TERWILLIGER Family Biographies

The following Biographies were researched & submitted by Ruth Jordan Thoden.  If you wish to contact her, email: RUTH THODEN

"...Was perusing deaths and burial of those in Until Day Dawns Cemetery (Angelica NY).  Two Terwilliger brothers, Benniah and David are both listed as dying in 1865 -- This is wrong.  And as I state in biography of David, he does not rest in Angelica
Cemetery - only a memorial stone is there.  He is buried in Andersonville Cemetery.

I'm attaching a couple of bios on these Terwilliger men.  They were older brothers of my ggg grandfather, Garrett Odell Terwilliger."

TERWILLIGER, Benniah Died 1-4-1865 Age 31y - Child of Levi & Susan Terwilliger  (Death year WRONG)

 Benniah died 4 Jun2 1864 - Birdsall, Allegany Co, NY

  Benniah Terwilliger was born 3/28/1832 in Guilford, Chenango Co., NY, s/o Levi Terwilliger and Susan Odell.

  When Benniah was four years old, his parents migrated to Allegany Co, NYS and in 1840 census are in the town of West Almond.  They were to eventually build a home in southern part of the town of Birdsall where Benniah grew up and remained with his family until the Civil War.

  Both he and his brother, David, left home in October, 1861, traveling to Elmira where they enlisted.  They both felt, as most young men did, that the War would be over by spring planting time, and their dad would surely need them come spring.

  They enlisted, according to Miscellaneous records of Allegany Co., NY on 10/14/1861, both as privates in Captain W.E. Starkweather's Co. of the 85th NYS Volunteer Infantry.  They were sent to Washington DC's Camp Warren.

  The following letter was written by Benniah and sent to his beloved sister, Mary Elizabeth:

  "Washington City: Camp Warren, March 14th, 1862:  Well, Lib, I have received your letter tonight.  It stated that you and my folks were well.  I am lucky to hear from you all.  I am well except for a cold.  You rote (sic) it is very sickly there.  But I don't think it can be much sicker there what it is here where they are dying of heat like sheep.  You rote that Lo Carpenter talks of getting him a woman.  I hope he will.  Well, Lib, I expect we gotta leave this place.  We have received marching orders last night to be in readiness in one hour's time.  They say we are going to Port Royal.  We are going on a boat.  We may go tonight.  We may not go in 2 or 3 days.  It is just like a lottery to us.

 We are packing up our things to be ready to start any minutes warning.  The Rebel has left Manassas and gone farther south to kill us off with the fever.

  I should like to be at home tonight to take supper with you all.  They are cutting our rations down so we don't get nuff to eat now.  Your letter said that they have drove our colts or Peter Youngs has drove them.  Tell them to drive them and be careful of them and make them work and earn their living.  And don't lend my buggy and cutter.  And take good care of my colt.

 It may not do me any good but I can't tell.  But tell Mother don't worry about me.  I will stand a good chance as anyone.  I'd rather be here than anywhere else If I have my health.  I have got used to sleep on the ground.  I think I can stand it a little while longer.

  Well, Lib, I will send home some merry verses.  I want you to keep good care of them, and I want to learn them.

  Tell our folks to write.  Tell the boys to be good boys til I get home.  We have bin paid yet.  The first money I have drawn I have lent it to the captain.  He will pay me when he get his pay.  I will have 56 dollars.

  I should like to see you all.  So good-bye to you all.  Direct your letters the same you have been.  If we leave it will be sent on after us.

  Lib, rite rite everyday.  MET BT"

 

To Whom It May Concern:  Know ye that Beriah (sic) Terwilliger, a private of Captain W.L. Starkweather's Company D, 85th Regiment of NY Volunteers who was enrolled on the 14th day of October 1861 to serve three years is hereby discharged from service of the United States this 20th day of December, 1862 at Fort Monroe, VA by reason of Surgeon's Certificate of Disability.  Said Beriah Terwilliger was born in Chenango County in State of New York, is 29 years of age; 5' 11 1/2" high; light complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair and occupation when enrolled a farmer.  Given at Fort Monroe, VA this 20th December, 1862.

  By command of Major General Dix

  Wilson Bartow

  Capt. VADC

  Sctg. Ass't. Adgt. Genl. (endorsed) paid by 2d auditor March 16, 1864 by certif. No. 6059 for $99.66; recorded on the 16th day of May A.D. 1867 at 2 o'clock P.M. George W. Green, Clerk

 See Liber "D" of Miscellaneous Records, Belmont, Allegany Co, NY

 

From the diary kept by Benniah Terwilliger:

 

Year: 1862    August 24:  We started our livery.  We arrived to Fortress Monroe about 6 o'clock.  We marched 25 miles today; it was very muddy traveling today.  Our ambulance was full of sick and tired out men.  It is awful to see it.

    August 25:  Very cool at night and great deal of heat this morning.  We moved our ambulance today in a different place.  We are stationed close by the burying ground.  They buried last night three; two tonight and two night before last.

    August 26:  Very cool morning.  This morning when I got up, I was very sick; it continued all day long.  They buried two more soldiers tonight; they most all sick.  It is hard to get wood to burn here; it is far off to get it.

    August 27:  It is cool and windy and rainy today.  I am some better this morning.  Company cannot raise but 20 for drill today; they most all sick.  They had to take the teamsters to drill.

    August 29:  Very warm. I done some washing for myself than I went to Yorktown.  Just at night we had order to move at 9 o'clock tonight.  It commenced to rain; it rained all night long.  We took about 50 sick to York hospital.

    September 5: Very windy but clear; not much going on today.

    September 6: Very hot today; we went out 3 or 4 miles to bate our horses but did not stay great while; the guard sent us back.

    September 7: Sunday - Very hot and dry this moprning.  It is so hot we are glad to crawl in the shade.  There is some firing across the river this morning.  I went fishing this afternoon and ketched a mess; had them for breakfast.

    September 8: It is very cool this morning and had heavy rain and wind storm. It beat all to see the ground was all a float.  It rained for 3 or 4 hours just as hard as it could.  Have "rote" a letter to Garret and one to David.  {David had been sent into Virginia......}

    September 16:  Very hot and dry weather; not much going on today.  I have taken sick so they had to send for the doctor.

    October 22: Wednesday - very pleasant and comfortable today.  The diretor was going to inspect this hospital but he did not come.

    October 23: Thursday - Cold this morning; it is very chilly today in the

hospital.

    October 24:  Feeling very chilly today.

    October 25: Saturday; very pleasant this morning.  We are read for the inspector, but he did not come.

    October 26: Sunday; very cool.  It commenced raining about noon.  The

inspector came about noon today and inspected this morning.

 

American Civil War Soldiers:

Benniah Terwilliger

Enlisted 14 Oct 1861

Enlistment place:  Almond, NY

State served:  NY

  Enlished as a private on 15 October 1861 at age of 29.  Enlisted Co. D, 85th Infantry Regiment NY on 29 Oct 1861.  Disability discharge fro Co. D on 20 Dec 1862 at Fort Monroe, VA.

 

 Benniah after his discharge returned to NYS in March, 1864.  However, his illness was too great for him to recover and he died at  home of his parents in Birdsall, Allegany Co, NY.   Benniah in his last weeks before his death was known to do some very odd things - recalling the sights he had to endure being "medic" as we know the term today. 

 

 

TERWILLIGER, David A. Died 8-21-1865 Age 30y - Child of Levi & Susan Terwilliger d. Andersonville G. A. R. 1861-1865 (Death date WRONG)

  DAVID died in 1864 Andersonville Prison..

Born September 25, 1833 in Guilford, Chenango Co., NY, David migrated as a young child in 1835 to Allegany County with his parents, Levi Terwilliger and Susan Odell.  They settled in West Almond but soon to live in new home in Birdsall built by his father.

   A farmer's son, David as a youth growing up dreamed of owning his own farm, having a family.  At the age of 28, he decided, like his brother Benniah, to leave home "long enough to answer President Lincoln's 'Call to Arms.' "  The Fall harvest was complete and surely in three months time, the Rebellion would be put down and they would be home in time for Spring planting.  On October 14, 1861, both men reported to Elmira to be enrolled a privates in the 85th New York State Volunteer Regiment.

   It must have seemed somewhat like a family reunion, for leaving Elmira and headed for  "Washington City" were several "kinfolks." Their cousin Cyrus Terwilliger's  two sons, Josiah E., who was assigned to Co D, to become a lieutenant later in War and Tom were in Elmira and their own brother-in-law, Asa Davis, married to their sister Esther Ann, was there.  Bill Young, a next door neighbor's son was there.  Tom, Asa and the Terwilliger brothers, Benniah and David, also were assigned to Co. D of the 85th.

   The 85th was made of of men from Allegany County, plus Cattaraugus, Seneca and Ontario.  The regiment was composed of men whose hearts were fired with patriotism.

   The Regiment left Elmira on 12/13/1861 with orders to reach "Washington City" by the morning of 12/5/1861.  The night of the 6th they camped at Bladenburgh, Maryland and found the "romance" of the soldier's life had become a cold reality as without even straw to make the frozen ground tolerable on their "tented field."

   By December 19, the 85th had moved to Meridian Mill, aptly called in one soldier's diary, "Mud Camp."  Meridian Hill looked down on the city of Washington.  Here the winter was spent with an occasional "rumor" that General Burnside was about to issue orders for an expedition to "rout the Rebs."

   On the evening of March 14, 1962, David's brother, Benniah, wrote home to their sister, Mary Elizabeth, predicting that a  major move would occur at "any minute's notice."

   On the 28th of March, 1862, trunks, boxes and valises were packed and stored in government warehouse for the "holliday trip to Richmond."  On the 31st of March, an integral portion of the Army of the Potomac moved down the river their future unknown.  As they marched, they could hear strains of "Hail Columbia" and as they traveled by the home of the "Father of their Country," the band of the 85th struck up the "Star Spangled Banner."

   By the morning of 4/1/1862, they had arrived at Fortress Monroe, Virginia and that evening camped 6 miles from there on road to Newport News, Va.  Here they encountered the swamp like conditions causing the deadly malaria which contributed more to demise of the soldier than did battles of war.

   At Lee's Mills, Va, on 4/22/1862, they learned the Rebel lines extended from Yorktown to the James River.  Here the malarial influences were felt from the Warwick and Chickahominy Swamps and many were forced to retreat accepting disability discharges.  Sanitary hospital conditions were impossible with supplies having to be shipped across the peninsula over roads that were nearly impassable; the sick could not be moved.  Log huts covered with pine boughs were improvised to serve as "hospitals."  Barrel staves which had contained hard tack and salt jenk were used as "beds."

    David was assigned to duty as hospital corpman....what unpleasant duty he had to see his friends, some new, some old suffer in these conditions, helpless to relieve them of their sufferings.

    About a month after landing at Fortress Monroe, on May 2, the 85th Regiment broke camp in pursuit of the Rebels who were embedded at Yorktown.  By now, 97 of the recruits of the 85th had been buried in Virginia soil or left in hospitals.

   David participated in the Battle of Plymouth in which the entire 85th Regiment was killed or taken prisoner.  David was among those making the March to Georgia to the horrendous Andersonville

Prison.

    Although a tombstone and burial record appears in archives of "Til Day Dawns" Cemetery in Angelica, Allegany Co, NY.  David's body was interred in Macon County, Georgia.

 

From Andersonville Prisoner Lookup Results on Internet: Macon County, Georgia, Andersonville Prisoner Profile Code No. 16445 Grave No. 6445

Last:  Terwilliger

First:  David R.  (R is incorrect; his middle name was Ariel)

Rank: Private

Company D

Regiment 85

State NY

Branch of serv: Infantry

Date of death 8/22/1864

Cause of death:  Fever intermittent

Remarks:  D.R. Terwilliger [3]

Reference:  p42 [3}; p 308 [302]

Place captured:  Plymouth, NC

Status:  Died at Andersonville

More info available:  No.

 

From the Genesee Valley Lee Press (no dated noted) = David R. Terwilliger, Co. D, 85th, died at Andersonville, Georgia.

 

*Some of what is written here was taken from "Plymouth Pilgrims" - a history of the NYS 85th Regiment.

 

Andersonville Prisoners of War - David R. Terwilliger; Co. D, 8th Reg't, Y; infantry; died 22 Aug 1864; fever intermittent.  Location of captre:  Plymouth, NC; Grave No. 6445