APRIL 2005

MY MYSTERIOUS CIVIL WAR ANCESTOR

My research for my Civil War ancestor has been interesting, surprising, exasperating, complicated and frustrating!!  I started this "trip" by sending for the death certificate of my Great-Grandmother Mary Clair.  It states Josephine Carr and Irwin Clair were her parents.  The Family Bible says his name was Benjamin Irvin Clair  and that he had died in a Civil War prison.  In all of the family information we have, there is nothing to tell me what Regiment he was in.  There isn't even a name on the picture we have that is supposed to be him.  The only thing on the back of the  CDV is "Jones & Bros., Photographers, 604 Arch Street, Philad'a."

MY GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER JOSEPHINE CARR

Josephine was born 29 Sep 1843 and died 02 May 1900.  The family Bible shows that she was married to Benjamin Irvin Clair, son of James & Margaret Clair.  Josephine's daughter Mary Ellen's death certificate shows Mary Ellen's parents as being Josephine and Irwin Clair.  I've found no marriage records for Josephine and Benjamin Irvin/Irwin Clair.  Josephine is buried at Great Valley with husband William Martin [see below] and two of their three children.  Since Mary was born in April 1864, Josephine probably became pregnant in July of 1863, 5 months after she and Eugene Griffith [see below] were married.  

This so complicated, I'm going to tell you what I know about each man, in the order in which they appear on the chart .

* * * * *

BENJAMIN IRVIN CLAIR

Benjamin was, according to the BISHOP Family Bible, born November 03, 1844 and died Dec 01, 1864.  On March 1996 I acquired, at the Chester County Historical. the following information:   "Feb 28, 1865 West Chester, Pennsylvania Chester VILLAGE RECORD Death Notice  A prisoner at Andersonville, Georgia, December 1st, of disease contracted in the rebel prison, Benjamin Irvin CLAIR, beloved son of James and Margaret (nee Smith) CLAIR, aged 20 years and 2 months. [CW]"  By March 1865, if he was in fact, Josephine Carr's husband and Mary Clair's father, why weren't they mentioned in the newspaper? Mary would have been about 8 months old when Benjamin died.  It is unknown where he is buried.  He is not buried with Josephine.

Even though I had minimal information, I sent a request, to the National Archives, for Benjamin's records.  I received the results....  "No--we were unable...."  Since Andersonville was mentioned, I sent an inquiry to Andersonville.  They only had one CLAIR on record and it was NOT my Benjamin and I do realize there are many unknowns.  I’ve found nothing, other than as I said, the family Bible and my ggrandmother’s death certificate to “prove” Benjamin Irvin Clair.

* * * * *

IRVIN CLAIR 

Irvin Clair died 22 Mar 1865.  On a visit to the Mid-Atlantic Branch of the National Archives, I found in the military records index an Irvin CLAIR, 2nd PA Heavy Art which became the 112th PA. A friend looked his name up in his resources and found there was an Irvin CLAIR in Co. F, who is buried at the Wilmington National Cemetery in grave #999. 

I sent for the records. He enlisted 07 Dec 1863.  According to those records, he was born in Delaware Co., PA, was age 19, 5' 4" tall, brown hair, brown eyes and his occupation was stated as being a blacksmith.   All this would probably be a good description of Benjamin Irvin CLAIR given the appearance of some of my ancestors and family tales.   In the military records, it shows he was absent 31 Aug - 31 Dec, 1864.  It shows he was a prisoner of was since action at Chaffin's Farm 29 Sep 1864.  Jan & Feb 1865 Company Muster Roll has remark "Died in Rebel hands at unknown"  I spoke to a friend, Frank Crawford who said This was probably a rumor.  The info was enough to enter into the journal.  It got his name off the record and that was enough.  Everyone had to be included on the Muster Out Roll including the dead.

Also included in the records is a Memorandum from Prisoner of War Records.  It states he was injured at Chaffin's Farm, VA  29 Sep 1864 confined at Richmond, VA 29 Sep 1864.  Paroled 08 Oct 1864.  A note included on the Memorandum which appears to be written in a different "hand" states  "Joined the Rebel army while a Prison of War at Salisbury, NC. date not given."  Again, according to Mr. Crawford, "this was also probably a rumor which was enough.  If he had joined the Rebel Arm, there would have been no need to be paroled.  He may have been sent to Wilmington from Richmond when paroled and his papers sent to Camp Parole for official exchange.  Records must be kept.  That would explain the 5-6 month loss of time before he died."

Medical records show CLAIR was "admitted 23 Jan 1864 to U.S.A. Post Hospital, Fort Saratoga (Chapel Spring) DC.  01 Feb 1864 shows him with Rheumat. acute;  01 Mar 1864, with Rheumatism; 01 Apr 1864 - 19 Apr 1864 he was in U.S.A. Post Hospital, Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy, VA;  16 Mar 1865 in the 2nd Div, 23 Army Corp Hospital at Wilmington, NC, Died 22 Mar 1865, Remarks:  Paroled Prisoner.   11 Mar 1865 to 1st Div. 14th Army Corps Hospital, Army of Cumberland;  14 Mar 1865 sent to GH"

After all this, I still have no conclusive evidence that Irvin CLAIR is Benjamin Irvin CLAIR. 

* * * * * 

EUGENE GRIFFITH

According to a letter written by a Joseph Lippincott, Justice of the Peace, Burlington Co., New Jersey on behalf of Rev. Miller Jones, former Pastor of the Baptist Church in Bridgeport in Montgomery Co., PA  states "that on or about the Seventh day of February in the year 1862 while officiating as Pastor of the said Baptist Church in Bridgeport, at his residence in Bridgeport aforesaid, he joined in marriage Mr. Eugene Griffith of said County of Montgomery, Penna and Miss Josephine Carr of Chester County, PA..   that no record of said marriage was made or kept by him in or for said Bridgeport Baptist Church, nor does he know of any record whatever of said marriage being made or kept, he having no private record thereof.. but he distinctly recollects the marriage by him and in his presence of the said Eugene Griffith and Josephine his wife, on or about the day afore mentioned."

Eugene mustered into as a Private 138 Regt. Pennsylvania Inf., Co. C, age 23 years old on August 9, 1862 in Norristown, PA for a period of 3 years.   Due to disability, he was discharged from U.S.A. Gen'l Hospital. Weaversville, VA by order of Maj. Gen. French, Oct 24, 1863.  On his Certificate of Disability for Discharge, it is stated that he had "Acute Tuberculosis, complicated with enlargement of the liver, contracted in line of duty of three months extending.  Degree of disability - three fourths."  On the Widows" Army Pension application, it states "her said husband left issue only one child in being at the time of his decease, born since his death on the twenty first day of April A.D. 1864 who name is Mary Griffith and now resides with said Mother at Tredyffrin Township, Chester Co., aforesaid."

* * * * *

I know my Great Great Grandmother Josephine CARR was married to a William Martin who, according to his tombstone, was in Co. E, 11th PA Cav.  I sent for his pension records.  He was enrolled 21 Aug 1861 and mustered out 20 Aug 1864 at Jones Landing, VA.  An affidavit filled out on 14 Dec 1899 by William states: 

    No. 1.  Are you a married man?  If so, please state you wife's full name, and her maiden name.
    Answer: Yes, Josephine Carr (her maiden name) Griffith widow of Eugene Griffith, (died 1864) 138th Pa. Vol. Inf.

   No. 2.  When, where and by whom were you married?
    Answer: 13th day of June 1867, Malvern, Chester Co., PA by Joseph L. Sagebeer, Pastor of Williston Baptist Church, Malvern PA

   No. 3.  What record of marriage exists?
    Answer:  Rev. Sagebeer certificate and entry in the Family Bible from which I am now quoting.

   No. 4.  Were you previously married?  If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
    Answer: No

   No. 5.  Have you any children living?  If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
    Answer:  Yes two.  Hannah Martha, 29th day of Dec 1868,  Howard Schofield, 1st day of July 1870.  (Previous to our marriage, Mrs. Griffith was drawing a Pension of $8.00 per month according to the Existing Law of the U.S at that time, on account of the death of her Soldier Husband)  Her Soldier Husband, Eugene Griffith???  What happened to  my Benjamin Irvin or Irvin Clair??????? Needless to say, I IMMEDIATELY sent for Eugene's records.

* * * * *

* * * * *

QUESTIONS

When did Mary go to live with James and Margaret Clair? - She's shown in the 1870 census living with James and Margaret Clair (Benjamin Irvin Clair/Irwin Clair's parents.

Why was she not living with her mother and William Martin?? 

Was Benjamin really Mary's father?  [There are not birth records available for PA in 1864]

Where and when were Benjamin & Josephine married, or were they ever married?

Were folks told Mary's father died in the Civil War and because she was living with the Clairs everyone assumed Benjamin was Mary's father?

Why can't we find out anything about Benjamin's military service?  Even if he was buried as an unknown, surely there would be something to at least say he was in the Civil War - or was he?? 

How did Josephine know the Clairs?  Was Eugene Griffith a friend of Benjamin''s?

Where is Eugene Griffith buried?  Maybe Montgomery County, PA, where he died?

Are Irvin & Benjamin Irvin the same person?  Since Irvin was in Salisbury and "joined the Rebel army," was that information shameful to the family so much so that they told family & friends that he was in Andersonville and died there? 

Well, I had promised I'd write a column about my Civil War Ancestor, and there you have it.  He's just as "mysterious" now as he has ever been. If anyone has any suggestions as to what I can do to find out who is my "real" Soldier, please email me at bitsobluengray@aol.com

Back to the main page

Go to My Civil War Ancestor Timeline