Common given names within a family unit oftentimes become very confusing and often very difficult to determine which family unit a particular individual is connected.
Such is the case of a John Rivers whose Civil War Marker is located in the Old Davis Cemetery. Today only 4 tombstones are visible in this cemetery; Thomas Davis, Revolutionary Soldier, his wife Nancy Rivers Davis, Corpl. James K. Parker (Civil War) and John Rivers (Civil War).[1]
The tombstone for John Rivers was placed in this cemetery after October 17, 1930. It was ordered by the local DAR Regent in February 1930. The Application for Tombstone (O.Q.M.G. Form 623), states that John Rivers was a Private in Capt. Bob Evans Company, 6th Cavalry, C. S. A. and that he died March 4, 1863. [2]
The tombstone matches the information contained on the Office of the Quartermaster General (O.Q.M.G.) Form 623.[3]
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| Photo courtesy of Julious Burr |
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| Photo courtesy of Julious Burr |
In an effort to determine the parent of John Rivers I did a through search of every RIVERS Family in the 1850 and 1860 Census: I was looking for all males named John RIVERS born in or before 1847 (1865-18 = 1847).
In 1850, two families were identified with sons named John who were old enough to serve in the Civil War. [4]
- John Rivers, age 12, son of Frederick & Sarah Ann Hurst Rivers.
- John Rivers, age 7, son of John B. and Eliza Rivers Rivers.
In 1860, One additional John Rivers, age 17 was found. John J., who is actually John B. Rivers was also found. John B. Rivers Sr. had passed away in 1858. John Rivers, son of Frederick and Sarah Ann Hurst was NOT FOUND in the 1860 Census. [5]
So we have three candidates for who the John Rivers buried in the Davis Cemetery.
- John Rivers, born 1838; son of Frederick Rivers
- John B. Rivers, born 1843; son of John B. Rivers
- Jno. Rivers, born 1843; living with Elijah Rivers
Find A Grave Memorial# 83258048 shows that John Rivers, son of Frederick and Sarah Ann Hurst Rivers was born in 1838 and died in 1854. This is why he was not found in the 1860 Census. A note on his memorial states: “No information known except died about age 16. There is no marked stone.” [6]
John B. Rivers enlisted into Company “D”, 6th SC Cavalry on September 1, 1863. His record can be found here http://www.fold3.com/image/20/65078522/ on the Fold3 Website.[7]
Minnie Sanders Rivers did a Family History Booklet in 1926. Her entry states that John B. Rivers was “killed near home by Yankees.” There is no mention in his Civil War Files that he died during the war so there may be some truth to this family folklore. [8]
However, Page 3, the Military Muster Roll for January-February 1864 shows John B. Rivers PRESENT.
It quite obvious that the tombstone in the Davis Cemetery IS NOT the tombstone of John B. RIVERS. He cannot be at War in January –February 1864 if he died in March 1863.
That leaves the remaining Jno Rivers, b. 1838 and living with Elijah Rivers in the 1860 Census.
1860 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1217; Image 277; Family History Library Film: 805217; Page 137B(stamped), Line 12, Dwelling #616, Family 615, Elijah RIVERS, Male, age 66, Wheelwright, born in SC; Jno. RIVERS, male, age 17, born in SC and Daniel RIVERS, male, age 13, born in SC.
No additional record of these three men, after the war, has been found.
When I started this exercise I thought it would be easy to resolve the lineage of John Rivers, Company D, 6th Calvary.
The index of men in the 6th Calvary shows only one John Rivers and that is John B. Rivers.
This exercise has generated more questions than answers.
- If it’s not John B. Rivers, who is it?
- There is no record of John B. Rivers after the War? What happen to him?
- The tombstone seems to be ordered for John B. Rivers of the 6th Calvary; but where did the date 3 March 1863 come from?
- Is there any truth to statement that John B. Rivers was “killed near home by Yankees?” There weren't any Yankees in Chesterfield until March 3, 1865. Is that when he was killed?
- No record of the 3 men in the 1860 census [Elijah, John and Daniel] has been found be after the Civil War? What happen to them?
If you have suggestions on how to proceed with this research I would love to hear your ideas.
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[1] http://goo.gl/eGMTyZ
[2] "U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963," on-line digital images, ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 4 March 2013), John Rivers; citing Applications for Headstones, compiled 01/01/1925 - 06/30/1970, documenting the period ca. 1776 - 1970 ARC: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92.: 1774–1985; http://goo.gl/UqtRPs
[3] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for John Rivers; (unk-Mar 4, 1863); Memorial # 45433609; Record of the Davis Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 4 March 2013.
[4] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield District, South Carolina, RIVERS surname; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, 4 Mar 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[5] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No Ed, RIVERS surname; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 4 March 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[6] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for John Rivers; (1838–1854); Memorial # 83258048; Record of the Hurst Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 4 August 2013.
[7] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 19 July 2013), entry for John B. Rivers, Private; 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken's Partisan Rangers); Confederate. http://www.fold3.com/image/20/65078522/
[8] Minnie Sanders Rivers, A Rivers Family (Chesterfield, South Carolina: self-Published, 1926), page 17.
Charlie, does the DAR have any further information on that tombstone, more than the record card indicates? What about his wife. do you know what happened to her? It is quite a mystery.
ReplyDeleteThe local DAR disbanded years ago. Mrs. Rivers was the Regent in 1926 and she took on a project to obtain grave markers for all our Soldiers. I don't know where the death date came from but I know it's the marker order for John Rivers. What I don't know is when and where he died and if he really is buried under the marker. There a book called "Broken Fortunes" that details the Death of SC Soldiers. He is not listed in Broken Fortunes. There is also a "Roll of the Dead" at the SC Archives. I still need to review that roll.
ReplyDeleteJohn B. Rivers, Jr. b, 1842, was not married. His mother died in 1879.
Charlie