I had always assumed that if I were to find any military connections in my tree then the most likely conflicts would be either of the World Wars. Little did I know that my military research would involve following the journey of a man from Ireland to the American Civil War.
John Mulberry was born about 1830 to James Mulberry and Mary Montgomery. There is no exact date as to when he left for America but he joined the 145th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D as a Private in September 1863. The muster book lists him as joining on the 29th September but an application for his headstone gives it as the 19th September. John seems to have fought mainly in Virginia taking part in the Bristoe Campaign as well as the Battles of Mine Run and Wilderness. In 1865 he was involved in the Battle of Spotsylvannia Courthouse, another part of Grant's Overland Campaign, which resulted in thousands of casualties on both sides and so became one of the bloodiest battles of the civil war. John would lose his right arm during the fighting and as a result he was transferred to Company F 53rd Regiment on 10th May 1865 before being medically discharged 10 days later.
I thought John might have remained in America but he returned to Ireland and married Rachel Shaw on 13th August 1881. They had nine children:
- Martha Jane b. 6th December 1882, married David Keys in 1907 and d. 1952. They had three sons:
- Albert James Keys b. 2nd June 1914
- Mary Elizabeth Keys b. 6th December 1907
- John Alexander Keys b. 12th June 1909
2. Rebecca b. 14th November 1884, married Peter McPhee about 1911. They had four children:
- Mary Burnett McPhee b. 1912 d.1994
- John Mulberry McPhee b.1914 d. 2000
- Isabel Mulberry McPhee b. 1922 d. 2005
- Ruby McPhee b. 1926
3. John Alexander b. 18th February 1887, m. Margaret Florence Gerald on 27th December 1930 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and d. 2nd June 1970 also in Vancouver. The occupation stated on his death certificate was a tobacco salesman. Believed to have had two sons.
4. Rachel b. 22nd April 1889, married Robert Andrew Simpson on 28th November 1912 in Coleraine, Londonderry. They had seven children:
- Mabel Dorothy Simpson b. 30th August 1913
- Iris Mary Simpson b. 2nd December 1914
- Samuel James Simpson b. 29th April 1916
- Victor Simpson b. 1921
- Charles Simpson b. 1928
- Phyllis Simpson b. 1930
- Hector Simpson b. 1932
5. Mary b. 2nd June 1892, married Albert B. Wheatley in 1926 (Surrey) and d. September 1960. Believed to have had a daughter in 1930
6. Isabella b. 17th November 1894
7. Cecelia b. 1896
8. Samuel James b. 2nd November 1898, name on birth record given as James but listed as Samuel James on census, m. Sarah Ann Canning on 14th December 1920
9. Annie Ruth b. 22nd November 1900, married John McFaul on 2nd December 1920. They had one son John Mulberry McFaul b. 29th May 1923 and d. June 1974 in Devon, England
The family are listed on the 1901 and 1911 Irish Census as living in Banagher, Londonderry.
John would die on 11th December 1911 and left £147 10s in his will. He was receiving a pension from the American Army from 1903 onwards and his widow Rachel continued to receive it after his death. John was buried in Learmount Park Cemetery but his grave was unmarked until 1938. His daughter Rebecca, who was living in Montreal, made a headstone application on 13th September 1938 with arrangements being made for Annie Ruth to receive it.
