Home at Last

John Sherwood's (Sr.) home in Dantown, Connecticut is now under a reservoir

.John Sherwood's (Sr.) home in Poundridge  New York was near where the Nathan Olmstead Landmark home (above) is now.  The home may have been on this property (below) as John Sherwood was listed next to Nathan Olmstead by the census taker in 1790.

 The blog, "The Sherwood Story" gives more details on these two locations.

A Home At Last

Sherwood home in Pioche, Nevada

Finally,  a picture of a real Sherwood home.   Their lumber yard was across the street.  It was run mostly by Orin, William, and John Sherwood (Sons of Stephen Sherwood).  Stephen was a grandson of John Sherwood Sr.

Close up picture of the Sherwood home in Pioche, Nevada

 Is the older man on the left Stephen Sherwood? This may have been Orin's home as his brothers, William and John, were living in Clover Valley.  I would say this picture was taken in the 1870's.

Photo courtesy of Tom Irwin
Sherwood home in Pioche, Nevada on Main Street as it looked a few years ago 

   Look closely at the previous two pictures and you will see a resemblance, but they  don't have the air conditioning attached to the front window.  I just want to go inside and look around. 

Photo from Google Earth courtesy of Art Sherwood
Location: 524 Main Street, Pioche, Nevada

After this article was posted, Art Sherwood sent this photo from Google Earth.  Apparently the home has been remodeled since the previous picture was taken. 

Pinterest Award

I want to thank Valerie Elkins for her efforts to bring more interest and awareness to family history/genealogy.  Valerie was a speaker at Rootstech 2013.  I felt fortunate to be mentioned when she gave our her 2013 Awards for Family History/Genealogy.

Dantown "The Lost District" -- A Place In Time

The area  looked somewhat like this when John Sherwood
 and his family lived near here (1774-1784)

Today the area is under a reservoir

When the land your ancestors owned is under water and not because of a mortgage, but due to a reservoir covering it, how do you find where your ancestor's lived.  This article will attempt to do that without using scuba diving gear.

The John Sherwood Family  purchased land in Dantown, Connecticut  in 1774.  They had been living in Salem, New York, just across the border.   About 1784, they moved back to New York just across the border to Poundridge, New York.

John Sherwood was the grandfather of Stephen Sherwood.

The map below is of Dantown, Connecticut.  The Sherwood family lived here until about 1784, and many of their friends were still living there in 1790 when the first census was taken.  Through the use of this map, land records, military lists, and the 1790 census, it can be determined the approximate location where the Sherwoods lived from 1774-1784 before they moved.

Below are the families listed in order in the 1790 census who may have lived in the Sherwood neighborhood while they were in Dantown (1774-1784)

Note:  When I posted, I noticed print sizes varied for no apparent reason.

Samuel Jones-- "Samuel Jones of Canaan Society listed in baptism register January 24, 1783 on a page labeled "Baptism of Infants."  There is a note that he "Declared conformity to the Church of England" on the same day as John Sherwood and John Dufrees (St. Johns Episcopal Church in Stamford, Connecticut).  Served  in Militia with John Sherwood.
Jonathan Stevens --Served in Militia with John Sherwood.
Ebenezer Weed--Caanan Parish Patriot

17 Houses in between
Nathan Chitester--Served in Militia with John Sherwood.

02 Houses in between
Solomon Stevens--Son of Admer of Stevens.
Augustus Wilkes
Abner Stevens--Owns the land North of John Sherwood in 1788.  Son of Admer Stevens.
Allen (John?) --Possibly father of Reuben Allen who married John's daughter Sarah Sherwood.  See Map (II).               
Israel Slason (Slawson)--Listed next to John Sherwood in the militia.  Buys "narrow strip on land" in 1788 from John Sherwood with Eleazer Slason (Slawson).  He marries Mary Dufrees, a daughter of John Dufrees who "Declared conformity to the Church of England with John Sherwood in 1783."  (see Samuel Jones).  Israel and Eleazer may both have been sons of Elephalet and Mercy Slason or sons of Eleazer and Sarah Slason.
JOHN SHERWOOD--Possible location of John Sherwood in 1784.  John was not listed on the 1790 Census with the people on this list.  John Sherwood is in Poundridge by 1790, but likely lived near here 1774-1784 based on map, census, land, and military sources.
David Slason (Slawson)--See Map (I)--David is listed next to Israel Slason in the 1790 Census which would place him near the Sherwood property which is where he was on the map.
Jonathan Slason Jun--son of John Slason.  Possibly served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Reuben Stevens--See Map (III)--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Daniel Stevens--Daniel may be the father of Reuben Stevens.  He would have been 33 in 1772.  May have been one of the owners of one of the mills on the map.  Possibly a brother of Admer Stevens.  He owned land just North of some land purchased by Abraham Stevens and John Sherwood in 1785.  John Sold his half in 1789 (possibly just before he moved to Poundridge).
Jonathan Slason--Son of David Slason (See Map (1). Served with John Sherwood in the Militia (or Jonathan above)
Thomas Jones
Samuel Jones Jun--A Samuel Jones was listed next to John in the Militia (could be his father?).
Abraham Stevens--A son of Admer Stevens.  Buys land in 1785 with John Sherwood from Admer Stevens.
Amos Stevens--Possibly a son of Daniel Stevens.
John Stevens--Sells land to Solomon Burtis in 1793.  John is probably the father-in-law of Solomon Burtis (the father of his wife, Ann Stevens).
Solomon Burtis ??-- (Difficult to Read)--Buys land from John Stevens in 1793.  He is on a list in St. Mark's Parish, New Canaan in 1794.  He may have been the brother of Lovisa Burtis Sherwood (wife of John Sherwood).  There is a Solomon See Map (IV) listed.  Could this be Solomon Burtis?   It could be Solomon Stevens as well, or some other Solomon.

21 Houses in between
Timothy Reed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.

5 Houses in between
Charles Weed--Caanan Parish Patriot
Abraham Weed
Enoch Comstock--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia
Peter Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Enos Weed
Daniel Weed
James Weed--Caanan Parish Patriot
Josiah Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia (Corporal).
Jonathan Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Hannah Weed
Seth Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia (Sergeant).

13 House in between
Stephen Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia
Obadiah Weed--Possibly Admer Stevens's brother
Sarah Stevens--Possibly Admer's sister
Admer Stevens--Sells land to John Sherwood in 1784.  Sells land to John Sherwood  and Abraham Stevens in 1785.

Note:  I'm not sure why the print types are different.  They all look the same in the draft.

*In some cases there could be an error of those who served with John Sherwood, if it was another person by the same name who was listed in the census.  The fact that they lived close to John Sherwood help verify they are the same person.  Also in some cases is it difficult to determine if it was the father or son, or even another person who served (Samuel Jones, Jonathan Slason).  The fact that John Sherwood served with so many neighbors definitely put him in this neighborhood before 1790.  This is also true of other listings.
It is  Is difficult to determine exactly which person it is in other entries as well when several people in the area have the same name.  The reader will have to look at the total picture of the people who lived in the neighborhood in 1790 and weigh the circumstantial evidence.

Deeds

The deeds tell us that John Sherwood who lived in Salem, New York bought land in Stamford (Dantown) in 1774 and lived there until about 1784.  He may have lived in Salem from his marriage in 1769-1774.  In 1784, it appears he lived on Old Poundridge Road in Poundridge (Old Poundridge), Westchester, New York just over the border from Stamford (Dantown).  At this time he added to his property in Dantown by buying a strip of land just South of his property.   John purchased it from Admer Stevens. In 1789 John says he is "of Stamford" and his buying and selling land there.  In 1790 he is listed on the 1790 Census across the border in Poundridge, New York

What is a Grog Shop which is listed on the map?  Grog refers to a variety of alcoholic beverages.  The word originally referred to a drink made with water of "small beer" and rum.  Modern versions of the drink are often made with hot or boiling water, and sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon or sugar to improve the taste.  Rum with water, sugar and nutmet was known as bumbo and was more popular with pirates and merchantmen.

Sources

Descendants of George Slawson
Descendants of Thomas Stevens
Federal 1790 Census
Map of Dantown, Connecticut

Stamford Connecticut Land Records

St. Johns Episcopal Church Records, Stamford, Connecticut

Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Stamford Families.  Compiled by Reverend Elijah B. Huntington Stamford, April 6, 1797.

Blog--"The Sherwood Story"

 Olmstead Home today in Pound Ridge, New York (an older version was near John Sherwood's Property in 1790)

I have added three postings to my blog: "The Sherwood Story."

• How John Sherwood's Property (approximate location) in Pound Ridge was found

• Nathan Olmstead Home (near John Sherwood's property in 1790)

• Lovisa Burtons? Burtous? Burtis?

http://thesherwoodstory.blogspot.com

"The Sherwood Story:  is mostly about the Grandparents of Stephen Sherwood,  John and Lovisa Burtis Sherwood (at least for now).

"The Great Mining Suit"

Summary of "The Great Mining Suit" of 1873

In 1873, Stephen Sherwood was a witness in "The Great Mining Suit."

By 1870 the town of Pioche was properly surveyed and named.  Three year later the contested story of the founding of Pioche would be told in what The Pioche Daily Record called "The Great Mining Suit."

The court battle centered on two competing mining claims held by the Raymond and Ely Mining Company and the Hermes Mining Company.  The Hermes Company was an investment for George Hearst, father of the newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst

George Hearst

The Hermes Company claimed that the "Raymond and Ely title was based upon purchase of the original Panaca shaft from Stephen Sherwood's crew of Mormons and miners, who not only staked their claims improperly but created illegal mining laws and then voided their strikes anyway through years of abandonment." The jury trial ruled in favor of the Hermes Company, but Judge Fuller eventually ruled in favor of Raymond and Ely.

There was comprehensive coverage of the courtroom drama.  Crowds gathered outside the "Million Dollar Courthouse" eager to get seats blocking the sidewalk in front of the building and clogging all the avenues leading to it.  After the sheriff opened the door, every available seat was occupied.  It seemed to some the fate of the town hung in the balance, especially because rumors ran rampant that William Henry Raymond threatened to close the Raymond and Ely mine should his company lose the suit.

"Million Dollar Courthouse" in Pioche, Nevada

The list of witnesses called to testify included most of the district's founders.  Sherwood and Vandermark were there.  Thomas Box Sr. and Jr. both testified, as did Shirts, Pulsipher and George Hearst.  Expert mining witnesses also took the stand, as did a variety of Mormons peripherally involved in the case.  Noticeably missing from the witness list was Moroni, the Paiute principally responsible for instigating the entire contest, and his partner William Hamblin.  According to family legend, Hamblin had been subpoenaed to testify at Pioche in a similar case the previous year and the litigants, who stood to lose the most from his testimony poisoned his coffee before he could take the stand.  Hamblin was immediately struck sick and died a few weeks later at Clover Valley.  His widow, Mary did return to the scene of Hamblin's demise, as a witness in the Raymond and Ely case.

The details of this trial  and the events leading up to it can be found in Chapter 2 of Making Space on the Western Frontier by W. Paul Reeve.  There are some very interesting stories told in this book.

With all the arguments made, the Pioche founding story told and retold and then contested again and again, the lawyers finally left it in the hands of the jury.   At close to four o'clock in the afternoon of 30 April 1873, the twelve-man jury retired for deliberations.  Rumors spread rampant through the night that jurors had been "purchased like sausages," with some townsfolk freely making bets on how many jurors out of twelve Hearst had safely in his pocket, ranging from five to nine.  By half past eight, news spread through town that the jury had reached a verdict.  It was announced, "We the jurors impaneled in this case find for the defendant."  Nine jurors sided with the Hermes Company, while only three voted for Raymond and Ely.  The court ordered that Raymond and Ely "take nothing by reason of said action" and that they pay $4,987.24, the costs of Herme's defense.

The case did not end there however.  By the end of June, Judge Mortimer Fuller ordered that the previous verdict be "set aside and vacated." Like the earlier court case, interest in Fuller's decision ran high.  Judge Fuller ruled in favor of Raymond and Ely.  Rather then endure another protracted trial, however, Raymond and Ely brought an end to the courtroom drama.  They settled out of court, purchasing Hearst's interest in the Hermes mine for an undisclosed "high figure."  Hearst later recalled it this way:  "Got in with some men who had a set of Pioche mines, sunk a shaft, struck a bed of ore, had a big lawsuit over it, got out of that making two hundred and fifty thousand."

 A Trip To Pioche Being a Sketch of Recent Frontier Travel by Charles A Sumner tells of George Hearst getting on the stage coach in Eureka.  He was on his way to the trial in Pioche.  Pages 12 and 13 describe Pioche in detail as it was in 1873.  Charles A Sumner  described the celebrated Raymond and Ely Vs Hermes case as "The largest milling case, the most hotly contested, and actually, by virtue of the title set up and most ably and vigorously urged on the part of the plaintiff, involving greater interest than were ever before staked in any similar encounter on the Coast."

"A New River Packer" by Gay Berrien

Stephen Sherwood is included a new book by Gay Holland Berrien to be published about the end of the year.  Chapter 2, "The New River Mining District" has information relating to Stephen Sherwood. Page 152 shows the locations of the Sherwood Mine, and also the cemetery where Stephen Sherwood was buried in 1884 near White Rock. The book will cover some of the history surrounding Stephen Sherwood when he lived in Trinity County, California. 

Gay Holland Berrien is very familiar of the vicinity where the Sherwood Mine is located.  She has lived in this general area since 1963 and written about much of it.  Gay worked for the Forest Service and is currently a member of the Trinity Historical Society. 

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this book, please contact me.  I can be reached at yship@aol.com or 801-580-2915.  I will be ordering the books as soon as they are ready.  You can also comment at the bottom of this article and I will contact you if you indicate interest.

Breaking News--Mining Claims in Meadow Valley

This blog is mostly about the letters of of Stephen Sherwood and the history around them.  This post is  taken from Making Space on the Western Frontier by W. Paul Reeve.   I would recommend this book if more information is desired on Stephen Sherwood and the history surrounding him.  The material is presented in a very informative and interesting manner.   Stephen Sherwood is mentioned about 14 times in the book in the time period from about 1864-1873.

SUMMARY

The month after writing his letter to Henry, Stephen Sherwood left Salt Lake City with the two Boxes, Shirts, and Vandermark.    On 17 March this party found Hamblin, Daniel C. Cill, and an Indian companion, likely Moroni, already at Meadow Valley in southern Utah working their earlier claims.  Sherwood explained miners' rules to Hamblin, who said he would agree to those laws if he and Cill could have their choice of ground, and if they would protect the rights of the Bunker expedition, an earlier party who had surveyed the area.  About twenty names were mentioned with claims.  On the 18 March 1864 a miner's meeting was held and the Meadow Valley Mining District organized.

In May of 1864 while Sherwood and his Company had gone back to Salt Lake City,  Erastus Snow, a Mormon leader,  organized a new mining district convinced by virtue of abandonment that the Sherwood group's claims were invalid.  Erastus Snow's group was later convinced that their district was illegal and that Sherwood was the legal recorder of the district, and they should file their claims with him.

Mormons and non-momons worked out their differences, but the Paiutes in June and July attempted to reassert control of the area.  In July of 1864 the miners moved to the new town at Panaca, established by the Mormons, where they huddled together for mutual defense.  Stephen may still have been here when he wrote his letter to Henry in February 1865.

There was little mining activity at Meadow Valley for nearly six years.  Sherwood and Vandermark spent time in Chicago and New York trying to seek investors to develop or buy their claims.  In 1869 Francois Louis Alfred Pioche and his partners organized the Meadow Valley Mining Company, capitalized at six million dollars.  At about the same time William Raymond and John Ely bought original title to claims from Hamblin, Pulsipher, and other early district organizers. Soon a town called Pioche after the principal investor was started.  By 1872, the mines at Pioche reached a production peak of nearly $5.5 million.

Source:  Making Space on the Western Frontier, Pages 24-28.

In 1873,  there was a court battle.  It was called "The Great Mining Suit" and lasted about a month.  It was between the Raymond and Ely Mining Company and the Hermes Mining Company.  The next post will discuss this trial.  Stephen Sherwood was one of the main witnesses.

Note:

A preview of the first 22 pages of Making Space on the Western Frontier  can be obtained by clicking on the link. Unfortunately the pages I have included in this blog are not in the preview.  However much of this information and additional history can be obtained by going to a thesis by John H Bourne:  Early Mining In southwestern Utah and Southeastern Nevada, 1864-1873: The Meadow Valley, Pahranagat, and Pioche Mining Rushes which is all available on the internet.

Pioche, Nevada

A brief history of Pioche can be found at .http://www.lincolncountynevada.com/Lincoln-County-Nevada-Pioche.html

John and Lovisa Burtis Sherwood---you tube video

THIS YOU TUBE VIDEO CELEBRATES THE LIVES OF JOHN AND LOVISA BURTIS SHERWOOD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

John and Lovisa Burtis Sherwood were married nearly 245 years ago (January 19, 1769) by the Reverend Eliphalet Ball of Bedford, New York.  I invite you to go along with me as I follow their crumbs along the trail from Green's Farms, Connecticut to Wurtsboro, New York.  John and Lovisa were the Grandparents of Stephen Sherwood.

near green's farms, connecticut

stamford, connecticut

dantown, connecticut

pound ridge, new york

mamakating, new york (wurtsboro)

Daniel Sherwood-Civil War (Part 2)

FIND YOUR ANCESTOR IN THE CIVIL WAR>>>>>>>>>>

CLICK THE LOGO (UPPER RIGHT) AND ENTER HIS NAME>>>>

(MANY COLLECTIONS TO CHECK AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS)

Daniel Sherwood likely died in the Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road 

(also know as the Second Battle of Fair Oaks) on October 28, 1864.

Daniel's half sister, Maria, died the next year (1865).  A gravestone was made to remember Daniel as well.  This memorial is located in find a grave.com. It is in the Angola Cemetery in Lake Villa, Lake County, Illinois.

This was a fortunate find at ancestry.com which is a "Register of the Reinterments."  Most of the soldiers were listed as Unknown.  Fortunately Daniel Sherwood was included.  He was a private in the 39th Illinois Regiment Company F and killed on October 28, 1864 as was listed here.

Where was he buried?  The Nationwide Gravesite cemetery Locator (for Vetereans) was checked for Daniel Sherwood.  For the first name Dan had to be used with "contains" instead of "exact match" under the search options.  You can then click "Fort Harrison National Cemetery" or "View Map"  Daniel is probably buried near the building.  Scroll down the page to "Historical Information" to find out more about Fort Harrison.  Again, it is fortunate Daniel Sherwood was found because "As of July 1876, 239 of 814 interments were known while 575 were unknown, including four  Confederate prisoners of war."

This document was obtained from ancestry.com  Note that it show Daniel was originally buried at Allens Farm Va.  He was later reintered in the Fort Harrisons Va National Cemetery.  His name is spelled Dan'l.  That is why Daniel could not be found in the Nationwide Graveside Locator until the search option was changed to "contains."

Daniel is listed on the Fort Harrison National Cemetery Graveyard list.  He is the only one from the 39th Illinois Inf to be buried there.  None of his friends could even be found in any National Cemetery.  How fortunate it was that Daniel Sherwood had a final burial place in a National Cemetery.  It is here that he can represent his friends who died on the battlefield near there.

Section B Grave 31

Daniel was originally buried at Allen's Farm.  If you are interested in where Daniel Sherwood was first buried (and near where he died)
1.  Click on Allen's Farm
2.  Spider Search.  Click  "Allen's Farm"
3.  Click "Display markers on map"

Allens Farm where Daniel Sherwood was buried before being his reinterment in Fort Harrison, Va. National Cemetery

4,  Enlarge the map leaving only one dash between the -.+
5.  The Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road may have been fought  West of here (near South Airport Road).  See map  of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road.
6.  Go straight down to Darbytown Road.  It was on this road where Daniel Sherwood was probably in an earlier Battle.
7.  Go down past New Market Road to Deep Bottom Park near where Daniel's four friends would have lost their lives.
8.  Go left  to Fort Harrison on Varina Road (near Battlefield Park Road) where Daniel Sherwood is buried.

Fort Harrison National Cemetery where Daniel Sherwood is buried.  Section B Grave 31.

"There I stood at the head of my Regiment on the very ground.............General Robert E Lee was compelled to surrender by our brave boys.  It was to accomplish this very end that they had left home and friends and periled life and limb time and time again; and oh! How many of them are now sleeping the soldier's long, long sleep, unmindful of this great achievement."

"Here we recognized the end of this wicked rebellion; and you may be sure gratitude filled our hearts when we contemplated this grand result of all our toils, our hard marches, hard fighting and exposures."

Colonel Homer A Plimpton of Daniel Sherwood's 39th Illinois Regiment

Civil War Journals of Col. Homer A Plimpton

                                             Map Link (Park Tools--View Park Map)

This map shows some of the locations discussed in the two posts on Daniel Sherwood.  Fair Oaks (top center red dot), Savage's Station (top right red dot) is near where Daniel Sherwood was first buried., Darbytown Road (middle blue dot), Fort Harrison (bottom left blue dot) where Daniel was reinterred.   Deep Bottom (bottom middle blue dot) was where Daniel's four friends lost their lives.  Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road is the name of a battle Daniel fought in.  Daniel is listed as dying somewhere on Darbytown Road.  Daniel's Regiment was also in an earlier battle called the Battle of Darbytown Road (October 13, 1864).

Fort Harrison National Cemetery

This video reminded me of those Civil War soldiers

Daniel Sherwood-Civil War (Part 1)

A scene near Darbytown Road by Civil War artist Alfred Waud October 27, 1864
Daniel Sherwood died near here October 28, 1864

Volunteer Enlistment 

State of Illinois                      Town of Waukegan

   I, Daniel Sherwood,  born in Avon in the State of Illinois aged Eighteen years, and by occupation a Farmer Do HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this Twenty-fifth day of January 1864, to serve as a SOLDIER in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority:  Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers.  And I, Daniel Sherwood, do solemnly swear, that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever, and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.

Sworn and subscribed to, at  Chicago Ill

this Twenty-fifth day of  January 1864                             Daniel Sherwood

BEFORE (Two Names difficult to read)

   I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have carefully examined the above named volunteer, agreeable to the General Regulations of the Army, and that in my opinion he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would, in any way, disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.

                                                                          W C Hunt                  

                                                                                       EXAMINING SURGEON

   I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, Daniel Sherwood previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgment and belief, he is of lawful age; and that in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied  soldier, I have strictly observed the regulations which govern the recruiting service.  This soldier has Hazel eyes,  Brown hair, Light complexion, is      Five feet Four 1/4 inches high.

                                                                         Two names too difficult to read      

                                                      39th Regiment of Ill.        Volunteers,   Infantry

                                                                            RECRUITING OFFICER

(A.  G.  O. No 74.)

                        

    I certify on honor, that Daniel Sherwood a Private of Captain A B Hoffman Company F of the 39" Regiment of Infantry VOLUNTEERS, of the State of Illinois, born in Avon, State of Illinois, aged 18 years; 5 feet 4 1/2" inches high; Light comp lesion, Hazel eyes, Brown hair, and by occupation a Farmer, having joined the company on the original organization at __________ and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at _______________, on the ____________day of _____________, 184  , (or was mustered in service as a recruit, by Capt. Pomeroy, at Chicago, Ill on the 25" day of January, 1864, or was drafted and mustered into the service of the United States from the _____Enrollment District of the State of __, at ________, on the ______day of __________, 186 ,) to serve in the Regiment, for the term of Three Years and having served HONESTLY and FAITHFULLY with his Company in the 39" Regt to the present date, is now entitle to a DISCHARGE by reason of being killed in action Before Richmond Va.

    the said Private Daniel Sherwood was last paid by Paymaster Maj. Dorman to include the 31" day of August, 1864, and has pay due him from that time to the present date; he is entitled to pay and subsistence for TRAVELING to olace of enrollment, and whatever other allowances are authorized to volunteer soldiers, drafted men, or militia so discharged.  He has received from the United States clothing amounting to 69.15 dollars, since the 25"day of January, 1864, when his clothing account was last settled.  He has received from the United States 100 dollars advanced BOUNTY.

    There is to be stopped from him, on account of the State of _____________, or other authroities for clothing, &C, RECEIVED ON ENTERING SERVICE, ______dollars; and for other stoppages, viz: ____________________________________________________________________dollars.

He has been furnished with TRANSPORTATION in kind from the place of his discharge to place of enrollment, up to the ___________, 186 .

    He is indebted to ___________SUTLER, ______________________dollars.

    He is indebted to ____________, LAUNDRESS, ________________dollars.

    Given in Duplicate, at in the Field Before Richmond Va , this 28" day of October, 1864.

                                                                                                              Samuel Gilmore

                                                                                                                 2" Lieut. 39" Ill Vol Infty.

                                                                                                                             Commanding Company

(A. G. O. No. 95--First.)       

Note:  On the reverse of the enlistment paper, he gives his age as 18 years 6 months witnessed by John J Johnson, 39th Ill. (per David L Kent).

     

Inventory of the effects of Daniel Sherwood

Additional information received from David L. Kent, a genealogical Record Searcher:
 July-Aug 1864 "On daily duty as Co. cook."  Remarks:  "Died Oct 28/64, Darbytown road, Va., gun-shot wound."

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS (IN ORANGE) TO FOLLOW DANIEL SHERWOOD

1860 Census shows Dan Sherwood was living in Antioch, Avon, Illinois in 1860 with his family. 

 He was only 15 years old when he enlisted in the Civil War in January of 1864

 "Company F" of the 39th Illinois Regiment.  In addition to Dan Sherwood, note that Henry Fiddler and Adelbert Van Patten, from Antioch have a date of muster in Waukegan on 31 January 1864.  Thomas H Kennedy and Thomas W Kennedy from Antioch, who, I believe, were cousins, joined the Regiment the next month.  There was a Fiddler Family who were next door neighbors to the Sherwood Family in 1870 in Antioch.  Daniel Sherwood, Adelbert Van Patter, and Henry Fiddler may well have gone to Waukegan together.  Daniel's friends died in the War just over two months before he did.

 Two of Henry Fiddlers' brothers also died in the Civil War.

The gravestone listing the three Fiddler brothers who died in the Civil War
Angolan Cemetery, Lake Villa, Lake, Illinois

Adelbert Van Patten, Thomas H Kennedy,  Thomas W Kennedy, and Henry Fiddler were all killed on August 16, 1864. These soldiers were from Antioch and likely were acquainted with each other in that small town before volunteering for the War.

Colonel Homer A. Plimpton wrote the following of this battle:  (August 16, 1864)

"The scene which now presented itself to my view I shall never forget--whole divisions of the advancing column swept down in a twinkling of an eye.  On every hand could be seen dead and dying men; our own comrades, who but a short time before were buoyant and hopeful, no thought of death to make them sad." (389)

They were buried the next day:

"On the 17th, the day after the battle, our dead were brought into our lines under a flag of truce and decently buried.  Our brigade's share in the dead was over 250." (391)  One can only imagine the grief of sixteen year old Dan Sherwood over the loss of his four friends from Antioch.


The 39th Regiment history showed that on August 16, 1864 the Regiment attacked the enemy at Deep (Valley) Run (Second Battle of Deep Bottom).  The links at that site will give added information, pictures, and a map.


 Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road  was where Daniel Sherwood lost his life on October 28, 1864.  This was a confederate victory and about 600 prisoners were taken.  This battle recorded Union casualties of 1603 and Confederate casualties of fewer than 100.  If you scroll down on the map you will see Darbytown Road and Deep Bottom Park.  A satellite view is also available.

A drawing of the action on the 27th by Alfred Waud
The painting is not real clear, but this is as close as we can get to the battle.

Colonel Homer A. Plimpton wrote of this battle:

"On the 26h of Oct., orders were received for an advance and on the 27th the corps advanced to the front again near the scene of the late engagement on the 13th of Oct., where they met the enemy and for two days more or less fighting was done.  The 39th at this time was not called to take a very active part and hence our losses were small." (404)  But certainly not small for Private Daniel Sherwood who lost his life at this time or his family who would grieve for the loss of this young man. 

There is no way of knowing, but the following entry in Homer A Plimpton's Journal might apply to Daniel Sherwood:

"Miss Clara Barton is with us in our hospital department, attending to the wants of the wounded, furnishing little delicacies that no one but a woman knows how to prepare and giving comfort and encouragement to the sick and wounded both day and night.  She is a second Florence Nightengale among us and we appreciate her services at this and other trying times most sincerely." (406)

Could she have attended to Daniel Sherwood?

Of the battle of the 13th of October referred to above, where Daniel likely saw action as well, Colonel Homer A Plimpton said: "Our little regiment lost six brave men in less time than it takes me to write it."  Of this loss he wrote:

"In strong, fierce, headlong fight they

fall, as ships go down in storms,

They fall, and here whirlwinds, swept o'er

their shattered forms."(402)

After this Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road there seemed to be a general cessation of operations at the front and the whole army prepared to go into winter quarters.  Pleasant camps were selected near their line of works.  Had he survived that battle, Daniel Sherwood would likely have been at or near Appomatox Court House when Robert E Lee surrendered to Ulysses S Grant.  A week after that historic event  Daniel Sherwood's Regiment would have heard of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.  Colonel Homer A Plimpton  of Daniel Sherwood's  Regiment said:  We never knew the depths of our love for that noble man until we heard of his cruel murder." (421)  

"That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain"
Gettysburg Address

Notes:

See The Civil War Journals of Colonel Homer A Plimpton 1861-1865 for more information on the 39th Illinois Regiment.  The book may be read as an ebook at google books.  Colonel Homer A Plimpton was an inspiring leader.  The next blog on Daniel Sherwood will post more of his quotes.

Quotes from The Civil War Journal are in red with the page numbers in parenthesis.

The next post will relate an unexpected discovery made about Daniel Sherwood,

February 5, 1865--Panacker City

View of Pioche, Nevada, from one of its mine buildings.  (lds.org)

Panacker Citty Feb 5 1865

Dear Henry, it is with with greaf i rite you and with pleasure to    it is a pleasure to hear that so many of you are well but a greaf to hear of Dans Death    but it is what i looked for every letter i received till i got the news     you all complane of getting letters so infrequent you dont seem to think that i am a hundred miles from a post office and some of the time out of paper and stamps for i answer all the letters i receive and some i never have received a letter from and i dont complane a bout it for i supose it is thare wish to not rite to me   you was a frade that i would knock

the botom of my half bushel out and i think you are a knocking the botom out of your half bushel pretty successfully by not attending to what i wanted some time a go that was a power of atorney that i could act for you legally  you have had one clame jumped  for i had nothing to show that i had any wright to hold it for you and they have ben offered forty Dollars a foot for it since they prefered it and what dos 200 feete come to at forty dollars per foot and the 18 of March there will be an other one ready to Jump that is worth as much or more and so on through the summer

as they were located they hold good for one year for location and then a man has to be thare or by his legal representative and you have as much as i have and i think you better attend to it soon and wellington too i wish you would take all the panes you can to learn wellington at home to rite and do the best you can for my folkes    my wife rites me she and children are prety destitute but i have no means at present to send them an i would i have not made any thing for 2 years  it has ben all expense and i shant make any thing probably be fore next summer an fall for I shant sell

four ten cts on the Dollar    i want to get my business in shape so i can come home e (arly?)  next fall  if it is possible i am a  going to start to the Colorado River to mor ow morning a prospecting that country there has ben some very rich discoverys made lattty by many of the latter Day saints and i want to come in __ to ___ for i am on it ??     you spoke in your last letter of bying a farm  i want you to investagte the matter well be fore you by at the present prises  when the war closes you will see hard times and more taxes?  than any farm  can pay but Do as you pleas

yours truly    S. Sherwood

Notes:  

Future posts will:

• Discuss the unfortunate death of Stephen Sherwood's fifteen year old son, Dan

Stephen wrote that He was going prospecting at the Colorado River tomorrow (February 6, 1865)   In March 1865, a mixed group did leave for the Colorado River.  Some of the friends of Stephen Sherwood were in the party (Samuel S Shutt, William McCluskey, and David Sanderson), but Stephen Sherwood is not listed with them.  Also listed were Thomas C. W. Sale, Territorial Indian agent, John H Ely, and Ira Hatch, a Mormon, who was the group's Indian interpreter (Making Space on the Western Frontier by W. Paul Reeve, pg. 38)