Today's blog recognizes Gilman Shackford of Alfred, Maine who suffered the ultimate sacrifice of military service - dying from wounds incurred in battle. He was 36 years old when he received a gunshot wound of the left leg during an engagement with the enemy at Ware Bottom Church, Virginia. Gilman was moved to a field hospital and onward to Hammond Hospital at Point Lookout, Maryland where his wounds became gangrenous and resulted in his death.
Gilman's body rests at Arlington Cemetery and thanks to Hope, we can see a photograph of his tombstone at Find A Grave Memorial# 33842603.
Various documents list different dates of death for Gilman's -- July 18, 1864 or August 18 1864 depending on the document reviewed. The records at Arlington and this Civil War Index card state that Gilman died August 18, 1864 however his wife Celia's request for a pension includes documents from the hospital where he died which state that the August enrollment rolls state that he died from effects of his wounds on July 18, 1864. Also the pension documents include a letter from Captain America Walton of the 8th Co stating that he was notified on July 24, 1864 of Gilman's death on July 18, 1864. His statement says that his knowledge is based on the fact that he was present with Company B in the engagement when Gilman was wounded and that he saw Gilman's wound.
Samuel M Came, an attorney in Alfred, Maine assisted Celia with her pension request which was admitted on January 28, 1865, granting her a pension of $8.00/month commencing July 18, 1864.
We still are unsure of Gilman's birth date or his ancestry. We do know that his wife's maiden name was Celia G Wormwood and find them in the 1850 census in Alfred living with her mother Celia and a Cristinia Jones (most likely her aunt). They are living next to a group of Shackfords - Noah, Japhet, Abigail, Lydia, William K, Bethular, Stephen, Amos, and Betsey.
In 1860 Gilman and Celia are them still in Alfred living on real estate valued at $450 with a personal estate valued at $200. They have a child, Charles living with them. We know that their son Charles G Shackford died December 31, 1862 at age 3 years, 11 months and is buried at the Pine Grove Cemetery in West Kennebunk, Maine.
Celia died at age 43 in Alfred on June 11, 1867 after living in the home of John Linscott as an invalid for several months. Her probate was held on Dec 3, 1867.
Do you have any Shackford ancestors who also deserve recognition for their military service?
SOURCES:
1850 US Census, Maine , York, Alfred, population schedule, , p. 392 (penned), Dwelling 117, Family 127, Gilman Shackford; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 May 2013).
"Civil War Pension Record," digital images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 7 January 2014), Gilman Shackford
Find A Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 May 2013), Celia G Wormwood Shackford, Find A Grave Memorial# 67477930
Find A Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 May 2013), Charles D "Charley" Shackford, Find A Grave Memorial# 67478082
Find A Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 5 January 2013), Pvt Gilman Shackford, Find A Grave Memorial# 33842603
Maine, Maine, State Archives Collections, 1718-1917, Civil War Soldiers Index, Gilman Shackford, ; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 November 2013).
(Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1980), Family Search, digital images (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2241461 : accessed 24 December 2013), Ceilia Shackford, image 1294; Nathan Hill Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1980, Sears, Louisa-Sharp, Lee
Maine, Maine, York County, Probate Estate Files, Celia G. Shackford; "Maine, York County, Probate Estate Files, 1690-1917," digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 30 May 2013).