Hello,
A few months ago this group discussed the confusion between William B.
Cascadden, son of Alexander Cascadden and Nancy Bale/Bayles and William
Carscadden, son of Thomas Carscadden and Mary Johnston. The confusion
arises because both men supposedly served in the Michigan Infantry during
the Civil War, but there is only one military record of any William
Cascadden/Carscadden serving from Michigan. Well, I finally received the
complete pension file ($55.00) for William B. Cascadden and can completely
clear up any confusion between these two people. First let me give a bit of
background information on both men.
William B. Cascadden, was born on or about 7 July 1810 in Upper Canada
(probably either in Lincoln County or what became Elgin County), the son of
Alexander Cascadden and Nancy Bale/Bayles/Beals. He was raised in Malahide
Township (Elgin County), and on 30 January 1834 he was married to Nancy Ann
Garrett, daughter of Benjamin and Frances Garrett. William B. and Nancy Ann
lived mainly in Elgin County, Ontario, but also spent a number of years
homesteading in Huron County, Michigan. William B. died 25 January 1879 in
Essex County, Ontario, while visiting his son Martin. William B. and Nancy
Ann had 10 known children: Benjamin, Frances, Alexander, Mary Ann, William
Edward, Nancy Maria, Jane, Martin, Elizabeth M. and Ruth Ann.
William Carscadden, was born on or about 26 March 1842, probably in Durham
County, Upper Canada. He was the son of Thomas Carscadden and Mary Johnston
(whom later married a Robbins). He was married to Miranda Gifford on 20
July 1860 at Boumanville, Durham County. Only one child of William and Mary
lived to adulthood: Benson Gifford Carscadden, born 4 October 1863 in Clark
Township, Durham County, Canada West. William apparently left for Michigan
during the time of the Civil War, and was not heard from again until 1902 -
after the death of his wife.
The military papers for the only Cascadden or Carscadden serving from
Michigan during the Civil War show that William B. Cascadden enlisted in
Company B of the 5th Michigan Infantry on 14 January 1864 in Huron City,
Huron County, Michigan. At the time of his enlistment, his age was given as
44, but when admitted to the hospital, his age was given as 55. He signed
his name as William B. Cascadden. On a hospital card, his wife's name is
given as Nancy Ann Cascaddan of Huron City, Huron County, Michigan. The age
of this soldier, and name of his wife, proves the man serving in the 5th
Michigan Infantry was William B. Cascadden, son of Alexander.
However, the pension papers associated with William B. Cascadden of the 5th
Michigan, were all submitted by and for Miranda (Gifford) Carscadden of
Durham County, Ontario. Neither William B. nor his widow Nancy Ann, ever
applied for a pension. Upon reading these papers, it is shown that Miranda
never knew the regiment her husband served in. The family had written to
Michigan officials to determine what regiment a William Carscadden had
served in, and were told a William B. Cascadden was in the 5th Michigan.
After being told this, Miranda tried to claim a pension based upon this
information. She never received the pension because she could not prove
this man was her husband.
Many interesting items can be gleaned from these pension papers:
James H. Carscadden, a brother to William Carscadden, was living in Niagara
County, New York in 1897. He stated his brother William went into a cavalry
regiment, but he did not know which one. William had sent a picture of his
horse and told how no one else could ride this horse except him. The last
he had heard from William was after the war, when he wrote their brother
George, to say they were going out west to fight the Indians. James said he
believed his brother had no middle name and did not use the initial "B".
Eliza (Carscadden) Gibson, wife of James Gibson, of Durham County, Ontario
(a sister to William and James H. Carscadden) made a deposition in 1897
stating that they did not want William to marry Miranda, because she was
older than William. She sent the pension bureau a tintype of William in a
cavalryman's jacket, but asked them to return it. William never wrote them
that he had diarrhea or rheumatism (which William B. Cascadden in the 5th
Michigan was treated for), but he did say he was knocked off his horse by a
piece of shell. She stated that William had no middle name and was never
known as William B. William had written to say he was going to Texas and
told them not to write until they heard from him again.
The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, determined that William
Carscadden of Durham County was not the same man whom enlisted in the 5th
Michigan. Their decision was based upon the depositions of the family,
depositions of regimental members whom had served with William B. Cascadden,
and the family's description of William Carscadden when compared to the
description of William B. Cascadden given upon hies enlistment. Also the
tintype picture furnished by Eliza Gibson was not a man in military dress.
The family acknowledged William Carscadden was not the same man as the
William B. Cascadden in the 5th Michigan, and began to look for what
regiment William Carscadden might have served with.
If anyone has any questions on either of these two men, please contact me.
Marjean Workman (list owner)