dead)

Daughter -
Sarah Lena Weed, Jackson, M.

Children of Eli Weed, -
Fellows Firth " , Rochester, N.Y.
Mary Genevieve " , " "
Marion Sarah " , - Germany
Charlotte Hannah " , Rochester, N.Y.

Children of James L. Weed, -
Agnes Hannah Weed, Cincinnati, Ohio
Jessie May Weed-Porter, Chicago, Ill.
James Lloyd Weed, Cincinnati, Ohio
Ida Laura Weed-Shaw, " "

Children of Sarah L. Weed-Maloney
1. Mary Frances Maloney, Detroit, M.
2. Frederick Hampton " , Rochester, N.Y.
3. Ellen Weed Maloney-Smith, Jackson, Mich.

Children of Sarah L. Weed-Maloney-Hawkins
1. William Ralph Hawkins, Jackson, M.
2. Harold Fellows " , " "
3. Alice Eva " , " "

Children of William R. Hawkins
Lila Hawkins, Jackson, M.
Hazel Hope " , " "

My grandfather [Fellows] had two brothers, Alonzo and Joseph,
and two sisters, Climena and Fidelia. The brothers had children,
and I think they live in Wisconsin, and Iowa or Arkansas, but don't
know their names.
I trust this information may be of some use to you, although you
probably has all this before, and beg to remain

Sincerely,
M. Frances Maloney


-----------------------------------------------------------------
#106 W. Elizabeth St.
Detroit, Mich. 5/29-02

Mr. Edward F. Weed,

Dear Sir,
Yours of recent date received and I trust you will pardon delay
in replying, as I had to write to my mother for the information requested,
and I don't know that it is very complete now. My mother never knew much
about her fathers family, as they were all very reserved and distant in
their manners. Her father was a very quiet man, and never troubled himself
much about relations.
I will answer as many of your questions as possible.

My father, F. G. Maloney, born April 23-1841
" " " " " married May 10-1865
" " " " " died June 21-1872

My mother second marriage occurred July 9-1879
to John Wm. Hawkins, Jackson, Mich.
" " " born Winslow, Buckinghamshire, Eng. Apr. 21-1845
His father's name Wm. Hawkins - dead.
" mother's " Ann Wilmore - "

Wm. R. Hawkins, born Jan. 10-1881
Harold F. " " March 19-1884
Alice E. Hawkins born Mar. 21-1887

Agnes H. Weed, daughter of Jas. Levi Weed, not married, lives with her
mother Mrs. Laura E. Witman, 824 W. 7" St., Cincinnati, Ohio
Jessie Mary Weed, Chicago, & Ida Laura Weed-Shaw are also his daughters,
and Jas. Lloyd Weed is his son. You can get all of their addresses by
writing Mrs. Laura E. Witman, their mother.

My mother doesn't remember her grandfather's sister.

These are the names of his brother Eber's children. Cyrus W., Gunden,
Justin, Harriet, Libeus Woodworth.

Alonzo Weed-died at his uncle's, Cyrus Fellows. Don't think he was
married. Grandfather's brother Joseph lived in Oshkosh, Wis. and had
two children. Justin the boy died when a baby. The girl's name was
Mary, was living the last we heard.

Aunt Climena had one daughter who died when 3 years old.

My uncle Wm. A. Weed died, July-1899
" " John Weed married but did not live with his wife long, had
no children. Lived at Jackson, Mich. with my grandparents until his
death Aug. 18-1869.

Trusting this may assist your a little in your work. I am

Yours truly,
M. Frances Maloney

Saturday, June 07, 2008

54th Regiment in 1861

Earlier posts have seen newspaper accounts concerning Rochester's militia unit, the 54th Infantry Regiment. This post deals with events in Rochester at the start of the Civil War in 1861.

The commencement of hostilities on April 12, 1861 with the bombardment of Fort Sumter changed the tenor of life for the entire country—both north and south—with Rochester being no exception. Until it's end in 1865, all everyday activities will be viewed through the prism of war; the news of the day was reported with a view toward how it would affect the war, and especially how it would affect Rochesterians.

Almost since the election of Lincoln in the previous November, when Rochester had given him a clear majority, the road to war with the rebel States seemed inevitable, and when it arrived the people of Rochester were as one in their unqualified support of the Union. They were unanimous in their unqualified support of a swift and vigorous prosecution of the war.

At the start of the war, the 54th Regiment was composed of six companies—four of infantry: the German Grenadiers, the Union Guards, the Rochester Light Guard, and the Lyons Light Guard; one of cavalry; the Rochester City Dragoons; and one of artillery; the Rochester Union Grays. The regimental officers met on the evening of the 15th and the reported result of that session was that Colonel Fairchild was authorized to say that the regiment was at the service of the Governor. Rather than wait for action by the Governor, the Rochester Light Guard, under Capt. Taylor, voted to enter the Federal service as a body.

However, it did not appear that the State contemplated mustering into service the existing uniformed militia units, such as the 54th. The legislature had enacted an act on the 16th of April defining a new organizational structure by which volunteers would enter the service. Similar to the procedure for organizing militia units, any individual could gather together a number of volunteers and petition the Governor to recognize the company. If recognized, the company would continue recruiting until it is comprised of at least sixty-four members. When at least six companies have been formed in a locality, the officers of the companies would elect a Regimental Colonel, Lieut. Colonel and Major, and the entire regiment would proceed to one of the State Depots where the entire regiment would be mustered into the Federal Service for a period of two years. As a result, the 54th began shrinking as individual members and entire companies took their leave of the 54th and entered into the volunteer units being organized.

Based on this new act, an effort was undertaken to organize a volunteer regiment under the leadership of Professor Isaac Quinby, of the University of Rochester, a graduate of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. At the same time, several individuals and existing companies began the recruiting for volunteer companies. A company of German citizens was organized by Capt. Adolf Nolts; a company of Dragoons was organized under Capt. George W. Lewis; the Rochester Light Guards, under Capt. Robert F. Taylor, former Major of the 54th Regiment; and companies under Capt. Francis A. Schoeffel, Capt. Libbeus Brown, Capt. G. S. Jennings, Capt. Henry Williams, Capt. Thomas Davis, and Capt. William F. Tully.

It lost its colonel, Harrison Fairchild, when he resigned his commissioned in the 54th and accepted a colonelcy in the 89th New York Volunteers. Captain Louis Ernst, the regimental adjutant, had resigned the previous November, and later became a lieutenant-colonel in the 140th New York Volunteers, a local infantry regiment under Colonel Patrick O'Rourke reorganized as an artillery unit and gained fame at Gettysburg. (Captain Ernst was later replaced by G. W. Stebbins.) Finally, Capt. Nathaniel Thompson, of the Union Grays, had tendered his resignation for business reasons in January.

In addition to losses in the officer ranks, Company A, the Union Grays, sent 192 men to the mobilization camp at Elmira to organize as an artillery unit. The remaining members of the Grays remained in Rochester to build-up a two battery battalion of field artillery to become Batteries A and B of the 1st Independent Battalion Light Infantry, under Major William M. Lewis. When this artillery battalion was formed under Major Lewis there were two batteries, commanded by Captains Michael Heavy and Michael Quinn.

As a result of transfers out of the regiment into active duty units, the 54th found itself at the end of 1861 under the command of its senior captain, Captain Miller, of the German Grenadiers. Company E went out of existence as its members joined other active duty units, and the City Dragoons, then Company L, enrolled almost as a unit as Company G, 13th New York Volunteers.

What was to be of the 54th Regiment? The Union & Advertiser reported that General Fullerton, commanding the Seventh Division, of which the 54th was a component, had orders to take his Division into camp "at once," and noted that there was now a prospect of the 54th being called into service. The order promulgated by General Fullerton, while not specifically calling up the regiments under command, did order that they be put on a war footing at once:

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 1
Pursuant to special orders No. 82 by His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, issued April 23, 1861, Brigadier-General Lansing B. Swan commanding the 25th Brigade, and Brigadier-General R. B. Van Valkenburgh commanding the 20th Brigade in this Division, are hereby ordered without delay to perfect the organization of the Regiments under their respective commands, not to exceed ten companies in each Regiment, and to cause the same to parade without uniform, for muster and inspection, at such times and places as they shall respectively designate within the bounds of their respective Brigades, and hold the same in readiness for the service of the United States, on the shortest notice, and immediately thereupon report the condition of their respective Regiments to General Head-Quarters at Albany, and furnish duplicates thereof to Division Head-Quarters. By order of

Major General, W. S. Fullerton
Barney S. Chapin, Division Inspector


As a result of Gen. Fullerton's order, Gen. Swan ordered the regiments within the 25th Brigade, including the 54th, to immediately bring the strength of their respective companies up to seventy-four non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates. In addition they were ordered to form new companies filling the current vacancies. Although Gen. Swan pointed out in his order that "there be none but honorable rivalry [in their recruiting efforts] between the volunteers . . . and the organized militia," that was certainly the effect of the order, as the term of service in volunteer units was two years while any active service in the militia units was limited to three months.

On the 27th of that month, Colonel Fairchild issued his Regimental order, ordering the existing companies—Co. A (Lyons Light Guard), Co. B (German Grenadiers), Co. C (Rochester Light Guard), Co. D (Union Guards), Co. R (Union Grays), and Co. L (City Dragoons)—to bring their strength up to the required seventy-four members. In addition, his order noted the vacancy of Companies E, F. G and H, and requested applications to form the four companies. As a part of the effort to fill these vacancies, a company under Capt. Ansel I. Booth, to be called the Rover Guard, was organized for the 54th Regiment. Capt. Booth had previously been a member of the Union Grays, and the company's First Lieutenant, Henry S. Weldon, had been an old member of the Light Guard. The effort by this company to become a part of the 54th came to naught when they rejected by Gen. Swan based on the fact that the company was composed by members of Fire Co. 3, and Gen. Swan was of the opinion that it was not feasible for the men to do military and fire duty at the same time. They were given the opportunity to drop their affiliation with one or other of the organizations and they chose to continue with the Fire Company. As it turned out, there was an additional reason for the company not joining the 54th and that had to do with their demand that they be provided with arms and equipment immediately upon joining the regiment and that was not possible.

By the end of July of that year the Regiment had been expanded to nine companies with the addition of companies commanded by Captains Warner Wescott, Henry Cramer, and John McMahon, although not all companies were yet at required strength.

The end of August saw the the resignation of Capt. James Brackett, of the City Dragoons. Brackett, a member of the Common Council as Alderman for the First Ward, had been a member of the Dragoons since the early 1850s, rising to the rank of Lieutenant in 1852 and was chosen Captain two years later. He had come to Rochester in 1832 and established the wholesale firm of Brackett, Averill & Co. He had moved his business to New York City 1855, quickly sold it and returned to Rochester, but obtained an interest in a business in Adrain, MI. Because of the need to attend to his business interests in Michigan on a regular basis, he thought best that he resigned his post as Captain of the Dragoons.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Early Remembrances

Yesterday, the 8th of May, was the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe - VE Day - in 1945. I was about a month and a half shy of my 6th birthday then and was thinking that I had no recollection of VE Day but do have memories of other events that particular year. Below you'll see some of my earliest recollections.

Even though I do not remember anything about VE day, I do remember an event a month earlier - the death of President Roosevelt. In the afternoon of April 12, 1945 I was playing (probably cowboys) with my neighbor friend, Fred Neary, behind Porter's garage on Flint Street in Rochester. The houses on the north side of Flint Street backed up to the houses on the south side of Hawley Street. As Fred an I were playing, a woman came to the back door of her house on Hawley Street and called out to her husband who was working in their garden. She said, "Dear, the President has died." This didn't seem very much to me or to her husband as he never looked up from his gardening and said, "I don't give a shit!" Obviously a Republican! To this day the scene is a vivid as that day in 1945.

Even if I do not remember VE Day, I do recall VJ Day in August the same year. My family was on vacation with my Aunt Mae (my father's sister) and Uncle Eddie O'Brien. We had a cottage on Lake Ontario at Braddocks Bay. When the news broke that the Japanese had surrendered it seemed that all hell broke loose. Every car was blowing their horn and the Braddocks Bay Volunteer Fire Department engines drove back and forth along the beach with the siren going. There may have been fireworks but that's just a guess. I do know that my father, aunt and uncle drove to downtown Rochester to join in the festivities. According to my father, every downtown street was jammed with revelers.

What do I recall before 1945? I do recall a terrible snow storm in the winter of 1944. It seemed that the snow on Flint Street was about ten feet tall. (Alright, maybe not ten feet but I was only five years old so it was pretty high.) The snow had been plowed on the street and piled along the side but in some places only one car could pass. There were quite a few cars parked on the street at the Neary's house (three houses away from us) so it was difficult driving up the street. (From some reason on Flint Street going west to Genesee Street was going "up the street" and going east to Jefferson Street was going "down the street.") I was playing in a snow pile in front of our house and a car stopped and asked what was going on with all the cars parked on the street. I informed him that, "It's Freddy Neary's grandpa. He's deader than a doornail!" That was probably the first time that I knew of a person dying and where I got the phrase, "deader than a doornail," I have no idea.

For many years i had thought that my earliest memory was when I less than a year old. I had a very vivid memory of sitting on the bed with my maternal grandfather, Frederick Maloney. I know that I was less than a year old because I was born in June 1939 and my grandfather died in March 1940. Quite a memory I had! Well, maybe not that good a memory. In the 1980's or so I was at my sister's place in Henrietta and my Aunt Kay (my mother's sister) was also there with some old photos. One of the photos was one of me sitting on the bed with my Grandfather Fred Maloney! Obviously I had seen that photo after I had grown up and remembered it as a real event rather that seeing a photo!

The memory is a wonderful thing. Sometimes It even invents memories!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Jonas Weed 1606 - 1676

Most of my ancestors have been Irish. Of my eight great-grandparents, seven of them came to this country from Ireland. My ancestry of my great-grandmother, Sarah Weed, was German and English. Her mother (my 2nd great-grandmother), Mary Hare, was of German ancestry, her family coming to the Mohawk River Valley of New York State in the early 1700's. Her father (my 2nd great-grandfather), Fellows Weed, was of English ancestry, his family came to Massachusetts in the 1600's.

I have written a short report on Jonas Weed, my eighth great-grandfather and the first of the Weeds in America.

Although there is no documented proof, numerous references to the Weed family state that Jonas was the son of Jonas Weed and Mary Jane Davidson of Stanwick, Northhamptonshire in England's East Anglia area and that he was born about 1606. Information from another Weed researcher, citing baptismal records of the parish church for Chelveston in Northhamptonshire at the Public Records Office in Northampton, notes the following baptisms:

Elizabeth Weed, daughter of John Weed, baptised 10 October 1587
Leonard Weed, son of John Weed, baptised 19 January 1589
Ann Weed, daughter of John Weed, baptised 25 May 1593
George Weed, son of John Weed, baptised 2 February 1596
Jonas Weed, son of John Weed, baptised 20 February 1597
Richard Weed, son of John Weed, baptised 1 June 1601

This Jonas Weed, baptised in 1597, seems to be the right age to be the Jonas Weed of Stamford noted by John Winthrop in his medical journal in 1668 as being 70 years old.

Jonas came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the fleet with Sir Richard Saltonstall and Governor Winthrop in 1630. In all, seventeen ships arrived in New England from England that year. The Arbella was one of four in this Winthrop fleet, the others being the Jewel, the Ambrose, and the Talbot. Jonas, and other members of this Puritan group, originally set sail on March 29 of that year and, after some difficulities, finally set sail from Yarmouth at the Isle of Wight and the Arbella reached Massachusetts on June 12, 1630. The Jewell arrived the following day; the Ambrose arrived on June 18; and the Talbot arrived on July 2.

The Arbella left most of its passengers at Salem but Jonas Weed moved on Watertown, MA. It was here that Jonas settled and where he was made a freeman on 18 May 1631. He did not settle long in Watertown, however, as in 1635 he was a first settler in Wethersfield, CT, and later was one of the founders of Stamford, CT in 1641.

In May of 1635 he was one of six dismissed from the Watertown Church to form a new church on the Connecticut River at Wethersfield. Colonial records note than at a Court held at Newton on April 26, 1636:

"Whereas there was a dismission granted by the Church of Watertown in Massachusetts dated 29th of Ma[ ] last to Andrew Ward, Jo: Sherman, Jo: Strickland, Rob'te Coo, Rob'te Reynolds & Jonas Weede, wth intent to forme a newe Ch: Covennte in this River of Connecticut, the sade prties hase soe accordingly done with the publicke allowance of the rest of the members of the saide Churches, as by certificate nowe prduced apprs. It is therefore, in this prsent Cort, ratified & confirmined, they prmising shortlie and publiquely to renewe the saide Covenant vppon notice to the rest of the Churches."


It was in Wethersfield, in 1637, that Jonas married his wife, Mary. Different sources have Jonas' wife as Mary Hoyt and others as Mary Scofield. Neither, however, have been proven. In 1639, Wethersfield along with Windsor and Suckiang (the present day Hartford) joined together to form the Connecticut Colony, and, in that same year, Jonas is listed as a Juror in Wethersfield. Also, Wethersfield was the birthplace of the first three children of Jonas and Mary: Elizabeth, Mary and Dorcas. Jonas Weed's home in Wethersfield was at the extreme northern end of the Eastern side of the present High Street. It's position is indicated by his name on the 1640 map of the town in "The History of Ancient Wethersfield."

In about 1641, Jonas and his family were among the families to found Stamford, CT. Jonas and Mary remained in Stamford and it was here that their remaining six children were born.

His will, dated 26 November 1672, was inventoried on 7 November 1676. Mentioned in his will were: his wife Mary; eldest son John; son Daniel; son Jonas; daughter Mary, wife of George Abbot; daughter Dorcas, wife of James Wright; son Samuel; to John Rockwell, five shillings, and 5 pounds sterling in Daniel's hands for Elizabeth; daughter Sarah, "if she return to the truth"; daughter Hannah, wife of Benjamin Hoit. Executors of his will were wife Mary, and son John.

The will, from the Fairfield Probate Records, is as follows:

The Last Will and testament of Jonas Weed Sr who first doth give up his soul to his Lord Jesus Christ and his Body to an honorable burial and for his outward estate he doth as follows: he doth give and bequeath unto his wife Mary Weed the house she now lives in and the use of the homlot with two acres of meadow and two acres of upland lying in the east field during her lifetime: And [line smudged] all belonging to it: And his [line smudged] pan: and more to [line smudged] of his estate [line smudged].

2ly he doth give and bequeath to his eldest Sonn John Weed Two Acres of Meadowe lying in Rock creek and more to the vallu of five pounds.

3ly he doth give unto his Sonn David Weed the full and Just sum of Ten pounds: for the Said Ten pounds he is to give that peece of Meadowe Lying in the east field in that neck comonly called Mr [Lands?] neck if he with the rest doe agree in the [words smudged] thay may yf Soe much: then he is to have the remainder of my other things.

4ly he doet give unto his Sonn Jonas Weed the Sum of one pounds.

5ly he doth give unto his daughter Mary Abbot the wife of Georg Abbot the Sum of Thirty Shillings.

6ly he doth give unto his Daughter Dorcas: the wife of James wright the sum of ten shillings.

7ly he doth give unto his Sonn Samuel the Sum of Twenty Pounds.

8ly he doth give unto John Rockwell the sum of five shillings and doth leave the vallu of five pounds in Daniels hand for Elizabeth.

9ly he doth give to his daughter Sarah the Sum of five shillings: And in case shee doe returne agayne to the Truth then he doth by will unto her the Sum of five pounds.

10ly he doth give unto his daughter Hannah Benj: Hoits the Sum of Ten pound.

Moreover it is his will that yf his estate doth not amount unto ye Just Sum as above they shallshare out of the above proportionably: And yf his estate [?] [?] to [?] the Sum as above then it is his will that they shall each and every of them advance proportionably to what [?] of them have received : Also he doth by will Impore his wife Mary Weed and his Sonn Daniel and his Sonn Jonas Weed to Administer upon his Estate acording to [will?].



Jonas died in Stamford on 5 June, 1676, and Mary died, also in Stamford, on 10 March 1689.


Children of John and Mary Weed:


  • Elizabeth b. 1637.
  • Mary b. ca. 1639.
  • Dorcas b. ca. 1640.
  • John b. ca. 1643.
  • Jonas b. 1647.
  • Daniel b. 1652.
  • Sarah b. 1654
  • Child b. 1656.


Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Caribbean Cruise

Spent a very enjoyable seven days last week aboard Holland America's MS Westerdam. This was the first Caribbean cruise that we had taken in probably ten years. Lately we have taken 14 to 18 day cruises across the Atlantic in the Spring and then a longer one in the Fall. It is so much different between those and the one week cruises in the Caribbean. The passengers on the longer cruises are older and the ships much nicer. However, even a mediocre one week cruise is better than staying home!

Here is yours truly kayaking on Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.




This cruise was the one that Nancy one last Fall when we were cruising in the Pacific. We originally upgraded to a outside cabin and we didn't care if it was obstructed (ie, a life boat was right outside our window), we just wanted to know when the sun was up. We booked an 'obstructed' cabin and didn't care which cabin or which deck. As a result, we were guaranteed at least that but the cruise line could put us anyplace. Two weeks before the cruise that we had been upgraded to a 'partially obstructed' cabin. Not bad. When we checked in on the day the cruise started we found that they had changed our cabin number and when we reached the cabin - lo and behold - it was a verandah cabin so we had our own balcony for the week. I suspect that the upgrade to the verandah was based on the number of days that we have cruised on Holland American Line (about 160 days or so.)


Monday, March 31, 2008

54th Regiment - 1864 - Part IV

The final 1864 entries in the Union and Advertiser. As noted earlier, the Regiment was mustered out in November and returned home to Rochester.

Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 1, 1864, p. 2

THE 54TH AT ELMIRA—NEGLECT OF THE GOVERNMENT—It has been conceded on all hands that the 54th is a model regiment and has so conducted itself at Elmira as to win the respect of both citizens and Federal officials. One would suppose that such a regiment, performing important duty, would receive its due if its service were appreciated. Such is not the case however. The government officials have steadily refused to furnish night shelter for the guard which is so indispensible and the cost of which is so small compared with what is expended in a thousand ways of less consequence. These cold, wet and foggy nights sixty members of the 54th, who act as reserve guard to act in an emergency, are denied shelter. They hover in groups about a fire with the rain pouring upon them, or if not rain a fog which is quite as bad. A rough board shanty would shelter them, and they are told they can have such if they will construct it at their own expense.

It is exposure of this kind that endangers the health of the men and causes most of the illness that prevails.

Again, the regiment is denied a building in which to deposit its commissary stores when they have been drawn. This neglect naturally makes the men of the 54th feel dissatisfied, and they will not be likely to renew their period of enlistment. They may be ordered to stay another hundred days, and if so will as good soldiers perhaps feel bound to obey; but they will not feel that their efforts to please have been appreciated and rewarded by the government.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 3, 1864, p. 2

REBELS ELECTIONEERING FOR LINCOLN—The Elmira Advertiser, a very unscrupulous and we need not add, indiscreet organ of Lincoln, gives publicity to a letter from a rebel prisoner in the pen at Elmira, advocating the re-election of Lincoln. The writer is no doubt what he claims to be, a "Johnny Reb," and hopes to see Lincoln re-elected. He but expresses the sentiment of the rebel leaders at the South who conspired with the northern engineers of disunion to elect him in 1860.

This "Johnny Reb" claims a hearing through the Advertiser, on the ground that he has an interest in this, his native country. Though a private in the rebel army, he presumes to tell the public what the rebel leaders think. Having, as he claims, the views and the confidence of the rebel leaders, he goes on to say that McClellan is an untried man and it will not be safe to elect him President. This fellow says he has been in the South till quite recently and no idle spectator. He has been fighting the Federal armies for three or four years now having been caught and caged, has consented to be used to electioneer against McClellan. McClellan don’t want the support of such a traitor. Lincoln is welcome to him.

This "Johnny Reb" suggests that if he can not have his liberty he will be a Union man but does not promise to be [rest of the sentence undecipherable].

The [ ] for Lincoln, has the following paragraph:

Two rebel prisoners were released yesterday, according to the order of the War Department in such cases.

Wonder if "Johnny Reb"—who recently came from the South, and who was not an idle spectator while there—is not one of the two liberated. If he was he will soon make his way south and have a "heap of fun" over the joke he played on old Abe.
Again we say, let Old Abe have the support of the Rebels who know so much, and who have fought so hard against the flag of the Union.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 4, 1864, p. 2

FROM THE 54TH REGIMENT—A Babbler who writes to the Democrat and pretends to be attached to the 54th Regiment now at Elmira, has a great deal to say about the Union, for which the Union does not care a straw. The fellow tells about the decline of McClellan and Seymour stock at Elmira. He knows the he is writing falsehood and he knows that the regiment to which he is attached, the 54th, has a majority of McClellan man in it. We have invited him to have a canvass made of the regiment to show how it stands. He dare not do it for it would give the lie to his statements. We have published a canvass of the officers, showing some three to one for McClellan, but he does not allude to it.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 7, 1864, p. 1

Under the "All Sorts of Paragraphs" section

—Twelve hundred sick rebel prisoners are to be sent from Elmira to Point Lookout for exchange. They will probably leave next Saturday.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 11, 1864, p. 2

BETTER FROM ELMIRA—An officer from Elmira says the construction of a guard house for the shelter of the soldiers of our city when on guard duty has at length been commenced. The new commander of the post, Col. Tracy, has made the order. Better late than never that our soldiers should be protected from cold, rain and fog when standing on duty at night. The drawing for a guard house was made by Lt. Geo. Fraunberger of the Grays Battery. The house is 65 by 20 feet, and will accommodate 75 men with beds in which all may sleep or rest.—Attached to the house is a prison.

The officers of the 54th took a vote the other day and there was a majority of eight for McClellan. The Grays Battery is far more decidedly a McClellan organization, but unfortunately the officers and men cannot be at home to vote as their time expires a day or two after the election.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 12, 1864, p. 2

READING MATTER FOR PRISONERS—The Army Committee of the Elmira Young Men's Christian Association appeal to the Rochester Y.M.C.A. to aid them in procuring suitable reading for the multitude of rebel prisoners at that place. The committee in charge of hospital service, &c. here, will be glad to respond to this appeal, one of our members having been in co-operation with the Elmira committee for some time. And we ask that all who desire to improve the moral and spiritual condition of these prisoners will send such books, tracts and papers as they are willing to spare to the Tract Depository No, 75 State st. where they will be taken care of by the Young Men's Christian Association and forwarded to Elmira for the use of prisoners.

It is hardly necessary to add that they are eager to obtain reading, and arrangements are made for its proper distribution and care.

The Bible and tract societies have already done much in their departments. Please send promptly to 75 State st.
M. Seward
Chairman

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 18, 1864, p. 2

REGIMENTAL HOP—The officers of the 54th Reg. Give a hop to-night at Baker's Dining Hall, Camp Chemung, Elmira. Messrs. Clark, Sellinger, Westcott, Briggs, Brown and Flint are the managers. We are indebted for an invitation to be present, which would be cheerfully responded to if business would permit.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 19, 1864, p. 2

THE HEBREW FESTIVAL—The festival given last night at Washington Hall, by the Hebrew Benevolent Society, was in all particulars a pleasant, social affair. There was a large attendance of our most respectable citizens, and all appeared to enjoy themselves very much. The committee who had charge were attentive to duty and did all they could to have the party pleasant and satisfactory to guests. Dancing began at 9 o'clock and continued till late into the morning hours, when the guests withdrew to carry pleasant recollections of the Hebrew Festival of 1864.

Those who have usually attended the pleasant parties given by this association, missed last night, a number of well known families of the Hebrew congregation who are generally present and contribute to the pleasure of the occasions. They were absent in consequence of family afflictions—bereavements by death, which forbade their participation in festivities of this character.

The following note to the committee of invitation explains itself:

HEADQUARTERS 54TH REGIMENT, N.Y.N.G.
ELMIRA, October 15, 1864
Messrs. Hays, Rosenblatt and Hays, Com., &c.:

GENTLEMEN:—I have received your very polite invitation, on the part of the Hebrew Benevolent Society of the city of Rochester, to attend their annual ball on the 18th Inst.

It would give me great pleasure under any circumstances to be present and share in the festivities of that occasion, but more particularly at this time, and if I could by my presence do anything towards the promotion of the object which the name of your society indicates to be the object of the association, I would make great sacrifices to do so. "Whoso giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord." My duties, however, are of such a nature as wholly to preclude the possibility of my being present on the occasion.

You will please present my best wishes for the success of your society to the association you represent and my obligations for the attention they have been pleased to show me, and accept for yourselves, personally, the assurances of my high regard.
With regret I am also obliged to state that the absence of our friend Lt. A. Rosenthal from his regiment cannot be obtained except upon the approval of authority superior to myself and will be by them refused. The presence of that worthy and efficient officer in the command of his company is esteemed highly necessary by my superior officers.

I am, very respectfully,
Your ob'dt serv't,
C. H. Clark [Clark, Charles H.]


————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 20, 1864, p. 2

MILITARY PARTY—Newman's Band, attached to the 54th Regiment announce a grand military and civic party at Concert Hall, Elmira. The Elmira papers speak of the party as promising much pleasure to the military and citizens of their town.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 24, 1864, p. 2

A NEW COMMISSION AT ELMIRA—Col. Wisner of the Livingston Regiment, Capt. Darrow of the Grays' Battery, and Capt. West of the Veterans, have been appointed by the military authorities at Elmira members of a commission to investigate sundry charges against officers. Col. Wisner is President of the commission. It entertains charges and prepares the testimony to be presented to court-martial—it is a sort of grand inquest to indict if there is testimony. The commission has plenty of business at hand. The robberies of substitutes by the guards sent with them to Washington is among the matters considered by this commission.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: October 31, 1864, p. 2

RETURN OF THE 54TH REGIMENT—The one hundred days of the 54th Regiment will expire on the 2nd instant, we believe. A letter from one of the officers states that they were preparing to break camp to-night and leave for Rochester to-morrow morning. Of this, however, he is not quite certain.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 1, 1864, p. 2

City Defence:

The recent alarm at Buffalo through fear of a raid of outlaws from Canada, has caused some uneasiness here in view of the fact that we have no military here. The Andrew Jackson Association, as will be seen by the following, has tendered its services to the Mayor to perform any duty he may require. As the 54th Regiment will return to-morrow, it is not likely that the Mayor will require the aid of any other organized body for city defence:

Rochester, Nov. 1, 1864
To Mayor Brackett:

We have the honor to transmit to you the following preamble and resolution adopted by our Association last evening:

Whereas, Our sister city, Buffalo, has been disturbed by outlaws and desperadoes from Canada, and as the like has been threatened against our own—our military being away from home, leaving us defenseless against the lawless mobs—be it

Resolved, The Andrew Jackson Association hereby tender their services to the Mayor, and are subject to his call in case of defence or for whatever lawful purpose he may deem necessary.
Truly yours,
A. G. Wheeler, President
Wm. M'Carthy, Vice. Pres't
Jos. Schute

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 1, 1864, p. 2

RETURN OF THE 54TH REGIMENT—A note from Adjutant Charles A. Brackett of the 54th states that the regiment will leave Elmira to-morrow (Wednesday) at six A.M. by special train for this city. The train will probably not arrive here before noon.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 2, 1864, p. 2

THE 54TH REGIMENT NOT TO RETURN TO-DAY—It was expected that the 54th Reg. would arrive here to-day. A despatch was received by Briggs and Bro. This morning from Surgeon Briggs, stating that the regiment would not leave to-day. He adds that he will announce by telegraph when the regiment leaves Elmira.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 3, 1864, p. 2

THE ELMIRA SOLDIERS—The 54th Regiment were to leave Elmira for Rochester at 8 o'clock this A.M., and were expected at noon, but had not then arrived.

Maj. Lewis returned last night, and reports that the Grays will probably return on Sunday next.

————— 0 —————
Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 4, 1864, p. 2

Return of the 54th Regiment

About half-past 9 p.m. yesterday the 54th Regt. N.Y.N.G. arrived from Elmira by the Erie cars in a special train. Though the time of arrival was uncertain, there was a large gathering of citizens at the Depot to greet the return of the soldiers, and they were warmly welcomed.

The regiment left the cars, Col. Clark and staff mounted their horses and the 54th marched to the music of Capt. Newman's Band through some of the central streets and finally came to Court House Square, where an evening parade was given. Though the men were laden with knapsacks and equipage not usually worn at such parades, they went through with great precision and effect. They showed in all their movements that they had lost nothing in the qualities of soldiership by their hundred days spent in the U.S. service at Elmira.

After parade the regiment marched to the armory, and the men obtained leave to go their homes. Previous to dismissal, Mayor Brackett addressed the regiment as follows:

Officers and Men of the 54th Regiment New York S. N.G.

As Chief Magistrate of the city, I welcome you home to your families and friends. One hundred days since the Commander-in-Chief of our state forces called upon you to render aid to our General Government. You nobly and promptly responded to the call. You went forth to duty, and you performed that duty faithfully, to the satisfaction of your superiors, with credit to yourselves and to your city.

It ahs been my pleasure to visit you quite often while absent in Elmira, and I can bear witness to your good behavior, and I rejoice that you now return to us with such honor. I feel it the more from the fact that for many years I was one of you, and at one time your commander.

The city has not been unminded of its duty.—It has cheerfully responded to all calls made upon it for aid to your families, and none have gone away empty.

During your absence we have had raids and been threatened with raids upon our frontier.—Our citizens have felt much solicitude for the safety of our city, for we have been entirely unprotected, in your absence. I rejoice that you have returned to us, for we can now feel secure as against any invasion.

You have made a great sacrifice in leaving your homes and businesses to serve the Government, and you are entitled to much credit therefor. The citizens of Rochester will praise you more than ever.

Allow me, in conclusion, to congratulate you upon your safe arrival here.

The 54th is still in the United States service and may not be mustered out for several days. The men will report for duty daily at the armory and draw rations.
The Regiment has done itself and our city great credit in its service at Elmira. It was while there the model regiment, it held the esteem of the people of Elmira and returned with their respect. While all would have been pleased to have abroad such an excellent corps to represent our city, all will be glad that it has returned. In these troublesome times when raids are threatened and disorder is likely to occur, our city requires the presence of just such a regiment as the 54th. If any have been in fear of a Canadian raid, they may now sleep in peace for the men of the 54th are here and will take care of all the raiders.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 5, 1864, p. 2

PARADE OF THE 54TH REGIMENT—The orders of the 54th Regiment—still in the U.S. service—are to meet at the armory at 8 a.m. for guard mounting, turn out for evening parade at 4 p.m., and attend roll-call at 8 p.m. This will be the order daily till the regiment is mustered out of service.

The street and square in front of the Court House has been selected as the parade ground of the regiment. A fine parade was given there at 4 yesterday. There will be another this afternoon and one on Sunday afternoon. The orders of the regiment are the same that prevailed at Elmira. Our citizens should witness the evening parades to know how fine a regiment we have.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 5, 1864, p. 2

RETURN OF THE GRAYS—Major Thompson who came from Elmira this morning reports that the Grays Battery will return to this city on Monday next. Their time has not yet quite expired, but they will report to Maj. Lee, U.S.A.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 7, 1864, p. 2

The Alarm on Saturday—Rumor of Raid from Canada—Measures Taken for Defense!

For some days past rumors have been circulating that organized bands of desperadoes from Canada were preparing to make a descent upon this and other cities along the frontier. Not much attention was paid to the reports here as they received but little credit at intelligent sources.

On Friday Mayor Brackett received an anonymous letter dated seven miles from Lindsay, C. W., which is 25 miles or so from Port Hope. The letter was anonymous and told of a murder in Rochester in which the writer participated a short time since and gave the names of three citizens who were conversant with the transaction, and it further stated that they were concerned with others who were to destroy the city soon. The Mayor called together a few gentlemen to consult at the moment and the letter was not regarded as of much consequence. It was, however, deemed best to take sundry precautionary measures and they were taken. Maj. Lee, commanding U.S. troops, Gen. Williams and Col. Clark were present and with the Mayor took such steps as were deemed best, and this in a quiet way. What was done it is not necessary to detail. The names of the officers stated is a guaranty to the public that all was right. We may, however, remark that a company of the 54th Regt., under Capt. Ridley was sent to Charlotte on Saturday and quartered on the steamer Cataract and remained there yesterday.

On Saturday the Mayor received a letter from a Federal official in Canada stating that he "had full reason to believe that there is a conspiracy on foot to fire Rochester and Buffalo (more probably the former) on Sunday evening, Nov. 6th, or on the night of Election day, by a large, well armed and organized body of Rebels and bounty jumpers in Canada." He advised that precautions be taken.

On the receipt of this letter the Mayor invited the Aldermen and fifty or more citizens to meet at his rooms at 4 p.m. The meeting was held and the subject discussed. The impression was that no great danger existed, but if there was any design for mischief the conspirators would come to the city in a quiet way or might be here now. The prudent course appeared to be to take measures to ensure safety, and this was done. It is not necessary to relate all that transpired. An advisory committee of fifteen was appointed to act with the Mayor and hold an uninterrupted sitting day and night for the present. The Mayor's office is the headquarters of this committee and there all information may be sent.

Special Vigilance Committees for each Ward, composed of well-known and highly respectable citizens, are on duty, beside a large special police force, and back of all this a military force of about one thousand men, well armed and equipped.
Nothing transpired during Saturday night to confirm any fear of disturbance from without or within. The city was very quiet, and it may be truly said that it was never before so thoroughly patrolled in a single night.

Mayor Brackett telegraphed to Albany for the Grays' Battery at Elmira. The Adjutant General at once requested General Diven to send the Battery home. It came, arriving here yesterday p.m.

Gen. Diven came here Sunday morning from Elmira and met the Mayor and Advisory Committee. He expressed the belief that there was no real ground for alarm and did not think an attempt would be made upon this city, but concurred in the views of the Mayor and Committee that it would be well to take precautionary measures. He at once gave such orders for the disposition of the military as the city authorities requested.

On Sunday evening a detachment of 27 Veteran Reserves was sent by order of General Diven to Suspension Bridge to watch at that point. A detachment of the Grays with two guns went to Charlotte.

The city was fully patrolled last night and all was quiet.

Nothing has been discovered as yet to confirm the rumors or mischief. The large number of strangers reported in the city were not found, and all the hotels, taverns and lodging houses were searched. It is clear that the raiders have not come and we see no probability of their coming. The measures taken were to make things safe against all contingencies and to allay the apprehensions of the timid. Rochester we deem safe beyond all question, in so far as any movement or organized bands to plunder or destroy is concerned. The measures [remaining portion of final sentence hidden behind fold].

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 7, 1864, p. 2

Trouble at Elmira—Highhanded Outrage by the Federal Government

Private letters from Elmira bring important intelligence such as the partisan agents of the Associated Press do not think of sufficient consequence to give the public because it is unfavorable to Lincoln.

It appears on the authority of a gentleman whom we know very well, that Mr. Creed, a citizen, not in the military service, who had been to the army as the agent of the Democrats in the Chemung District to collect soldiers' votes, was arrested on an order from Washington and taken to that city without examination or without being informed as to the nature of the charges against him. The arrest caused great indignation and excitement in Elmira. A writ of habeus cropus was issued by a judge, but this was anticipated by Gen. Diven, who held Creed in custody, and it is said that Diven put himself beyond reach of process by going into the rebel camp, where the officer could not follow to serve the writ. Meanwhile the prisoner was taken out of the jurisdiction of the courts of this State, and of course beyond the reach of anything like a fair trial. It matters not what the alleged offence may be, the administration can make the testimony and convict the accused.

The Federal courts in this State are in full power and have no obstruction. That man is entitled to trial here if he has offended against United States law. His removal from the State was a highhanded outrage upon the people of this State, and one that ought to be resented in a becoming manner. But for the presence of a large body of military at Elmira, Creed would have been taken by force and carried before a judge. Such acts as this ought stir the blood of every freeman of New York. The man who does not devote his time and his efforts to-morrow to the work of driving the authors of such outrages from power should not complain when the heel of the tyrant is on his neck, and he is deprived of his liberty.

What action, if any, has been taken by the State authorities in reference to this matter we are not advised.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 7, 1864, p. 2

RETURN OF THE GRAYS—The Grays Battery arrived here by special train between five and six last evening, the officers and men in good spirits. A detachment of 30, with the guns, at once took a train for Charlotte, and remain there for the present. The Battery is still in the Federal service.

The Grays have demeaned themselves admirably at Elmira and have obtained the respect and confidence of both the military and citizens of that place. They are welcome home again.

The Grays will appear daily at the evening parades with the 54th, as we learn from Major Lee in command.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 7, 1864, p. 2

COLLISION OF REGIMENTS AT ELMIRA—On Saturday evening there was a collision at Elmira between the 77th N.Y.N.G., of New York, and the 56th, of Brooklyn. Both regiments had been ordered home, and the 56th had obtained transportation—a train of cars being ready. The 77th got to the railroad first, and took the train prepared for the 56th. The latter regiment charged upon the engine and forbade the engineer to move at his peril. Gen. Driven was absent on his way to this city. Capt. Lowe, his chief clerk, undertook to straighten matters and was assaulted and injured in the melee. Finally the 77th gave up the train to the 56th, and the latter started for Brooklyn.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 8, 1864, p. 2

THE GREAT SCARE—The city was very quite last night. The Advisory Committee was in session all night at the Mayor's Rooms and the city was patrolled a as before. There was not the least evidence of the presence of any persons here with bad intent and no intelligence could be obtained from abroad that tended to confirm any of the exciting rumors of the past few days. The city is as safe as it ever was from invasion or insurrection.

A woman of 45 or more who claimed to know all that the rebels in the South and the refugees in Canada were doing, came here on Saturday evening from Suspension Bridge and told a great story to the authorities to create an alarm. She had seen at St. Catherines a Rebel Colonel Johnson who told her that he had 1700 men to invade Yankeedom. This led to sending a special train with a detachment of soldiers to Suspension Bridge on Sunday evening.

The agent sent to St. Catherines to reconnoiter returned last night and our city authorities will do so but nothing has been disclosed that tends to show that any invasion from Canada is contemplated. The present organization for local defense will be continued for some time to come.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 11, 1864, p. 2

THE 54TH REGIMENT—This regiment of National Guard was mustered out of the U.S. service yesterday by Major Lee, after which the officers and men were dismissed to go where they pleased. The company at Charlotte was withdrawn and mustered out with the rest. The 54th has done good service, and the instruction the men received will be profitable to them.

At a meeting of the officers of the 54th Regiment, held at their headquarters Nov. 10, 1864, Col. C. H. Clark was called to the chair and Adjt. C. A. Brackett appointed Secretary, and the following action taken:

Whereas, The 54th Regiment have received many favors at the hands of their fellow citizens during their stay in Elmira and feel called upon to make some acknowledgement of the same, and especially to make mention of Ald. L. C. Spencer for the timely and bountiful gift by him of one case of fresh, superb oysters—a luxury at all times, and particularly so at the time they were bestowed, therefore

Resolved, That the thanks of the 54th Regiment are justly due and hereby gratefully tendered to Ald. L. C. Spencer for the generous donation above referred to, and that we shall ever hold him in kindly remembrance as a thoughtful, kind friend and a gentleman. Our thanks are also returned to all our fellow-citizens for their care and attention.

Resolved, That these proceedings be published in the daily papers and a copy served on Ald. Spencer.
C. H. Clark, Chairman
C. A. Brackett, Sec'y

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 11, 1864, p. 2

DEFENSE OF THE HARBOR—The Battery at Charlotte has been ordered to the city, and the men will be mustered out by Major Lee on Monday next. There is no military force at Charlotte. It is probable that a company or two will be here from Buffalo soon.

When the Grays were stationed at the mouth of the river, they had orders to bring every vessel to that they came in, except the regular steamers, which arrived by daylight. Vessels were brought to by a blank cartridge, but if they did not heed the notice a solid shot was to be put into the hull at once. The Canadian and other crews coming in were taken much by surprise when thus suddenly called to account. On Wednesday night a schooner came in from Canada and was hailed by a blank shot. When the vessel came to, a fellow climed [sec] upon the bulwarks and called out, "who is elected?" He supposed the gun was fired in celebration of a political victory.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 14, 1864, p. 2

PAY FOR THE 54TH REGIMENT—The 54th Regiment N. Y. N. G., as our citizens and the Federal authorities well know, was called out some four months since on an emergency to go to Elmira and serve one hundred days. The members left their home, and pursuits with little preparation and faithfully performed the duty assigned them. They returned with much credit for what they have done. This is all right so far as it goes, but that will not feed them or their families. It is the pay that they most need. The wages were very low and not a man in the regiment served except at a pecuniary sacrifice. Some have returned to find business dull and no situations open. Those who have families require the earnings of the summer to lay in food and fuel for the winter. In fact the pay of the regiment is due and past due, and the men want it. Payment may be made at one time as well as another. The Paymaster may be sent here from Elmira at any time to attend to this business. For the delay there is no excuse.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 14, 1864, p. 2

MAJOR GENERALS WITHOUT MEN—There are, we believe, three or four Major Generals in command on the lake frontier, sent out to protect it against raids from Canada. There are two such on the frontiers of New York. It will be interesting to hear that these Generals are without commands other than their respective staffs. Gen. Peck, whose headquarters are at Buffalo, cannot even supply a few soldiers to be stationed at Charlotte. He promised the Mayor two companies for this purpose last week; but on Saturday he telegraphed that he could send no men, as they had been ordered by the government to go South. Charlotte—the mouth of the Genesee—the best harbor on the south shore, accessible in all weather, and seldom closed by ice, is now without a single soldier to guard against invasion. No harm can result from boldly stating this fact, as it must result in immediate action to supply the want. No party of raiders from abroad would come there without taking means to learn the state of the defenses. They will keep posted without aid of the papers.

It is the duty of the General Government to defend the frontier, and it has thousands of invalid and other troops adapted to the purpose which are used for less important duty, such as guarding hospitals, taking care of contrabands, etc. The Federal Government probably intend to compel the frontier States to protect themselves. This can be done; but it is just that they should pay so much to the common fund and then draw nothing from it?

We would suggest that the pay of these Major Generals and staffs is sufficient to cover the expense of keeping several companies at the most exposed points on the frontier. If we must have either Generals without soldiers, or soldiers without Generals, the latter would be preferred for frontier defense.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 15, 1864, p. 2

GUARD AT THE ARMORY—It has been stated before that a suitable guard had been placed over the Armory on Exchange st., where the State arms, and the equipments of the 54th Regiment and Grays' Battery are deposited. The following orders were formally issued yesterday:

HEADQUARTERS 25TH BRIGADE
7TH DIVISION N. Y. S. N. G.
ROCHESTER, Nov. 11, 1864

Special Order No. __ In pursuance of Instructions from the Adjutant General's Office, Col. C. H. Clark, Commanding 54th Regiment, N. Y. S. N. G., will immediately detail one Commissioned Officer and thirty men for duty at the Arsenal on Exchange st. By order of
Brig. Gen. Jno. Williams
Geo. Hyland, Jr., Brigade Inspector

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HEADQUARTERS, 54TH REG'T N. Y. S. N. G.,
STATE ARSENAL, ROCHESTER, Nov. 14, '64

Special Order No. 166. In pursuance of the above order this day from Headquarters 25th Brigade, Capt. Benj. Ridley, Co. D, is hereby assigned to command the State Arsenal and troops guarding the same. He will take thirty men of his own command, (2 Sergeants; 1 Corporal and 27 Privates,) and report to these Headquarters for duty without delay.

Should his own command prove insufficient, he has liberty to accept volunteers from other companies in this Regiment. By order of
Col. C. H. Clark
C. A. Brackett, Adjutant.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 21, 1864, p. 2

ORDER FOR COURT MARTIAL—The following order has been issued by Brig. Gen. Williams for Courts Martial to try delinquents and for other business relating to his brigade:

HEADQUARTERS 25TH BRIGADE
7TH DIVISION, N. G. S. N. Y.
ROCHESTER, Nov. 15, 1864

General Order No. 17

Regimental and Battalion Courts Martial for the trial of delinquents and for such other business as may come before them, are hereby ordered to convene at the Headquarters of the several Regiments and Battalions in this Brigade, on the 12th day of December, 1864, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Detail for the Courts:

For 54th Regiment—President, Major Warner Westcott.
For 58th Regiment—President, Major George M. Lockwood.
For 59th Regiment—President, Col. Benj. L. Hoyt.
For 104th Regiment—President, Lieut. Col. D. L. Norton.
For Battalion of Artillery under command of Major Wm. M. Lewis—President, Capt. Thomas Barnes.
By order of
Brig. Gen. John Williams
Geo. Hyland, Jr., Brigade Inspector

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 21, 1864, p. 2

ARTILLERY PARADE—This being the 27th anniversary of the organization of the Rochester Union Grays the 1st Battalion of the Artillery under Major Lewis, which still holds the name of the Grays, will parade at 8 p. m. Newman's Band will accompany the Battalion and there will be a pretty show.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 21, 1864, p. 2

MUSTERED OUT AND PAID-OFF—The 1st Light Artillery–the Grays–will be mustered out to-day, and the men paid off by Maj. Thurston, the Paymaster, sent here for the purpose.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 22, 1864, p. 2

PAYING OFF—Major Thurston paid off six companies of the 54th yesterday and the remainder to-day. The Grays Battery are also paid off, and the men mustered out of the Federal service by Major Lee.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: November 23, 1864, p. 2

RESIGNATION OF GEN. WILLIAMS—It is stated that our fellow citizen, Hon. John Williams, has resigned his commission as Brigadier General of the State Militia. Not having conferred with General Williams, we do not know why he has resigned, but we suspect that he has various and sufficient reasons. He may not have the requisite time to devote to the duty and he is one of the kind of men that will do his duty regardless of time. We do not think he has received from the authorities at Albany courtesy to which he was entitled. This locality, with the best military of the State, has been the most neglected, and had the least attention paid to its wants. If Gen. Williams has not felt this others have.

We regret that so good an officer and one so faithful to duty and so popular should resign. We fear the effect will be injurious to our local military. Every officer and soldier connected with the brigade will regret the withdrawal of General Williams, and all will accord him the credit of having done his whole duty.

Who the successor will be remains to be seen. Perhaps the district of General John A. Green will be extended westward so as to include this brigade.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: December 1, 1864, p. 2

CARD OF THANKS—ARMORY 1ST BATTALION LIGHT ARTILLERY (UNION GRAYS) N. Y. S. N. G., Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1864—At a regular monthly meeting of the above named battalion, held at their Armory on Exchange street, the 29th inst., the following resolutions were unanimously adopted and ordered published:

Resolved, That the thanks of this battalion be and are hereby tendered to Brig. Gen. A. S. Diven, Capt. U. S. Lowe and Capt. Eugene Diven for the many courtesies extended during our term of service while at Elmira.

To Cols. Eastman and Tracy, Commanders of the post. To Capts. Suydam and Dingledee, of the Qur. Dept., and Capt. Sappington, of the Com'y Dept. To Col. Provost, Lt. Col. Moore and the officers of the 16th V. R. C.

To Col. J. Q. Adams, of the 56th, Col. Wisner of the 58th, Col. Abbott of the 98th, Col. Downing and Dr. O'Hanlin of the 99th Regts. N. Y. S. N. G., and to the officers of their respective commands.

To the officers and men of our own 54th Regt. To Messrs. Henry Baker & Co., of the "Hotel Hemlock," Loring & Co., Cook & cov[ ], "Mine host" Silas Haight, and Mr. Guinnip. To Gen. John Williams, Major A. T. Lee, Ald. D. T. Moore (in whose honor our camp was named), Mayor Brackett, Hon. John M'Convill, and Mr. Andrews, of the Provost Marshal's office.

To all the above named gentlemen the battalion feel under obligations for the many favors extended during our term of service in the U. S. army—favors which will be long remembered by us all collectively and individually.

By order Wm. M. Lewis
Maj. 1st Battalion, Art'y, N. Y. S. N. G.
John Wrenn, 1st Lieut and Ajt.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: December 6, 1864, p. 2

OFFICERS OF THE 54TH REGIMENT—The unpaid officers, field, staff, and line, of the 54th Regiment will assemble at Headquarters, Armory, at 7 o'clock this evening.
C. H. Clark
Colonel

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: December 8, 1864, p. 2

ELECTION OF OFFICERS—Of Co. "B." 54th Reg. German Grenadiers, Wednesday evening, Dec. 7, 1864. Capt. F. C. Schoen; 1st Lieut. Adam Young; 2d Lieut. John N. Weitzel; Orderly, Lewis Bauer; 2d Sergt. Jacob Renner; 3d do. Peter Reinhard; 4th do. Philip Miller; 1st Corp. William Kentzel; 2d do. Philip Nippert; 3d do. Henry Koeler; 4th do. David Meier; Color Bearer, Peter Seifried. President, Adam Young; Vice do. Charles Goetzman; Secretary, David Wettlin; Treasurer, Christian C. Meir.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: December 13, 1864, p. 2

REGIMENTAL ORDER OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT—The following minutes of the proceedings of the 58th Regiment are sent us for publication:

HEADQUARTERS 58TH REGIMENT N. G.
MT. MORRIS, Dec. 10, 1864

At a meeting of the field and staff officers of the 54th Regiment, N. G., held at the headquarters of said regiment on the 10th inst., the following order was made, approved and ordered published:

Ordered, That the thanks of the officers and men of the 58th regiment, N. G., are due and hereby tendered to Gen. Diven, Col. Tracy and Lieut. Col. Moore, and the officers in their several departments, for their kind and obliging treatment of the regiment while on duty at Elmira.

The thanks of the 58th are also tendered to Col. Adams of the 56th, Col. Clark of the 54th, Col. Abbott of the 98th, and Major Lewis of the Battery, and the officers and men of their several commands, for their kind, sociable and gentlemanly conduct toward said regiment, and the agreeable associations formed during the term of service of said regiment at Elmira.

The thanks of said regiment are also tendered to Lieut. Finch, Mustering Officer, and Major T. S. Thurston, Paymaster, for their particular care and attention to the rights and interest of the private soldier in mustering out and paying off the last farthing. By order
R. P. Wisner
Col. Commanding 58th Regt. N. G.
C. T. Braman, Adjutant.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: December 15, 1864, p. 2

PAYING THE OFFICERS—A letter received this morning by Lieut. Darrow of the Gray's Battery, from Major Thurston, U. S. Paymaster at Elmira, encloses him an order for his pay while in service. Major Thurston expresses a desire to have the officers of the National Guard promptly paid and suggests to the Lieutenant that as he has become familiar with the method of preparing papers, that he explain to those who are not, what it is necessary to do to secure payment. Major Thurston desires to perform his duty both to the officers and the government, and to do this the papers must be made according to the forms laid down by the Department. Some time since a communication was published in these columns reflecting upon this officer. It came from an officer of the State Militia, who probably labored under a misapprehension of the facts. By what we have learned of Major Thurstoon, through those who have had official business with him, we are fully satisfied that he performs his duty promptly and impartially, to both claimants and the government.

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Rochester, NY Union & Advertiser: December 15, 1864, p. 2

THE REBEL PRISONERS AT ELMIRA—The Advertiser says the Government has made an arrangement with the rebels in relation to prisoners of war, by which each party are entitled to furnish their own prisoners with such articles of clothing, blankets, and provisions as they may need. Wm. W. R. Beall, a Brigadier General in the rebel service, has been commissioned to supply the rebel prisoners, and is now taking measures to supply such necessary articles to the prisoners at Elmira.