Index card with biographical information about Benjamin McComsey
Description
Index card with biographical information that accompanied the letters, a tintype of Benjamin McComsey, and a needlepoint bookmark.
"This is the chief treasure of the McComsey family. Young son Benjamin volunteered to serve in the Civil War, and these letters tell the story of the remainder of his life.
Benjamin was the son of William McComsey, who was City Treasurer of Lanc. in the late 1800s. A descendant of Mathias McComsey, who was born in Manor Township in 1787. Benjamin's mother was Mary Dorwart, daughter of Henry, a tailor in Lancaster.
Benjamin died Nov. 7, 1862 in Berlin, Md. in the 18th year of his life. He is buried in the McComsey plot at Lancaster Cemetery."
Admin/Biographical History
Benjamin was the son of William and Mary Ann (Dorwart) McComsey. In 1860 he was a farmer living with his family in Providence Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Ben's service during the Civil War was brief. He enlisted in Lancaster on 7 August 1862 and was mustered into the U.S. Army on August 11 as a private with Company D, 122nd Pennsylvania Infantry. He died from typhoid fever in a military hospital at Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland on 7 November 1862.
Letter from Benjamin McComsey (MG0018_SerA_F077_It01)
Letter from Benjamin McComsey (MG0018_SerA_F077_It02)
Letter from Benjamin McComsey (MG0018_SerA_F077_It03)
Letter from Benjamin McComsey (MG0018_SerA_F077_It04)
Letter from Benjamin McComsey (MG0018_SerA_F077_It06)
Letter from Henry Benner (MG0018_SerA_F077_It07)
Letter from Henry Benner (MG0018_SerA_F077_It08)
Letter from Benjamin McComsey (MG0018_SerA_F077_It09)
Tintype of Benjamin McComsey (2009.014)
McComsey Family Album (A-15-01-01 to A-15-01-40)
Carte de visite of Chester Hubley (1-02-01-79)
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Civil War Collection (MG0018), Series #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Scrapbook appears to be the work of Thomas' son, Blanton Welsh. The volume was origianlly a record book for the Commonwealth Insurance Company, for which Thomas Welsh was an agent in Columbia. The scrapbook contains newspaper articles from the Columbia Spy, beginning with articles on the cholera epidemic of 1854, Welsh's cases as Justice of the Peace, and published war correspondence by Thomas Welsh under the names "Thirsty Squad" and "45". Blanton continued the scrapbook with newspaper articles about his father and sisters, and a lawsuit against him in 1930; his mother's obituary; his wedding announcement; his visiting cards; a letter from Lillie to Blanton; and letters to Thomas Welsh. The letters to Thomas Welsh are scanned and transcibed as MG0828_SeriesD-61_F03, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F04, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F05, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F07, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F08, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F09, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F10, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F11, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F12, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F13, MG0828_SeriesD-63_F10, MG0828_SeriesD-63_F14, and MG0828_SeriesE_F04.
Admin/Biographical History
Thomas Welsh (1824-1863) was a Lancaster County native (born and raised in Columbia), who rose from hardscrabble origins to local fame, first as a Mexican War hero, and then as a brigadier general during the Civil War. He was well known and well respected as a no nonsense officer, for his leadership and gallantry in battle, for his dedication to the service of his country, and for his concern for the welfare of his men. See MG0828 for more biographical information.
Provenance: Passed down through the family, Blanton Charles Welsh to Emilie Benson (Welsh) Wiggin to Nancy Jane (Wiggin) Townsend. Acquired from: Chuck Townsend, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2016/05/15.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Some items are photocopies from other collections--researchers must obtain permission for reproduction and publication from the owner of the original material.
Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
