Roster and Genealogies of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

John Eckersley

b. 1838, d. 14 June 1890

Gravemarker of John Eckersley

Father: James Eckersley b. 1810
Mother: Sarah Whitehead b. 1816

Company: E

John Eckersley was born in 1838 at Oldham, Lancashire, England, son of James Eckersley and Sarah Whitehead.
John Eckersley was enumerated in the household of James Eckersley and Sarah Whitehead in the 1851 UK Census on 1 Apr 1851 at Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire, England, as:
James Eckersley, husband, 41, weaver, b. Oldham, Lancs
Sally, wife, 35, weaver, b. Oldham, Lancs
**John, son, 13, weaver, b. Oldham, Lancs
Cecilia, daur, 10, b. Oldham, Lancs
James, son, 1, b. Oldham, Lancs.
On 18 Jan 1857 John Eckersley married Maria Mayall, daughter of William Mayall and Ann Cheetham, at Oldham, Lancashire, England.
In Sep 1857 the birth of his son, Ashton Eckersley, was registered at Oldham, Lancashire, England.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, John gave his occupation as weaver.
He was not enumerated in the household of Ann Cheetham in the 1861 UK Census on 1 Apr 1861 at Oldham Above Town, Oldham, Lancashire, England, as:
Ann Mayall, head, widow, 49, b. Lancs, Oldham
Elizabeth, daur, 23, cotton weaver, b. Lancs, Oldham
Mary Ann, daur, 20, cotton weaver, b. Lancs, Oldham
Squire, son, 16, cotton ??, b. Lancs, Oldham
**Maria Eckersley, daur, married, 25, cotton weaver, b. Lancs, Oldham
**Ashton, g.son, 3, b. Lancs, Oldham.
On 12 Jul 1861 John mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 23 years old.
John Eckersley was described as five feet five and a half inches, with hazel eyes and dark hair.
On 21 Oct 1861 John Eckersley was wounded by gun shots in his left forearn that prevented the use of the fingers of his left hand.
On 21 Oct 1861 John was taken prisoner at The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Leesburg, Virginia.
Between 24 Oct 1861 - 30 Apr 1862, at Mayo's Tobacco Factory, Richmond, Virginia, John was held as a prisoner.
On 30 Oct 1861 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, John Eckersley was included among "The Killed Wounded and Missing of the Fifteenth Regiment," after Ball's Bluff.
On 20 Nov 1861 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, John Eckersley was listed among the prisoners taken at Ball's Bluff.
On 23 Feb 1862, at Newport News, Newport News (city), Virginia, John was paroled from prison, and was sent to Camp Parole (near Annapolis) in Maryland.
On 11 Apr 1863 at "The Webster Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, John Eckersley was included in the published list of Oxford volunteers.
On 1 Jul 1863 "suffered from the exertion of the march and from sun stroke causing a general breaking down of his constitution”. He was sent to hospital.
In Aug 1863, John was absent sick from active service.
On 21 Oct 1863 John ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts due to disability.
He made application for a veteran's pension on 5 Nov 1868, and received certificate number 385690.
On 1 Sep 1871 at Central Falls, Providence County, Rhode Island, John joined the G.A.R Ballou Post 3.
In 1879 John was living at Ashton, Providence County, Rhode Island.
On 5 Jul 1879 at "The Webster Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, John Eckersley was mentioned in the report on the 12th annual reunion of Company E, 15th Massachusetts Infantry. (Click icon to read the report.).
He was not enumerated in the household of Maria Mayall in the 1881 UK Census on 1 Apr 1881 at Oldham Above Town, Oldham, Lancashire, England, as:
Maria Eckersley, head, 45, cotton weaver, b. Lancs., Oldham
Ashton, son, 23, cotton weaver, b. Lancs., Oldham
John William Hinshaw, nephew, 20, clerk in ?? office, b. Lancs., Oldham
Samuel Brierly, boarder, married, 29,, b. Lancs., Oldham.
On 26 Mar 1883 James Eckersley was included on a passenger list of the "City of Paris", arriving New York City Harbor, New York, his brother, age 24, with destination Boston.
On 23 Mar 1887 Ashton Eckersley was included on a passenger list of the "Queen", arriving New York City Harbor, New York, his son, from Liverpool with destination Boston, Massachusetts.
On 24 Dec 1888 Maria Mayall was included on a passenger list of the "Servia", arriving New York City Harbor, New York, his wife, from England, with destination Massachusetts. She was 53.
John Eckersley died on 14 Jun 1890 at Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island. He was 52 years old.
He was buried in Jun 1890 at Moshassuck Cemetery, Central Falls, Providence County, Rhode Island, in the Ballou Post G.A.R. plot.
On 30 Apr 1891 Maria Mayall received a pension to surviving family member in Rhode Island based on John's service; his wife, received certificate number 334309.
Maria, his wife, outlived John and died on 8 Dec 1914.
Credits: Gravemarker photo kindly provided by Jen Snoots at FindaGrave.com.

Last Edited: 9 Oct 2010

Family: Maria Mayall b. 1836, d. 8 Dec 1914

Ashton Eckersley b. 19 Jul 1857

Stillman William Edgell

b. 27 August 1830, d. 24 January 1892

Stillman W. Edgell

Father: William Edgell
Mother: Lorena Miller

Company: B

Stillman William Edgell was born on 27 Aug 1830 at Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, son of William Edgell and Lorena Miller.
Stillman William Edgell was enumerated in the 1850 US Federal census in 1850 at Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Stillman W. Edgell, 19, m, chain maker, b. MA. It appears to be a boarding house run by one Joseph McComber, age 32, along with 10 other apparently unrelated people.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, Stillman gave his occupation as chair maker.
In 1861 Stillman was living at Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 26 Nov 1861 Stillman mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a Corporal, being credited to the quota of Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 31 years, 2 months and 30 days old.
On 22 Oct 1862 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Stillman William Edgell was mentioned among the wounded at the Patent Office hospital in Washington, D.C.
On 3 Jun 1864 Stillman William Edgell was wounded at Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia, so severely wounded in the right arm, that amputation was deemed necessary. He was listed as being sick in Carver Hospital in Ward 31 for debility. He entered on September 28. He was not dispatched until January 11, 1865.
On 24 Nov 1864 Stillman ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts according to the 1870 roster on 11 Jan 1865 having fulfilled his term of service, but the MASSCW says discharge to date from 24 Nov 1864.
He made application for a veteran's pension on 8 May 1865, received certificate number 66429.
On returning to Massachusetts he was employed at the State House, most of the time as doorkeeper of the Senate from 1865 to the present (1892).
He died on 24 Jan 1892 at Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Three months later on April 24th his body was found floating in the Charles river, Cambridge, into which he is supposed to have plunged from Harvard bridge, when in a state of temporary mental aberration. Read the full story. He was 61 years, 4 months and 28 days old.
Read full story as reported in the Boston Daily Advertiser.
He was buried on 28 Apr 1892 at Woodside Cemetery, Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 28 Jun 1892 at Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Stillman William Edgell was remembered "in memorium" at the 24th annual reunion of the Company B, 15th Massachusetts, association -- the Fitchburg Fusiliers. (Report from the Fitchburg Sentinel.).
Credits: Primary photo and research courtesy of the Westminster, MA, Historical Society and Mark Landry.
Credits: Patrick Smith, cemetery photography.

Last Edited: 12 Oct 2011

Heman O. Edgerly

b. between 1838 and 1839, d. between June 1864 and December 1864

Company: C

Heman O. Edgerly was born between 1838 - 1839 at Cambridge, Lamoille County, Vermont.
He was enumerated in the 1860 US Federal census on 6 Jun 1860 at Holliston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, as a boarder in the family of:
Wm. Horton, 51, bootmaker, b. MA
Eliza A., 48, b. NY
Geo. D. Horton, 14, b. MA
Wm. H. 19, b. MA
Arthur S. WILDER 20 , combmaker, b. MA
**Heman EDGERLY, 20, m, combmaker, b. VT.
In 1861 Heman was living at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, Heman gave his occupation as comb maker.
On 12 Jul 1861 Heman mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 21 Oct 1861 Heman was taken prisoner at The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Leesburg, Virginia.
On 30 Oct 1861 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Heman O. Edgerly was included among "The Killed Wounded and Missing of the Fifteenth Regiment," after Ball's Bluff.
On 20 Nov 1861 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Herman Edgerly was listed among the prisoners taken at Ball's Bluff.
On 1 Nov 1862 Heman ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by desertion. However, Ford's history simply says "no record of discharge", and his later death in service suggests otherwise.
Starting after 1862, Heman also served in the 4th New Hampshire, reportedly reenlisted, and was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia.
He died between Jun 1864 - Dec 1864 according to "The History of Clinton, Massachusetts" of a wound at the Siege of Petersburg.
In 1896, Heman was included in "The History of Clinton, Massachusetts" where it says, "Herman O. Edgerly, who had been transferred from the Fifteenth to the Fourth New Hampshire, was wounded before Petersburg and died from the effects of the wound." (Note: record not given on N. H. rolls under this name.).
Noted: an Andrew J. EDGERLY served in Co. E of the 4th NH.

Last Edited: 7 Jun 2009

Asher J. Eliott

b. 1834

Company: I

Asher J. Eliott was born about in 1834 at Vermont.
In Jan 1862 Asher mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a Private. He was 28 years old.
In 1864 Asher ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts.
He was enumerated in the 1890 US Federal census, Veteran's Schedule in Jun 1890 at Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as having served in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company I. However, I cannot identify this man in any known roster. The handwriting is smeared, and the company could be different. Please contact the Webmaster if you have further information.

Last Edited: 25 May 2010

Lyman Haskell Ellingwood

b. 1 September 1839, d. 23 November 1911

Lyman H. Ellingwood

Father: Ezra Ellingwood b. 9 Dec 1787, d. 22 Apr 1869
Mother: Elizabeth Haskell b. 3 Apr 1810, d. 10 Jun 1844

Company: F

Lyman Haskell Ellingwood was born on 1 Sep 1839 at Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, son of Ezra Ellingwood and Elizabeth Haskell.
On 10 Jun 1844 his mother, Elizabeth Haskell, died at Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, at age 34.
On 2 Nov 1845 Lyman's widowed father, Ezra Ellingwood, remarried to Mary Ann Haskell, 57, at Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Lyman Haskell Ellingwood was enumerated in the household of Ezra Ellingwood and Mary Ann Haskell in the 1850 US Federal Census on 31 Aug 1850 at Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, as:
Ezra Ellingwood, 63, male, merchant, $4000, b. MA (as are all here)
Mary A., 28, F,
Edward P., 15
Charles H., 13
**Lyman H., 12
Melanie A., 2
Augusta Clear (?), 44, f, (relationship if any, unknown).
In 1861 Lyman was living at Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Lyman gave his occupation as clerk.
On 1 Aug 1861 Lyman mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant, being credited to the quota of Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 21 years and 11 months old.
On 14 Aug 1861 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Lyman Haskell Ellingwood was mentioned in an article about the departure of the Fifteenth Massachusetts from Worcester.
On 17 Jan 1862 Lyman was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
On 17 Sep 1862 Lyman Haskell Ellingwood was wounded at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland.
On 18 Sep 1862 Lyman was promoted to Captain.
On 4 Jul 1863 Lyman was promoted to Major, but not mustered in this rank.
On 11 Dec 1863 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Lyman Haskell Ellingwood was mentioned as wounded:
"Among the list of casualties in the Potomac army, on Friday, the 27th, we find the following in the 15th regiment; Adjutant Dwight Newbury, lower jaw fractured; G. Hawley, in arm; A. W. Potter, arm; Capt. L. H. Ellingwood, in head; J. H. Boyd, in hand, and J. E. Shepherd in shoulder." (Volume 18 # 273).
On 28 Dec 1863 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Lyman Haskell Ellingwood was mentioned: (Volume 18 #305)
"Military Appointments - Maj. I. Harris Hooper of Boston has been appointed lieut.colonel of the 15th Mass. regiment, and Captain Lyman H. Ellingwood of Beverly, major."
On 11 Jan 1864 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Lyman Haskell Ellingwood was honored by local citizens. (click icon to read).
On 6 May 1864 Lyman ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by dishonorable dismissal by Special Order War Department No. 169, with the rank of Captain.

On 8 Jun 1864 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Lyman was mentioned (Volume 93 #23):

Unjustly Accused

Several days ago a paragraph, telegraphed from Washington, appeared in all the papers, stating that Captain Ellenwood of the fifteenth Massachusetts regiment had been dishonorably discharged from the service for cowardice, and, we believe, for absence from his regiment under false pretences. The accused officer has been with the fifteenth during the greater part of its trying history, has been engaged in not less than fifteen battles, and to the date of these accusations, has had the confidence of his superior officers. He thinks he has been the victim of most unfortunate circumstances, and is confident he will be able to show to the government, as soon as he can have a hearing that in this matter he is without fault. Till then he has the right to ask that he shall not be condemned, and that the reputation that he had bravely earned shall have its just weight in his behalf.

The circumstances of his dismissal are unclear. Click icon to read current information.
On 21 Oct 1864 at The Bay State House, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Lyman Haskell Ellingwood attended the First Annual Reunion of the Fifteenth Regiment Association.
In 1880 Lyman has not been identfied in the 1880 US census to date (June 2006).
About 1890 Lyman may have lived with the family of John Draper, a photographer in New York City, according to Doug Sinclair.
He was enumerated in the 1910 US Federal Census in 1910 at New York, New York.
He died on 23 Nov 1911 at New York, New York. He was 72 years, 2 months and 22 days old.
He was buried in Nov 1911 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx Borough, New York.
Descendant(s): Doug Sinclair, a descendant of one of Lyman's brothers, who kindly provided the portrait photo above. For further information, see Doug's website.

Last Edited: 29 Nov 2010