The Story of
Rachel Rogers
Rachel Rogers was the maternal grandmother of my grandfather, James Elmer Roland. She was born in the town of Western, New York, on July 19, 1845. Her youth was likely spent on her father's farm just north of Rome, New York. In later years, Rachel admitted to being poor in her youth, "I was poor and brought up at Western, N.Y., and am well known there."
Rachel was the last child of John Rogers and Elizabeth Pettingell Rogers.
John Rogers was born about November, 1801, and died March 08, 1886 in Western, New York. He married Elizabeth Pettingill who was born January 04, 1805 and died July 04, 1875 in Western, New York.
Their children are as follows:
According
to the
Waldo
Genealogy, the Rogers Family came west to Oneida County
around 1830 from the part of New York around Amsterdam and the
Schoharie Valley. Elizabeth Pettingell is the granddaughter
(through her father Cornelius) of Samuel Pettingell, a doctor,
who was killed at the Battle of Oriskany during the American
Revolution in 1777.
Samuel
Pettingell's name appears on the Oriskany Monument as Samuel
Pettingall.
(Added 10/28/2007) Where was the John Rogers Farm?
Husband, Roswell D. Packard
(Edited 4/2/2006) According to records provided by Roswell D. Packard himself, he was born anywhere from 1835 to 1845.
Roswell would have been 32 in 1871. A plausible explanation given this data is that around 1840 Roswell Packard moved from Jefferson County to Ontario. Whether Roswell Packard found in the 1830 census or the Galen mentioned in the Ontario 1871 census above is the father of these boys is not known yet.
Utley claimed to have known Packard for 10 years before the wedding. He said Packard arrived in Boonville as a boy and worked there for 7 years (Approximately 1855-1862, or ages 16 to 23). He then moved to Western and lived there till his enlistment into the army.
Roswell Packard's Military Service in the Civil War
On Roswell Packard's claim for invalid pension, he named his occupation at the time of his enlistment as that of teamster. He enlisted at Ava, New York, on February 29, 1864, and joined Company H of the 2nd Regiment of the New York Heavy Artillery.
Through April 30, 1864, the 2nd NY Hvy Art. was garrisoned at Fort Haggerty, Virginia. Fort Haggerty was one of many garrisons along the Potomac where Union troops were gathered to defend Washington. Fort Haggerty was located about 1,000 feet north-northeast of today's Iwo Jima Memorial . An Arlington County Historical Marker reads: "Here beside the Georgetown-Alexandria road stood Fort Haggerty, a small outwork of Fort Corcoran, constructed in May 1861. With a perimeter of 128 yards and emplacements for 4 guns, it was designed to bring under fire the slope south of Fort Corcoran, which could not be seen from there."
A report from Brigadier-General A. P. Howe submitted May 17, 1864, described the condition of Fort Haggerty as one of many forts surrounding Washington:
"Fort Haggerty, Capt. Charles L. Smith commanding. -- Garrison, one company Second New York Heavy Artillery -- 1 Captain, 3 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 164 men. Armament, four 24 -pounder siege guns. Magazines, one; dry, well-packed, and serviceable. Ammunition, full supply; in a good condition. Implements, complete. Drill in artillery, fair. Drill in infantry, wants improving much. Discipline, indifferent. Garrison is more than necessary."
Packard's Company H was the only military presence at Fort
Haggerty.
During the first half of May, 1864, the entire regiment of the 2nd NY Heavy Artillery, composed of 1,771 men organized in companies A through M, were scattered in forts south of the Potomac. On May 15th they headed south as part of Ulysses S. Grant’s Richmond Campaign in General Winfield Hancock's Second Corps, Robert O. Tyler's Fourth Division. They reached Belle Plain Landing on the Potomac on May 16th. On May 18th they began marching south toward Richmond. On May 19th they were called against Ewell's Corps as a part of Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler's Division during Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. A short note from Brigadier-General S. W. Crawford to Corps Commander Major-General Warren on May 19th made reference to the condition of the regiment Packard found himself in: "The artillery Regiments are not at all reliable. The Second New York will not stand."
However, Tyler's Fourth Division, of which the "green" 2nd NY Heavy Artillery was a part, held their own:
"On May 19 Ewell's Confederate Second Corps made a forced reconnaissance around to the Fredericksburg Road to attempt to locate the right flank of the Union line. There they ran into some newly arrived Federal troops that had formerly manned the forts surrounding Washington, D.C. These heavy artillerymen, most of whom were serving under Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler, were acting as infantry for the first time. The resulting engagement on the Harris farm exacted a heavy toll on both sides: It cost the Confederates 900 casualties and the Federals slightly more than 1,500."
Here is U.S. Grant's Report back to Washington:
HEADQUARTERS
ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
In the Field, May 20, 1864-8.30 a. m. (Received 4 p. m.)
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
The attempt to turn our right last evening was by Ewell's corps wholly. They were promptly repulsed by Birney's and Tyler's divisions and some of Warren's troops that were on the extreme right. About 300 prisoners fell into our hands, besides many killed and wounded. Our loss foots up little over 600 wounded and about 150 killed and missing. This is as near an accurate report as can be given at this time. Probably the killed and missing is overstated.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
Of the 1,771 men of the 2nd NY Heavy Artillery, 28 were killed and 83 wounded, 3 missing.
On May 20-21 the 2nd NY Heavy Artillery marched 30 miles from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m., passing Bowling Green and Milford Station. They camped about a mile beyond Milford Station.
May 23rd was another day of marching through Hanover Junction to the North Anna River. On the 24th they set up rifle pits along the river, protecting the Ninth Corps as they crossed. They were shelled heavily during the crossing of the Ninth Corps.
On May 25th the 2nd NY Heavy Artillery regiment crossed the North Anna and camped about a mile beyond the river. On the 26th they moved back across the North Anna River ("Lee hoped to strike an offensive blow, but he was ill, and the opportunity for defeating an isolated part of the Federal army passed. Once the threat of Lee’s position was revealed, Grant withdrew both wings of the army back across the North Anna River. Grant outflanked the position by moving downstream and continued his advance on Richmond."). May 27 - 29 the 2nd NY Heavy Artillery Regiment marched along the Pamunkey River toward Mechanicsville.
On May 29, 1864, the regiment was reassigned to the First Brigade (Nelson A. Miles) of the First Division (Francis C. Barlow) of the Second Corps (Winfield S. Hancock) of the Army of the Potomac. The movement of the Second Corps from near the Pamunkey River to the Union left flank is shown on the map at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vcdh/fellows/chmap2b.html. The position of the First Brigade under Col. Nelson A. Miles is shown on the map at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vcdh/fellows/chmap3.html (lower right hand corner of the map).
General Barlow's First Division (Packard’s Division) and General Gibbons' Second Division attacked on June 3, 1864. As described by General Grant himself:
June 3, 1864.-In accordance with orders received from headquarters of the army last night the Second Corps assaulted the enemy's position at 4.45 this a. m.; the enemy in entrenchments. Barlow and Gibbon attacked in two lines, Birney in support. After a desperate and bloody fight Barlow and Gibbon both penetrated the enemy's works; Brooke's brigade, of Barlow's division, capturing 4 guns and 1 color. The enemy, however, rapidly threw fresh troops (Bushrod Johnson's division) upon our forces and compelled them to return with terrible slaughter. The musketry was infernally hot. Brooke was severely wounded just as he entered their works, which was a severe loss to us just at that critical moment. We might have held on in Barlow's front had Birney's division moved promptly to its support, which was not done-great delay occurring on Birney's part or that of his subordinates. When our troops were driven out of the enemy's works they did not retreat in any disorder, but gallantly held on and intrenched themselves by throwing up the sand with their bayonets, hands, &c., under a scathing fire of musketry.
Major George Hogg of the 2nd New York Artillery said of June 3 -- "fight all along the line. The regiment was again ordered to charge, which was successfully done." On June 4 and 5, the Yanks and Rebs exchanged artillery barrages and musket fire, but no one advanced. On June 6 Grant and Lee were negotiating a cease fire, but that did not stop the exchange of musket fire. During one of those exchanges, Roswell Packard was struck with a "minie ball". Two of his comrades, George Sherman of Rome, New York, and Alexander Thompson of Utica, New York, removed him from the field. They described the events in a deposition dated November 11, 1866:
"[D]eponents further declare that on or about
the 6th day of June A.D 1864 said Roswell D. Packard received a
gun shot wound in his back, the ball having entered one side of
his backbone & made its exit through the other. That at the
time said Roswell D. Packard received said gun shot wound he was
engaged in the line of his duty as a Soldier in the service of
the United States and while he was with his Command and while
engaged in action with the enemy at the battle of Cold Harbor in
the state of Virginia.
"That these deponents means of knowledge of the above facts are derived as follows, Viz.: That George A. Sherman one of these deponents aided in taking said Roswell D. Packard off the field on said 6th day of June 1864 at the time he received said wound. That Alexander W. Thompson aforesaid one of these deponents was present and engaged in said battle at the time said Roswell D. Packard received said wound: and that both of these deponents were members of said Company and were eye witnesses to the fact that said Roswell D. Packard received said wound on said 6th day of June 1864."
After he was wounded, Packard convalesced at Sickles Barracks General Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia for about three and a half months. Gangrene developed on the wound. A surgeon's certificate in 1866 stated, "A minie ball entered at the end of the left (?) false rib, passed through and came out at nearly the same point on the right side. Gangrene made serious havoc with muscular tissues. There is weakness stiffness & lameness of back." When he was released, he was reassigned to the 112th Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the Veterans Reserve Corps Volunteers.
On August 27, 1865, Roswell Packard was discharged from the Army at Alexandria, Virginia, as a private.
Marriage, September 7, 1865
Eleven days after being discharged from the army in Virginia, Roswell Packard and Rachel Rogers were married at the home of "George Thrasher, a Justice of the Peace at Dunbrook in the town of Western, New York, adjoining my farm", according to her brother in law Alfred Utley who recalled the wedding almost 40 years later. Dunnbrook is on the Mohawk River a few miles north of the village of Northwestern. Packard was almost 26 years of age. Rachel was almost 20. Utley and his wife Sophrina, were witnesses. Sophrina was more than 10 years older than her sister Rachel.
During their first two years of marriage, Roswell and Rachel lived with the Utleys. Later they moved to the Gilson farm outside the village of Boonville, New York, a short distance north of the town of Western. Their marriage was rocky. Packard, it turns out, "…was a drinking man and he and she did not get along together and he would leave her at times," according to a description provided by Alfred Utley.
Lizzie is born
(For more information on Lizzie Packard, click here).
After living in Boonville for about a year, Roswell and Rachel traveled west. Whether this was just a trip or a plan for a permanent move is not known. They ended up in the town of Prophetstown, Illinois, where their daughter Elizabeth was born. (Added 03/27/04: A possible explanation for this trip to western Illinois may be the presence of Roswell's fraternal uncle John A. Packard, who by then was financial success in nearby Galena, Illinois, about 50 miles north of Prophetstown. See http://homepage.interaccess.com/~marsbb/ for a picture of the home John A. Packard built in Galena, which is now a bed and breakfast.) According to Alfred Utley, "[A]fter their marriage they went to Prophetstown, Ill. and lived a couple of years." But Rachel remembers their time spent in Prophetstown as only "some months". Elizabeth was born August 18, 1868.
The 1870 census has the family split up. Rachel, age 25, is shown living with her father John Rogers. Elizabeth Packard, age 1, is shown living with Rachel's brother Christopher Rogers and his wife Sarah. Roswell's location has not been found in 1870 census information yet.
The years 1865 through 1877 were very difficult for Rachel. Rachel said that between 1865 and 1877 that she and Roswell on occasion would go visit his family in Colborne, Ontario, for several months at a time. Colborne is near the north shore of Lake Ontario. He filed a Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension from Northumberland County, Ontario. In the declaration, he claimed to be a citizen of Colborne, with a post office address in care of S. A. Boyce. The Canadian County Atlas Project allows you to search landowner maps of Canada during the mid and late 1870s. The farm of S. A. Boyce can be identified on this page.
The blue rectangle on the map at left identifies the current
location of the land once owned by Stephen A. Boyce.
Rachel Separates from Roswell
Rachel left Roswell in 1877, a year after her mother's death. When asked by a pension special examiner in 1904 when Roswell and Rachel separated, Alfred Utley said, "In 1877. I was then living and farming on a place 2 miles north of the City of Rome, NY, on the Turin road, and she came to my house and said that she had had to leave Packard on account of his drinking and violence toward her. My wife, her sister (Sophrina) was sick at the time and Rachel stayed with us for about 3 months. Then she went to the County House which was then also a home for idiots and imbeciles." A man named Octavius Trenham worked at this home during the years 1877 or 1878, which he referred to as the Oneida County Alms House. He was acquainted with Rachel Packard, "Ray" as they called her, and knew Rachel by sight even before her marriage. To her coworkers at the Alms House, Rachel was known by her maiden name of Rogers. Octavius said Rachel confided in him that she had to leave Packard "on account of his drinking habit and he did not support her and his child, a little girl." And one time he spotted her in a lawyer's office and heard she got a divorce.
Rachel was employed at the County House for about a year, then opened a boarding house on Spring Street in Rome.
1877 was the last time Rachel ever saw her husband. Rachel claims that in 1881 she went west. But she may have stopped in Rochester along the way. Octavius Trenham said that after she left Rome she went to Rochester. (Added 8/9/03) The 1880 Census for Oneida County has Rachel living (shown as Rachel Rogers in the census record) living in the Oneida County Poorhouse.) Her sister, Elizabeth Rogers Parkhurst, said that after keeping the boarding house on Spring Street in Rome for a few years, she went to Rochester where she kept a restaurant. This may be true because there are some interesting facts surrounding her daughter Lizzie and Lizzie's first child Edward Roland, Jr. Edward Roland, Sr. was from Rochester.
Lizzie was born in August 1868. Rachel’s first husband Edward was born in October of 1884. This means Edward, Jr., was born shortly after Lizzie’s 16th birthday.
(Added 8/9/03) The
City of Rochester Archives and Records CenterHistoric Marriage Records Research Site shows the marriage of Edward Roland and Lizzy Rogers on May 13, 1883. Living with her mother, who apparently did not use her husband's name, Lizzy was identified by the name of Rogers. Lizzy's mother Rachel was identified in the marriage record with a maiden name of Packard, which was incorrect. The marriage date shows that Lizzy's age was 14 years, 8 months, and 25 days. However, the record identified Lizzy as 18 years old. Edward was shown as 20 years old which was correct.
Rachel said that in 1881 she worked at a hotel in Springer, New Mexico, for a few months then moved to Denver. Here are the addresses Rachel occupied and as obtained from Denver Directories:
1890 17th Rogers Rachel J. Mrs. r. 1823 CaliforniaRoswell Packard in the 1880s and 1890s
Packard did quite a bit of wandering after Rachel left him. His whereabouts are logged in his Civil War Pension record, where most of the information contained in this article comes from.
Packard applied for his pension on September 13, 1865 -- seven days after he and Rachel were married. More than a year later, December 18, 1866, his pension of $4 per month, commencing August 27, 1865, was approved. He was rated at 1/2 ability "possibly for life" due to "weakness, stiffness and lameness of back."
Every few years Packard made claims to increase his pension. A description of Packard is contained in all of his physical examinations. In his 1873 physical, he is described as: Height 5 ft 7 inches; weight 150 lbs.; complexion, dark. Age, 38 years; respiration, 20 per minute; pulse 75 per minute, weak. In 1897 his hair was described as black and his eyes blue.
The locations where the examinations took place attest to his meandering life. :
(Updated 8/24/03) The 1880 census has Roswell working as a hired hand and living on the Aaron W. Blakely farm in the township of Concord, New York, outside the town of Farmersville, New York. This is in Erie County, about 50 miles southeast of Buffalo.
(Updated 10/31/04) The 1900 census has no trace of Roswell Packard, though the above indicates he was in the Town of Western during this time.
Packard died January 21, 1903 at 63 years of age. On a death certificate the place of death was recorded as the Oneida County Home, where he had been a resident there for 4 months and 4 days. His occupation was listed as laborer. His birthplace was recorded as New York. The name of his father and mother are shown as "Unknown". Chief cause of death was "Valveular disease of the heart." He was buried in Rome Cemetery on January 23, 1903.
Daughter Elizabeth Packard Roland leaves her family and joins her mother in Colorado
Rachel's daughter Elizabeth left her family in 1898 and went west to be with her mother. In 1898, she would have been married 15 years. Her boys would have been 14 (Edward), 11 (Raymond), and Elmer (9). Daughter Clair died the year she was born, 1893.
The 1900 Census for the Town of Gillett in Teller County, Colorado, taken June 6-7, 1900, shows Rachel and Elizabeth living there. Rachel is identified as:
Rachel Rogers (not using her married name of Packard), Head of household, born July 1848, Age 51, (fibbing about her age? She was really born July 1845 and would be 54), and shows herself as a widow. Born in New York with both parents born in New York. Her occupation was listed as Housekeeper, was employed over the last 12 months. She indicated she could read, write, and speak English. And she rented her house.
The census image it too dark to indicate an address, but it doesn't matter. Gillett Town is now regarded as one of Colorado's Ghost Towns. The remains of the town were destroyed in a flood in 1965.
Rachel's daughter Elizabeth is identified in her mother's household in this census record of 1900. In the census record which was taken in June, 1900, she is identified as Elizabeth Ewell, though the record is very dark. Ewell is the name the ancestry.com website discerned from this image.
This person is definitely our Lizzy Packard. The census record shows she was born August, 1868 in Illinois. Also shows her month (Rachel) was born in New York, and her father (Roswell) was born in Canada, though this is the third place where Roswell may have been born. Lizzy and Rachel may have understood Roswell was born in Canada because he went to see his family there so frequently. The record also shows that Lizzy had been married 2 years and her child Mable L. is listed there as the granddaughter of the head of household, having been born the previous February. This is the first evidence of a fifth child of Lizzy's (Clair died soon after birth in 1893). Additional records concerning baby Mable L. Ewell have not been found as of this date.
Rachel Applies for a Widow’s Pension
Rachel heard about her husband’s death through a newspaper clipping sent by her sister (probably Sophrina). On March 17, 1903, Rachel applied for a widow’s pension as authorized by Acts of Congress approved in 1890 and 1900. She was 58 years old. Attached to her widow’s pension application was a statement signed by Lizzie and D.C. Rainey, claiming they had known Rachel for the past 20 years.
On May 25, 1903, the Bureau of Pensions wrote back to Rachel’s attorney:
Sir:
Relative to the above entitled claim for pension, under the Act of June 27, 1890, you are advised that the soldier stated that he was divorced from the claimant twenty years ago. There should be furnished a certified copy of the decree of the court showing the soldier’s divorce from the claimant.
It was true. On March 4, 1898, in response to a question on a questionnaire Are you married? If so, please state your wife’s full name, and her maiden name. Packard answered: “Was married at the close of 1865 – but been divorced 20 years. I am now single.” If the Packards had indeed divorced, Rachel would be ineligible for the Widows Pension allowed by Congress.
The Bureau of Pensions told Rachel that Packard had lived in Colborne, Ontario, and in the New York Counties of Erie, Lewis, and Oneida. The Bureau required an affidavit from each county showing there was no record of a divorce in that county.
On June 18, 1903, Rachel wrote back:
I am the applicant herein. I was never divorced from Roswell D. Packard. He was never divorced from me. I am sure of this fact because notice was never served on me at any time or at any place to indicate that divorce proceedings was ever commenced by my said husband, and the laws prevailing in each county require that notice be served on the wife before the issue of the decree of divorce. I cannot supply a certified copy of the decree of divorce because no decree was ever issued to my husband against me. I cannot understand why the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions should insist upon my going to the expense of furnishing county clerk’s certificates from the various places in which my husband lived since 1875, because in the first place it was impossible for him to commence proceedings for divorce and succeed in any one of the places named in the Commissioner’s letter of May 25, 1903 without my being notified that such notion was commenced. In order for me to procure certificates from the counties referred to in said letter, it would put me to an expense which I an in no wise able to meet. No divorce proceeding was ever begun by my husband. If such had been the case I would have known of it.
I am fairly entitled to pension as the widow of Roswell D. Packard and it should be allowed to me. If the Commissioner of Pensions has any doubt of the truth of my statements, he can put my claim in the hands of a special examiner to obtain the facts to suit himself, as I believe that the burden of proof stands with him.
That’s what the Commissioner of Pensions did. A Special Examiner took over the case. The pension record shows letters from Oneida, Lewis, Monroe, and Erie Counties stating there was no record of divorce. Also were statements from Alfred Utley, Octavius Trenham , and Rachel’s sisters Sophrina Rogers Utley, and Elizabeth Rogers Parkhurst. Most of the information above comes from these statements. (Sophrina Rogers Utley’s granddaughter, Fronia Pillmore, gave the picture of Rachel Rogers to my mother.)
In November of 1903, Rachel provided a statement to a Special Examiner in Denver. The Special Examiner also took a statement from Rachel’s daughter Lizzie, who was by now remarried to D.C. Rainey. In her statement, Lizzie said she came west in 1898.
(Updated 10/31/04) Lizzie also said in her deposition "I know mother never lived any place, from 1881 to date except at Springer N. Mexico And in this county." I know this by corresponding with her and by seeing her after I came here myself. Oops! Caught Lizzy in a fib. The 1900 Census record shows that she and her mother lived in Teller County, Colorado, quite a distance from Denver.
On February 17, 1905, almost two years since she first applied, Rachel’s pension was finally approved. It was ordered she be paid $8 monthly from March 23, 1903. The $184 dollars must have been great news to Rachel and Lizzie.
The Denver addresses Rachel wrote from during her application and appeal are as follows:
There is not much more information in the pension records. Under the Act of Sept. 8, 1916, Rachel was entitled to a $20 per month payment. The record shows, however, that Rachel had moved back to New York. Her address was 250 Leon Street, Syracuse, New York. Rachel was 71 years old.
On July 14, 1926, Congress passed a widow’s pension law. The Act increased the pension rate to $50 per monthly in the event that the widow was the wife of the soldier, sailor, or marine during the period of service in the Civil War. Unfortunately for 81 year old Rachel, the Widow Division of the Pension Bureau knew that she was not entitled to the $50 monthly benefit “for reason that your marriage to the soldier September 7, 1865 was subsequent to August 27, 1865 the date of his final discharge from his Civil War Service.” Darn. She was, however, entitled to a $40/month payment. The letter containing this information was addressed to Mrs. Rachel Packard, Camillus, N.Y.
(Added 8/9/2003) Before the 1930 census, Rachel apparently moved back to Rome, New York. The 1930 US Census shows a Rachel Packard living at 261 W. Dominick in Rome, NY. This apparently was an appartment building as many other people including families lived at this address. Her rent was $16 per month. She owned a radio.
The last record in Roswell and Rachel Packard’s pension file is a “drop report”. It states:
The name of the above-described pensioner who was last paid at the rate of $40 per month to Mar 3 1932, has this day been dropped from the roll because of death, March 25, 1932.” The address given for Rachel Packard was 128 Hovey Street, Syracuse, N.Y. The location of 128 Hovey is shown on the adjacent map. (Added 8/9/2003) The 1930 census for Onondaga County has living at 128 Marginal Way a William L. Chappel and an Elizabeth S. Chappel. Elizabeth is shown as 54 years old (born approximately 1866) and born in Illinois. This is Rachel's daughter Lizzy. Apparently William Chappel is Lizzy's third husband. Marginal Way and Hovey are the same street. Hovey is an eastward extension of Marginal Way in this part of Syracuse.
Hovey Street can be seen on an aerial
photograph as the northeast-southwest street to the northwest of
the Onondaga creek. According to www.mappoint.com, the address 128
is probably one of the homes located on the
north end of the street
across from Onondaga Creek.
Rachel Rogers Packard was 86 years old when she died. (Added 3/18/2006) She was buried in the Rome Cemetery on on March 29, 1932 in Lot No. 444, Section M.
Last Updated Saturday, April 2, 2006