Sylvanus Thomas Barlow was born 23 Jan 1834 in Brookfield, Massachusetts to Joel and Mary (Berry) Barlow. He married Ellen E. Clapp, daughter of Elijah and Eliza (Kent) Clapp of West Brookfield, in Stafford, Connecticut on December 1, 1858. The couple settled near family in West Brookfield, where he worked as a farm laborer and later, a carpenter. Two sons born to this union were Eugene Thomas Barlow, born 17 Aug. 1860, and Elmer Clapp Barlow, born 14 Aug. 1863[Source MA Vital Records, but Widow's Pension entries state Elmer's year of birth as 1862]. Sylvanus enlisted in the Army in early 1864 leaving Ellen at home to care for her two boys. When Sylvanus returned from the war, in the spring of the following year, he was disabled and unwell. His pension file is now located on http://www.fold3.com Below is a transcription of the first page of his invalid's pension application.
County of Hampden
On this 28th day of June, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty five personally appeared before me Clerk of the Superior Court, of the _____ Court, within and for the County and State aforesaid, Sylvanus Barlow, aged twenty nine years, a resident of West Brookfield, in the State of Massachusetts, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Sylvanus T. Barlow who enlisted in the service of the United States at West Brookfield Mass., on the second day of January in the year 1864, as a private in Company I, commanded by Captain A. C. Soley, in the Thirty Fourth Regiment of the Mass. Vol. Inf., commanded by Co. Geo. D. Wells, of Massachusetts, in the war of 1861, and was honorably discharged on the twenty fifth day of May, in the year 1865; that while in the service aforesaid, and in the line of his duty, he received the following
*Gun shot wound breaking the bone of the right arm above the elbow. The wound was received in action at Cedar Creek, Va on the 13th day of October AD 1864 Has had no use of said right arm since he was wounded
He has resided at West Brookfield, County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, since leaving the service, and is by occupation _____
He hereby appoints C. D. Ettinger, & Co of Washington City, D.C. his Attorneys, with power of substitution, to prosecute his claim and receive the certificate when issued.
Signature of claimant Sylvanus T. Barlow [signature]
Sadly, the injury to Sylvanus was serious, and permanent. He never regained the use of his arm. He died of consumption on June 16, 1867 in West Brookfield, leaving no real estate or personal property of value for his wife and sons. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield.
Ellen applied for, and was granted a widow's pension, and her minor sons received funds, as well. Ellen remarried and lost her pension, but renewed it after the death of her second husband, Remembrance Keyser.
Sources: NEHGS website http://www.Americanancestors.org Massachusetts Vital records to 1850 and Massachusetts Vital records 1841-1910
http://www.fold3.com - Civil War Pension file of Sylvanus T. Barlow
http://www.findagrave.com
More Barlow family information found on http://www.westbrookfieldgenealogy.org/genealogy
Invalid's Army Pension
State of MassachusettsCounty of Hampden
On this 28th day of June, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty five personally appeared before me Clerk of the Superior Court, of the _____ Court, within and for the County and State aforesaid, Sylvanus Barlow, aged twenty nine years, a resident of West Brookfield, in the State of Massachusetts, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Sylvanus T. Barlow who enlisted in the service of the United States at West Brookfield Mass., on the second day of January in the year 1864, as a private in Company I, commanded by Captain A. C. Soley, in the Thirty Fourth Regiment of the Mass. Vol. Inf., commanded by Co. Geo. D. Wells, of Massachusetts, in the war of 1861, and was honorably discharged on the twenty fifth day of May, in the year 1865; that while in the service aforesaid, and in the line of his duty, he received the following
*Gun shot wound breaking the bone of the right arm above the elbow. The wound was received in action at Cedar Creek, Va on the 13th day of October AD 1864 Has had no use of said right arm since he was wounded
He has resided at West Brookfield, County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, since leaving the service, and is by occupation _____
He hereby appoints C. D. Ettinger, & Co of Washington City, D.C. his Attorneys, with power of substitution, to prosecute his claim and receive the certificate when issued.
Signature of claimant Sylvanus T. Barlow [signature]
Sadly, the injury to Sylvanus was serious, and permanent. He never regained the use of his arm. He died of consumption on June 16, 1867 in West Brookfield, leaving no real estate or personal property of value for his wife and sons. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield.
Ellen applied for, and was granted a widow's pension, and her minor sons received funds, as well. Ellen remarried and lost her pension, but renewed it after the death of her second husband, Remembrance Keyser.
Sources: NEHGS website http://www.Americanancestors.org Massachusetts Vital records to 1850 and Massachusetts Vital records 1841-1910
http://www.fold3.com - Civil War Pension file of Sylvanus T. Barlow
http://www.findagrave.com
More Barlow family information found on http://www.westbrookfieldgenealogy.org/genealogy
