EDGELL, Stillman William

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• Burial: Westminster, MA; Address:
  Woodside Cemetery
• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

On 26 Nov 1861 Stillman mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a Corporal, being credited to the quota of Fitchburg, Worcester County, MA. He was 31 years, 2 months and 30 days old.

He was so severely wounded in the right arm, that amputation was deemed necessary. He was listed as being sick in Carver Hospital in Ward 31 for debility. He entered on September 28. He was not dispatched until January 11, 1865.

On 3 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia.

On 24 Nov 1864 Stillman ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts according to the 1870 roster on 11 Jan 1865 having fulfilled his term of service, but the MASS CW says discharge to date from 24 Nov 1864.

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• _COLOR: 2

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Was collector of taxes; shoemaker and insurance agent.

William married MILLER, Lorena in 1824 in Westminster, MA. Lorena was born about 1802 in Westminster, MA; died on 20 Dec 1864 in MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 2

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Afflicted in her final years from a most painful form of chronic rheumatism

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• _COLOR: 11

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He served in the state troops in suppressing Shays' Rebellion in 1785. He was elected captain of a cavalry company in 1807. He inherited his father's homestead, sold it in 1820, and removed to the Pond place.

He was a man of genial temperament, hospitable and generous to a fault, dispensing favors with a liberal hand and to his own personal detriment.

FindaGrave:
GRID=211486098 

William married PUFFER, Thankful on 8 Sep 1793 in Westminster, MA. Thankful (daughter of PUFFER, Josiah and READ, Mary) was born on 17 Apr 1769 in Westminster, MA; died on 18 Apr 1857 in Westfield, MA; was buried in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Ref#: 74
• _COLOR: 11

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FindaGrave:
GRID=211486282 

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 11

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FindaGrave:
GRID=88745148

William married WHEELER, Elinor after 1 Aug 1752 in MA. Elinor (daughter of WHEELER, Joseph and FOX, Ruth) was born on 20 Feb 1727 in Concord, MA; died on 12 Feb 1813 in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 2

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• Ref#: 33
• _COLOR: 11
• Residence: 1790, Canajoharie, NY
• Residence: 1799, Canajoharie, NY

Notes:

He settled in Westminster about the time of the incorporation, 1759, on Lot No 62, in the south part of the town, on the farm lately owned by Cephas W. Bush. In early youth he lost a thumb by the explosion of a gun in his hands and was disqualified for military service. When he enlisted, it is said that he passed the examination by wearing gloves of which the thumb of one was filled with wood. He was in the French War, as the following letter to his father at Sudbury shows:

"Halfway Brook, July ye 23, 1758.
Honored father and mother

I hope these few lines may find you and all my Brothers and Sisters well and in good health as I am at this time after my Duty to you my father and mother and Love to my Brothers and sisters and friends and neighbors I will inform you that we have been met with a vary poor Stroke in the loss of Captain Daken and Leftene Curtis and thre privets, william grout J onathan Patson Nathanial Molton all of Sudbury and in the fight we lost three Captens and two Leftenants and one Ensine and two Sargnts and one Corporal and thirteen privets all out of our Regiment * * * and I will inform you that I Received your Letter this Day Dated June ye 29, and I Desier you would Send me a Letter as Sun as you Can I also Desier prayers for me and I hope that I shall Return to you in Due time--Know more at present So I shall Remain Your Dutifull Son
JOSIAH PUFFER."

He was a sergeant in Capt. Dakin's Co,, Col. Nicols' regt. at Worcester (list Jan 4 1759). He was in Captain Noah Mile's company, Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment Apr. 19, 1775, and took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill; also in Capt. Elisha Jackson's company to reinforce the northern army, 1777.

He was an active, influential citizen, of good judgment, able and upright. He was a Representative to the General Court in 1787, 1790, and 1791. He was the best educated man in town, except perhaps the minister. He retained his health to the day of his death. He mowed an acre of heavy grass the day before he died, and, indeed, died in the hayfield next day, while making his hay, pitchfork in hand, and was found dead by a neighbor. He deeded land to his son Samuel in 1805 (W.D. 163, 452). His will was dated Jan. 10, 1806. The 1790 census shows he was living in Westminster, head of a family of nine.

FindaGrave:
GRID=84690600 

Josiah married READ, Mary on 29 Nov 1759 in Sudbury, MA. Mary (daughter of READ, Isaac L. and WILLIS, Experience) was born on 19 Mar 1741 in Sudbury, MA; died on 19 Jul 1831 in Westminster, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 11

Notes:

It is unproven if these are Mary's parents. The Puffer Genealogy book, by Nutt, says her parents are Jacob and Experience Read.

FindaGrave:
GRID=84690770