He was born on 19 April 1832, in Adams County, Pennsylvania, to Peter and Sarah Shriner. [sources: date: 6, 14; 5 (33 in 1865), 9 (27 in 1860), 19 (34 in 1865). place: 5, 9 (Md). parents: 6, 14]
On 13 February 1855, he was married to Mariah Ann Flohr, by Reverend George W Aughinbaugh, at Elias Lutheran Church, Emmitsburg, Maryland. She was born on 8 February 1832, at Liberty Township, near Fairfield, [Adams County], Pennsylvania. They had two children:
(Maria had intended to name Uriah 'Uriah Augustus', but the minister wrongly named him 'Uriah Augustine'.) [sources: 6, 17]
He was a laborer in 1857. [source: 6 (citing Liberty Township tax lists)]
He purchased a farm near Raven Rock Mountain, Liberty Township, in 1859. [source: 6]
In 1860, he was living in Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was a laborer, and owned $300 in real property and $75 in personal property. He was living with his wife Maria and son Urias. [source: 9]
In 1864, he was a laborer. [source: 6 (citing Liberty Township tax lists)]
When he enlisted, he was living in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and was a laborer. [sources: 5, 19]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a florid complexion, blue eyes, and sandy hair. [source: 5]
He was "steady, reserved and regular in his habits, and strictly a temperate man". [sources: 6, 17]
He was drafted. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 28 February 1865. He was enlisted for one year, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, by Eyster. His enlistment was credited to the sixteenth congressional district. He was a private in company A. [sources: 1, 5, 6, 17, 20+]
He reported for duty on 21 March 1865. [source: 6 (citing his journal)]
On 2 April 1865, his regiment marched 28,000 prisoners to City Point. [source: 6 (citing his journal)]
On 14 April 1865, the regiment left City Point, and marched toward Burks Station. [source: 17]
On 21 April 1865, he (and at least his company) marched about twelve miles through mud and rain. On 22 April 1865, he (and at least some others) had no rations. [source: 17]
They then returned to Burke Station, where he stayed with another man, because he was too ill to continue. He returned to the company, but was still ill, and was getting worse. [source: 17]
He was in hospital beginning 26 April 1865, initially in the Fifth Corps hospital, and eventually in the Campbell Military Hospital, Washington DC. [source: 6 (citing his journal)]
On 5 May 1865, he was admitted to Campbell Hospital, Washington, DC, for treatment of acute diarrhea. [source: 17]
On 7 May 1865, he wrote to his wife, from Campbell Hospital. He said he had been very ill with diarrhea, but was getting better. He hadn't heard from his family, but had heard he would be discharged as soon as he could travel home. [source: 15]
He was discharged on 2 June 1865 by general order. However, the discharge is crossed out in the company descriptive roll, perhaps because he died before his discharge could be completed. [source: 1, 5, 6]
He died of meningitis on 5 June 1865, in Campbell Hospital, in Washington DC. He was a private, in company A. According to the hospital chaplain, he became 'very anxious + uneasy about his [discharge] papers'. He started having convulsions two night before his death, rapidly grew worse, and didn't recover before his death. [1, 5, 6, 7, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20]
He was initially buried at the National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His body was exhumed on 19 December 1865. A Benjamin Shriner, died 5 June 1865, is buried in the family plot at Friends Creek Cemetery, Friends Creek, Frederick County, Maryland (just west of Emmitsburg, just south of the Pennsylvania border). It seems likely that his body was reburied there. [sources: 1, 2, 6, 14, 19]
On 8 September 1865, his widow, Maria A Shriner, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension under the Act of 14 July 1862. She was living in Fountaindale, Adams County, Pennsylvania. On 27 May 1869, her application was accepted, and she received $8 per month retroactive to 5 May 1865, plus $2 additional for each child less than 16, retroactive to 25 July 1866 [sources: 3, 8, 17, 19]
In 1869, Francis Felix and John Kipe testified supporting Maria Shriner's pension application. [source: 17]
In 1870, his widow, Mariah Shriner, was living in Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. She was keeping house, and owned $150 in real property and $150 in personal property. She was living with her children Urias and Irena. source: 10]
In 1880, his widow, Mariah Shriner, was living in Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. She was keeping house. She was living with her children. [source: 11]
On 19 March 1886, Maria was (or perhaps started?) received $12 per month pension. [source: 18]
In 1890, his widow, Maria A Shriner, was living in Emmittsburg, Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He had had chronic diarrhea. [source: 7]
In 1900, his widow, Mariah Shriner, was living in Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. She was a farmer. She was living alone. [source: 12]
In 1910, his widow, Mariah Shriner, was living in Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. She was managing a home farm. She was living alone. One of her two children had died (obviously Urias, since their daughter cared for her during her last illness). [source: 13]
On 5 January 1917, Maria Shriner applied for the increased pension provided by the Act of 8 September 1916, section 1. She was eligible because she was Benjamin's wife during his Civil War service. Effective 8 September 1916, Maria's pension was increased to $20 per month. [sources: 17, 18]
Effective 6 October 1917, Maria's pension was increased to $25 per month, under the Act of 6 October 1917. [sources: 17, 18]
About 1 November 1918, Maria Shriner's last illness began. Her daughter, Mrs Rena Gilland, cared for her. [source: 17]
On 25 May 1919, she died. She is buried in the family plot at Friends Creek Cemetery. [sources: 6, 17, 18]
On 26 June 1919, M F Shuff, of West Main Street, Emmitsburg, Maryland, applied for reimbursement of Maria Shriner's funeral expenses, which totalled $75.00. [source: 17]
On 26 September 1919, M F Snuff was reimbursed $68.33, the total of the accrued pension. [sources: 17, 18]
Kim Denny is researching Benjamin Shriner. Contact her at [email protected].
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) (Benjamin Shriner)
2 e-mail, from Kim Denny, 30 January 2003
3 pension index, by regiment (Benjamin Shriner)
4 tombstone, Friends Creek, Maryland (Benjamin Shriver)
5 company A descriptive roll, entry 180 (Benjamin Shriner)
6 [biographical information about Benjamin Shriner] (searched 8 March 2005) (Benjamin Shriner)
7 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Liberty Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 16, page [2] (Benjamin Shriner)
8 pension index, by name (Benjamin Shriner)
9 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Liberty Township, microfilm series M653, film 1057, page 364 = 44 handwritten (Benjamin Shriner)
10 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Liberty Township, microfilm series M593, film 1289, page 246 = 15 handwritten (Mariah Shriner)
11 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Liberty Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 53, microfilm series T9, film 1085, page 227 = 1A handwritten (Maria Shriner)
12 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Liberty Township, superivsor's district 12, enumeration district 12, microfilm series T623, film 1354, page 144 = 6A handwritten (Maria A Shriner)
13 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Liberty Township, supervisor's district 15, enumeration district 20, microfilm series T624, film 1292, page 216 = 2 handwritten (Maria A Shriner)
14 Find a grave, memorial 8047329, created by kimshockey (reb), 31 Oct 2003, accessed 14 December 2011 (with photo of tombstone, inscribed "BENJAMIN SHRINER. Died June 5, 1865." [rest illegible]) (Benjamin Shriner)
15 letter, 7 May 1865, Benjamin Shriner to Maria A Shriner, in widow's pension certificate file
16 letter, Chaplain W M Gaylord to Maria A Shriner, 5 June 1865, from widow's pension certificate file, WC 130,093
17 abstract of widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, widow's certificate WC 130,093 (Maria Ann Flohr widow of Benjamin Shriner)
18 Veterans administration pension payment cards, 1907-1933 (Maria A Shriner, widow of Benjamin Shriner)
19 US burial registers, military posts and national cemeteries, 1862-1960, National Archives, record group 15, Virginia, Arlington, page 82 (Benjn Shriner)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Shriner)
| line | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Dwelling number | 295 | ||
| Family number | 325 | ||
| Name | Benjamin Shriner | Maria A. " | Urias [?] A. " |
| Age | 27 | 27 | 2 |
| Sex | m | f | m |
| Color | |||
| Occupation | Laborer | ||
| Value of real estate owned | 300 | ||
| Value of personal estate | 75 | ||
| Place of birth | Md. | Penna. | " |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | |||
| Cannot read & write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Dwelling-house number | 97 | ||
| Family number | 102 | ||
| Name | Shriner, Mariah | - Urias A. | - Irena E |
| Age | 38 | 13 | 8 |
| Sex | F | M | F |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Keeping house | ||
| Real estate value | 150 | ||
| Personal estate value | 150 | ||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Penna] | " | " |
| Father foreign born | |||
| Mother foreign born | |||
| Birth month if born within year | |||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | |
| Can't read | |||
| Can't write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 42 | 43 | 44 |
| street name | |||
| house number | |||
| dwelling visit # | 12 | ||
| family visit # | 12 | ||
| name | Shriner Maria | - Uriah | -Irena |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | F | M | F |
| age | 47 | 22 | 18 |
| month born if born in year | |||
| relationship | Son | Daughter | |
| single | 1 | 1 | |
| married | |||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | ||
| married during year | |||
| occupation | Keeping house | Laborer | At home |
| months unemployed | 4 | ||
| currently ill? | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf/dumb | |||
| idiotic | |||
| insane | |||
| disabled | |||
| school this year | |||
| can't read | |||
| can't write | |||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| line | 12 |
| street | |
| house number | |
| dwelling number | 98 |
| family number | 103 |
| name | Shriner Maria A |
| relationship | Head |
| color | W |
| sex | F |
| birth date | Feb 1832 |
| age | 68 |
| married? | Wd |
| # years married | |
| mother of how many children? | 0 [sic] |
| # of children living | 0 [sic] |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | |
| # years in USA | |
| naturalized citizen? | |
| occupation | Farmer |
| # months not employed | 0 |
| # months in school | |
| can read | yes |
| can write | yes |
| speaks English | yes |
| owned/rented | O |
| free or mortgaged | F |
| farm/house | F |
| # of farm schedule | 91 |
| line | 97 |
| street | Roads leading to [illegible] Pike |
| house nr | |
| dwelling nr | 35 |
| family nr | 38 |
| name | Shriner Maria A. |
| relationship | [illegible] |
| sex | F |
| color | W |
| age | 78 |
| marital status | Wd |
| #years present marriage | |
| mother of # children | 2 |
| mother of # living children | 1 |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | |
| naturalized/alien | |
| speaks English | English |
| occupation | Manager |
| nature of industry etc. | Home farm |
| employer etc. | Emp [??] |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | |
| can read | yes |
| can write | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |
| owned/rented | [illegible] |
| owned free or mortagaged | [illegible] |
| farm/house | F |
| nr on farm schedule | 27 |
| civil war vet | |
| blind | [illegible] |
| deaf & dumb | [illegible] |
Dear wif [sic] i feel abel [sic] Again to write you a few lines to let you no [sic] where i am at i have had a hard spell of the diearie [sic] but i think that i am getting better now its [sic] about three weeks since i took frank fallin [?] wrote me the last letter about 350 miles from hear [sic] i was brought hear [sic] last friday from City Point dear wife and friends write soon as you can i wuld [sic] like to hear of you all i havend [sic] heard one word from home since i left but i hear them say that we will all be discharge [sic] as soon as we are fit to be send [sic] home and i hope that theas [sic] few lines may find you all well
[manuscript page 2]i must stop writing for this time as i hardly feel abel [sic] to write mich [?] write as soon as you can and send me a few stamps if you can my true love to you, Maria A Shriner
Benjamin ShrinerGive my love to all the girls and tell them to write to me as soon as they can and all my enquiring friends
[manuscript page 3]Your husband as you probably know had been for some weeks an inmate of this hospital + was waiting for his descriptive List to come so that his discharge papers might be made out + he go home. A few days since he became very anxious + uneasy about his papers. the long delay worked so upon his mind that he became sick night before last. he grew rapidly worse and was soon in strong convulsions, from which he never for one moment recovered the poor sufferer died this morning. Everything that could [manuscript page 2] be done to relieve him was attempted. four kind + faithful nurses remained with him night + day + the Doctors did all that their skill + devotion could accomplish. I speak of your poor husband as a sufferer + yet I think he was unconscious all the time after his reason left him. I could not of course get from him any messages for home. He will be buried at Arlington with the honors due a soldier. His grave will be marked so that it can easily be found. May God bless you and your children and help you to bear this great calamity.
With sincere sympathy
Yours| ISSUES. | |||
| CLASS. | RATE. | DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. | DATE OF CERTIFICATE. |
| 12 | 19 March 1886 | 7 June 1869 | |
| INC. | 20 | SEPTEMBER 8, 1916 | |
| INC. | 25 | OCTOBER 6, 1917 | |