Grave #2616 Newton (Nathan) Ames

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Nathan/Newton Ames, first served with Co. I, Ohio Volunteer Militia from April 22,1861 to August 13, 1861 (a three month enlistment). He then enlisted in Co. H, 1st Regiment Light Artillery on September 28, 1861. He was 26 years old at enlistment and described as 5'8" with blue eyes and light hair. He was a Blacksmith by trade. He married Elvira Dingman on April 8, 1856 and they had two children named Delbert and Ernest. Ames died on January 9, 1863 from chronic diarrhea/dysentery.

Images

Grave #2616: Nathan Ames

Ames' family filed for a widow and minor's pension in 1864

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Material property

Pension file, page 1

Brief for the Minor's Pension shows that Delbert and Earnest Ames earned a pension of $8 per month plus $2 additional per child until the youngest turned 16 in 1874.

In this paperwork Azariah Wart of Sandy Creek, NY established that he is the guardian of Newton Ames' children

Pension file, page 4

There must have been an issue with the minor's pension after Elvira Ames remarried in 1866 because the two brother (now adults) refiled for pension benefits in 1888.

1888 declaration, page 2

Handwriting, Font, Material property, Parallel

The Adjutant General reports in 1864 that there is little record of Ames' service and no record of his death on file.

The Paymaster General provided evidence of Ames' enlistment into the 1st OH Light Artillery

Pension file, page 9

An additional report from the Adjutant General in 1865 more information about Ames, but still no details about his death

This is documentation establishing Azariah Wart as the Guardian to the Ames children in April 1867

Handwriting, Botany, Font, Material property

Pension file, page 12

J.H. Huntington, Captain of Ames' battery, provides testimony to Ames' service and death in the regiment

Pension file, page 14

Pension file, page 15

Documentation of Elvira Ames' marriage to Newton Ames in 1856

Pension file, page 17

Deposition of Elvira Ames (1864)

Deposition of Elvira Ames, page 2

Deposition from M.H. Thomas and Henry Dingman attesting to Elvira Ames' identity, marriage to Newton, and widow status.

Deposition from M.H. Thomas and Henry Dingman attesting to Elvira Ames' identity, marriage to Newton, and widow status, page 2

Second deposition of Elvira Ames (1866) requesting an increase in their pensions after new legislation passed through Congress

Second deposition of Elvira Ames (1866) requesting an increase in their pensions after new legislation passed through Congress, page 2

Pension file, page 24

Pension file, page 25

Pension file, page 26

Pension file, page 27

Pension file, page 28

Deposition of Walter Ames, Newton's brother, attesting to the illness and death of Newton Ames in January 1863

Pension file, page 30

Deposition of Walter Ames, Newton's brother, attesting to the illness and death of Newton Ames in January 1863, page 2

Pension file, page 32

Adjutant Report to confirm Walter Ames' service during the Civil War, to corroborate his deposition

Pension file, page 34

Rectangle, Material property, Font, Tints and shades

Brief for the widow's pension shows that Elvira was granted an $8 pension in 1866

Pension file, page 36

Pension file, page 37

Pension file, page 38

Testimony confirming the birth of DeElbert Ames to Elvira and Newton Ames in 1856

Pension file, page 40

Testimony confirming the birth of DeElbert Ames to Elvira and Newton Ames in 1856, page 2

Testimony confirming the birth of Earnest Ames to Elvira and Newtown Ames in 1858

Pension file, page 43

Testimony confirming the birth of Earnest Ames to Elvira and Newtown Ames in 1858, page 2

Elvira Ames remarried to John W. Raymond in 1866--testimony from minister

Pension file, page 46

Elvira Ames remarried to John W. Raymond in 1866--testimony from minister, page 2

1865 inquiry from A Wart (acting as claim agent) into the pension case of Elvira Ames

Handwriting, Font, Writing, Monochrome photography

Pension file, page 49

Response to inquiry stating that Ames' case remained suspended because they had not been able to provide evidence of the date of death for Newton Ames

Pension file, page 51

Pension file, page 52

Pension file, page 53

Pension file, page 54

Pension file, page 55

Pension file, page 56

Pension file, page 57

Pension file, page 58

Pension file, page 59

Form noting that the widow pension file for Elvira Ames was consolidated with the file for the minors' pension

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Walter Ames of the 147th New York was called to the regimental hospital of the 14th Ohio to claim the body of his brother Nathan. Nathan’s heath had been failing for several days before he died on January 9, 1863 and he was described as “nothing but skin and bones.” Walter intended to receive a furlough so he could take his brother home, but that must have failed because a regimental detail buried him on January 12 and he now lies in grave #2616.

From the Diary of John H. Merrell:

January 5, 1863: “I went up to see Nate Ames. He looks very bad. I think that he is falling away very…”

January 9: “…remainder of the night. He was falling away very fast when I left him and at 4 o’clock this afternoon he departed this life. I went up and helped lay him out. He was reduced to nothing but skin and bones. We carried his remained up to the hospital tent. We sent word to his brother who came right down here to see him. He is going to get a furlough and take the corpse home.”

January 12: “Everything is going as usual with the exception of our burying Nathan Ames. I was detailed to take a squad of men and bury him. They did not bury him as they did Faring. I presume it was because he was not quite so popular. I took only 6 men and buried him in the same grave that we dug for Faring.”

Sources

Pfanz, Donald C. "Where Valor Proudly Sleeps: A History of Fredericksburg National Cemetery, 1866-1933." National Park Service, 2007. (Available at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP)

Cemetery Roster & Book File, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Photo by Kathleen Thompson

Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, compiled 1949 - 1949, documenting the period 1861 - 1942. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 2588825. Accessed through Fold3, March 9, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 9, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 9, 2021.

Additional Information

Where Valor Proudly Sleeps: A History of Fredericksburg National Cemetery, 1866-1933, by Donald C Pfanz