He was born on 16 January 1845, in Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey, to William J Shaw and Sylvia Ann Hawkins. He was living with Sylvia Ann Shaw (apparently his mother), Josiah I Shaw (perhaps his brother), and various Hawkins (presumably his mother's family). [sources: date: 3, 5 (17 in 1861), 9 [24 in 1870], 10 [34 in 1880], 11 [55 in 1900], 12 [66 in 1910], 13 [74 in 1920), 16 (6 in 1850), 17 (15 in 1860), 18. place: 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18. parents: 16, 17, 18 ('Hankins'; I've corrected that tentatively based on the 1850 census)]
In 1850, he was living in Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was living with Sylvia Ann Shaw (presumably his mother), Josiah (presumably his brother), and various Hawkins (presumably Sylvia's family). [source: 16]
In 1860, he was living in Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was living with Sylvia Shaw (presumably his mother), and Henry (perhaps his brother). He had attended school within the year. [source: 17]
On 10 November 1861, he and William C Reiff ran away from their homes in Millville, to enlist. When he enlisted, he was a farmer. [sources: 3, 5, 15]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. (According to his discharge certificate, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, light eyes, and light hair. And according to his 1879 declaration, he was 5 feet 6-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.) [sources: 3, 5 (5'6", light complexion, light eyes, light hair)]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 14 November 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Gilbert. His post office was then Millville, New Jersey. (He claimed to be 18 years old when he enlisted, but his discharge shows his age as 17 years.) He was a private in company H. He had rifle number 0. [sources: 1, 3, 5, 7, 20]
About 10 September 1862, he and others (including Charles Holcomb) guarded a wagon train from Clouds Mill, Virginia, to Fairfax Court House. While returning to Clouds Mills, he "made a misstep", which strained his left foot and ankle, leaving him lame. He stayed with the regiment for about two weeks, and was then treated in the US Hotel Hospital, and the US Primary School Hospital at Frederick, Maryland. [source: 3]
He was discharged on 17 December 1862 on surgeon's certificate, at Frederick City, Maryland, USA General Hospital number 6. He was a private, in company H. He had been unfit for sixty days of the previous two months. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 19, 20]
His discharge certificate lists the reason as:
Periastitis of tarsal and metatarsal bones of left foot, occurring four months ago, disabling the foot, and causing permanent lameness. Disease occasioned by an incised wound received while in the [line?] of his duties Degree of disability - one fourth
The certificate was signed by Surgeon J B Lewis, who was in charge of the hospital, and Colonel SH Allen, commanding. However, Shaw claimed that he was never wounded, but instead "strained his left foot ankle and leg at the knee, by making a misstep". [source: 3]
On 18 December 1862, he applied for a pension under the Act of 14 July 1862. [sources: 3, 6, 7]
On 11 June 1864, he married Almira Fifer. She was born in 1838, and died in 1880, in Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. They had one child:
They separated by mutual agreement, through [illegible word] court. [sources: 3, 18]
In 1870, he was living in ward 1, Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was living with his wife Almira, and son Thomas. He was a laborer, and owned $500 in real estate and $100 in personal property. [source: 9]
He applied for a pension on 29 August 1879. He then lived at the corner of Mulberry and Eighth Streets, in Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Since his discharge, he had worked as a laborer. [source: 3]
In 1880, he was living on Board Street, 2nd ward, Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was living with his wife Elmira and son Thomas. He was a carpenter. [source: 10]
He was married to Ida Burow on 13 October 1888, at Atlantic City, New Jersey, by Reverend JC Cobb. She was born on 9 April 1865, in Richmond Virginia. They had four children:
[sources: 3, 18]
Ida died on 19 January 1899, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. [sources: 3, 18]
In 1900, he was living in Landis Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was living with his daughters Martha and Bernadine. He was widowed. He was a farmer. [source: 11]
On 11 February 1907, he applied for an invalid pension. He lived in the Borough of Vineland, in Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was unable to earn a living by manual labor because of the injury to his left foot and increasing disability. His application was approved, and he received a pension. [source: 3, 7 (11 Feb)]
He was a member of the General Nathanial Lyon Post number 10, of the Grand Army of the Republic, in Vineland, New Jersey. He was 64 when he was admitted, on 7/29 (presumably 29 July 1909). [source: 2]
In 1910, he was living in Landis Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was living with his daughter Berna. He was not working. [source: 12]
On 20 May 1912, he again made a declaration for pension, applying for a pension under the Act of 11 May 1912 He was still living in Vineland, Cumberland County, New Jersey. [source: 3]
In 1920, he was living in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was not working. [source 13]
He died on 16 August 1922, at Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. [sources: 7 (16 Aug), 19 (19 Aug)]
Jennifer Sikorski is researching him; contact her at [email protected] (Note: an e-mail to her failed in December 2009. Please contact me with the correct address!)
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (William S Shaw)
2 "Membership roster, General Nathanial Lyon Post # 10, Grand Army of the Republic, Vineland, New Jersey", sent to me by Dennis Clowney, 31 January 2002 (William S Shaw)
3 pension file, William S Shaw (thanks to Jennifer Sikorski for giving me a copy!)
4 company H, register of men discharged, #28 (William S Shaw)
5 company H, descriptive roll, #65 (William S Shaw)
6 pension index, by name (William S Shaw)
7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (William S Shaw)
8 [deleted] (William C Shaw)
9 1870 US census, New Jersey, Cumberland County, Millville, ward 1, microfilm series M593, film 859, page 482 = 41 handwritten (William Shaw)
10 1880 US census, New Jersey, Cumberland County, City of Millville, 2nd ward, supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 87, microfilm series T9, film 776, page 446 B = 34 handwritten (William Shaw)
11 1900 US census, New Jersey, Cumberland County, Landis Township, supervisor's district 6, enumeration district 184, microfilm series T623, film 961, page 49 A = 8 handwritten (William Shaw)
12 1910 US census, New Jersey, Cumberland County, Landis Township, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 115, microfilm series T624, film 875, page 58 A = 9 handwritten (William Shaw)
13 1920 US census, New Jersey, Cumberland County, Bridgeton, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 133, microfilm series T625, film 1026, page 32 B = 8 handwritten (William Shaw)
15 inscription on back of photo, by William C Reiff
16 1850 US census, New Jersey, CUmberland County, microfilm series M432, film 446, page 142 recto = 283 handwritten = 15 handwritten (FamilySearch) (William Shaw)
17 1860 US census, New Jersey, Cumberland County, Millville, microfilm series M653, film 687, page 34 handwritten = 698 handwritten (FamilySearch) (William S Shaw)
18 'Descendants of Thomas Ryan 1803, an Ancestry family tree, owner PCarter1417, accessed 1 May 2013 (William S Shaw)
19 Applications for headstones for military veterans, 1925-1941 (William S Shaw)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William S Shaw)
line | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Dwellings visited | 101 | |||||||
Families visited | ||||||||
Name | Josiah Hawkins | Margarett Hawkins | Sylvia Ann Shaw | Samuel Hawkins | Richard Hawkins | Margaret Hawkins | William Shaw | Josiah I Shaw |
Age | 58 | 56 | 28 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
Sex | M | F | F | M | M | F | M | M |
Color | ||||||||
Occupation of males over 15 years | Farmer | |||||||
Real estate owned | 800 | |||||||
Birthplace | " [sc. NJ] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
Married within year | ||||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Dwelling number | 247 | ||
Family number | 263 | ||
Name | Sylvia Shaw | Henry " | William S " |
Age | 39 | 17 | 15 |
Sex | F | M | M |
Color | |||
Occupation | Housekeeper | Operative [?] cow factory | |
Value of real estate owned | 300 | ||
Value of personal estate | 50 | ||
Place of birth | NJ | " | " |
Married within year | |||
Attended school within year | 1 | ||
Cannot read & write | |||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 37 | 38 | 39 |
Dwelling-house number | 279 | ||
Family number | 304 | ||
Name | Shaw William | - Almira | - Thomas |
Age | 24 | 34 | 5 |
Sex | M | F | M |
Color | W | W | W |
Occupation | Laborer | Keeps House | |
Real estate value | 500 | ||
Personal estate value | 100 | ||
Birthplace | New Jersey | " " | " " |
Father foreign born | |||
Mother foreign born | |||
Birth month if born within year | |||
Marriage month if married within year | |||
Attended school past year | |||
Can't read | |||
Can't write | |||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | ||
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
line | 48 | 49 | 50 |
street name | Broad Street | ||
house number | |||
dwelling visit # | 346 | ||
family visit # | 349 | ||
name | Shaw William | - Elmira | - Thomas |
color | W | W | W |
sex | M | F | M |
age | 34 | 42 | 15 |
month born if born in year | |||
relationship | Wife | Son | |
single | 1 | ||
married | 1 | 1 | |
widowed/divorced | |||
married during year | |||
occupation | Carpenter | Keeps house | works glass factory |
months unemployed | |||
currently ill? | |||
blind | |||
deaf/dumb | |||
idiotic | |||
insane | |||
disabled | |||
school this year | |||
can't read | |||
can't write | |||
birthplace | NJ | NJ | NJ |
father's birthplace | NJ | NJ | NJ |
mother's birthplace | NJ | NJ | NJ |
line | 46 | 47 | 48 |
street | |||
house number | |||
dwelling number | 170 | ||
family number | 177 | ||
name | Shaw William | Martha | Bernadine |
relationship | Head | Daughter | Daughter |
color | W | W | W |
sex | M | F | F |
birth date | Jan 1845 | July 1893 | Feb 1895 |
age | 55 | 6 | 5 |
married? | Wd | S | S |
# years married | |||
mother of how many children? | |||
# of children living | |||
birthplace | New Jersey | New Jersey | New Jersey |
father's birthplace | New Jersey | New Jersey | New Jersey |
mother's birthplace | New Jersey | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
immigration year | |||
# years in USA | |||
naturalized citizen? | |||
occupation | Farmer | ||
# months not employed | 0 | ||
# months in school | |||
can read | Yes | No | No |
can write | Yes | No | No |
speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes |
owned/rented | O | ||
free or mortgaged | M | ||
farm/house | F | ||
# of farm schedule | 153 |
line | 42 | 43 |
street | Boulevard West | |
house nr | ||
dwelling nr | 183 | |
family nr | 183 | |
name | Shaw William | - Berna |
relationship | Head | Daughter |
sex | M | F |
color | W | W |
age | 66 [?] | 15 |
marital status | W | S |
#years present marriage | ||
mother of # children | ||
mother of # living children | ||
birthplace | New Jersey | New Jersey |
father's birthplace | New Jersey | New Jersey |
mother's birthplace | New Jersey | New Jersey |
immigrated | ||
naturalized/alien | ||
speaks English | English | English |
occupation | None | Laborer |
nature of industry etc. | Hosiery Mill | |
employer etc. | W | |
out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | |
# weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | |
can read | Yes | Yes |
can write | Yes | Yes |
school since 1 Sep 09 | ||
owned/rented | O | |
owned free or mortagaged | M | |
farm/house | H | |
nr on farm schedule | ||
civil war vet | UA | |
blind | ||
deaf & dumb |
line | 74 |
street | Bridgeton Road |
house number | |
dwelling visit number | 187 |
family visit number | 206 |
name | Shaw William |
relationship | Head |
own/rent | O |
free/mortgaged (if owned) | F |
sex | M |
race | W |
age at last birthday | 74 |
marital status | Wd |
year of immigration | |
naturalized/alien | |
year of naturalization | |
attended school since Sept 1919 | |
can read | yes |
can write | yes |
birth place | New Jersey |
native language | |
father's birthplace | New Jersey |
father's native language | |
mother's birthplace | New Jersey |
mother's native language | |
can speak English | Yes |
occupation | None |
industry, business | |
employment status | |
number of farm schedule |
This application is for the UNMARKED grave of a veteran. It is understood the stone will be furnished and delivered at the railroad station or steamboat landing above indicated, at Government expense, freight prepaid. I hereby agree to accept promptly the headstone or marker at destination, remove it, and properly place same at decedent's grave at my expense. NO FEE SHOULD BE PAID IN CONNECTION WITH THIS APPLICATION.
Mrs A P Eckenrod Applicant.