Friday, January 1, 2016

Amos L. Tucker and the Battle of Petersburg


Our trip to the National Archives this week provided me with the answer I needed regarding the circumstances and date of death of ancestor Amos L. Tucker.

The widow’s pension papers had documentation that stated:  Amos L. Tucker was a private in Company C, 179th regiment, New York Volunteers. It was stated that: “ The adj general reports Amos L. Tucker enrolled September 3, 1864; mustered in September 5, 1864, and “Missing in Action April 2, 1865.”

A declaration was made by Davis C. Marshall of Hector, New York, a lieutenant of the 179th New York Volunteers that he was present at the action at Petersburg April 2, 1865, and that he was called to identify the casualties and in so doing recognized the body of Amos L. Tucker.

A copy from the marriage record of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mecklenburg, New York states that the marriage of Amos L. Tucker of Enfield and Martha J. Vangosbeck of Mecklenburg, NY took place on February 17, 1864. The witnesses of this document were Alexander Agard and Noah Agard.

Admitted on October 2, 1866, Martha was to receive a pension of $8.00 per month, commencing on the date of death, April 2, 1865. Martha died 21 July 1877.

In 1893, Amos’s mother, Caroline (Lanning) Tucker applied for his pension. She died the next year, before approval.