Maromas, Middletown, Connecticut
Nine men from the Maromas District of Middletown enlisted in the Civil War. Four of them in Co. B, 14th Regiment. Four of them in Co. D, 24th Regiment. And, one in 1st Regiment, Heavy Artillery. Eight are buried in Maromas Cemetery, and the remains of one never came home (Nathaniel Butler). One died of disease (Nathaniel Butler). One was 'killed in action' by artillery fire (Daniel Otis), and two died not long after being discharged (Ashbel Clark and Frederick Butler). Sherman Johnson was the only survivor of the "Co.B. Boys." Four of the nine men were siblings: brothers from the Butler family.
I honor all nine men here on this page.
But first, a few notes:
1) When researching the "Maromas Men," I could not consult the 1890 Census Reports, because they no longer exist! In January 1920, the 1890 Census’ population schedules were badly damaged by a fire in the Commerce Department Building.
2) Unfortunately, only three soldier's images have survived: Private Nathaniel S. Butler, Private Frederick Butler, and Private Daniel H. Otis. I have the personal signatures for four. I share what I have found. Also, I include images of all the soldier's gravestones. Nathaniel Butler's gravestone is a memorial. His remains never came home and are now lost to time.
3) My husband and I have cleaned all of the soldier's gravestones. A few of the stones needed several cleanings. I've included "before-and-after" photos. Note that, ALL cleaning and repair items are safe and/or formulated for cleaning and restoring historic gravestones, which we have training in.
4) I do mention PTSD on this page here, so I have to say this: Folks crack me up when they say “Well, they didn’t have PTSD back then.” They may not have had a formal diagnosis or name for it, or even understood what was going on, but you can be damn sure civil war veterans suffered from what we today call shell-shock, combat-stress, or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I quote American Civil War IG (one of my favorite Instagram pages): “Although the recognition of PTSD in medical and psychiatric journals wouldn’t come for another 105 years, many veterans suffered from the symptoms of the condition after the war. And it wasn’t just prisoners of war who experienced it. Alcoholism, depression, domestic abuse and suicide rates skyrocketed after the war amongst all veterans.
Some even began to experience symptoms during the war. Owen Flaherty of Terre Haute was prone to fits of rage in camp, followed by periods of non-responsiveness. When on picket duty, he’d run into camp screaming that the enemy was coming when they weren’t. After the war he was diagnosed with acute mania and placed in an “insane asylum”.
It wasn’t exclusive to enlisted men either. Ranald S Mackenzie, who Ulysses Grant once deemed the “most promising young officer”, was placed in an institution almost 20 years after the war. He was described by family as “irritable, irascible, exacting, sometimes erratic, and frequently explosive.”
Horrible weather, disease, long marches that ended with a jump straight into a battle that they may or may not survive...many factors attributed to declining the mental health of the soldier. Unfortunately, it was rarely talked about out of embarrassment."
5) Lastly, I just want to give a very special thanks to two people:
First, I want to thank my lovely friend, Melaine Butler Smigel, who is the great-great granddaughter of Private Frederick Butler. She has allowed me to share a picture of her Grandfather from her private collection, and has given me "her blessing" on what I researched and wrote on her family below. Melaine's great-great Uncles are Private Nathaniel Butler, Private Henry Butler, and Private Charles Butler, who I write about on this page.
I also want to thank another friend, Elton "Bud" Harvey III, the great-great grandson of Private Sherman Johnson, for his input under the "Sherman Johnson subheading," and for generously sharing the genealogy of the Chauncy Johnson family with me. Adding what info he had, to what I already had (with a few corrections), makes for quite an interesting read!
All Civil War G.A.R. markers were placed by myself, my son, and Melaine Butler Smigel.
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Men from Maromas who enlisted in Co. B, 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry:
14th Regiment—3-year Regiment
1,966 Recruits (Company B: 101 Recruits)
Organized at Hartford August 23, 1862. Left Connecticut for Washington, D. C., August 25.
During the war, the 14th Connecticut was in the greatest number of battles, captured the most enemy flags, and suffered the highest combat-related casualties of any Connecticut regiment, with Company B suffering many casualties from both battle wounds and disease. By the time the company mustered out on May 31, 1865, only 19 of the original 101 members remained in the unit.
118 killed, 15 missing, 263 died, 614 wounded, 14 wounded and captured, 173 captured (source: Blaikie Hines)
Total: 397 (source: National Park Service)
Second Brigade of the
Third Division
Second Army Corps of the
Army of the Potomac
14th Connecticut
130th Pennsylvania
108th New York
Brigade Command: Colonel Dwight Morris
14th Conn. Regiment Command: Lieutenant-Colonel Sanford H. Perkins
Captain of Company B: Elijah W. Gibbons
See the “Suggested Reading” page on this website for a list of books about, or by members, of the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
Private Nathaniel S. Butler (brother of Frederick Butler, Henry Butler, and Charles Butler)
Co. B, 14th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted on August 4, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 22
Height (feet/inches): 6 feet* ~ Color Eyes: Blue ~ Color Hair: Light ~ Complexion: Light
Born: 1840 in Middletown, CT
Died of disease (typhoid fever) at Aquia Creek, VA, February 3, 1863**. Nathaniel's remains never came home to Maromas, Middletown. His final resting place is lost to time...
*The Official Muster Roll lists Nathaniel as 6 feet tall, however his enlistment papers (below), list him as 6 feet, 8 inches tall!
**Death date sources: 1) Co. B, Fourteenth Regiment Infantry Roster 2) History of the Fourteenth Regiment Connecticut Vol. Infantry, by Charles D. Page. 3) Middletown Memorial Album (compiled 1867 and 1874).
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| Private Nathaniel Sherman Butler. The original black-and-white photograph of Nathaniel is housed at Middlesex County Historical Society. |
My husband and I had Private Nathaniel S. Butler's photograph digitally restored and colorized. Look at the clarity of this close-up of Nathaniel!
Nathaniel Sherman Butler was born 1840 in Middletown, CT to Ezra Butler and Belinda Bailey. Before the war, Nathaniel worked as both a farmer and as a quarryman in one of Maromas’ quarries.
On August 24, 1858, Nathaniel (age 18) married Elizabeth Ann Smith (age 22), daughter of Stephen Smith and Azuba Ann Bailey. They were married by Maromas resident, Edwin Scovill, who was acting as Justice of the Peace. (Elizabeth: 1835 – 1912). They had one child together, a son named, Stephen T. Butler (July 5, 1859 – March 4, 1893, age 34).
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| Volunteer Enlistment Papers for Nathaniel Sherman Butler, Co. B., 14th CT Volunteer Infantry |
Nathaniel survived both the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Fredericksburg, only to die of typhoid fever in a hospital at Aquia Creek, VA, on February 3, 1863. He left behind a wife and a 2 ½ year-old son, Stephen T Butler.
Tragically, Nathaniel is the only one, out of all the Maromas soldiers, whose remains were not buried in Maromas. His remains were never brought back home, and now his final resting place is lost to time.
Nathaniel's widow, Elizabeth, went on to re-marry three more times. She outlived four husbands! Husband 1: Nathaniel Sherman Butler (1840 - 1863). Husband 2: Adam Wagoner (1840 - 1884). Husband 3: Edward W. Dimock (1836 - ?). Husband 4: Eber L. Robinson (1829 - 1903).
Family Relations: Belinda Bailey of Haddam, was the mother of Nathaniel Butler. Daniel Otis’ maternal grandmother was a Bailey too. Her name was Elizabeth Bailey of Haddam. She married William S. Young of Maromas, Middletown.
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| Private Nathaniel S. Butler Memorial headstone at Maromas Cemetery |
IN MEMORY OF
NATHANIEL S.
BUTLER
PVT
CO B
14 CONN INF
CIVIL WAR
1840
FEB 3, 1863
Read how Private Nathaniel S. Butler is being remembered at Maromas Cemetery, HERE.
Private Ashbel A. Clark
Co. B, 14th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted on August 6, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 18
Height (feet/inches): 5 feet / 8 inches ~ Color Eyes: Brown ~ Color Hair: Dark ~ Complexion: Light
Discharged on account of disability, January 30, 1863
Born: September 11, 1843 in Maromas, Middletown, CT
Died: April 11, 1863 in Maromas, Middletow, CT (age 19 years, 7 months) from "diabetes." Ashbel A. Clark is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, near his mother and father.
Ashbel A. Clark was born September 11, 1843 in Maromas, Middletown, CT to Alvin Clark and Delilah Ray. He was the youngest of six other brothers. Ashbel attended the little red school house in Maromas with other fellow Civil War enlistees: Daniel H. Otis, Sherman Johnson, and Charles A. Butler. Before the war, the 1860 Census shows 17 year-old Ashbel working as a “fisherman” and living with his parents and older brothers, Albert and James.
On June 29, 1861, Ashbel's father, Alvin Clark, a mechanic and farmer, died from "apoplexy." Apoplexy is unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke.
In 1862, Ashbel's occupation was "farmer." That same year, Ashbel Clark enlisted as a volunteer soldier on August 6, 1862—which was only two days after Daniel Otis, Nathaniel Butler, and Sherman Johnson enlisted.
The Military Service Records for Ashbel Clark show that not long after his first battle at Antietam (September 17, 1862), he was diagnosed with "valvular disease of the heart.” Four months later, on January 30, 1863, he was discharged on account of disability.
I have some questions about his situation. First, why was he not discharged on the spot? Or at least taken out of service with a stay at the hospital until his discharge went through? Second, I’d like to know what led to this sudden diagnosis.
Only one month previously, during the enlistment process, Ashbel would have been given a thorough physical examination by the 14th Connecticut’s assistant surgeon, Dr. Levi Jewett, who was a graduate of Bellevue Medical College, and a highly capable doctor. Why was this so-called heart condition not discovered at the time of the enlistment exam?
And, before enlisting, Ashbel worked as a fisherman and a farmer, both of which would be pretty strenuous occupations for someone with a heart issue—undiagnosed or not. Baling hay, reaping the harvest, hauling fish, etc.
So, not only did Ashbel work at two strenuous occupations, but he also passed a thorough physical exam given by a competent medical doctor. Sounds like a vibrant, healthy young man! Yet, not long after the Battle of Antietam—which was the bloodiest single day in American history—Ashbel was suddenly diagnosed with “valvular disease of the heart.”
Despite his heart disease diagnosis, on November 18, 1862, Ashbel and his Brigade marched 8 miles west of Belle Plain (VA) to an army supply depot. Here, they were detailed to unload army provisions and equipment from a constant barrage of incoming ships. Each day, Ashbel and the men (including fellow Privates, Nathaniel Butler, Sherman Johnson, and Daniel Otis) reported to the wharves at 5 a.m. and began the back-breaking labor of unloading the ships.
Company B Corporal, Elnathan Tyler, says of this work: “The sickly, disagreeable non-soldier like experience at Belle Plain, where our men, wholly unused to such work, were detailed to do duty as stevedores and longshoremen, some weak ones staggering from the barges to the dock under loads they could scarcely stand under.” Ashbel and the men of Company B would toil under this disgraceful situation for 17 days!
Next, Ashbel would fight at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862—a battle that was a hallmark of “explosive death and mass dismemberment.” Besides the mental and emotional trauma of surviving two major battles, he saw his childhood friend (and probable family-relation), Daniel Otis, horribly disfigured by an artillery shell, which "shot his leg off," resulting in a horrific death. Let’s not forget the extreme physical taxations Ashbel would have faced, as well.
Weakened, he was finally discharged on account of disability on January 30, 1863, which was four-months after the “valvular disease of the heart” diagnosis. Two-months after he was discharged, Ashbel A. Clark was dead. He died at his home in Maromas on April 11, 1863—four days before, of what would have been his friend, Daniel Otis’ 16th birthday.
Curious what his actual cause of death was, I paid a visit to the Middletown Vital Statistics. First, I hoped that he would be listed in the records, because not everyone is. Secondly, if he was listed, I was betting that he died of a heart issue. Right?
Wrong.
His cause of death....
Wait for it….
“Diabetes!” (Insert record screech here).
Diabetes?
What happened here?
How does one go from valvular disease of the heart to diabetes? I’m not able to make that leap just yet. I could make that leap, if heart disease was a secondary cause of death, but there was no secondary cause listed. Just diabetes.
It seems like somebody, somewhere, done Ashbel Clark wrong, and missed something.
Now I have a hundred different questions.
Heart valve disease does NOT mimic diabetes! The only symptoms that are similar are fatigue and weakness. They are like apples and oranges. So I can’t see how he is diagnosed and discharged for heart disease, and then two months later dies of diabetes.
I don’t know who diagnosed him with heart disease, but I do know who diagnosed him with diabetes. It was Middletown physician George W. Burke, who was an 1839 graduate of Wesleyan University, and an 1843 graduate of Yale University, where he received his medical doctorate. He also studied medicine with Dr. A. Brigham of Hartford.
Surely, when Ashbel arrived back home after his discharge, his family took him to see a doctor, and perhaps at that visit, diabetes is what Dr. George Burke diagnosed him with. Because of this, did Ashbel know he wouldn’t have long to live? How tragic!
Today, we know there is Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 usually develops in children or young adults, but can occur at any age. In Type 1, the body completely stops making insulin. In the 1860’s most folks who had Type 1, died, because there was no treatment available to lower blood glucose levels. This resulted in a rapid onset of symptoms: diabetic ketoacidosis, loss of consciousness, coma, and death.
Type 2 usually develops in adulthood, and is more likely to occur in folks who are over age 40, overweight, and have a family history of diabetes. In Type 2, the body produces insulin, but the cells don’t respond to insulin the way they should. This is called insulin resistance. An elevated blood glucose level over prolonged periods can result in delayed wound healing, kidney, heart, and eye damage, and even a stroke.
In the 1860’s Type 1 diabetes would be considered hopeless. Onset was at a younger age, and the result was death. Whereas, Type 2 developed in adulthood and typically took many years of uncontrolled blood sugar for serious complications to occur.
There is a theory, that the drastic change of diet while in the military was a suspected cause of diabetes in many soldiers. However, I believe this theory applies to Type 2 diabetes, and not to Type 1. No amount of sugar in a person’s diet—or anything in their lifestyle—can cause them to get Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when a person’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.
To diagnose a person with diabetes in the 1860’s, a thorough history of the patient would be taken, along with a physical assessment. And if the doctor was so inclined—he would “taste” a miniscule sample of the urine. The urine of a diabetic would be sweet due to glucose spilling into it.
Was Dr. Burke correct in his diagnosis? There is no reason to believe that he wasn’t, and his prestigious medical education makes for a convincing case, doesn’t it? Also, the brief, two-month, time period from when Ashbel was discharged to when he died, certainly adds weight to the diagnosis.
What about the “valvular disease of the heart” diagnosis that Ashbel received shortly after the Battle of Antietam? Honestly, I don’t know, and there was no secondary cause of death listed for Ashbel. Perhaps it was a case of “soldier’s heart” (aka: “irritable heart”) — that “peculiar functional disorder of the heart,” which was a condition identified by Jacob M. Da Costa, a physician in Philadelphia. In 1862, this would have been a brand new diagnosis, and only the most informed surgeons would have been aware of this condition and Da Costa’s work.
Ashbel A. Clark was only 19 years-old when he died. That war chewed poor Ashbel up and spit him back out again. Besides diabetes, I do believe he was also suffering from what we today call shell-shock, combat-stress, or PTSD. I wonder what Ashbel's life would have been like had he never enlisted? Would diabetes have gotten him anyway? If it was indeed what we know as Type 1 diabetes—than yes.
Ashbel is buried in Maromas Cemetery beside his mother and father and not far from his friends and fellow soldiers, Daniel H. Otis and Sherman Johnson.
Family Relations: Alvin Clark was the father of Ashbel A. Clark. Daniel Otis’, 2x maternal great-grandmother was a Clark. Her name was Abigail Clark of Middletown. She married Daniel Spencer of Haddam.
Notes:
> See a picture of Ashbel's older brother, Daniel K. Clark, at the end of this page. Perhaps there was a family resemblance? And then again, maybe there wasn't, as Ashbel had brown eyes and his brother's eyes look almost like an "ice-blue." Siblings don't always resemble each other. It's a lovely photo though, and, I felt led to add it to this page.
> Yes, they called it diabetes back then. Actually, the official name is ‘diabetes mellitus.’
> For some interesting insight into the condition of "soldier’s heart" (aka: irritable heart), please see these highly interesting and informative links. It is well worth the reader’s time.
National Museum of Civil War Medicine: "Irritable Heart: Fictional Dr. Foster and Actual Dr. Jacob M. Da Costa."
National Museum of Civil War Medicine: "Irritable Heart and Coping with the Trauma of War."
And this link too:
Science Daily: "A new battle: Veterans more likely to have heart disease."
This next link by the Smithsonian Magazine is especially worth the readers time, as it could apply to all of the Maromas soldiers. I think it's so important that I permanently archived it on my site here.
Smithsonian Magazine: "Did Civil War Soldiers Have PTSD?" One hundred and fifty years later, historians are discovering some of the earliest known cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. This article also touches on the ill-fated 16th CT Regiment.
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| Before-and-After cleaning. Gravestone of Private Ashbel A. Clark |
ASHBEL A.
SON OF
Alvin & Delilah
CLARK
of Co. B. 14 Regt. C.V.
died April 11, 1863
AE 19 Yrs. 7 Mo’s.
Private Sherman Johnson
Co. B, 14th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted on August 4, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 22
Height (feet/inches): 5 feet / 6 inches ~ Color Eyes: Black ~ Color Hair: Dark ~ Complexion: Dark
Mustered out with the Company on May 31, 1865
Born: January 4, 1840 in Chatham, CT (since renamed East Hampton). Source for town of birth: son's death record.
Died: December 24, 1881 in Higganum, CT (age 41) of "consumption," (Source: Haddam vitals). Sherman is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, near his mother and father.
Sherman Johnson was born January 4, 1840 in Chatham, CT to Chauncy Johnson (1792 – 1846) and Deborah Freeman. Chauncy was the son of Rev. James Johnson and Hephzibah Hubbard.
Before Sherman came along, his father, Chauncy Johnson, was married two times previous. First, to Ruth Bailey who was born about 1802. Chauncy and Ruth had six children together; one of them being Chauncy Johnson, Jr (1828 - 1850). It was during the birth of her sixth child, that 28 year-old Ruth lost her life. She and her infant son, also named Sherman, both died on March 18, 1830 (per her gravestone in Maromas Cemetery).
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| "SHERMAN THEIR INFANT SON" From the grave of Ruth Bailey Johnson, first wife of Chauncy Johnson |
Seven months later, Chauncy married Berlinda Lucas Camp, daughter of George Lucas I and Sarah Simmons (note: Berlinda was first married to Selah Camp on May 22, 1819). Berlinda and Chauny had four children together in about eight years. Then on May 28, 1838, Berlinda dies at age 38. Her last child (Bethuel) was born in 1838. I wonder if this is yet another case of a woman dying in childbirth.
Five months later, Chauncy Johnson takes a third wife: Deborah Goff Freeman of Chatham, CT. He and Deborah were married on November 22, 1838 in Middletown by Friend Dickinson, Justice of the Peace (Middletown Vital Records). Chauncy and Deborah had two sons together: Sherman Johnson and George F. Johnson (February 6, 1845 – 1924, age 79).). Sherman and George were born into a large family, with many, many half-siblings around them.
About eight years after his marriage to Deborah, Chauncy Johnson died on August 18, 1846 (age 54). Sherman was only 6 years-old when he lost his father, and George was age 1 ½. Widow Deborah Johnson then married William Sugden on December 12, 1848, when Sherman was about 8 years-old. I’m not sure what happened to William Sugden, but the 1850 Census Report doesn’t list him as living with Deborah and her children—Sherman, age 10, and George, age 5. For that matter, he seemed to have disappeared, because he never shows up again in the family’s Census Reports in the following decades. I cannot find any death record or divorce record for a William Sugden who was married to a Deborah.
Anyhow, the 1850 Census shows that Deborah’s real estate was valued at $200. In 1850, $200 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $6,664 in 2020. Before the war, in 1860, Sherman Johnson (age 20) worked as a “fisherman,” and as a quarryman in one of Maromas’ quarries. He lived with his mother, and brother, George, in Middletown. Deborah’s real estate was now valued at $100 and her personal estate has a value of $200.
Sherman Johnson enlisted in Co. B with three other men from Maromas. Of those three, he was the only one who survived the war. It looks as if he went through the war practically unscathed. The only notes listed for him in the Regimental sources are that he "mustered out" when the war was over!
After the war, Sherman married Emma Lee Arnold (July 30, 1849 – Jan 29, 1930, age 80), daughter of Curtis S. Arnold II and Irene M. Flood. Just a note about Curtis Arnold: he was a shoemaker by trade who served in Co. G, 12th CT Infantry Regiment (civil war). Curtis was furloughed in January 1864 and returned home to Portland, CT, where he ended up dying from "Phthisis Pulmonalis" (aka: tuberculosis), on April 27, 1864. For what it's worth, at least Curtis had the solace of dying at home, surrounded by his loved-ones, and not on the battlefield far from home, which is the way many hundreds of thousands of other soldiers died. Curtis Arnold is buried at Old Rock Landing Cemetery in Haddam, CT with a military gravestone. (Irene Flood (Arnold): 1830 – 1907 / Curtis Arnold: 1823 – 1864).
I just have to touch on Emma Arnold's birth date here. There is a 1930 funeral bill for her that says she was born June 18, 1852, and that's the consensus date floating around out there on the genealogical sites. However, Bud Harvey (great-grandson of Sherman Johnson) has an 1869 pension application that shows a birthdate of July 30, 1849 for Emma. The application also says that she was married and residing in Higganum (village in Haddam), CT at the time. The 1850 Census report backs up this 1849 birthdate.
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| Clip-view 1850 Census Report for Emma Arnold and her parents Curtis and Irene Arnold |
The above image is a clip-view from the 1850 Census Report. Notice Emma Arnold is age 1. Therefore, she couldn't have been born in 1852 if she's on the 1850 Census! The strange thing is that Emma's age on all the other Census reports thereafter, are closer to the 1852 birthdate! I'm going with the 1849 date.
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| Screen shot of Ancestry page 1850 Census Report for Emma Arnold, age 1 |
The 1870 Census shows Sherman (age 30) working as a quarry laborer, Emma (age 21) is “keeping house." Their son Charles is listed in the Census (no age listed), and so is Sherman’s elderly mother Deborah. The 1870 Census lists Deborah as age 69. The 1870 Census also revealed something else! Thank you to Bud Harvey for bringing this “something else” to my attention.
The 1870 Census report for 40-year-old, Irene M. Arnold (mother of Emma Arnold-Johnson), shows that she was living in Middletown and working as a “Common Prostitute.” In that report, she is listed with nine other people. Here is the list with name, age, and occupation:
Samuel Spoone, 52. “Keeps house of ill fame.”
Alonzo Spoone, 24. “Bartender.”
William Spoone, 15. “Bartender.”
Mary Spoone, 28. “Common Prostitute.”
John McGinnis, 27. “Keeps house of ill fame.”
Mary McGinnis, 28. “Common Prostitute.”
Irene Arnold, 36. “Common Prostitute.”
Martha Obranne, 17. “Common Prostitute.”
Frances Williams, 25. “Common Prostitute.”
Jennie Russell, 18. “Common Prostitute.”
Samuel Spoone and John McGinnis were the “brains” behind this operation, with Samuel enlisting his children to help run the “fine” establishment. His two sons, Alonzo (age 24) and William (age 15) served the alcohol, while his daughter, Mary (age 28), served the "treats" as a prostitute. Either the wife or sister of John McGinnis got in the action too—Mary McGinnis (age 28) was also a prostitute.
Incredible!
Call me crazy, but I find it more disturbing seeing a 15 year-old working as a bartender in a “house of ill fame,” than a 15 year-old “gone for a soldier” like Daniel Otis! At least soldiering could have an honorable dimension to it!
And poor Irene Arnold! Did she have no other means to support herself after losing her husband to the war? Couldn’t she have done laundry, cleaned house, or worked in one of the factories, or on one of the myriads of farms in the area. According to Bud Harvey (Irene's 3x great-grandson), widowed Irene was at first denied her husband's benefits because she could not prove he had mustered-out with his unit. I don't understand why, because he mustered-out in another way, and could she not prove his death?
Denial of benefits may be the reason Irene ended turning to prostitution. Though I'm positive that prostitution was a last resort for her! No woman in their right mind, no matter how beautiful, would actually freely choose to sell her body to strange men. Because of the time period, many women had limited skills and opportunities to provide for themselves, therefore many sold sex as a means of survival. It was a sad plight for Irene Arnold—losing her husband and being left destitute with two young daughters.
How did Sherman meet Emma Arnold? Was he introduced to Emma by family or friends? Surely he must have been aware of his mother-in-law's sordid occupation! Both Sherman’s mother (Deborah Sugden), and Emma's mother (Irene Flood-Arnold) were born in Middle Haddam, CT (a tiny village in Chatham—which has since been renamed East Hampton). Could the two families have known each other and had connections? Did Sherman’s mother get word that poor Irene Arnold was now prostituting herself to survive, and that her two young daughters were in peril and in need of help? Did Sherman Johnson rise to the occasion and provide this help, marrying Emma, and saving her from an ill-fated situation?
Sherman Johnson was a battle-hardened Veteran, who saw and experienced the atrocities of war first-hand. He also knew the loss of war all too well, losing all three of his close comrades that he enlisted with in August 1862; comrades he was powerless to save. He also lost his own father when he was young. Did he marry Emma as a favor to her mother, or to his mother? The fact that Emma’s father was a fellow Veteran, and a deceased one, could have compelled him too. Did he marry Emma to save her from a similar fate as her mother? He couldn’t save his comrades, but he could save this young lady by marrying her and providing a home for her with himself and his mother. By offering this goodwill to Irene and Emma, did Sherman feel a bit of redemption from the evils of war?
Honestly, I don’t know. But it’s something to seriously think about.
Sherman Johnson and Emma Arnold had the following children together:
> Infant Johnson – tentative (October 17, 1867); per Bud Harvey (great-grandson of Sherman Johnson). However, I cannot confirm this birth with documents anywhere. If this is accurate, Emma Arnold (born July 30, 1849) was age 18 when she was married to Sherman and giving birth to his children. Sherman would be age 27. This could lend weight to the situation I mentioned above.
> Charles Sherman Johnson (September 5, 1869 – December 27, 1910; age 40)
> Flora Louise Johnson (October 9, 1870 – December 26, 1952; age 82) Birthdate per her death certificate.
> Frederick "Freddie" C. Johnson (April 27, 1873 – October 21, 1881, age 8) Per his death record.
> Infant Johnson (December 16, 1875 - January 6, 1876, age 21 days). This baby was born the same day Sherman’s comrade Daniel Otis died in Fredericksburg back in 1862. I’m sure the date was not lost on Sherman, and the fact that the baby did not live either. Per Maromas Cemetery Records.
By 1880 Irene Arnold (age 50) is no longer working as “Common Prostitute.” The 1880 Census report shows her living at “15 Railroad Avenue in Middletown.” Irene is “head of house” with an occupation of “keeping house.” Also living with her are her two daughters, Emma Arnold Johnson (wife of Sherman) whose occupation is “at home,” and Mary Arnold Carey, who is now widowed, and whose occupation is also “at home.” Everyone was at home! Wasn’t anyone working? How were they making a living and surviving? Also listed in the Census report are Mary’s two daughters, Irene Curtis Clark (age 10) and Ellen Katie Carey (age 5). Note: Mary’s children had two different fathers, and by 1880, one father was remarried, and the other was dead.
Where was Sherman?
Even more disturbing than a missing husband, was the fact that their [Sherman and Emma] three children (Charles—age 10, and Flora—age 9, and Frederick, age 7) were not listed in the 1880 Census Report with their mother, Emma. Also, their father was nowhere to be found—at least not on paper! So, I dug a bit more and located separate 1880 Census Reports for the children. Charles had been placed with another family, and Flora, and Frederick were living at the Orphan Home!
According to those reports, Charles Johnson was living in the Westfield District of Middletown with the Bowens family, which included 52 year-old farmer, Henry J. Bowens, his wife Julia E. Bowens (age 53), who was "keeping house," and their 16 year-old daughter, Edith H. Bowens, who was "at school. Charles’ relationship to the family was listed as “help.” Though the report does mention his occupation as “in school.”
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| Snip-view from the 1880 Census Report for Charles Johnson, son of Sherman Johnson |
As for Flora Johnson and Frederick Johnson, I found two different reports for them. The first report was the regular 1880 Census Report that shows them living at "72 High Street" in Middletown. The top portion of the Census Report (not shown here) was taken along Loveland Street (which is right off of High St.) and it recorded the families living along there. However, the bottom portion of the Census Report (image below) records all the children living at the "Orphan Home," at 72 High Street. Flora Johnson and Frederick Johnson were two of the children living there.
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| Snip-view of the 1880 Census Report for Flora Johnson and Frederick Johnson, children of Sherman Johnson |
The second report for Flora Johnson and Frederick Johnson was a Federal Census Report; more specifically the "1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes.” The enumeration date for this Census was “June 1, 1880,” and the schedule type was “Homeless Children.”
The report recorded information on the “Middlesex County Orphan Home.” The Orphan Home was started by a small committee of concerned Middletown women in 1876, and led by the wife of Elihu W.N. Starr. The home was for "half-orphans, neglected or destitute" children.
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| 1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes. For Flora Johnson and Frederick Johnson, children of Sherman Johnson. |
The following is a transcription of what questions the above Federal Report asks, with the responses as they pertain to both Flora Johnson and her brother Frederick Johnson. The responses that differ are in red, otherwise the responses are the same for both children. I numbered them.
1) Is the child’s father deceased? NO
2) Is the child’s mother deceased? NO
3) Has this child been abandoned by his (or her) parents? NO
4) Has this child’s parents surrendered the control over him (or her)? NO
5) Is the child illegitimate? NO (This same question for Frederick Johnson has a different answer. The answer for him was: “DOUBT,” but it was “NO” for Flora Johnson)
6) Is this child separated from his or her (living) mother? YES
7) Has the origin of this child been respectable? NO
8) Has he (or she) been rescued from criminal surroundings? NO (This same question for Frederick Johnson has a different answer. The answer for him was: “YES,” but it was “NO” for Flora Johnson)
What in god’s name was going on here? Sherman was missing, his wife was living with widowed family members, and their children were living separate lives—in the Middlesex County Orphan Home!
The answers to the questions numbered 5, 7, and 8 speak volumes about what might have been going on within the family. “Has the origin of this child been respectable?" No—the children’s origin was NOT respectable—that is it was not regarded by society to be good, proper, or correct. However, Flora was NOT illegitimate, but there was “DOUBT” as to Frederick. What information did the orphanage have on Frederick to question his legitimacy? Also, Frederick was “rescued from criminal surroundings" (question 8).
Did this situation—of the children being placed in an Orphan Home, along with a non-respectable origin, illegitimacy, and being rescued from criminal surroundings—have something to do with their grandmother, Irene Arnold’s (hopefully) past occupation of “Common Prostitute?” Or was it something else?
Whatever was going on, must have been something awful. Could Sherman not cope with the aftermath of the war? Did it haunt him that he was the only one out of all the “Co. B Maromas Boys” to make it out alive? Did he feel that he should have died too? He witnessed the demise of his friends Daniel Otis and Nathaniel Butler, and without a doubt, got word that Ashbel Clark had perished at home not long after his discharge. Could Sherman not forget the “explosive death and dismemberment” of the battles he fought—and survived? Did he end up turning to drink, or something else? Or, did he suddenly fall ill, and therefore, could no longer provide for his family?
Sadly, little Frederick C. Johnson ended up dying about a year-and-a-half later on October 21, 1881 (age 8). Then, two months later, Sherman Johnson followed his young son to the grave, dying on December 24, 1881, at the relatively young age of 41.
There was no record of death for Sherman in Middletown, so I went over to Haddam (next town south of Middletown) and checked their records. They have Sherman listed as dying of “consumption.” Though Sherman was probably already sick by the time of his son’s death, I do wonder if little Frederick’s passing hastened his demise. I bet it did. I don't imagine there is anything more devastating in this world than losing your child, especially one so young.
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| 72 High Street The orphan home where Flora and Frederick Johnson lived, and where Frederick died. |
There was no record of Frederick Johnson’s death in Haddam, so I went over to Middletown and found him in their records. He died from "membranous croup," and the place of death was listed as "High" which was the Orphan home that he and his sister were living in on "72 High Street." I was surprised to see that over a year later, the kids were still at the Orphan home.
"Membranous croup," or croup, is type of respiratory infection that leads to swelling inside the trachea. The swelling can interfere with normal breathing and produces a barky-type cough, stridor, and hoarse voice. Fever and runny nose may be present. This is one nasty virus. My son had croup when he was about 4 years-old and ended up in the emergency room. Fortunately, modern medicine offered him steroids to take down the inflammation, allowing him to breathe.
Frederick Johnson was not as fortunate.
Poor dear child. Did he not have his mama to nurse him and comfort him? Who was there to hold his hand when he died? How utterly tragic to have died in an orphanage! As I write this, my own son is 8 years-old—the same age Frederick was when he died. I break out in a cold sweat thinking of my own child in the same situation as little Frederick.
Could Sherman dying of consumption be the reason his children ended up in an orphanage? Was he ill all that time, from before June 1880 to when he died in December 1881? Does illness explain why the children’s origin was not considered respectable by the orphanage, or why they doubted Frederick’s legitimacy, or why they said he was “rescued from criminal surroundings?”
I think there was more to it.
What? We’ll probably never know. But something was going on that forced his wife to live with widowed family members, and their children into homes they didn’t belong. That war ground people up: body, mind, and spirit.
You tell me how far off you think I am.
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| Death of Sherman Johnson on December 24, 1881 at age 41 years, 11 months, 20 days Sentinel & Witness Newspaper, December 31, 1881 |
Even before researching all of this, for some reason, Sherman Johnson has always been very mysterious to me—he just comes with that type of vibe. Even the "14th Conn. Necrological Committee Report for 1882," said regarding him, "We have failed to receive particulars concerning him." Even those of his own Regiment “failed to receive particulars” about him.
Eventually, Emma Johnson remarried on November 2, 1903 in Middletown. Interestingly, she married a man by the name of William E. Arnold (1848 – 1914). So, basically she reverted back to her maiden name—Arnold—which was now her married name.
Sherman’s remaining children grew up, married, and had their own children. In 1893, Charles Sherman Johnson (age 24), married Mary Elizabeth Conant. Charles even named one of his sons, Sherman—after his father. Also, in 1893, Flora Louise Johnson (age 23), married Frederick E. Skinner.
Hopefully, at some point, Emma got her children back. I like to believe that she did, as decades later in the 1920’s, Emma and her daughter, Flora—both widows at that point—were living together.
Sherman Johnson is buried in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT, near his little son, 8-year-old Frederick "Freddie" Johnson, and his 21-day-old infant. Neither child has a grave-marker. Also buried nearby is his mother Deborah Sugden, and his father Chauncy Johnson Sr. Also there are Chauncy’s first two wives (Ruth and Berlinda), and son, Chauncy, Jr (whose mother is Ruth), along with the two wives of George F. Johnson—Sherman’s younger brother. George F. Johnson is buried at East Lawn Cemetery in East Haven, CT, with his third wife, and a son.
Emma Arnold Johnson died January 29, 1930 (age 80 years, 5 months, 30 days) and is buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery in Middletown, CT. Her second husband, William E. Arnold died in 1914 (age 66), and is buried at Higganum Cemetery in Haddam, CT, with his parents and two siblings. I find it interesting that Emma is not buried near either of her husbands. Her not being buried near Sherman, lends weight, in my mind, to something having gone awry in 1880 /1881, when she lost her children, and Sherman died.
Charles Sherman Johnson died on December 27, 1910 (age 40) from pneumonia. He is buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery near his mother, Emma Arnold.
Flora Louise Johnson (Skinner) died on December 26, 1952 (age 82) and is buried at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte, NC. Her husband Frederick Skinner was buried at Indian Hill Cemetery in Middletown, CT.
Like their father, both Charles and Flora died in December. Also, Charles was close to the same age as his father was when he died (Charles was age 40 / Sherman was age 41). Both died from a respiratory ailment.
Irene Flood Arnold died October 21, 1907 (age 77) and is buried at Indian Hill Cemetery in Middletown, CT.
Curtis S. Arnold died at home in Portland, CT on April 27, 1864 while on furlough due to sickness. He was abt. age 41. He is buried at Old Rock Landing Cemetery in Haddam, CT with a military gravestone.
Note: Back in 2017 (before we moved to Middletown), a neglected dead tree fell into the cemetery and damaged several historic gravestones. The dead tree was cleaned up, but the gravestones were left in shambles for years! The graves of Sherman’s mother (Deborah Johnson Sugden), his father (Chauncy Johnson, Sr.), and his half-brother, (Chauncy Johnson, Jr) were some of the ones that were clobbered. In 2021, we had the honor of working with Elton “Bud” Harvey, the great, great-grandson of Private Sherman Johnson, to restore his family’s graves. Here are some “before-and-after” pictures of the work.
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| Before.... |
The demolished Johnson graves at Maromas Cemetery. From left to right: the gravestone of Deborah Johnson Sugden, which broke in half. The gravestone of Chauncy Johnson, Jr., which was knocked out of its brownstone base, and the gravestone of Chauncy Johnson, Sr., which was also knocked out of its brownstone base. The graves of Chauncy's (Sr.) two wives (far right) are intact.
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| After! |
The restored and cleaned gravestone of the Johnson family! From left to right: Deborah Johnson Sugden, Chauncy Johnson, Jr., and Chauncy Johnson, Sr.
Family Relations: Sherman Johnson was born in Chatham, CT to Chauncy Johnson, Sr. Daniel Otis’ aunt by marriage was a Johnson. Her name was Laura Ann Johnson of Chatham and she married Daniel's maternal uncle, Robert I. Young of Maromas, Middletown. Also, Daniel Otis is related, by marriage, to Sherman Johnson. Call it "gut instinct, but I had a feeling they were related by marriage, but was never able to prove it until June 2022! Franklin Freeman Brainerd (1844 – 1882; buried in Maromas Cemetery) was the cousin of Daniel Otis and the half-nephew of Sherman Johnson, so this is the relation by marriage.
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| Before-and-After cleaning. Gravestone of Private Sherman Johnson |
SHERMAN JOHNSON
CO. B. 14 REGT.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED
DEC. 24, 1881
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| Grave-marker for Frederick "Freddie" Johnson, son of Sherman Johnson and Emma Arnold. |
Melaine Butler Smigel (great-great grandniece of Private Nathaniel S. Butler) created a metal grave-marker for Sherman's little son, Frederick "Freddie" Johnson, who died at age 8 from croup. Freddie is buried beside his father, but has no gravestone.
Co. B, 14th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted on August 4, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 15 (he lied and said he was age18)
Height (feet/inches): 5 feet / 5 1/2 inches ~ Color Eyes: Brown ~ Color Hair: Light ~ Complexion: Light
Born: April 15, 1847 in Maromas, Middletown, CT
Died: December 16th (or 17th), 1862 (age 15) in Falmouth, VA., from wounds received at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Daniel was brought back home and buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown. He is buried near his mother and father.
I am not going to re-write everything about Daniel H. Otis here, as this entire site is about him and his family. Daniel's story can be read on this page. However I will mention a few key points:
Daniel H. Otis was born on April 15, 1847 in Maromas, Middletown, CT to Erastus Selden Otis and Elizabeth Mary Young. He grew up on his family’s farm, high up in the hills of Maromas, at the bend in the river, where massive walls of glacial rock jut out from the steep hillsides.
Daniel attended the little red school house in Maromas with future fellow soldiers, Sherman Johnson, Ashbel Clark, and Charles A. Butler (24th CT). On April 3, 1856, Daniel’s mother suddenly died at age 39—on her birth day. Daniel was just twelve days away from turning nine-years-old when he lost his beloved mother.
Then, on August 4, 1862, 15 year-old Daniel Otis, “ran away to war.” Lying about his age, he enlisted as a volunteer soldier at Elijah Gibbons recruiting office at 100 Main Street. Daniel enlisted the same day as Nathaniel Butler and Sherman Johnson. Daniel's military service records list his occupation as "farmer," however based on the Maromas School Registers I believe Daniel was still a student at the time of his enlistment.
Could it be that young Daniel Otis followed one of these men into the Army? Please see the sub-heading "Enlistment" on the page "Daniel H. Otis: His Story," for why I believe that may have been the case, and why it was most-likely Sherman Johnson that he followed in.
Daniel survived the Battle of Antietam (Sept 17, 1862), but tragically almost three months later, on Saturday, December 13, 1862 while crossing over a millrace bridge during the first wave of attacks on Marye’s Heights at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Private Daniel H. Otis was mortally wounded by artillery fire that blew his leg off.
“Terribly mangled,” Daniel was carried to the rear by his comrades. The next morning, he was brought across the river to Falmouth with all the other wounded. There, Daniel H. Otis died a few days later on December 16th (or 17th), 1862.
Daniel’s heart-broken father brought his remains back home for burial near his mother in Maromas Cemetery, Middletown, CT.
For more info, see “Daniel H. Otis: His Story.”
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| Private Daniel H. Otis. The original black-and-white photo of Daniel is housed at the Middlesex County Historical Society. |
My husband had Daniel's photograph digitally restored and colorized as a gift to me! The restored version is framed and hangs in place of honor in my home.
Here, for the site, I zoomed into Daniel’s restored image and cropped it, because I wanted him to be seen—to really be seen, and probably most accurately for the first time since he’s died. Read more about Daniel's photo here.
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| Before-and-After cleaning and resetting Daniel's gravestone to his proper burial site. Gravestone of Private Daniel H. Otis |
CO. B, 14 REG C.V.
DANIEL H.
Son of Erastus S. & Elizabeth M. Otis,
Fell in the Battle of
Fredricksburg Dec. 13,
Died in Falmouth Va,
Dec 17, 1862
AE. 15 Yrs. 8 Mo’s. & 2 D’s
“HONOR TO THE BRAVE”
Men from Maromas who enlisted in Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry:
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| Comical wartime drawing of the 24th CT foraging party. |
24th Regiment—9-months Regiment
669 Recruits (Company D: 58 Recruits—which includes 1 Captain, 2 Musicians, and 58 Privates)
According to the book, “Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut,” by Blaikie Hines “The 24th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was organized in September 1862. Six companies were recruited in Middlesex County and four others in Hartford, New Haven, and Fairfield Counties. The regiment gathered at Middletown with Colonel E.W.N Starr [Elihu William Nathan Starr] as post commander. The regiment was recruited for nine months and was technically a militia organization. All of the line and field officers were elected. The regiment was mustered into the United States service on November 18 and left Middletown with 681 officers and men…”
15 killed, 59 died, 59 wounded (source: Blaikie Hines)
Total: 75 (source: National Park Service)
The regiment was attached to Grover's Division, Department of the Gulf, to January 1863. Thereafter, they were attached to the:
Second Brigade of the
Fourth Division (Grover)
Nineteenth Army Corps of the
Department of the Gulf
24th Connecticut
9th Connecticut
41st Massachusetts
42nd Massachusetts
Brigade Command: Colonel Thomas Cahill
24th Conn. Regiment Command: Colonel Samuel M. Mansfield.
Captain of Company D: Timothy R. Parker
(Above unit information sourced from Blaikie Hines)
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| Monument dedicated to the 24th CT Vol. Inf. at Veteran's Green on Washington Street in Middletown |
Private Elias C. Bailey
Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted: September 8, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 28
Mustered out: September 30, 1863
Born: July 8, 1834 in Haddam, CT
Died: October 12, 1907 in Maromas, Middletown, CT (73 years, 3 months, 4 days) from "oedema of glottis," as the primary, and "heart failure and senility," as secondary. Elias is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown.
Elias C. Bailey was born July 8, 1834 in Haddam, CT to Henry D. Bailey and Eliza Johnson (parents are tentative). The 1860 Census Report shows 26 year-old Elias living in Haddam and working as a quarryman. Elias’ future wife was Hannah May Goff (1839-1924), daughter of Martin Harry Goff and Betsy Butler. In 1860, Hannah was living in Maromas with her sister’s family and working as a washerwoman. Hannah’s sister was Almira E. Goff-Clark—wife of Selah Richard Clark. Selah was the older brother of Ashbel Clark (see above). See, as I have mentioned elsewhere on this site, the folks in Maromas were ALL related somehow—one giant web of family!
But if that weren’t web enough, Hannah’s mother—Betsy Butler—was sister to Ezra Butler (their parents were Samuel Butler and Lucretia Wood). Ezra Butler was father to Nathaniel Butler, Frederick Butler, Henry Butler, and Charles Butler. The Butler brothers were first-cousins to Hannah Goff. See the Butler brother’s info on this page.
Anyway…Elias and Hannah married sometime in 1860, and had five children together: Emma Bailey, Rose Bailey, Jennie Bailey, Nellie Bailey, and Burton Owen Bailey. After the war, Elias resumed work as a quarryman and later as a day laborer (per the 1900 Census). Hannah also worked as a day laborer.
Elias Bailey died October 12, 1907, age 73. The Middletown Vital Statistics list his primary cause of death as "oedema of glottis," and the secondary cause as "heart failure and senility." "Oedema of glottis" is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the epiglottis and upper part of the larynx. Basically, it’s upper airway edema. Gosh, it sounds like he suffocated to death. Folks don't deserve to die in such a cruel way.
Elias is buried in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT near his wife Hannah and son Burton.
Family Relations: Daniel Otis’ maternal grandmother was a Bailey too. Her name was Elizabeth Bailey of Haddam. She married William S. Young of Maromas, Middletown.
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| Before-and-After cleaning. Gravestone of Private Elias Bailey. |
ELIAS BAILEY
CO. D. 24 INF.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED OCT 12, 1907
AE. 71.
Private Frederick E. Butler (brother of Nathaniel Butler, Henry Butler, and Charles Butler)
Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted: September 8, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 28/29
Mustered out: September 30, 1863
Born: 1833 in Maromas, Middletown, CT (There is a birthdate of November 16, 1833 floating around out there on the genealogical sites for Frederick. This is the same birthdate as his sister, Roxanna Butler Maloney, per her gravestone). Are the same dates a mistake? Coincidence? Or were they twins? Frederick had twin children with his wife, Sarah A. Bailey. Twins usually run in the family line.
Unfortunately, there is no birthdate listed on his death certificate. Roger Butler (great-grandson of Frederick Butler) states Frederick was born in 1833.
Died: February 24, 1864 (per gravestone inscription) in Maromas, Middletown, CT (age 31). However, Middletown vitals says he died March 6, 1864. Cause of death is listed as "consumption of the bowels." Frederick is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown.
Above is the death notice for Frederick Butler. The first date to the right, is the death date, followed by the age when died. Do the math: the year Frederick died (1864) minus his age when died (age 31) equals 1833, which is the year he was born. This also keeps with the general consensus of an 1833 birth year.
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| Frederick E. Butler. Photo courtesy of Melaine Butler Smigel, the Great-Great Granddaughter of Frederick Butler. |
Frederick Earl Butler was born 1833 in Maromas, Middletown, Connecticut to Ezra Butler and Belinda Bailey.
On April 4, 1857, Frederick Butler married Sarah Ann Bailey-Skinner, daughter of Jesse Erastus Bailey and Olive Spencer (Sarah—Born: February 21, 1821 / Died: December 27, 1894; age 73). They were married by Maromas resident, Edwin Scovill, who was acting as Justice of the Peace. Sarah was 12-years older than Frederick and was first married to Gilbert B. Skinner (1812-1850) who she had two children with: Roxanna "Roxy" E. Skinner (Born: Dec 25, 1838 / Died: Apr 5, 1921; age 82) and George W. Skinner (Born: Sunday, October 8, 1848 / Died: Monday, August 11, 1862; age 13 years, 10 months, 3 days).
Poor George Skinner, dying at nearly 14 years-old in 1862! He died seven days after Daniel Otis ran away and enlisted in the Army. George and Daniel attended the Maromas school house together. When George died, Daniel was camped out at Camp Foote in Hartford. I wonder if Daniel somehow got word that his classmate (and cousin) had died? No doubt the death of a friend so close to his own age brought his own mortality into perspective.
Here is another “web of family” connection! Sarah’s daughter Roxanna Skinner (via her first marriage), ended up marrying her step-father’s younger brother—Austin S. Butler! (Austin: 1837 – 1887).
I find it interesting that Frederick married a woman 12 years-older than he was. Actually, his step-daughter, Roxanna, was closer in age to him than his new wife, Sarah, was. At the time of their marriage, Frederick was age 24, and his bride, Sarah, was age 36! While Roxanna was age 19. Not that there is anything wrong with a younger man marrying an older woman, it just wasn’t the norm for the time period.
Nonetheless, Frederick and Sarah had three children together: Twins, Frances Ellen Butler (1860 – 1941) and Frederick Earl Butler (1860 – 1937), and Sherman Edgar Butler (1861 – 1939).
Before the war, Frederick worked at as a quarryman in Maromas’ quarries. Sadly, Frederick Butler died on February 24, 1864—five months after his discharge from the Army. Talk about a cruel twist of fate. Frederick Butler is buried in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT near his wife Sarah and son Sherman Butler. Frederick was only 30 years-old when he died.
The Middletown Vital Statistics list Frederick's cause of death as "consumption of bowels." I looked this up, and it's just awful. Apparently—and I didn't know this—but tuberculosis (aka: consumption) can also affect organs of the body other than the lungs. So, "consumption of the bowels," would be "inflammation and ulceration of the intestines from tubercular disease."
Frederick's widow, Sarah, never remarried. She lived with her and Frederick's three children (Frederick Jr., Francis, and Sherman Butler) in Middlefield in 1870, and in Haddam in 1880. Sarah A. Butler died in 1894 at age 73 and is buried near her husband Frederick Butler, and son Sherman Butler in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown.
Now let's talk about young Georg Skinner: Frederick's stepson, and Sarah's son from her first marriage. His death bothered me. I like to know the cause behind an untimely death, and it haunts me if I don't, so I searched out George's death record to see what the cause of his demise was.
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| click on image for larger version. |
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| Click on image for a larger version. |
The lines of information for George Skinner, stepson of Frederick Butler, can be found between the "red arrows" in the above images.
George died of "Infla. Bowels,"—which is "inflammation of the bowels." It’s difficult to say exactly how “inflammation of the bowels” led to George’s death. It’s such a generic description. Was the inflammation caused by an infection? Was it a bowel obstruction? Researching it led me down a rabbit hole of idiopathic conditions, none of which would help me pin-point exactly what could have killed George Skinner. Either way, George died of a bowel-related issue, and it probably was a miserable way to go for such a young one!
It's just about broke my heart when I read the occupation that was written-in for George Skinner in the above death record. It says: "Schoolboy." How tragic. His mama must have been devastated to lose her young son! I'm a mom too, and I can't even imagine the grief. The individual certifying the death was "E.W.N Starr," who is "Elihu William Nathan Starr."
According to the "Record of the Returns Made by Sextons of Cemeteries" (aka: "Middletown Burial Lists"), on August 11, 1862 (the same day he died), George W. Skinner was buried in "Old South Farms Cemetery," which us locals now call "Old Farm Hill Cemetery." I have not been able to physically locate the burial plot, nor gravestone, of George Skinner in that cemetery. However, a number of the gravestones there are either toppled over, laying facedown and embedded in the earth, or the epitaphs have worn away and/or are so covered with biological growth that they are illegible. Also there are many empty patches of land with no gravestones. The empty patches of land are dotted among other gravestones, so I'm sure there are folks buried there, but with no grave-markers. Could George Skinner be one of them?
Something important about Frederick Butler. I want to touch on this here, because there were TWO individuals by the name of Frederick Butler in the 24th Connecticut, and they are being mixing them up on various genealogy sites. There was Private Frederick Butler of Co. D, who was from Middletown, CT. I write about him here. Then there was Sergeant Frederick R. Butler of Co. G and Co. H, who was from Rocky Hill, CT. They are NOT the same individual.
Here are two documents from the “U.S., Civil War Pension Index.” One document is for Private Frederick Butler, whose wife is Sarah A. Butler, and the other document is for Sergeant Frederick R. Butler, whose wife is Abbie A. Butler.
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| U.S., Civil War Pension Index Private Frederick Butler, Co. D, 24th CT. Wife is Sarah A. Butler I WRITE ABOUT THIS FREDERICK HERE. |
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| U.S., Civil War Pension Index Sergeant Frederick R. Butler, Co. G and Co. H, 24th CT. Wife is Abbie A. Butler  |
Before-and-After cleaning.
Gravestone of Private Frederick E. Butler.
Gravestone of Private Frederick E. Butler.
FREDERICK BUTLER
CO. D. 24 REGT.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED
FEB 24, 1864
Family Relations: Frederick Butler's wife was Sarah Ann Bailey (Skinner). Daniel Otis' maternal grandmother was a Bailey. Her name was Elizabeth Bailey of Haddam, CT, and she married William S. Young of Maromas, Middletown.
So, try to follow this: Sarah Bailey's father was Jesse Erastus Bailey (1761 - 1787, age 26 / born and died in Haddam, CT).
Jesse Erastus Bailey's older brother was Gideon Bailey, Jr. (1751 - 1806, age 55 / born and died in Haddam, CT)
Gideon Bailey, Jr. was the great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis (Gideon, Jr. was the father of Daniel's maternal grandmother: Elizabeth Bailey Young).
This makes Jesse Bailey the great-uncle of Daniel H. Otis and cousin of Sarah Ann Bailey (Skinner-Butler). I've mentioned it before on this site, all these individuals and families are either related by blood or marriage somehow!
Private Henry L. Butler (brother of Nathaniel Butler, Frederick Butler, and Charles Butler)
Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted: September 8, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 27
Wounded on June 14, 1863 at Port Hudson, LA.
Mustered out: September 30, 1863
Born: November 10, 1834 in Maromas, Middletown, CT
Died: August 10, 1909 in Higganum, CT (age 74 years, 9 months, 0 days) from "dropsy" and "old age." Henry is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT near his two brothers, Charles and Frederick.
Henry L. Butler was born November 10, 1834 in Maromas, Middletown, Connecticut to Ezra Butler and Belinda Bailey. Before the war, Henry worked as a quarryman in one of Maromas’ quarries. The 1870 Census Report shows 35 year-old Henry working as a quarryman again. He is living with his mother and father, his brother Charles Butler, and sister Mary Butler Brainerd and her husband, John Ogden Brainerd. Henry’s marital status is: single. By 1880, Henry is a confirmed bachelor and never marries. He is living with his 69 year-old widowed mother, and younger brother, 36 year-old Charles. He is still working as a quarryman. By 1888, he is living alone on Old Thayer Road in Maromas at the Butler Family home (note: Old Thayer Road is now called Bear Hill Road). His parents and brothers are now dead. His sister lives in Haddam with her husband. In 1900, 65 year-old Henry is still working, bless his heart. His occupation is “day laborer.”
Nine years later, Henry L. Butler dies on August 10, 1909, at age 74, from "dropsy" and "old age," per Haddam vital records. Dropsy is an old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water. It is what we today call edema. Henry is buried in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT near his brother Charles Butler.
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| Before-and-After cleaning. Gravestone of Private Henry L. Butler. |
HENRY L. BUTLER
CO. D. 24 INF.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED AUG. 10, 1909
AE 74
Private William E. Spencer
Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Enlisted on September 8, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 28
Wounded on June 26, 1863 at Port Hudson, LA. Mustered out: September 30, 1863
Born: abt. 1834
Died: September 8, 1895 in Middletown, CT (age 61). William is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown.
William E. Spencer was born about 1834 to Eleazer Spencer and Nancy Hubbard. In 1850, at age 16, he worked as a “laborer” in Middletown. By 1860, he was married to Lucy Ann Culver (daughter of Willard Culver and Lucy Hubbard), and still working as a laborer. Note: Lucy's Culver Spencer's mother, Lucy Hubbard Culver (died September 27, 1868) is buried in Maromas Cemetery, as is her brother, Samuel Culver (died March 9, 1883; age 37). Both mother and brother have no grave-markers, therefore the exact location of their final resting place is unknown.
William Spencer and Lucy Ann Culver had five children together: Eugene, William, Jr., Erastus, Jane, and Bertha Spencer. By 1880, William age 46, he was working on a farm.
I didn’t find too much information on William Spencer. Some folks turn up more (or less) information than others—such is the nature of genealogy work. William E. Spencer died on September 8, 1895, age 61. The Middletown Vital Statistics lists William's cause of death as "apoplexy and asthma" as the primary, and "alcoholic intox." as the secondary cause of death. Apoplexy is basically a stroke.
William E. Spencer is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Family Relations: Daniel Otis’ maternal great-grandmother was a Spencer. Her name was Lydia Mary Spencer. She married Lt. Gideon Bailey, Jr. of Haddam. Also, Daniel Otis 5x great-grandmother was Hannah Spencer, who was the wife of Haddam founder, Daniel Brainerd.
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| Before-and-After cleaning. Gravestone of Private William E. Spencer |
WILLIAM SPENCER
CO. D. 24 REGT.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED
SEPT. 8, 1895
Men from Maromas who enlisted in Co. L, 1st Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery
1st Regiment—a 3-year Regiment
3,190 Recruits
According to the book, “Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut,” by Blaikie Hines “The 1st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery was originally organized, in May 1861, as the 4th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. They formed in response to the first call (April 15, 1861) for three-month soldiers. Its companies gathered at Hartford expecting to be included among those accepted, but the State quota had already been filled. On May 3, there was another call, this time for three-year men. The regiment was re-organized and was mustered into the United States service on May 22-23. It was the first three-year regiment in the State ready for field service.”
35 killed, 1 missing, 192 died, 132 wounded, 5 wounded and captured, 29 captured (source: Blaikie Hines)
Total: 227 (source: National Park Service)
The 1st Connecticut, Heavy Artillery was part of the Army of the Potomac, but changed service and commanders as quick as Elizabeth Taylor changed husbands, so I'm not going to site that information here. See the second link below for that information.
Private Charles A. Butler (brother of Nathaniel Butler, Frederick Butler, and Henry Butler)
Co. L, 1st Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery
Enlisted on March 1, 1862
Age at enlistment: age 18
Discharged for disability on April 1, 1862
Born: abt. 1844
Died: October 20, 1880 (age 36). Charles is buried in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown.
Charles A. Butler was born about 1844 in Maromas, Middletown, Connecticut to Ezra Butler and Belinda Bailey. In 1860, 16 years-old, Charles worked as a “laborer,” and was living with his parents and younger sister, Mary Matilda Butler (age 12). Two years later, Charles enlisted in the 1st CT Heavy Artillery. His stay was short-lived, because exactly one-month later, he was discharged for disability!
The 1870 Census Report shows 26 year-old Charles working as a quarryman, just like his older brothers did. Charles' marital status is single, and he is living with his parents, older brother Henry, and younger sister, Mary and her husband, at the Butler Family home on Old Thayer Road (now called Bear Hill Road). In 1880, 36 year-old Charles is still working as a quarryman and living with his now widowed mother and single, older brother, Henry at the family home.
The 1880 Census Report, shows that he was working as a quarryman—yet on October 20, 1880, Charles A. Butler dies at the young age of 36. I have to sleuth out his cause of death, because it doesn’t seem like he should have died that young. Was he injured on the job, while quarrying heavy rock? Was he suddenly taken ill? Charles never married, and is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT near his older brother, Henry.
There is no death certificate on file in either Middletown or Haddam for Charles Butler.
Note: Mary Matilda Butler (the younger sister of the Butler brothers) also attended the Maromas school house, and was a classmate of Daniel H. Otis. She was a year younger than Daniel. Also, Charles Butler died 14 months before his friend and fellow soldier, Sherman Johnson did.
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| Before-and-After cleaning. Gravestone of Private Charles A. Butler. |
CHARLES A. BUTLER
Co. L, 1 REGT.
HVY. ARTY. C.V.
DIED
OCT. 20, 1880
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I’m so sure of it, that I would bet my 'two front teeth' that all of the above "Maromas Men" were related in one way or another, whether through blood or marriage.
I thought I would include a list of all the Butler siblings and the Clark siblings that I put together during the course of my research. Nothing fancy, just a list in the order they were born.
Butler siblings: children of Ezra Butler and Belinda Bailey
>Harvey S. Butler (1828 - ?)
>Roxanna L. Butler (Maloney) (November 16, 1833- January 2, 1883). Buried at New Farm Hill Cemetery in Middletown, CT. Birth and death dates per gravestone. Death certificate says she was age 50. She died of "lumbar ?" I could not decipher the remainder of the horrible, chicken-scratch writing on her death certificate! But whatever killed her, she suffered with it for six weeks. The attending physician was "John Morgan."
>Frederick Butler (1833 - February 24, 1864). Buried at Maromas Cemetery. (There is a birthdate of November 16, 1833 floating around out there on the genealogical sites for Frederick. This is the same birthdate as his sister, Roxanna Butler Maloney, per her gravestone. Are the same dates a mistake? Coincidence? Or were they twins? Frederick had twin children with his wife, Sarah A. Bailey. Twins usually run in the family line.
>Henry L. Butler (November 10, 1834 - August 10, 1909) Buried at Maromas Cemetery. Never married. No children.
>Austin S. Butler (January 23, 1837 - December 9, 1887) Mechanic. Died of consumption. Buried at Higganum Cemetery in Higganum (Haddam), CT. Married his brother's (Frederick) stepdaughter, Roxanna E. Skinner.
>Nathaniel Sherman Butler (1840 - February 3, 1863) Died of disease at Aquia Creek, VA. His body never came home.
>Charles A. Butler (abt. 1844 - October 20, 1880) Buried at Maromas Cemetery. Never married. No children.
>Mary Matilda Butler (March 24, 1848 - November 30, 1923). Buried at Center Cemetery in Haddam, CT. Married John Ogden Brainerd of Haddam.
Clark siblings: children of Alvin Clark and Delilah Ray
>Charles A. Clark (1823 - 1903)
>Daniel Knowles Clark (abt. 1826 - March 14, 1896). Daniel Clark married Susan Goff, who was the sister of Hannah Goff—the wife of Private Elias Bailey of Co. D, 24th CT. Daniel and Susan had a son, Knowles Clark, who died of scarlet fever on January 31, 1863, at age 2 years, 4 months. They had other children, but I mention the young boy, because he is buried beside his parents at Maromas Cemetery.
>Selah Richard Clark (April 4, 1827 - 1903). Selah also married a Goff sister, Almira E. Goff, the sister of Susan Goff Clark (wife of Daniel Clark), and Hannah Goff Bailey (wife of Elias Bailey). See, I told you they were ALL related somehow :) Buried at Maromas Cemetery.
>James Wells Clark (1832 - 1908). Buried at Maromas Cemetery.
>Jarred Clark (November 20, 1838 - February 25, 1839), age 3 months, 5 days. Buried at Maromas Cemetery beside his father Alvin Clark.
>Albert L. Clark (1839 - 1896). A blacksmith by trade. Buried at Pine Grove Cemetery with wife Ellen C. Chapman.
>Private Ashbel A. Clark (Sept 11, 1843 - April 11, 1863), age 19 years, 7 months. Buried at Maromas Cemetery beside his mother and father.
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| Daniel Knowles Clark, the older brother of Ashbel A. Clark. D.K. Clark is also buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT I wonder if Ashbel looked anything like his older brother, Daniel. |
Photo of the Clark graves before cleaning.
Left: Alvin Clark
Middle: Delilah Ray Clark
Right: Private Ashbel A. Clark
