Who were your ancestors?

[first_sgt_8thky]

Let's talk about our ancestors. Here are mine that I know of so far. If you know anything else about mine or your my long lost cousin then let me know. Who were your ancestors?

Confederate 3rd Great Grandfathers:
All were 13th KY Cavalry
Pvt Benjamin McCray, Co. D (have found grave)
Pvt William Sexton Jr., Co. H (rode on last KY raid with Morgan, also have found grave)
Pvt Matthew Combs, Co. G
3rd great uncles:
Sgt Halter Sexton, Co. A
Pvt Joseph Sexton, Co. A

Union
2nd Great Grandfather
Pvt Robert G. VanZant, 13th KY Inf., Co. D (have found grave)
3rd Great Grandfather
Pvt Evan D. Froedge, 37th KY Inf. Co. A (have found grave)
2nd Great Uncle
1st Sgt James W. VanZant, 13th KY Inf. Co. D (have found grave)

[MickCole]

It appears some of our ancestors likely served together or fought against each other: here are some of mine most relevant to the 13 KY Cav (I have identified well over 100, including cousins, mostly in SW VA/SE KY).
At least four of my ancestors served with the 13th Kentucky (Caudill’s) Cavalry—my ggg-uncle Hiram F. Strong, 1st cousins Ira Estill Fugate and Nathan Ellington Fugate, and 2nd cousin Edward Callahan Strong. I also had 4 cousins who served with the 5th Kentucky Infantry. My gg-grandfather Reuben Henderson Morgan, who later became an ordained minister in the Church of Christ, served with the Scott County (Virginia) Militia, along with at least 3 of his nephews. A 1st cousin, Robert Preston Spencer, who was reported to be the oldest man in the 64th Virginia Mounted Infantry/Cavalry, served that unit as a Chaplain. Chaplain Spencer’s son James F. Spencer was wounded at Pound Gap Station, Virginia, on March 16, 1862, and died of his wounds the following day. Another son, William G. Spencer, enlisted when he was 16, and served with the 25th Virginia Cavalry. A number of other cousins served the Confederacy with the 64th and 25th, as well as the 48th Virginia Infantry, the Missouri Cavalry, the Texas Cavalry, and the Georgia Infantry. At least one cousin, James Monroe Dykes, was among those members of the 64th VA captured at Cumberland Gap who died of disease at Chicago’s infamous Camp Douglas. Some of the other family names for my many ancestors who served the Confederacy are: Bolton, Cogswell, Head, Hickam, Hopkins, Franklin, Frazier, Lewis, Livingston, Oakley, Osborne, Quillen, Rash, Ware, Williams, and Woolsey.

As might be expected in an area of the country where family loyalties were tragically divided, I also have many Union ancestors, including gg-grandfathers Armstrong Abbott (59th Indiana Infantry) and Byrd Franklin (65th KY Infantry (Enrolled Militia)), who married Susan Strong, the niece of the 13th KY Cavalry’s Surgeon Strong. One of Surgeon Strong’s cousins was William “Captain Bill” Strong, the Captain of Company K, 14th KY Cavalry (Union).
Mick Cole

[tspencerva]

Robert Preston Spencer was my great-great grandfather, and his son, William G. (Grenade) was my great-grandfather. I often wonder if Robert was injured during the war, as he died in 1866. If anyone has photos or portraits available of these family members, I would appreciate seeing them, as well as any other information--whether it be of a family or military nature. It wasn't until eleven years ago that I even knew their names. Thank you!

[MickCole]

Originally Posted by tspencerva

Robert Preston Spencer was my great-great grandfather, and his son, William G. (Grenade) was my great-grandfather. I often wonder if Robert was injured during the war, as he died in 1866. If anyone has photos or portraits available of these family members, I would appreciate seeing them, as well as any other information--whether it be of a family or military nature. It wasn't until eleven years ago that I even knew their names. Thank you!

Robert Preston Spencer was my 1st cousin, a few times removed. Here's some info.
SPENCER
Robert Preston Spencer (1st Cousin—son of Elizabeth (Bolton) Spencer, sister of gggg-grandmother Anne Bolton): Residence not listed; a 50 year-old Methodist Clergyman.
Enlisted on 10/3/1862 at Lee, VA as a Private.
On 10/3/1862 he mustered into "H" Co. VA 25th Cavalry
(date and method of discharge not given)
He was listed as:
* AWOL 8/5/1864 (place not stated) (Serving in reserves)
(Father of William G Spencer)
Residence Lee County VA;
He also had service in:
"K" Co. VA 64th Infantry
Enlisted as a 3rd Lieut (date unknown).
He was listed as:
* Paroled 4/28/1865 Cumberland Gap, KY
Promotions:
* Chaplain (Probably served as chaplain)
Other Information:
born 7/9/1810 in Scott County, VA
died 9/28/1866 in Lee County, VA
(Oldest member of the 64th VA Inf.)

James F. Spencer (2d Cousin—son of Robert P. Spencer): On 9/30/1861 he mustered into "E" Co. VA 21st Inf Battn He died of wounds on 3/17/1862 at Pound Gap Station, VA He was listed as:
* Wounded 3/16/1862 Pound Gap Station, VA (Probable date and place of wounding)


William G. Spencer (2d Cousin—son of Robert P. Spencer):
Residence not listed; a 16 year-old Student.

Enlisted on 8/19/1862 at Lee, VA as a Private.

On 8/19/1862 he mustered into "B" Co. VA 25th Cavalry
(date and method of discharge not given)


He was listed as:
* Sick 2/28/1863 (place not stated)
* Detailed 10/25/1863 (place not stated) (Detailed as Courier)
* Detailed 10/3/1864 (place not stated) (Detailed for horse for 28 days)
* AWOL 11/1/1864 (place not stated)
* Paroled 4/29/1865 (place not stated)


Other Information:
born in Scott, VA

I hope this helps.

Mick Cole

[rebel yell]

I had quite a few that fought for the South, but I know the most about one.
Private Joel Jackson Davenport-1st Battalion Hilliard's Alabama Volunteer Legion/60th Alabama Infantry Co I. He fought at Chickamauga GA where he was wounded on the last day of the battle , The siege of Knoxville TN, Dandridge TN, Drewry's Bluff VA(second battle there), He was wounded at Drewry's bluff and that was the last fighting he did. He was paroled at Ft .Deposit AL in 1865.

["Doc" Nelson]

Well, the only ancestor that I have found, thus so far, is my 3rd Great Grandfather, John Daniel Nelson. Or, "J D Nelson" as it is show on his military records. John Daniel was appointed as the Surgeon of the 4th Georgia Infantry, CSA, in 1863. He served in this capacity to the end of the war. He was at home, on sick leave, when Sherman came through the Northern Georgia area, on his was to the Sea. He joined in with a local unit, to defend against Sherman and his Army. After the war, he returned to his life as a blacksmith/gunsmith. He was a very prominent figure in the northern part of the State of Georgia. He owned lands that eventually became marble quarries. The most known was the Georgia Marble Company. Now, there is a town named after him, "Nelson, Georgia".

[Micah Trent]

I had family that fought on both sides of the war, but the only records that we could find were that of my great-great grandfather Thomas Wardrip and great-great grandfather George H. Harrington who both fought for the Union's 12th KY Cavalry Co. C. They enlisted in 1862 and were musterd out in late 1865. Both ended up as corporals by wars end. I have a another relative, Foster Miller, who was a drummer boy in the Union army. We have not been able to find out what KY regiment he served under yet, all we have is a photo .

[Mojo1842]

I've tracked down one direct ancestor that served in the Confederate army- my GGGF, Martin Luther Johnston. He was a member of the 5th KY (Orphan Brigade). Then I've tracked down an indirect ancestor that served in the Union army- Pvt. Malon (Mahlon) Steele. The ironic thing about my GGGF and his fabled unit is that they several times faced off against two of the units that I belong to- the 35th OVI and the 19th US Infantry.

I'm still tracking down my family tree on that side of the family.

[reb64]

Originally Posted by "Doc" Nelson

Well, the only ancestor that I have found, thus so far, is my 3rd Great Grandfather, John Daniel Nelson. Or, "J D Nelson" as it is show on his military records. John Daniel was appointed as the Surgeon of the 4th Georgia Infantry, CSA, in 1863. He served in this capacity to the end of the war. He was at home, on sick leave, when Sherman came through the Northern Georgia area, on his was to the Sea. He joined in with a local unit, to defend against Sherman and his Army. After the war, he returned to his life as a blacksmith/gunsmith. He was a very prominent figure in the northern part of the State of Georgia. He owned lands that eventually became marble quarries. The most known was the Georgia Marble Company. Now, there is a town named after him, "Nelson, Georgia".

I wonder how that wouldsit with him

[Major Duane]

The two I'm aware of...

Pvt. W.H. Adams, Co. D, 13th GA Vol. Inf (G-G Grandfather), surrendered at Appomattox.

Pvt. Moses Adams, Co. D, 13th GA Vol Inf (G-G-Uncle), died of "apoplectic fit" on the field at 2nd Manassas. Buried on the field, grave unknown.

The 13th GA was posted near the the current Gettysburg High School (near Cemetery Hill) I found the marker over there a couple of years back.

John Adams
Huckleberry Mess