Roster and Genealogies of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Francis Stanton

b. between 1834 and 1835, d. 3 July 1863

Company: I

Francis Stanton was born between 1834 - 1835 at unknown.
In 1861 Francis was living at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Francis gave his occupation as farmer.
On 12 Dec 1861 Francis mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
He died on 3 Jul 1863 at The Battle of Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, killed in action.
He was buried in Jul 1863 at Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, Gravesite: MA-D-7.
He was mentioned in the obituary of Albert H. Snow on 18 Jul 1863 at "The Webster Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Last Edited: 23 Jan 2011

Nelson Vantyle Stanton

b. between 1842 and 1843, d. 10 December 1899

Nelson V. Stanton

Father: John E. Stanton b. between 1807 - 1808
Mother: Elvira B. Stevens b. between 1817 - 1818

Company: H

Nelson Vantyle Stanton was born between 1842 - 1843 at Poland, Androscoggin County, Maine, son of John E. Stanton and Elvira B. Stevens.
Nelson Vantyle Stanton was enumerated in the household of John E. Stanton and Elvira B. Stevens in the 1850 US Federal Census on 23 Jul 1850 at Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, as:
John E. Stanton, 42, watchman, b. ME (as were all in the family)
Elvira B., 32
Mary E., 12
William O., 10
**Nelson G.(sic), 8
Paulina H., 6.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Nelson gave his occupation as painter.
In 1861 Nelson was living at Northbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 25 May 1861, Nelson was enlisted in the 15th Massachusetts.
On 12 Jul 1861 Nelson mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Northbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Nelson Vantyle Stanton and Robert W. Graham, future brothers-in-law, served together in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
On 9 Aug 1861 Nelson was promoted to Corporal.
On 21 Oct 1861 Nelson V. Stanton was wounded at The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Leesburg, Virginia.
On 1 May 1862 Nelson was promoted to Sergeant.
On 17 Sep 1862 Nelson was promoted to 1st Sergeant at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland.
On 22 Jan 1863 Nelson was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, by commission.
On 6 Apr 1863 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson V. Stanton was mentioned in an article about promotions.
On 10 Apr 1863 at "The Southbridge Journal", Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson Vantyle Stanton was mentioned in an article listing commissions and officer promotions in the regiment, as well as which discharged or deceased officers they replaced.
On 22 Apr 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson was mentioned as follows (Volume 92 #15):
Whitinsville.---Nelson V. Stanton of Whitinsville, having been recently promoted to be second lieutenant, his former shopmates and friends have united in procuring an elegant sword, sash and belt, which has been forwarded to him at Falmouth. Lieut. Stanton is one of the original members of Co. H., 15th regiment, and has participated in all the battles in which his regiment has been engaged, and by faithful performance of duty has fairly earned his promotion.
On 2 Jul 1863 Nelson V. Stanton was wounded at The Battle of Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
On 4 Jul 1863 Nelson was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
On 22 Jul 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson Vantyle Stanton was reported as wounded at Gettysburg.
On 12 Oct 1863 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson Vantyle Stanton was mentioned as promoted.
On 3 Dec 1863, Nelson was appointed Adjutant.
On 6 Feb 1864 Nelson was promoted to Captain, but not mustered. (Note: other officers who were commissioned in a higher rank at this time were also not mustered in the rank due to regimental numbers being so greatly reduced.).
On 6 May 1864 Nelson V. Stanton was wounded at The Battle of the Wilderness, Orange County, Virginia.
On 12 May 1864 Nelson V. Stanton was wounded at The Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia.
On 18 May 1864 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson Vantyle Stanton was noted among the wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness.
On 25 May 1864 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson Vantyle Stanton was mentioned among the casualties.
Daniel W. Freeman wrote a letter on 25 Jun 1864, mentioning Nelson Vantyle Stanton, as follows: published in the Webster Times. (Click icon to read.).
On 27 Jul 1864 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson Vantyle Stanton was mentioned in an article about the return of the regiment to Massachusetts.
On 29 Jul 1864 Nelson ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts with the field and staff officers as 1Lt and Adjutant.
On 21 Oct 1864 at The Bay State House, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Nelson Vantyle Stanton attended the First Annual Reunion of the Fifteenth Regiment Association.
He made application for a veteran's pension on 27 Oct 1864, and received certificate number 38873. The VA documents indicate that he suffered increasing physical problems in the ensuing years as a result of his wounds, and his pension was increased three times to a 75% disability.
On 6 Jun 1866 Nelson Vantyle Stanton married Mary Jane Graham, 17, daughter of James Graham and Margaret Ray, at Northbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, in a first marriage for both.
Nelson Vantyle Stanton and Mary Jane Graham were enumerated in the 1870 US Federal Census on 22 Jul 1870 at Whitinsville P. O., Northbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, There are no children enumerted.
Nelson V. Stanton was for many years the senior partner in the firm of Stanton and Farnham, a monument and granite works.
He and Mary Jane Graham were separated in 1889.
After 1889 Nelson V. Stanton married Ella E. Evans, daughter of Samuel G. Evans and Elizabeth F. Gray, at Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, she being formerly of Whitefield, New Hampshire.
Nelson Vantyle Stanton died on 10 Dec 1899 at Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.
He was buried in Dec 1899 at Pocasset Cemetery, Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island.
He left family who were enumerated as the household of Ella E. Evans and Ralph Stanton in the 1900 US Federal Census in 1900 at Hammond Street , Ward 8, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, ; his widow and small son, showing that she has real estate income.
On 3 May 1917 Ella E. Evans received a pension to surviving family member in Rhode Island based on Nelson's service; his wife, received certificate number 844041.
Ella, his wife, outlived Nelson and died on 7 Jan 1943 at Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island, at age 95.
Credits: Photo from the family archives of Nelson E. Stanton.
NOTE: Nelson E. Stanton, grandson of Capt. Nelson V. Stanton, passed away September 24, 2005 at Hospice in Boca Raton, FL. He will be burried in Arlington National Cemetary and will receive full military honors during the service at the gravesite, according to Bruce Stanton, his son.

Last Edited: 19 Dec 2010

Family 1: Mary Jane Graham b. 16 Oct 1848

Family 2: Ella E. Evans b. May 1847, d. 7 Jan 1943

Ralph Stanton b. 5 May 1896

Edwin Burnham Staples

b. 21 November 1842, d. 20 October 1879

Edwin B. Staples

Father: Artemis Staples b. 26 Jun 1814
Mother: Esther L. Burnham b. 24 Jul 1819

Company: K

Edwin Burnham Staples was born on 21 Nov 1842 at Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, son of Artemis Staples and Esther L. Burnham.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Edwin gave his occupation as bookkeeper.
In 1861 Edwin was living at Blackstone, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 1 Aug 1861 Edwin mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a 1st Lieutenant, being credited to the quota of Blackstone, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 18 years, 8 months and 11 days old.
On 14 Aug 1861 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Edwin Burnham Staples was mentioned in an article about the departure of the Fifteenth Massachusetts from Worcester.
On 18 Jul 1862 Edwin ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by resignation.
He was a pall bearer at the burial of Hans Peter Jorgensen on 23 Jul 1863 at Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 19 Dec 1863 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Edwin was mentioned: (Volume 18 # 289, City and County) "Blackstone…….Capt. D. W. Kimball of the 51^st, and Lieut. E. B. Staples of the 15^th Masschusetts regiment, have unitedly opened a recruiting office in Blackstone for the 4^th Massachusetts cavalry. Fourteen men in the town have been enlisted."
Starting 6 Jan 1864, Edwin also served in the Co. C 4th Massachusetts Cavalry as 1st Lieutenant.
On 21 Apr 1864 Edwin was promoted to Captain.
On 24 Oct 1864 Edwin Burnham Staples was wounded at Big Gum Creek, Baker County, Florida.
On 8 Jul 1865 Edwin was promoted to Major.
On 19 Jul 1865 Edwin Burnham Staples, 22, married Susan Adeline Cobb, 23, daughter of Otis Thompson Cobb and Maria Cady, at Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Edwin Burnham Staples ended his service with the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry by mustering out on 14 Nov 1865 at Richmond, Virginia.
He was enumerated in the household of Artemis Staples and Esther L. Burnham in the 1870 US Federal Census on 27 Jun 1870 at Blackstone, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
Staples, Artemas, 55, meat market, $2000 real estate, $500 personal estate, b. MA
---, Esther L., 51, b. CT
**---, Edwin, 29, clerk in custom house, $200 real estate, $300 personal estate, b. RI
---, Susan, 27, b. CT
---, Hellen I., 3, b. CT
---, Joseph C., 10/12, b. CT, July
Ballou, Charles C., 18, works in meat market, b. MA.
Edwin Burnham Staples died on 20 Oct 1879. He was 36 years, 10 months and 29 days old.
On 3 Dec 1881 Susan Adeline Cobb received a pension to surviving family member based on Edwin's service; his wife, received certificate number 200513.
Susan, his wife, outlived Edwin and died on 9 Jun 1920 at age 78.

Last Edited: 24 Feb 2012

Family: Susan Adeline Cobb b. 28 May 1842, d. 9 Jun 1920

Helen Irvin Staples b. 26 Aug 1866
Joseph Cady Staples b. 7 Jul 1869, d. 19 Dec 1950

John L. Starrett

b. between 1836 and 1837, d. 17 September 1862

Father: Robert Starrett
Mother: Rebecca [--?--]

Company: K

John L. Starrett was born between 1836 - 1837 at Ireland, son of Robert Starrett and Rebecca [--?--].
On 30 May 1858 John L. Starrett married Mary Louis Estes, 20, daughter of Henry Estes and Susan Round, at Blackstone, Worcester County, Massachusetts, in a first marriage for both.
John L. Starrett was enumerated in the household of Henry Estes and Susan Round in the 1860 US Federal Census on 28 Jul 1860 at Milford P. O., Blackstone, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
Henry Estes, 55, shoemaker, b. MA
Susan, 50, b. RI
**Hersey, 27, carpenter, b. MA
**John Starrett, 23, weaver, b. Ireland
Mary L., 23, b. MA
Louisa, 1, b. MA.
In 1861 John was living at Blackstone, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, John gave his occupation as weaver.
On 1 Jul 1861 John mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Blackstone, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
John L. Starrett and Hersey Estes, brothers-in-law, served together in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company K.
John L. Starrett died on 17 Sep 1862 at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland, killed in action.
On 5 Mar 1863 Mary Louis Estes received a pension to surviving family member based on John's service; and received certificate number 4231.
On 9 Dec 1870 John's widow, Mary Louis Estes remarried to Asel B. Greggs at Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, in his first marriage and her second.
On 6 Nov 1878 Mary Louis Greggs made application for a pension as guardian to John's surviving dependants, and received certificate number 149397, his remarried widow.
On 17 Sep 1900 John L. Starrett was included on the Civil War memorial at Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland, on the 35th anniversary of the battle. (Articles from the Fitchburg Sentinel about the planning for the memorial.).
Mary, his wife, outlived John and died on 4 Jul 1922 at age 84.

Last Edited: 21 Jan 2012

Family: Mary Louis Estes b. 17 Sep 1837, d. 4 Jul 1922

Louisa Starrett b. between 1858 - 1859
Mary A. Starrett b. 13 Oct 1860

Walter H. Steadson

b. between 1842 and 1843, d. 22 August 1864

Company: G

Walter H. Steadson was also known as Walter H. Stetson parenthetically in Ford's history and George Farr's journal.
He was born between 1842 - 1843 at Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Walter gave his occupation as shoemaker.
In 1862 Walter was living at Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
On 20 Nov 1862 Walter mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
In Aug 1863 Walter H. Steadson and Joseph L. Moody were court martialed at Morrisville, Fauquier County, Virginia, as documented in case number MM-700 (National Archives, Record Group 153).
On 12 May 1864 Walter was taken prisoner at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia.
Walter H. Stetson was mentioned in a journal written by George W. Farr covering the dates from 3 May 1864 to 22 May 1865, detailing his prison experiences. Provided courtesey of Ryan M. Cooper. (click icon to read).
On 27 Jul 1864 Walter ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by administrative transfer to the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a prisoner.
He died on 22 Aug 1864 at Andersonville, Macon County, Georgia, as a prisoner of war.
On 3 Feb 1865, Samuel Wallace Armington was reported as a released prisoner bringing news of other prisoners at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Last Edited: 21 Jan 2012