Today (6-18-2012) is the two-hundredth anniversary of the start of the War of 1812. It's a fine time to recognize those that served in the first war declared on a nation (Great Britain) by the United States. It was one of the most unpopular wars in our nation history; some saying only Vietnam was more unpopular.
I was only aware of one individual from Chesterfield County, South Carolina that had served in the War of 1812 and that was Obadiah Gulledge. I had read a biography from Snowden "History of South Carolina" [1]for Jesse Clifton Rivers that indicated that Isaac Rivers had served in the War.
"Isaac Rivers, a son of Frederick Rivers, served with Jackson in the War of 1812, and was in the final battle of that war at New Orleans when the British were defeated. Frederick Rivers, a son of Isaac, was also a soldier, being a member of the Palmetto Regiment in South Carolina in the Mexican War."
While I knew that Obadiah Gulledge served and I had a portion of his service record; I was delighted to find the following War of 1812 Pension Application Index File for Obadiah. [2]
I
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
Original data: War of 1812 Pension Applications. Washington D.C.: National Archives. NARA Microfilm Publication M313, 102 rolls. Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group Number 15.
This index file contained some revealing information that I was not aware of, most notably was that Obadiah Gulledge was previously married twice before marrying Lavicy Thurman Boatwright, the relict of Drewery Boatwright.
Obadiah first wife was Rebecca McLean and his second wife was Matilda Taylor. In 1839, he married the widow Lavicy Boatwright. Obadiah Gulledge died 25 June 1863 and his wife Lavicy died 20 Dec 1882.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone with knowledge of other soldiers, from Chesterfield, that did serve in the War of 1812.
Let us not forget those who served and in some cases gave their lives to protect this nation. God Bless America.
[1] Yates Snowden, HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Volume 4 (Chicago and New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1920), pages 222-223.
[2] Obadiah Gulledge, compiled military record (Ensign, Capt Welch's Co. S. C. Militia), War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815, NARA Microfilm Publication M313 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), 102 rolls.
No comments:
Post a Comment