JOHN O. STEVENS
Killed in Battle
at Gettysburg Pa.
July 3, 1863.
AE. 33 yrs. 6 mos.
Co. B 2 Reg. N.H. Vol.
_________
Erected by
Moosehillock Lodge
No. 63 F. & A. Masons
Civil War
Serendipity
Saturday’s word of the day was serendipity. I’d put off a research trip to Wentworth, New Hampshire for a week due to inertia. I’m looking into the background of the family of a Civil War soldier who was born there.
My first stop was the Webster Public Library in Wentworth, open from 9-12 on Saturdays.
1. I found several books published by a local historian Francis Muzzey that mentioned property owned by the soldier’s family in the early 1800s.
2. I noticed a stack of pamphlets in a dusty case that turned out to be a stack of of original town reports from 1863 through the 1890s with occasional references to his family. I only recognized them because I’d see a couple at the New Hampshire Historical Society the previous week (NHHS only had 3 years worth). I was able to photograph them all.
3. In another case I noticed a thick book with the title “The History of Wentworth, Vol 1 – Manuscript). Turns out it was Hoyt’s original hand-written 1857 history of the town. I own a transcript and was awed to be able to page through the original and photograph the pages relating to the soldier.
4. The library kicked me out when they closed at noon. I headed over to the Wentworth Historical Society, a small building about 1/2 mile away. As I arrived a gentleman was heading out the door on his way to lunch. He asked what I needed. I told him a bit about my research and he said he’d be back in about 10 minutes. At that point I asked if he might be Mr. Muzzey. He was surprised that I knew his name. When he returned we talked for 1 1/2 hours about the family. (The conversation did take a slight detour when he discovered I was related to Lizzie Borden). He’s going to do some research for me on where the various members of the family lived in town before and after the War. He also asked if I would give a presentation to their historical society when I finish my research!
Did I mention that Mr. Muzzey did the 1976 transcription of the Hoyt manuscript? The transcript that I have on my shelf at home.
5. Near the end our talk he pulled out a book he’d compiled of everyone buried in the town cemeteries, sorted by name. We found the soldier, his parents, and an infant brother listed in a cemetery up the street.
He then escorted me down to the cemetery and helped me locate the graves.
The serendipity? If I’d gone to Wentworth last week instead of NHHS:
I wouldn’t have recognized the stack on reports in the display case. The reports were not in the library’s local history section or the their catalog and the librarian at the desk did not know what they were. I only knew what they were because I’d gone to the NHHS and seen one there.
I wouldn’t have met Mr. Muzzey. He says he doesn’t usually go to the historical society on Saturdays because nobody ever drops by. He was only there that one day this summer because they were short handed.
My thanks to the Webster Library for allowing me to examine and photograph the town reports and portions of the manuscript.
SQUEEEE!
John O. Stevens 1829-1863
My thanks to David Allen Lambert of the New England Historic Genealogical Society for finding this reference and putting a face to the soldier that I have been researching for the last 2 years.
Source: Martin A. Haynes, A History of the Second Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, in the War of the Rebellion. Lakeport, New Hampshire, 1896.
John O. Stevens
During a re-reading of Hoyt’s History of Wentworth, I found details of the death of John O. Stevens that I missed before.
“John O Stevens, Co B, 2nd N H Reg. was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg Pa July 1st or 2nd 1863. He was struck by a ball in the loins, which undoubtedly caused his death shortly after. But little is known of the particulars of this death, as no report has been given by any of his comrades. His body was found by the side of a barn by a soldier in one of the western regiments and by him caused to be buried and the grave marked. From the papers in his pockets his name and residence was learned and his father notified of the fact by this kind soldier. His body was brought home and buried with Masonic honors, witnessed by a very large concern of people – August 2, 1863 This brave young man was the first to volunteer in defense of his Countrys flag from this Town. He was esteemed by all for his moral worth as well as patriotism. After enduring the hardships and perils of more that two years service, being a participant in most of the battles in which the Gallant Second were engaged, he at last fell a victim to the most wicked Rebellion. Let his memory be hallowed.”
Source: Hoyt, Peter L., Hoyt’s History of Wentworth New Hampshire. Transcribed from the original manuscript by Francis L. Muzzey. Littleton, New Hampshire: Courier Printing Company, Inc., 1976, p. 345.
1863 Civil War Draft Registration for William and Thomas Bence
Civil War Draft Registration for William and Thomas Bence
June 1863 Civil War Draft Registration record for William Bence, age 37, and his brother Thomas, age 42. Both are listed as residents of Fall River, MA with their place of birth as England. In the “Remarks” column next to each of their entries is the note “Says he is an alien”.
Source Citation
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General’s Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name: Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); ARC Identifier: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 3 of 4