These are the facts I have been able to assemble from all of the testimony in Albert S. Norton’s pension files, the regimental history, and other historical sources.  There are a number of mistakes, ambiguities and contradictions in testimony, as will be noted.

 

·         Parents Albert S. Norton and Nancy (DeVoe) Norton, who lived on Long Island, in New York.¹

·         Born in 1829??

·         Moved to Jersey City, from New York, around 1850.  A number of his Jersey city friends say they knew him from childhood (maybe theirs and not his?)

·         Married Sarah Ella Hamiliton (born 1838?) at Hedding Methodist Church in Jersey City (Rev. Charles LaRew (LaRue) presiding) July 31^st, 1860.  They knew each other from childhood.

·         First child, Maggie (Robinson) born June 17^th, 1861.

·         He lived at 304 First Street, Jersey City NJ, before and immediately after the war.

·         5 feet 8 ¾ inches tall, dark complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes.  He weighed 138 lbs. in 1889, 136 lbs. in1891, 130 lbs. in 1892, and 130 ½ lbs. in 1895.

·         Enlisted in company D, 21^st New Jersey Volunteers, as a corporal, August 29^th, 1862.  He was a butcher at the time.  He was hale and hearty, and full of life and fun, with no health problems.

·         The officers of the company came from the Jersey City Fire Dept., namely Captain— Jeffrey W. Collins (their commanding officer), must. in Sept. 15, 1862; must. out June 19, 1863.  First lieutenants— William H. Smith, must. in Sept. 15, 1862; res. Jan. 9, 1863.  Samuel Ramsey, must. in Jan. 13, 1863; must, out June 19, 1863; 2d lieut. Aug. 30, 1862; 1st lieut. vice Smith, res.

·         21^st NJ Vols. - Organized at Trenton, N.J., and mustered in September 15, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 16, 1862, thence moved to Frederick, Md., September 18, and Joined Army of the Potomac on battlefield of Antietam, Md. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863.

·         Duty at Hagerstown, Md., and guard duty at Dam No. 5 until October 29.

·         Battle of Fredericksburg December 11-15. Cover laying of pontoons December 11. Bowling Green Road December 11 in support of Weirs' Maryland Battery.

·         Duty near White Oak Church and constructing corduroy road below Fredericksburg until April, 1863.   Only some of the men constructed the road (at night, subject to enemy fire), early in January.  Unknown if he was there.

·         “Mud March" January 20-24.  This, or the construction at night, could have been the reason he became sick.   Or he may have been sick before this, as the mistake in the records shows him taken to the general hospital January 2^nd.

·         He was sick with Typhoid fever and pleurasy while at Smokey Hollow Va. Camp (near Falmouth, and White Oak Church) about 1 month before the battle of Chancelorsville (other times he says in January – not clear from the testimony exactly when he became sick, or if it was more than once; January makes more sense as the general health of the troops was worse then).  Unable to go on picket duty, he stayed in his tent, and 4 days later Corporal Edward McWilliams found him nearly unconscious in his tent, at which time he brought him to the surgeon.   (He may also have been sick in January/Winter – there is conflicting testimony).  He still was full of pussurating blisters on his side when the second battle of Fredericksburg (Chancellorsville) began. ²

·         Corporal McWilliams was later Chief of Police in Jersey City, and in the 1890’s he was Chief Detective at the Astor House in New York City (Broadway).

·         Samuel Murth tented along side him in the army.  Many of the men in his company grew up together with him (or at least knew him well before the war) in Jersey city.  Others he served with and knew before and after the war were Michael Walsh, Michael White (orderly seargant and later 2^nd lieutenant), Peter D. Vorhees and Charles H. Mulliken, all of Jersey City and company D.

·         Was treated in the regimental hospital at camp by Dr. McNeill, the regimental surgeon, and not sent to a general hospital (the records say he was, but one ‘Staples’ was sent in his place).  At one point he was not expected to live.  He spent 3 weeks to a month at the regimental hospital, he says.  He may have had other recovery time in his tent.

·          He was treated by:

Surgeon— Daniel McNeill, must. in Sept. 15, 1862; must. out June 19, 1863.

Assistant Surgeon— William S. Janney, must. in Sept. 15, 1862; pro. surg. 22d Regt. Vols. March 27, 1863.   From Philadelphia, PA.

Also possibly saw but didn’t mention Assistant Surgeon-- Cornelius Conover, must. in June 2, 1861; must. out June 19, 1863; com. asst. surg, vice Janney, promoted.

·         Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4.

·         While on picket duty May 4^th  between Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville (in the battle of Salem Church, which was May 3^rd and 4^th), he was taken prisoner, along with several other men of his company.  There is conflicting testimony as to the date (May 3^rd, May 6^th), but he and the official records say May 4^th, as do several others.  May 6^th was well after the battle and can be ruled out.  May 3^rd, they were on the offensive and while there were some men captured, it is not likely these men were.  While on the heights overlooking Banks Ford, at 9:30 PM, 200 men were captured.  This is the most likely circumstance of his falling into enemy hands.  William Sheldrake (Shelarake, Childrake), of Jersey City and later of Patterson NJ, his boyhood friend in Jersey City and tent mate in the army, was captured with him.  Lewis Smith, Edward McWilliams, Cornelius McMillin and Thomas Rafter, James Coyle (Musician) and perhaps Robert Jelly (who went insane after the war) were also prisoners with him.  William Childrick (Sheldrake) says they were captured together between Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville on May 3^rd, and that it rained from Sunday  (the day they were captured) to Thursday.    However, it only rained (heavy rain) on May 5^th, though May 3^rd 1863 was a Sunday.  If they were captured at night on the 4^th, the first day of their captivity would have had heavy rain. ³

·          He was ‘not any ways near well’ when they went into battle at Fredericksburg.  He wore a cloth on his side to catch the puss and blood, and his uniform was torn open on that side.

·         A note was added to his service record saying he was severly wounded, and many of his comrades thought that he was when he was captured, that story widely circulating.  But he was not wounded.

·         The commanding officer of the 21^st NJ, Colonel Gilliam Van Houten (must. in Sept. 15, 1862), died near Banks’ Ford, Va., while prisoner of war, May 6, 1863, of wounds received in action at Salem Heights, Va., May 4, 1863.

·         Marched under guard, without any shelter, through a big storm when they were at Guiness (Guinnis) Station, crossing the North Anna and South Anna rivers (wading sometimes breast high) and getting soaked, to Richmond and then Belle Island.  It rained until they got to Belle Island, according to Louis (Lewis) Smith.  

·         Was at Belle Island 10 days or a little over.  Had no blankets (they were taken from them) or shelter – had to lay on the hot sand during the day, and it was cold and damp during the night.  Started to have pain on the 3^rd day.  Contracted the rheumatism that was to cripple him for the rest of his life.  Louis Smith also suffered from rhematism because of Belle Island.  They were also exchanged and at convalescent camp together.

·         Exchanged/paroled May 13^th, and at City Point May 15^th.

·         Arrived at Camp Parole at Annapolis Md.  May 18^th., and stayed there 4 or 5 days. Had a pass to visit Washington (May 22^nd) (he may have been sent there), and returned 2 days late.  He was present at Convalescent Camp in Alexandria Va. May 29^th.   This is why he was mistakenly marked in the official records as having deserted in June (July 10^th!).   When he rejoined his company, he could not stand watch – he was lame.

·         He spent about a month at convalescent camp.

·         Rejoined his company and was mustered out at Trenton June 19^th, 1863.

·         Was lame and emaciated when he came home, walking with a limp.

·         Had a party at his house 1 week after the regiment returned, to celebrate.  George W. Denver was there.

·         Was in bad shape for about 3 months after coming home (and “smelled dreadfully”).  He was unable to work for 3 or 4 months.

·         Unable to work as a butcher after the war, although he did briefly.  Did paper hanging and painting when he was able to work, which was never full time, because of bad health.  Always worked for himself when doing this.

·         The rheumatism got progressively worse.  It was worse in Winter than in Summer.

·         Other friends both before and after the war were Godfrey G. Dillaway, George Washington Denver, Agnes Payne, Horace W. Billington, and  Peter D. Vorhees who served in Company K of the 21^st NJ.

·         Was very sick in 1867.

·         Second child, Minerva (Donovan) born January 17^th, 1868.  She was a widow in 1917.  She died Nov. 27^th 1944.

·         3^rd and last child, Albert Francis Norton, born December 20^th, 1876.  He died March 21^st 1941, of cancer of the jaw.

·         He lived at the following addresses in Jersey City:  304 1^st St. (1860 and for 3 years after his return, that is 1865), 311 1^st St., 400 Monmouth St., 235 Newark Ave., 311 5^th St., 322 1^st St., 155 Bright St., 164 Monitor St. (June 1889), 353 3^rd St. (June 1889, June & July 1890, Oct. 1892,  Feb. 1899), 355 4^th St. (May 1898).  They moved sometimes because of the rheumatism and his being out of work.

·         Was in the Jersey City Fire Department 1875 – 1877, and again 1880 – 1882.  He was appointed these positions because he was an active worker for the Republican Party.  In 1880 he was the tillerman of no. 2 truck.  John L. Denmead ⁴ was Asst. Chief Engineer.

·         In 1875-77 he was a “Buffalo” and made $75 a year.  When the Democrats came into power in Jersey City, he lost his job.  He was back in when the Republicans got back in power.

·         In 1882, he was rheumatic in both legs, left arm and left side, and had to be discharged from the Fire Dept. as he was unable to fulfill his duties (had no vicious habits!).

·         Others who were in the Jersey City Fire Dept. with him were William Lautier (Driver of Engine #5 at the house on 5^th St. between Cole and Jersey Ave.), George B. Murdock (captain #1 Fire Engine – also “married Norton’s daughter” in 1880), and Daniel S. Loughridge (who as a boy sold pies to the returning soldiers of the 21^st NJ).  The Chief of the Fire Dept. was Henry E. Farrier (Farnier, Farrick) ⁵ .  Peter D. Vorhees, John O’Brien and Charles H. Mulliken of Company D 21^st NJ were also firemen with him.

·         He saw many doctors, including Dr. William J. Cadmus, who was also a druggist.  He gave him liniments and morphine.  He also tried every patent medicine there was.  All the doctors told him that he could not be cured.

·         By 1889, permanently disabled.  He walked on crutches.

·         In 1890 was getting $12 a month disability pension.

·         In 1897 was applying for better pension, and there were many depositons, etc.  The special report was done by Grafton Tyler.  At first it was rejected, and so had to be done all over again answering the objections and filling out some details.

·         By 1897, was very poor and unable to work for 3 years, flat on his back in bed with rheumatism.

·         His lawyers were Soule and Co., 719 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington D.C.

·         Died February 20^th, 1899.  Had no property.

·         Sarah still lived at 353 3^rd St. in Jersey City in April 1899.

·         Sarah was living with Ella Frances Norton (and one would assume with Albert Francis Norton her husband) in Corona, NY (44 Lake St.), when she died.

·         Sarah died October 4^th 1917. 

·         Both are burried in New York Bay Cemetery, Jersey City.

 

 

Footnotes:

 

1)

Albert S. Norton Nancy DeVoe married July 13 1831 (Methodist)

http://longislandgenealogy.com/norton/addnorton.html

(Was he born before this marriage?  Probably not.  He would have been born in 1836 according to the age given on his death certificate, but all of his pension claims indicate he was born in 1838 or 1839.  1836 actually makes more sense, compared with the ages of his friends, and comments about being friends since childhood. )

 

With the help of documents no longer on the internet, I traced the De Voe line back to Rochelle France (I'm the 11th generation in this chart!):

 

Norton and De Veaux Ancestors

 

 

2)

 

ARMY HISTORICAL SERIES

THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
1818-1865

by Mary C. Gillett

CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
UNITED STATES ARMY
WASHINGTON D.C., 1987

From chapter 10:

 

http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/history/booksdocs/civil/gillett2/amedd_1818-1865_chpt10.htm

 

In early January 1863, the Army of the Potomac was still reeling from the disaster at Fredericksburg just a few weeks earlier. Anticipating renewed hostilities, General Burnside established a medical facility nearby at Aquia, hoping thereby to avoid sending his sick back to general hospitals when his army advanced. When heavy rains and flooding forced him to abandon his campaign, he broke up the establishment at Aquia, sent the seriously ill back to Washington, and set up regimental hospitals to care for those with minor ills. For patients who could not be cared for in these small facilities, Jonathan Letterman as Burnside's medical director formed division hospitals wherever needed within each corps, thus providing his medical officers with experience in running such organizations.¹⁶

As they settled down near Falmouth, just north of Fredericksburg, in late January, the 120,000 men of Burnside's command were considered to be on active field duty rather than in winter camp. Since the Army provided them with no structures for shelter except inadequate tents, the men often dug shallow pits in the "wide-spreading sea of mud and mire," erecting log huts over these foundations and covering the logs with either tents or brush and mud. The Medical Department deplored this custom, but many regimental commanders appeared to be little concerned about the health and welfare of their men. Nevertheless, the sick rate among veterans initially held at 5 percent, and the rate for the Army of the Potomac as a whole, including fiftysix new regiments, was 8 percent. Letterman considered this record good under the circumstances, although he added that new recruits seemed to be suffering with unusual frequency from venereal diseases and hernia.¹⁷

At the end of January, when he relieved Burnside, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker was much concerned with the health of his new command, since diarrhea, scurvy, and a fever that was probably typhoid afflicted many. Enlisted men were receiving very little of what Letterman considered to be the ample amounts of vegetables shipped to them. In early February, however, after Hooker himself expressed his determination to have the troops receive an appropriate diet, fresh bread and vegetables were issued. Letterman believed that the improved diet, together with better sanitation and greater care with cooking, was responsible for an improvement in health.  By April the overall sick rate stood at 7 per cent. The rate of diarrhea-like ills had dropped from 5.4 percent in February to 3.4 percent, fevers were being encountered less frequently, and even the able-bodied were stronger and more vigorous.

 

 

3) From Salem Church Embattled by Ralph Happel (pg. 49)

[Brigadere General cadmus M.] “Wilcox [C.S.A.] and his men, cheated of strenuous activity on May 4 by the torpor of McLaws, did penetrate the hills above Banks’ Ford around 9:30 PM, and captured 13 officers and over 200 men.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4 & 5)

History of the Fire Department of the City of New York

Chapter 58, Part I

By Holice and Debbie

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/fire/51-58/ch58pt1.html

 

 

4)

JOHN T. DENMEAD, assistant chief engineer of the Jersey City Fire Department, was in his early days as a member of Peterson Engine Company No. 15 (Old Maid), of the city. he moved to Jersey City, and became a member of the Fire Department of that city. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirteenth new Jersey Volunteers. When the war was ended he became a member and assistant foreman of 2 Truck; he held this position until June 6, 1871, when he was made clerk to the new Board of Fire Commissioners. In 1877 he was dismissed for political reasons. He was reinstated in 1881 as assistant chief, and occupies that responsible position to the present day.

 

5)

HENRY E. FARRIER, chief of the Jersey City Fire Department, was a volunteer of Diligent Hose Company No. 3, Jersey City Fire Department. Upon the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Twenty-first New Jersey Volunteers. After the war he became a member of his old love, Diligent 3, and remained as such until 1871, when he was appointed the first chief of the Paid Fire Department. He held this office until 1877. The political complexion of the Board was then changed, and he was dismissed, but was reinstated in 1881 as Chief, and continues to discharge the duties of that office to the present day.

 

Notes and links:

 

http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/controlled_trials/doc46.html  is a page from an 1863 study on rheumatism.