In our budding community here on Substack, genealogists (and amateur family historians like me) have been sharing the stories of our sixteen 2x great-grandparents as a way to kickstart connections.
Oh fantastic! Quakers? We should tawk! I incidentally found the Newby house on the national register of historic places. The write up is full of details and a curious link to Wolfman Jack. How’s that for a hook?
John W. Bradshaw - born 1842 in [West] Virginia (per the FamilySearch entry) - has a military record on Ancestry. (Note that the title of the resource, down near the bottom, says "Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio" but it looks like a West Virginia unit; according to the Wikipedia article (link below) they were recruiting near that same area around Lawrence County, OH/Ashland, KY where my maternal grandfather's family lived):
U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Name John W Bradshaw
Enlistment Age 19
Birth Date abt 1842
Enlistment Date 8 Jul 1861
Enlistment Rank Private
Muster Date 8 Jul 1861
Muster Place West Virginia
Muster Company D
Muster Regiment 4th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type Infantry
Muster Information Enlisted
Rank Change Rank Sergt
Muster Out Date 10 Dec 1864
Muster Out Information Transferred
Side of War Union
Survived War? Yes
Additional Notes 2
Muster 2 Date: 10 Dec 1864;
Muster 2 Place: West Virginia;
Muster 2 Unit: 3148;
Muster 2 Company: B;
Muster 2 Regiment: 2nd Vet Infantry;
Muster 2 Regiment Type: Infantry;
Muster 2 Information: Transferred;
MusterOut 2 Date: 01 Jul 1865;
MusterOut 2 Information: Mustered Out;
Title Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio; Index to Compiled Military Service Records
There is a bit of the history of the unit on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_West_Virginia_Infantry_Regiment) which fits with the dates of transfers mentioned in this record. Check out links in the References and External links sections for some additional resources that might help you tell his story.
Oh thank you! That explains why I couldn't find it. I was looking in Ohio. Thank you so much. Honestly, I hadn't explored this line much. That's very helpful, Tad!
I've had good luck finding my Civil War ancestors in the National Archives records. The nara.gov website will let you order Pension files through their site (if I recall, they charge about $35 to send reproductions *if* they are able to find the right records).
That's where you will get information on his widow and children that will help you confirm this is the right guy.
Terrific, thank you so much, will do. As I said, the book I have is like a treasure map in prose. The information seems to be mostly correct... directionally, but obviously, the devil lies hidden in the details. Or, as I tell my cousins, yes, we have an ancestor named Betsy Ross, but “no, she's not THAT Betsy Ross.”
Oh wow that wonderful album is absolutely priceless and you have so many wonderful heirlooms as well in your collection. If only the pictures on the wall could talk, imagine the stories they could tell. Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories about your ancestors with us!
My genealogist grandmother’s husband, my grandfather was an engineer by day and a remarkable amateur photographer by night. My cousins passed down a series of his glass lantern slides and an array of enlarger reproductions of daguerreotypes. He’s the one who took the lead photo.
Honestly, I’m embarrassed it took me so long to appreciate them.
It's great that you have so many passed down stories, artefacts and photos ... Something I am a little short of for my biological family. However, I make the most of my husband's. An interesting read. Thank you.
Oh Cynthia... that could be interesting. Do let me know if you're headed west at some point. I'd not thought about what a wonderful resource this little community could be for that sort of thing. 🤔 I'd love to be helpful to others from here in Northern California.
I love the mention of scrapbooks and other items created and saved by ancestors. We owe them a debt for collating the information we base our current research upon (and a lot of thanks!) I like the idea there have been other people in my tree before me who were also interested in our shared ancestors.
I love this! I'm late to the "My Sixteen" party, but I'm on board. And I have Newby ancestors in North Carolina!
Oh fantastic! Quakers? We should tawk! I incidentally found the Newby house on the national register of historic places. The write up is full of details and a curious link to Wolfman Jack. How’s that for a hook?
John W. Bradshaw - born 1842 in [West] Virginia (per the FamilySearch entry) - has a military record on Ancestry. (Note that the title of the resource, down near the bottom, says "Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio" but it looks like a West Virginia unit; according to the Wikipedia article (link below) they were recruiting near that same area around Lawrence County, OH/Ashland, KY where my maternal grandfather's family lived):
https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25128246?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a2252716177426333665261534b6d684d50582f5363484b575750472f506b4a2b674a55424b44444c665a63383d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d
John W Bradshaw
U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Name John W Bradshaw
Enlistment Age 19
Birth Date abt 1842
Enlistment Date 8 Jul 1861
Enlistment Rank Private
Muster Date 8 Jul 1861
Muster Place West Virginia
Muster Company D
Muster Regiment 4th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type Infantry
Muster Information Enlisted
Rank Change Rank Sergt
Muster Out Date 10 Dec 1864
Muster Out Information Transferred
Side of War Union
Survived War? Yes
Additional Notes 2
Muster 2 Date: 10 Dec 1864;
Muster 2 Place: West Virginia;
Muster 2 Unit: 3148;
Muster 2 Company: B;
Muster 2 Regiment: 2nd Vet Infantry;
Muster 2 Regiment Type: Infantry;
Muster 2 Information: Transferred;
MusterOut 2 Date: 01 Jul 1865;
MusterOut 2 Information: Mustered Out;
Title Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio; Index to Compiled Military Service Records
There is a bit of the history of the unit on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_West_Virginia_Infantry_Regiment) which fits with the dates of transfers mentioned in this record. Check out links in the References and External links sections for some additional resources that might help you tell his story.
Oh thank you! That explains why I couldn't find it. I was looking in Ohio. Thank you so much. Honestly, I hadn't explored this line much. That's very helpful, Tad!
I've had good luck finding my Civil War ancestors in the National Archives records. The nara.gov website will let you order Pension files through their site (if I recall, they charge about $35 to send reproductions *if* they are able to find the right records).
That's where you will get information on his widow and children that will help you confirm this is the right guy.
Terrific, thank you so much, will do. As I said, the book I have is like a treasure map in prose. The information seems to be mostly correct... directionally, but obviously, the devil lies hidden in the details. Or, as I tell my cousins, yes, we have an ancestor named Betsy Ross, but “no, she's not THAT Betsy Ross.”
Oh wow that wonderful album is absolutely priceless and you have so many wonderful heirlooms as well in your collection. If only the pictures on the wall could talk, imagine the stories they could tell. Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories about your ancestors with us!
Well, it was the photos that hooked me at first.
My genealogist grandmother’s husband, my grandfather was an engineer by day and a remarkable amateur photographer by night. My cousins passed down a series of his glass lantern slides and an array of enlarger reproductions of daguerreotypes. He’s the one who took the lead photo.
Honestly, I’m embarrassed it took me so long to appreciate them.
It's great that you have so many passed down stories, artefacts and photos ... Something I am a little short of for my biological family. However, I make the most of my husband's. An interesting read. Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words. Honestly, my respect for this treasure trove I've received inspires me to help others share their stories.
What precious heirlooms, those photos and albums! If you ever want photos from the Boone County, Indiana area, let me know. It isn't that far from us.
Oh Cynthia... that could be interesting. Do let me know if you're headed west at some point. I'd not thought about what a wonderful resource this little community could be for that sort of thing. 🤔 I'd love to be helpful to others from here in Northern California.
Beautifully done Barbara! So much history in your family!
LOL... I'm pretty sure your family was cooking up stories during those very same years... we just have to peel back the layers.
I love the mention of scrapbooks and other items created and saved by ancestors. We owe them a debt for collating the information we base our current research upon (and a lot of thanks!) I like the idea there have been other people in my tree before me who were also interested in our shared ancestors.
... and the corollary that the work we invest into research is a gift to an unknown future generation. 🫶