Unbeknown to him in his youth; but, his birth in 1831 would make him one of the “most wanted” when the Civil War erupted in January 1861. Sadly, it would also take his life.
Christopher, at the age of 21, married Martha Ann Littleton on 2 February 1853. A day of celebration with a bright future ahead. By the outbreak of the Civil War, Christopher and Martha Ann had four children two daughters and two sons. A final daughter would be borne to the family in 1862 bringing the total to five children.
Christopher, a farmer, enlisted on 28 March 1862 for a total of three years. He would be a member of Company I, 52nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry also known as the “Stanly Rebels”. After organizing at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, NC, the unit fought at Goldsboro, NC and them moved north into Virginia joining the Army of Northern Virginia where they were engaged at Gettysburg, Pa on 1, 2, 3 July 1863. Christopher Dry was killed during the ensuing battle. His military record contained this comment:
“I am satisfied that he was killed or died from wounds rec’d at Gettysburg while in enemy’s hands.”
In “North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster”, Volume 8, page 440, we find the following entry:
DRY, CHRISTOPHER, Private
Born in Stanly County where he resided as a farmer prior to enlisting in Stanly County at age 31, March 25, 1862. Killed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1863. [Volume 8. Page 440]
Christopher Dry and Martha Ann Littleton had the following children:
i. Mary Elizabeth Dry was born about 1854 in Stanly County, North Carolina.
ii. John M. Dry was born about 1857 in Stanly County, North Carolina.
iii. James Arnold Dry was born about 1858 in Stanly County, North Carolina.
iv. Eliza Dry was born about 1859 in Stanly County, North Carolina.
v. Josephine Dry was born about 1862 in Stanly County, North Carolina.
Martha Ann (Littleton) Dry died on 4 March 1910 and was buried in Palestine, Stanly County, North Carolina. Her grave is unmarked.
Christopher Dry is my 1st Cousin 4X Removed.
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1. Bostian Frank K. and Cruse B. W. (Bernard W.), Dutch Buffalo Creek Meeting House, 1745-1806 (Mount Pleasant, N.C.: Bethel Bear Creek United Church of Christ, 1974), page 63.
2. 1850 Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, population schedule, Harris, Stanly County, North Carolina, Page: 19A(stamped); Line 20, Dwelling 273, Family 274, Household of George DRY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 10 February 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 645.
3. 1860 U. S. Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, population schedule, Stanly, North Carolina, Page: 82(stamped); Line 10, Dwelling 1165, Family 1181, Household of Christopher DRY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 14 February 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 914.
4. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 14 February 2020), entry for Christopher DRY, Private; 52nd Infantry; Confederate.
5. "Index to North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-2011," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 14 February 2020), Marriage: Christopher DRY & Martha Ann LITTLETON; North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1977; Marriage Date: 2 Feb 1853.
6. 1870 U S Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, population schedule, Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina, Page 16 (Stamped), Line 1, Dwelling 249, Family 249, Household of Martha DRY; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 14 February 2020); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1160.
7. 1900 US Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, population schedule, Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0121, Page: 27/174 (stamped); Line 84, Dwelling 395, Family 440, Household of Martha DRY; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 14 February 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1218.
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