Grave #3028: Eli and Stanbury Hitchcock

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Eli Hitchcock, Private, Co. H, 7th Wisconsin. Eli and his brothers, Stambury and Chant, all enlisted together in 1861. Eli enlisted August 29, 1861 and died of disease May 16, 1862. His brother Stambury was killed at Laurel Hill, Spotsylvania on May 10, 1864 and may be buried here or in an unknown grave in the cemetery. Eli Hitchcock had a wife, Emily, and two young daughters (Sarah Ann and Minnie) when he died.

Images

Grave #3028: Eli Hitchcock

Stanbury Hitchcock

Outerwear, Sleeve, Art, Vintage clothing

Brief in the pension case of Emily Hitchcock, Eli's widow, shows she was granted a pension of $8 per month

Widow's Declaration for pension, 1863

Widow's Declaration for pension, 1863, page 2

Adjutant Report for Eli Hitchcock, 1863

Proof of marriage for Emily & Eli Hitchcock

Proof of marriage for Emily & Eli Hitchcock, page 2

Emily Hitchcock received a pension until her death in 1924

Handwriting, Font, Material property, Parallel

Pension file, page 8

Pension file, page 9

Pension file, page 10

Pension file, page 11

Widow's Claim for Pension, 1864

Widow's Claim for Pension, 1864, page 2

Widow's Claim for Pension, 1864, page 3

Widow's Claim for Pension, 1864, page 4

Statement identifying that Eli & Emily Hitchcock had two children: Sarah Ann (age 5) and Minnie (age 2)

Pension file, page 17

Emily Hitchcock remarried to Samuel Adams in 1865

Pension file, page 19

Deposition from Mark Finnecorn attesting to Eli Hitchcock's service and death. Finnecorn had been captain of Hitchcock's company at the time of his death.

Pension file, page 21

A pension was also granted for Eli Hitchcock's two young daughters, starting in 1866

Joseph Button became the guardian of the two Hitchcock girls in order to claim their 1866 pension

Handwriting, Font, Writing, Paper product

Claim of Guardian, page 2

Pension file, page 25

Pension file, page 26

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Paper product

Statement affirming Joseph Button as the guardian of Sarah Ann and Minnie Hitchcock

Pension file, page 28

Deposition from H. Ballow, a physician, affirming Minnie's birth date and that both children were Eli Hitchcock's

Pension file, page 30

Deposition of Fanny Hitchcock attesting to the birthdates of both daughters and their relationship to Eli Hitchcock

Fanny Hitchcock deposition, page 2

Deposition from Elijah DeLop(?), a physcian, affirming Sarah Ann's birth date and that both children were born to Eli and Emily Hitchcock

Deposition, page 2

Pension file, page 35

Pension file, page 36

Brief in the Minors' Pension claim shows that the daughters received a pension after Emily Hitchcock remarried

Pension file, page 38

Pension file, page 39

When Emily (Hitchcock) Adams' second husband died in 1901, she applied for the restoration of her pension

1901 Pension application, page 2

Pension file, page 42

Pension file, page 43

Bureau of Pensions report on Eli Hitchcock's record, 1902

1901 Deposition by Emily (Hitchcock) Adams asking for reinstatement of her pension

1901 Deposition, page 2

1901 Deposition, page 3

Pension file, page 48

1902 Affidavit of Emily (Hitchcock) Adams

Pension file, page 50

1903 deposition by Emily (Hitchcock) Adams about her financial situation

1903 deposition, page 2

Pension file, page 53

1903 deposition by Emily (Hitchcock) Adams clarifying Eli Hitchcock's name. Apparently there were misspellings in some of the paperwork that complicated the process of reinstating her pension, largely listing Eli as Ely and mistaking his middle initial.

1903 deposition, page 2

Pension file, page 56

Pension file, page 57

Affidavit of M. F. Woodhouse about Emily Adams' finances after the death of her second husband. Widows and dependent had to prove they were financially dependent on pension support.

Woodhouse affidavit, page 2

Henry Adams Last Will & Testament, 1900, page 1

Henry Adams Last Will & Testament, page 2

Henry Adams Last Will & Testament, page 3

Henry Adams Last Will & Testament, page 4

Deposition of Robert Collins who confirmed Emily Adams' widow status and other details

Collins deposition, part 2

Certificate of Death for Henry Adams

Handwriting, Font, Material property, Writing

Back of death certificate

Affidavit of town clerk F. H. Booth about the Adams' property in 1901

Back of Booth affidavit

Affidavit from John Jones about Emily Adams' financial status after the death of her husband. These testimonies were meant to prove that Adams was in need of the financial support of a pension.

Page 2 of Jones affidavit

Pension file, page 72

Pension file, page 73

Affidavit of F. Bailey and Elijah Patch about Adams' finances

Bailey/Patch affidavit page 2

Another affidavit, from James Paul Jr. and Paul Humphrey, about Emily Adams' financial condition

Paul/Humphrey affidavit, page 2

Pension file, page 78

Pension file, page 79

Pension file, page 80

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

One of three brothers who all enlisted together, Eli was a lawyer in Millville, Wisconsin before the war. Eli became ill and died on May 16, 1862 at Potomac Creek despite the care of his brother Chant who remained with him the entire time of his illness. His other brother Stanbury (sometimes spelled Stambury) wrote somewhat bitterly to his parents about Eli’s death saying that he had not received proper care, that he had only a bed of straw to lay on, and that there were men working in the hospital who did not care whether a man lived or died.

There is another element to the story of Eli Hitchcock and his brothers. Eli’s name is on this gravestone, but it may be Stanbury who is buried there. After being wounded at South Mountain, Stanbury would die on May 10, 1864 at Laurel Hill during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Originally buried on the battlefield, it was reported to his family that Stanbury was reinterred here at the national cemetery. Whether Eli or Stanbury it is likely that one of the brothers is buried here and the other lies somewhere else in the cemetery under a marker that reads unknown. Chant was captured at Gettysburg, released and returned to the regiment, was severely wounded at the Wilderness but survived, the only one of the brothers to return home.

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

Cemetery Roster & Book File, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP

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 10, 2021.

Additional Information

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