Roster and Genealogies of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

William A. Mullett

b. 7 May 1829, d. 22 May 1864

Gravemarker of William A. Mullett

Father: Abraham Mullett b. 1790, d. 11 Jan 1850
Mother: Prescilla Barret b. 1804

Company: F

William A. Mullett was born on 7 May 1829 at New Braintree, Worcester County, Massachusetts, son of Abraham Mullett and Prescilla Barret, or in Barre.
On 19 Jun 1848 his younger brother, Benjamin Mullett, died at Barre, Worcester County, Massachusetts, blown up in a powder mill at age 17.
William A. Mullett married Eliza J. Perkins, daughter of Shepherd Perkins and Alsie Dunnells.
William A. Mullett and Eliza J. Perkins were enumerated in the 1850 US Federal census on 27 Aug 1850 at Oakham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
Wm. A. Mullett, 22, shoemaker, b. MA (as were all here)
Eliza, 22
Alsy Batter, 55
Almira Batter, 12.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, William gave his occupation as shoemaker.
On 12 Jul 1861 William mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 32 years, 2 months and 5 days old.
He was declared missing in action on 30 Jun 1862 at Nelson's Farm, Virginia.
On 11 Nov 1862, William was returned from MIA/POW status.
In Nov 1863 William A. Mullett and John W. Davis were court martialed along with David O. Wallace at Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia, as documented in case number NN-506 (National Archives, Record Group 153).
On 6 May 1864 William A. Mullett was wounded at The Battle of the Wilderness, Orange County, Virginia.
He died on 22 May 1864 at Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, From the Worcester Spy, 1 June 1864:
"Dr. Joseph A. Bates informed me of the death of private Wm. A. Mullett of the 15th Mass regiment. He was wounded in the shoulder, and was doing very well, till suddenly taken with a fit yesterday, and died."
. He was 35 years and 15 days old.
On 25 May 1864 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, William A. Mullett was mentioned among the casualties.
He was buried in May 1864 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.
On 17 May 1869 Eliza J. Perkins received a pension to surviving family member based on William's service; and received certificate number 219930.
He's surviving family was enumerated in the household of Eliza J. Perkins in the 1870 US Federal Census on 28 Jul 1870 at Barre, Worcester County, Massachusetts, on the town poor farm as:
Mullett, Eliza, 41, pauper, b. MA
---, Mary, 10, b. MA
---, Emma A., 6, b. MA.
On 2 Jan 1871 William's daughter, Ellen Rebecca Mullett married Sheridan Dwight Tolman at Barre, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 13 Nov 1871 his granddaughter, Grace Lillian Tolman, daughter of Sheridan Dwight Tolman and Ellen Rebecca Mullett, was born at Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 1 Apr 1874 William's daughter, Nancy Jane Mullett married John Horrigan at Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, in a second marriage for him and the first for her.
On 27 Dec 1874 William's widow, Eliza J. Perkins remarried to David W. Haywood at Barre, Worcester County, Massachusetts, in a third marriage for him and the second for her.
On 10 Mar 1877 his married daughter, Ellen Rebecca Tolman, died at Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, at age 26.
On 7 Jul 1890 William's daughter, Emma Augusta Mullett married Charles C. White at Barre, Worcester County, Massachusetts, in a first marriage for both.

Last Edited: 3 Mar 2012

Family: Eliza J. Perkins b. between 1827 - 1828

Ellen Rebecca Mullett b. 10 Jun 1850, d. 10 Mar 1877
Nancy Jane Mullett b. 24 Nov 1851
William Benjamin Mullett b. 27 Mar 1854
Mary Mullett b. 1860, d. 14 Mar 1876
Emma Augusta Mullett b. 4 Nov 1863, d. 21 Jan 1933

Patrick Mulvaney

b. between 1841 and 1842, d. 10 December 1864

Mother: Bridget [--?--] b. 1820

Company: I

Patrick Mulvaney was born between 1841 - 1842 at Ireland, son of Bridget [--?--].
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Patrick gave his occupation as hostler.
In 1864 Patrick was living at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 9 Apr 1864 Patrick mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry having received a bounty of $325, being credited to the quota of Dana, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Starting 27 Jul 1864, Patrick also served in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company "G."
On 27 Jul 1864 Patrick ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by administrative transfer to the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as absent Prisoner of War.
On 24 Aug 1864 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Patrick Mulvaney was reported among the prisoners, for a total of four commissioned officers and seventy-seven enlisted men.
He died on 10 Dec 1864 at Florence, Florence County, South Carolina, of disease as a Prisoner of War (in the MASSCW).
He died on 10 Dec 1864 at Andersonville, Macon County, Georgia, as a prisoner of war (in Ford's history).
On 11 Jul 1865 Bridget Mulvany received a pension to surviving family member based on Patrick's service; his mother received certificate number 89329.

Last Edited: 18 Jan 2012

Thomas P. Munyan

b. 1837, d. 17 October 1862

Father: Thomas Munyan b. 4 Jun 1789, d. 27 Mar 1861
Mother: Nabby Jones b. 17 Oct 1790, d. 27 Mar 1872

Company: C

Thomas P. Munyan was born in 1837 at Medway, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, son of Thomas Munyan and Nabby Jones.
Thomas P. Munyan was enumerated in the 1850 US Federal census on 1 Aug 1850 at Medway, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, as:
Nathan Jones, 63, farmer, b. MA
Jemima, 61, b. MA
Mary O'Neil, 40, b. Ireland
**Thomas Munyan, 13, b. MA
(apparently with his mother's people).
On 23 Oct 1851 Thomas's sister, Maria L. Munyan, married Thorndike P. Allyn at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Thomas gave his occupation as teamster.
In 1861 Thomas was living at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 27 Mar 1861 his father, Thomas Munyan, died at Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, at age 71.
On 26 Nov 1861 Thomas mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 24 years old.
On 17 Sep 1862 Thomas P. Munyan was wounded at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland, on the shoulder.
On 1 Oct 1862 Francis Carpenter, having visited the battlefield, wrote a letter to the Webster Times detailing the status of many men after the Battle of Antietam.
He died on 17 Oct 1862 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, of wounds received at the Battle of Antietam. . He was 25 years old.
He was buried at Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
On 28 Feb 1863 Nabby Jones received a pension to surviving family member based on Thomas's service; his mother, received certificate number 18784.
Nabby, his mother, outlived Thomas and died on 27 Mar 1872 at Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, at age 81.
On 17 Sep 1900 Thomas P. Munyan was included on the Civil War memorial at Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland, as having died of his wounds received at the battle. (Read several articles from the Fitchburg Sentinel about the planning for the memorial.).
On 4 Jul 1907 Thomas P. Munyan was included on the Civil War memorial at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, according to an article in the Webster Times. See the "Documents" section at the main website for an account of the festivities of dedication. (Click icon to view original listing of names on the monument.).

Last Edited: 2 May 2011

John Murkland

b. 1835, d. 3 July 1863

John Murkland

Father: John Murkland b. between 1809 - 1810, d. 7 Aug 1876
Mother: Jane Lambert b. between 1813 - 1814

Company: B

John Murkland was born in 1835 at Scotland, son of John Murkland and Jane Lambert.
This family appears to come from Paisley, in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Please contact the Webmaster if you have further information.
Between 1835 - 1836 John Murkland emigrated with John Murkland and Jane Lambert, his parents, from Scotland to America.
John Murkland was enumerated in the household of John Murkland and Jane Lambert in the 1850 US Federal Census on 12 Aug 1850 at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, as:
John MURKLAND, 40, m, b. Scotland, Manufacture,
Jane, 36, f, b. Scotland
Ann LAMBERT, 76, f., b. Scotland (John's grandmother.)
**John MURKLAND, 15, m, b. Scotland (in school in 1850)
Robert L., 13, m, b. MA (in school in 1850)
William R., 9, m, b. MA (in school in 1850)
Margret (?), 8, f, b. MA (in school in 1850)
James, 6, m, b. MA (in school in 1850)
Woodward E., 3, m, b. MA
Jane, 1, f, b. MA
George F., 1, f, b. MA.
On 19 Apr 1859 John Murkland married Sophia M. Lee, 22, daughter of James Lee and Charlotte Messenger, at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in a first marriage for both.
John Murkland and Sophia M. Lee were enumerated in the 1860 US Federal census on 20 Jun 1860 at Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine, where he is the clerk and they live in the "Bangor House," which appears to be a very up-market boarding house or hotel.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, John gave his occupation as machinist.
On 12 Jul 1861 John mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a Sergeant, being credited to the quota of Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 26 years old.
On 29 May 1862 John was promoted to 1st Sergeant.
On 18 Sep 1862 John was promoted to Captain, in a battlefield commission at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland.
On 15 Nov 1862 at "The Lowell Daily Citizen and News", Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, John was mentioned in an article about his promotion. (Click icon to read.).
He died on 3 Jul 1863 at The Battle of Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, of wounds, "shot by a minie ball through the thigh," as Captain of Co. G. He was 28 years old.
On 8 Jul 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, John Murkland was mentioned in the first dispatches from the Gettysburg battle.
On 22 Jul 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, John Murkland was listed as a casualty of Gettysburg.
He was buried in 1863 at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Ford's history of the 15th Regiment says the following about Capt. Murkland:
The following account of Captain John Murkland is endorsed by Colonel John W. Kimball:

When the war broke out he was among the first to enlist in Company B, Fifteenth Regiment, and was immediatly appointed a sergeant, which office he held until after the battle of Antietam. He was raised to captain from the rank of sergeant, on recommendation of General Gorman and Colonel Kimball, and we give below the letter of General Gorman to Governor Andrew, which will be read with interest:
Headquarters 2d Division, 2d Army Corps,
Bolivar, VA., Oct. 19, 1862
Brig.-Gen. Schouler, Adjutant-General:

Sir: Since the death of the gallant captain of Company B (Capain Simonds), there is a vacancy. I now beg leave to present the name of First-Sergeant John Murkland. He is eminently fit and qualified, and is now in command of his company. He has nobly won this merited promotion by his gallantry on the battle-field of Antietam. When Captain Simonds fell, Lieutenant-Colonel Kimball took the dying man’s sword off and said, "I want you to take this sword and lead this company; will you do it? " He answered gallantly, "I will do so, -- anywhere you may order!" This noble answer, made in the face of death and danger, ought to win for him from his country a medal, and two captains’ commissions, if need be. I trust His Excellency will reward this espcial gallantry at once. I am, General,
truly yours,
W. A. Gorman
Brig.-Gen., Commanding Division.

The Governor immediately forwarded a commission, also wrote a letter to the regiment highly complimentary of Murkland, and giving his reasons for his departure from his usual custom in thus elevating him at once to a captaincy. The appointment gave great satisfaction to the regiment, and to his many friends. As a man, he was genial and kind-hearted, and beloved by all who knew him. As a soldier, he was prompt and efficient, and a thorough disciplinarian, while none braver than he ever trod the field of battle.
Sophia M. Lee received a pension to surviving family member based on John's service.
In 1866, John was included in the history of "Fitchburg in the War of Rebellion", but no family information is given.
He's surviving family was enumerated in the household of Sophia M. Lee in the 1870 US Federal Census in Jun 1870 at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, where his wife is enumerated with two of her younger siblings:
Albert, 20, (née Lee), clerk in store, born MA
Laura A, 17, (née Lee), at school, born MA.
John and Sophia M. Lee have no known issue. The ages of the children enumerated with Sophia would put their births well before the marriage, and it is unknown what relationship they had to Sophia. The fact that John's sword has come down to another family branch, through his next eldest brother, also a Civil War veteran, suggests that he had no surviving heir.
In 1889 John's wife, Sophia M. Murkland, was incuded in the city directory at Lowell Massachusetts, at 141 Grand Street.
On 29 Jun 1901 at Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, John Murkland 's widow attended the 40th reunion of Company B.
Sophia, his wife, outlived John and died on 20 Feb 1924 at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at age 87.
He and Sophia M. Lee were buried at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and the inscription on his gravestone reads:
1835 Capt. John Murkland 1863 --
His Wife --
1837 Sophia Lee Murkland 1924.
A photograph or image of John Murkland is located at The Fitchburg Historical Society, Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Descendant(s): Robert Murkland, a descendant of John's brother, Robert.
Credits: Primary photo above by permission of the Worcester Historical Museum, Ward Collection.

Last Edited: 7 Dec 2010

Family: Sophia M. Lee b. 7 Jan 1837, d. 20 Feb 1924

Anthony Murphy

b. between 1840 and 1841, d. 9 May 1900

Father: Bernard Murphy
Mother: Margaret [--?--]

Company: E

Anthony Murphy was born between 1840 - 1841 at Ireland, son of Bernard Murphy and Margaret [--?--].
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Anthony gave his occupation as spinner.
On 12 Jul 1861 Anthony mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 11 Apr 1863 at "The Webster Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Anthony Murphy was included in the published list of Oxford volunteers.
On 1 May 1863 Anthony was promoted to Corporal.
On 2 Jul 1863 Anthony Murphy was wounded at The Battle of Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
On 22 Jul 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Anthony Murphy was reported as wounded at Gettysburg.
On 28 Apr 1864 Anthony ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts for reasons not given in the 1870 roster.
He made application for a veteran's pension on 9 May 1864, and received certificate number 30625.
Anthony Murphy married Mary Fallon, daughter of Patrick Fallon and Bridget [--?--].
Anthony Murphy and Mary Fallon were enumerated in the 1870 US Federal Census on 1 Aug 1870 at Grafton P. O., Millbury, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
Murphy, Anthony, 29, works in woolen mill, b. Ireland
---, Mary, 22, works in woolen mill, b. Ireland
living as boarders in the home of
William Cobb, 36, laborer, b. Ireland.
In 1879 Anthony was living at Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut.
On 5 Jul 1879 at "The Webster Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Anthony Murphy was mentioned in the report on the 12th annual reunion of Company E, 15th Massachusetts Infantry. (Click icon to read the report.).
He and Mary Fallon were enumerated in the 1880 US Federal census on 5 Jun 1880 at Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut, as:
Murphy, Antony, 41, saloon keeper, b. Ireland (as were his parents)
---, Mary, 31, wife, b. Ireland
---, Bennet, 8, son, b. CT
---, Thomas, 6, son, b. CT
---, Maggie, 3, daur, b. CT
---, Henry, 10/12, b. July, b. CT.
On 9 Jul 1886 at "The Webster Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Anthony Murphy was reported as having attended the 19th reunion of Company E, 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
On 28 May 1889 Mary Fallon, his wife, died at Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut.
On 5 Jul 1889 at Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Anthony Murphy attended a reunion of Company E. (click icon to read report).
He died on 9 May 1900 at Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut.
He was buried in May 1900 at St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut.
He's surviving family was enumerated in the household of Dr. Bernard P. Murphy in the 1900 US Federal Census in Jun 1900 at Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut, as:
Bernard J Murphy, 29, head, b. Feb 1871, single, b. CT, physician
Margaret, 25, sister, b. Oct 1874, single, b. CT
Michael, 29, brother, b. Oct 1879, b. CT.
On 8 Feb 1910 Anthony's daughter, Margaret Ellen Murphy married Charles Philip Smith at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Last Edited: 24 Mar 2012

Family: Mary Fallon b. between 1848 - 1849, d. 28 May 1889

Dr. Bernard P. Murphy b. Feb 1871, d. 1940
Thomas Murphy b. 1875, d. 6 Mar 1898
Margaret Ellen Murphy b. between 1876 - 1877
Michael Henry Murphy b. Jul 1879