Sturgess, Charles Edmund
Birth
Charles Edmund Sturges was born in Knox, Albany County, NY on June 17, 1846 to David Wakeman Sturges and Melinda Swan.[1][2][3][4][5][6] His surname was also spelled Sturgis[3] and Sturgess[7]. He was the oldest boy of ten children.[1]
Education
Charles E. Sturgess attended the common schools and was graduated from the Knoxville Academy.
Marriage & Children
On December 31, 1868, Charles Sturgess married Nancy E. Quay (B. July 18, 1848, D. July 4, 1911) John and Elizabeth (Kane) Quay and they had six children:[1][6]
- Lewis Toles Sturgess (B. Sept 8,1869, D. Oct 20, 1961)[1][6]
- Edith C. Sturgess (B. March 3,1872, D. July 24, 1898)[1][6]
- Bertha Sturgess (B. July 21,1876, D. November 9, 1954)[1][6]
- Ada B. Sturgess (B. Sept 8,1879, D. 1962)[1][6]
- Roscoe Sturgess (B. May 21, 1883, D. November 1912)[1]
- Lottie Sturgess (B. Nov 13, 1885, D. Dec 20, 1979)[1]
Occupation
Charles Sturgess worked as a farmer in Knox before he enlisted in the 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment during the Civil War[3] and after he returned[6].
After his return home he engaged in farming and teaching during the winter months; this he followed for a number of years, always making his present residence his home. In politics he is a Republican, having served two years as town clerk and elected and re-elected ten successive years to the office of justice of the peace, the last year resigning the office. He has also filled the office of school commissioner for the Third district of Albany county for three years. He is a member of Michael H. Barckley G. A. R. Post of Altamont, N. Y.
Military Service
Charles Sturgess remained on the farm with his parents until July 38, 1862, when yet a lad of but sixteen years he answered his country's call for troops and enlisted in Co. K, 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served three years, participating in all the battles of his regiment; the principal engagements being the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania. North Anna River, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg, being in the famous bayonet charges of the two latter battles. At the battle of Deep Bottom he was captured and confined in Libby prison one month, when he was transferred to Belle Island prison, where he endured terrible sufferings for two months, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered.
| Name: | Charles Edmund Sturges[8] |
| Residence: | Knox [8] |
| Place of Birth: | Knox, NY[8] |
| Date of Birth: | 17 Jun 1846[2] |
| Names of Parents: | David (Sturges) and Malinda Swan[8] |
| Marital Status: | Single [8] |
| Occupation: | Farmer [8] |
| Term of Enlistment: | 3 years[8] |
| Bounty Received: | $100.00[8] |
| Enlistment Date: | 28 July 1862[3] |
| Enlistment Place: | Knox, NY[8] |
| Enlistment Rank: | Private[3] |
| State Served: | New York |
| Regiment: | 7th Regiment NY Heavy Artillery[3] |
| Company: | K[3] |
| Captured at: | Deep Bottom, VA[3] |
| Captured on: | 30 Jul 1864[3] |
| Paroled on: | 8 Oct 1864[3] |
| Paroled at: | Varina, VA[3] |
| Promotion Date: | 29 May 1865[3] |
| Promotion Rank: | Full Corporal[3] |
| Muster Out Date: | 17 June 1865[3] |
| Muster Out Place: | Baltimore, MD |
| Additional Remarks: Enlisted as a Private at the age of 18.[9] Also spelled Sturgis[10] |
| Sources Used: Ancestry.com\American Civil War Soldiers; 1890 Veterans Census; Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of NY for the year 1898; Keating, Robert, Carnival of Blood: The Civil War Ordeal of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery, Published by Butternut and Blue, Baltimore, Md 1998.;Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War |
Life
Charles lived his entire life in Knox, where he can be found living with his parents and siblings in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.[4][5] His father, David, was a carpenter and a sawyer, the second occupation was one shared David shared with his father-in-law Nathaniel Swan.[4][5] Charles however became a farmer in Knox. In 1880 Charles was living in Knox with his wife Nancy and their young children as well as his widowed mother, sister and brother.[6] Charles suffered from a loss of sight and a weak lung and as a result first filed for an invalid pension on April 7, 1885.[7][11] In 1900 Charles was still living in Knox living with his wife and several of their children as well as Nancy M. Toles (B. Sept 1823) who was described as a boarder.[12]
Health
In 1890 Charles reported that he had a loss of sight and a weak lung.[7] These problems were probably a result of his 3 month captivity as a POW. For a POW of the Civil War, he was very lucky to have survived, to have returned to his job as a farmer with apparently little problems and to have lived a long productive life.
Death
Charles died on June 18, 1904 in Knox[1] and after his death on July 2, 1904 his widow Nancy filed for his Civil War pension[11]. His wife Nancy survived him and lived until July 4, 1911.[1]
Obituary
One by one the Boys in Blue are answering the last roll call, and but few are left who have not responded. Mr. Charles E. Sturges, a well known citizen of the town of Knox, who responded "aye" on Saturday, June 18th, 1904, was born in that town, on June 17,1846. he attended the common school and later graduated from Knoxville Academy. In 1863 at the age of sixteen, he answered his country's call and enlisted in Co. K 7th N.Y. Heavy Artillery, and served three years, participating in all the battles of his regiment, the prinicpal engagements being the battles of the Wilderness, Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Tolopotomy and in the famous bayonet charges at Cold Harbor and Petersburg. At the battle of Deep Bottom he was captured and confined in Libby Prison and later at Belle Island. Upon returning home from the war he engaged in farming and school teaching. Mr. Sturges served several terms as town clerk and justice of the peace and was school commissioner of the third district of Albany county for three years. The funeral was held at his residence in the town of Knox on Tuesday, June 21, 1904, comrades of M.H. Barclay Post, GAR, acting as bearers. He is survived by a widow, two sons and three daughters. Yes, the Boys in Blue are passing away, but their memory will be cherished by a grateful nation.(Altamont Enterprise, June 24, 1904)
Additional Research Notes
Altamont Enterprise 6/7/1890:Charles E. Sturges commenced his duties as census enumerator on Monday. Altamont Enterprise 9/26/1891:Prof. Charles E. Sturges has been employed as teacher in district No. 8. Altamont Enterprise 4/6/1894:Mr. Charles E. Sturges has filed his resignation as justice of the peace with the town clerk.
Additional Media
New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900 about Charles E Sturges
Name: Charles E Sturges
Age: 18
Birth Year: abt 1844
Birth Place: Knox, New York
Enlistment Year: 1862
Enlistment Location: Knox, New York
Muster Year: 1862
Separation Details: Muster Out of Service
Separation Date: 17 Jun 1865
Source Citation: New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, New York; New York Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900;Archive Collection #:13775-83;Box #:1092;Roll #:749.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data: Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts of New York State Volunteers, United States Sharpshooters, and United States Colored Troops [ca. 1861-1900]. (microfilm, 1185 rolls). Albany, New York: New York State Archives.
Sturgess, Charles E.. a well known landmark and patriot in the Northern army in the war of the Rebellion, was born in the town of Knox, June 17, 1846, on the farm he now owns and occupies.
George Sturgess, the grandfather of Charles E., was torn in Delaware county, N. Y., a descendant from one of four brothers who migrated from England to America in an early day. George spent his life as a farmer in Delaware county and lived to be a very aged man; he was the father of ten .sons and daughters.
David, the father of Charles E. Sturgess, was born in Delaware county, June 13, 1815. He was a farmer and carpenter, spending most of his life at his trade. In 1844 he moved to the town of Knox, where he spent his remaining days. He was prominently identified with the Republican party in his town, but never an aspirant for office. He owned the farm now owned by Charles E. Sturgess, and formerly owned by his father-in-law, Nathaniel Swan. His wife was Melinda, daughter of Nathaniel Swan, and their children were Charles E., Nathaniel, Adelia, Sarah, Isadore and Eugene. He died in March, 1807, and his wife survives him and resides on the home farm with her son. Her father, Nathaniel Swan, was a prominent man in the town of Knox, and did much toward building it up. His place of business and residence has ever been known as Swan's Corners, where he owned 600 acres of land, a hotel, store, blacksmith shop, and also a large potash factory. In stature he was of medium height and weighed about 165 pounds, but herculean in strength; he would pick up a 400 pound weight from the ground and place it in a wagon, or pick up a barrel of cider from the ground on to his knees and drink from the bunghole. He lived to be ninety-five years old and was perfectly healthy to the morning of the day of his death, which occurred in December, 18T2.
Charles E. Sturgess attended the common schools and was graduated from the Knoxville Academy. He remained on the farm with his parents until July 38, 1862, when yet a lad of but sixteen years he answered his country's call for troops and enlisted in Co. K, 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served three years, participating in all the battles of his regiment; the principal engagements being the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania. North Anna River, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg, being in the famous bayonet charges of the two latter battles. At the battle of Deep Bottom he was captured and confined in Libby prison one month, when he was transferred to Belle Island prison, where he endured terrible sufferings for two months, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. After his return home he engaged in farming and teaching during the winter months; this he followed for a number of years, always making his present residence his home. In politics he is a Republican, having served two years as town clerk and elected and re-elected ten successive years to the office of justice of the peace, the last year resigning the office. He has also filled the office of school commissioner for the Third district of Albany county for three years. He is a member of Michael H. Barckley G. A. R. Post of Altamont, N. Y. December 31, 1868, he married Nancy E., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kane) Quay, and their children are Louie, Edith, Bertha, Ada, Rosco and Lottie.
Census Records
1860 federal; Knox (Series M653, Roll 723, Page 631)
- David Sturges 44 Carpenter & Sawyer
- Malinda Sturges 36
- Charles E. Sturges 14
- Nathaniel A. Sturges 11
- Adelia C. Sturges 8
- Sarah G. Sturges 4
- Harriet A. Sturges 3
- Nathaniel Swan 82 Sawyer
1880 federal; Knox (Series T9, Roll 807, Page 116)
- Charles E. Sturges 33 Farmer
- Nancy E. Sturges 32 House Keeper
- Louis Sturges 10
- Edith Sturges 7
- Bertha Sturges 3
- Ada B. Sturges 9/12
- Melinda Sturges 58 At Home (Mother)
- Isadora Sturges 19 Pill Box Maker (Sister)
- Eugene Sturges 14 At Home (Brother)
- Lee Williamson 22 Farmer
1900 federal; Knox Township (Series T623, Roll 1007, Page 66)
- Charles Sturges
- Nancy Sturges
- Ada Sturges 20
- Roscoe Sturges 17 Farm Laborer
- Lottie Sturges 14
Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
Charles E Sturgess is buried in the Knox Cemetery and shares a stone with several family members.
Sources
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Bernehistory.org
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Keating, Robert, Carnival of Blood: The Civil War Ordeal of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery, Published by Butternut and Blue, Baltimore, Md 1998
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 1850 US Census, Knox, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 1860 US Census, Knox, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 1880 US Census, Knox, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 1890 US Veterans Census, Knox, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
- ↑ Ancestry Military Databases
- ↑ Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of NY for the year 1898
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Civil War Pension Index, Ancestry.com
- ↑ 1900 US Census, Knox, Albany Co, NY
