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Hello,
I am a researcher for the Buckland Preservation Society, located in
Buckland, Virginia, the birthplace of Columbia Claggett (wife of Thomas J.
Claggett). There is a late 18th- and early 19th-century village at Buckland
as well as a large Civil War battlefield. Most of the original buildings
are still standing and most of the cultural landscape is intact. I am
currently researching the Battle of Buckland Mills (October 19, 1863), to
develop a full account of the military engagement and all who were involved.
A member of the Preservation Society informed me that the Claggett Family
History web page at family.phelpsinc.com contained a reference to Buckland.
Specifically, they described a reference from Columbia Claggett's obituary,
which I quote here:
"During the Civil War, Mr. and Mrs. Claggett lived near many of the
important battle fields in Virginia and she was able to tell some thrilling
tales of those bloody days. At one time a skirmish between the northern and
southern forces took place in their yard and afterward Mr. Stephen Merrill,
who was Chaplain of the Second Maryland, Regiment, took some pictures of the
place. [Stephen Merrill apparently also moved to Lexington, IL, as we have
additional photographs of the Claggett family taken while in Lexington with
his imprint on them.]"
I would like to know if anyone doing research on the Claggett family in
Virginia and Illinois has any information about the Claggetts in Virginia
during the Civil War. Are there are any papers of the Thomas J. and
Columbia Claggett family that survive in archives in Illinois, or in private
collections? I would especially appreciate the opportunity to view any
photographs from the period, including the photographs by the army Chaplain,
Stephen Merrill.
Looking through regimental records, I have yet to find a Stephen Merrill in
the 2nd Maryland Infantry or Cavalry. I have, however, identified a
Chaplain Samuel H. Merrill, of the 1st Maine Cavalry. Could this be the
photographer mentioned on the web site?
I will look for any information that the Buckland Preservation Society may
have on the Claggetts of Prince William and Fauquier Counties. Buckland is
on the boundary between these two Virginia counties. Thomas J. Claggett's
grandmother, Kesia Britton Sanford, had been married to George Britton, who
helped establish the Fauquier and Alexandria Turnpike Company. There are
likely additional significant ties between the Claggetts and other families
in and around Buckland in the early 19th century.
Thanks,
Stephen Fonzo
Hi Stephen,
I'm so glad you wrote. The quote is from my web site and my family history.
I was only last month trying to identify Stephen Merrill's regimental
history, and I too could not find his name on a Civil War unit roster. The
Lexington, Ill. Historical Society has several pictures by him as he had a
studio in town. His name is printed on the Illinois photos I have as
"Stephen Merrill," so perhaps the Samuel Merrill from Maine has been
recorded with the wrong name. Wouldn't be the first time. I am attaching a
portrait photo by Stephen Merrill from Illinois. I am also attaching
Randolph Claggett's obituary, which mentions the Battle of Bull Run. Another
obituary, this one for James William Claggett (b 4 June 1851) also mentions
the Battle of Bull Run:
DIES IN ILLINOIS
Mr. James William Claggett died at his home in Lexington, Ill., Friday, May
10, after an illness of several
months. He was born near Warrenton, Va., in 1851 and was the second son of
James A. and Catherine
Claggett. His boyhood home was near the seat of war during the four years of
that titanic struggle. Their
house was near the first Bull Run battlefield, and many times the armies of
both North and South were
camped on their farm. In 1866 the Claggett family moved to Illinois and
settled in Lexington. In 1880 Mr.
Claggett was married to Miss Melissa C. Horney, who with a son and daughter
survives him. He also
leaves a brother, R. T. Claggett, and a sister, Mrs. Luther Claggett.
--Lexington, IL newspaper
I shall have to dig through my photographic archives to find the photos I
recall having by Stephen Merrill. I hope my memory is correct. I was looking
for Civil War photos by him in the National Archives and struck out there
too. I wonder if my family history is not apocryphal. The info came from a
written family history by grandfather, Johnson Tucker Beasley, who
personally knew the Claggetts mentioned in the story. I wonder if the 1st
Maine Cavalry at the same Battle of Bull Run?
As to any Claggett archives in Illinois, I would start with the Lexington,
Ill. Historical Society. They don't have an email address. I tried to call
last week but no one answered - may have been the time difference, as I am
on the Pacific Coast. Their phone: (309) 365-4591. They might also have info
on Stephen Merrill's origins before coming to Illinois. I never thought to
ask yet.
Brian Phelps
Phelps Family History in America
http://family.phelpsinc.com
"No other success can compensate for failure in the home." -- Prophet David
O. McKay
Researching Phelps, Bartle, Beasley, Bremser, Christy, Claggett, Diuguid,
Klein, Loveland, Morgan, Pearce, Tolman, Sullivan
-----Original Message-----
From: claggett-bounces(a)rootsweb.com [mailto:claggett-bounces@rootsweb.com]
On Behalf Of Stephen Fonzo
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 4:32 PM
To: CLAGGETT(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [CLAGGETT] Thomas J. and Columbia Claggett information
Hello,
I am a researcher for the Buckland Preservation Society, located in
Buckland, Virginia, the birthplace of Columbia Claggett (wife of Thomas J.
Claggett). There is a late 18th- and early 19th-century village at Buckland
as well as a large Civil War battlefield. Most of the original buildings
are still standing and most of the cultural landscape is intact. I am
currently researching the Battle of Buckland Mills (October 19, 1863), to
develop a full account of the military engagement and all who were involved.
A member of the Preservation Society informed me that the Claggett Family
History web page at family.phelpsinc.com contained a reference to Buckland.
Specifically, they described a reference from Columbia Claggett's obituary,
which I quote here:
"During the Civil War, Mr. and Mrs. Claggett lived near many of the
important battle fields in Virginia and she was able to tell some thrilling
tales of those bloody days. At one time a skirmish between the northern and
southern forces took place in their yard and afterward Mr. Stephen Merrill,
who was Chaplain of the Second Maryland, Regiment, took some pictures of the
place. [Stephen Merrill apparently also moved to Lexington, IL, as we have
additional photographs of the Claggett family taken while in Lexington with
his imprint on them.]"
I would like to know if anyone doing research on the Claggett family in
Virginia and Illinois has any information about the Claggetts in Virginia
during the Civil War. Are there are any papers of the Thomas J. and
Columbia Claggett family that survive in archives in Illinois, or in private
collections? I would especially appreciate the opportunity to view any
photographs from the period, including the photographs by the army Chaplain,
Stephen Merrill.
Looking through regimental records, I have yet to find a Stephen Merrill in
the 2nd Maryland Infantry or Cavalry. I have, however, identified a
Chaplain Samuel H. Merrill, of the 1st Maine Cavalry. Could this be the
photographer mentioned on the web site?
I will look for any information that the Buckland Preservation Society may
have on the Claggetts of Prince William and Fauquier Counties. Buckland is
on the boundary between these two Virginia counties. Thomas J. Claggett's
grandmother, Kesia Britton Sanford, had been married to George Britton, who
helped establish the Fauquier and Alexandria Turnpike Company. There are
likely additional significant ties between the Claggetts and other families
in and around Buckland in the early 19th century.
Thanks,
Stephen Fonzo
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