| THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS OF GEORGE W. COLLINS, Part 3 Co. C. 121st NY Volunteers |
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Descendants of John Poole, Jr. of Willington, CT
Generation No. 1
1. JOHN POOLE, JR. married ZERVIAH SIBLEY March 06, 1755 in Willington, Tolland, CT, daughter of BENJAMIN SIBLEY and PRISCILLA RICH.
Children of JOHN POOLE and ZERVIAH SIBLEY are:
i. ZERVIAH POOLE, b. November 26, 1755; d. Deceased.
2. ii. ELISHA POOLE, b. January 09, 1764, Willington, Tolland, CT; d. Abt.
1800, Stephentown, Rensselaer, NY.
Generation No. 2
2. ELISHA POOLE was born January 09, 1764 in Willington, Tolland, CT, and died Abt. 1800 in Stephentown, Rensselaer, NY. He married ESTHER VINCENT.
Children of ELISHA POOLE and ESTHER VINCENT are:
3. i. ZERVIAH POOLE, b. 1787, Willington, Tolland, CT; d. October 13, 1850.
4. ii. ELISHA POOLE, b. Abt. 1794, Clearbrook, NY area; d. June 1878, Clinton,
Oneida, NY.
5. iii. ESTHER POOLE, b. August 27, 1797, Herkimer, Herkimer, NY; d. March 14,
1870, Clinton, Oneida, NY.
6. iv. ELIZABETH POOLE, b. Abt. 1800, Stephentown, Rensaeller, NY; d. Aft.
1850.
Note: information provided on descent from Zerviah and Esther Poole if given here only. Info is available on Elisha and Elizabeth Poole from Joan Jones.
Generation No. 3
3. ZERVIAH POOLE was born 1787 in Willington, Tolland, CT, and died October 13, 1850. She married GEORGE COLLINS. (both buried Gravesville Cemetery, Gravesville, Herkimer Co.NY)
Child of ZERVIAH POOLE and GEORGE COLLINS is:
7. i. GEORGE W. COLLINS, b. Abt. 1829, Schuyler, Herkimer, New York; d. May 10, 1864, Civil War in Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
5. ESTHER POOLE was born August 27, 1797 in Herkimer, Herkimer, NY, and died March 14, 1870 in Clinton, Oneida, NY. She married HARRISON EARLE February 11, 1835, son of CUTTING EARLE and EUNICE GROVES.
Children of ESTHER POOLE and HARRISON EARLE are:
9. i. HENRY CUTTING EARLE, b. February 18, 1836; d. February 20, 1918, German
Flatts, Herkimer, NY. Great-grandfather of Earle Schwaiger.
ii. HARRISON EARLE, b. July 24, 1840; d. February 14, 1873.
iii. EUNICE EARLE, b. April 20, 1842; d. January 02, 1904; m. MATTHEW M. FURMAN, March 22, 1864. son of JAMES FURMAN and OLIVE EARLE.
Generation No. 4
7. GEORGE W. COLLINS was born Abt. 1829 in Schuyler, Herkimer, New York, and died May 10, 1864 in Civil War in Spotsylvania Court House, VA. He married FANNY W. HUBBARD Aft. June 1850, daughter of SOLON HUBBARD and GRACE.
Child of GEORGE COLLINS and FANNY HUBBARD is:
i. EDWARD COLLINS, b. 1852, Russia, Herkimer, NY; d. Aft. 1865.
9. HENRY CUTTING EARLE was born February 18, 1836, and died February 20, 1918 in German Flats, Herkimer, NY. He married EMILY FURMAN January 16, 1861 in German Flatts, NY, daughter of JAMES FURMAN and OLIVE EARLE.
Children of HENRY EARLE and EMILY FURMAN are:
11. i. HARRY EARLE, b. March 06, 1876; d. January 14, 1912.
12. ii. GRACE EVELYN EARLE, b. June 24, 1879, Clinton, Oneida, NY; d. December
12, 1952, Clinton, Oneida, NY.
iii. ADDIE EARLE, b. 1891; d. Aft. 1913; Adopted child.
We have not yet made a connection with George and Zurviah (Poole) Collins and a Benjamin and Almira Collins who are buried in the adjoining plot in Gravesville. If all dates are correct, Zurviah would be too young to be the mother of Benjamin; perhaps he and George are brothers. In the off chance that someone might recognize a name I am including the:
Descendants of Benjamin R. Collins
Generation No. 1
1. BENJAMIN R. COLLINS was born September 1801 in Herkimer Co., NY, and died December 09, 1873. He married ALMIRA FORTUNE.
Children of BENJAMIN COLLINS and ALMIRA FORTUNE are:
i. SAMUEL COLLINS, b. Abt. 1833, Herkimer Co., NY; d. Bef. 1912.
ii. BENJAMIN R. COLLINS, JR., b. 1838, Newport, Herkimer, NY; d. October 15,
1912, Herkimer, Herkimer, NY.
2. iii. NANCY B. COLLINS, b. May 18, 1843, Herkimer Co., NY; d. Aft. October
15, 1912.
iv. ALMIRA E. COLLINS, b. 1850, Herkimer Co., NY; d. Aft. June 1865.
v. MARY F. COLLINS, b. 1854, Herkimer Co., NY; d. Aft. 1865.
Generation No. 2
2. NANCY B. COLLINS was born May 18, 1843 in Herkimer Co., NY, and died Aft. October 15, 1912. She married WILLIAM H. MORSE October 31, 1867.
Children of NANCY COLLINS and WILLIAM MORSE are:
i. ALLISON D. MORSE, d. Deceased.
3. ii. MARY MORSE, d. Deceased.
The Ancestors of Edward Collins, son of George W. Collins and Fanny W. Hubbard
Generation No. 1
1. Edward Collins, born 1852 in Russia, Herkimer, NY; died Aft. 1865. He was the son of 2. George W. Collins and 3. Fanny W. Hubbard.
Update 11/19/98: One mystery in the life of George W. Collins is "what happened to his only child, Edward?" Preliminary research found a 29 year old E. D. Collins is listed in the 1880 census of German Flatts. This man has turned out not to be George and Fanny's son. We had a chance to go to the Herkimer Surrogate's Court and checked grandfather Solon Hubbard's will (probated 1880). Documents show that Edward G. Collins was in Melvin, Ford Co. IL in Nov. 1879 and Jan. 1880. His uncle, Theodore Hubbard, was in Roberts, Ford, IL (about 4 miles away) at the same times. Soooo the "29 yr old E. D. Collins in German Flatts" in 1880 is almost definitely not Edward. I also found Theodore Hubbard 1870 in IL and an Edward Collins on an 1880 IL census site which I will check out sometime to see if they are in the same county.
Joan Jones, November 19, 1998.
Generation No. 2
2. George W. Collins, born Abt. 1829 in Schuyler, Herkimer, New York; died May 10, 1864 in Civil War in Spotsylvania Court House, VA. He was the son of 4. George Collins and 5. Zerviah Poole. He married 3. Fanny W. Hubbard Aft. June 1850.
3. Fanny W. Hubbard, born Abt. 1830 in Russia, Herkimer, NY; died May 18, 1863 in Herkimer Co., NY probably. She was the daughter of 6. Solon Hubbard and 7. Grace.
Child of George Collins and Fanny Hubbard is:
1 i. Edward Collins, born 1852 in Russia, Herkimer, NY; died Aft. 1865.
Generation No. 3
4. George Collins, born January 09, 1773 in Massachusetts; died September 25, 1852. He married 5. Zerviah Poole.
5. Zerviah Poole, born 1787 in Willington, Tolland, CT; died October 13, 1850. She was the daughter of 10. Elisha Poole and 11. Esther Vincent.
Child of George Collins and Zerviah Poole is:
2 i. George W. Collins, born Abt. 1829 in Schuyler, Herkimer, New York; died
May 10, 1864 in Civil War in Spotsylvania Court House, VA; married Fanny W. Hubbard Aft. June 1850.
6. Solon Hubbard, born September 1803 in Rensselaer Co., NY; died October 16, 1879. He married 7. Grace Sperry.
7. Grace Sperry, dau of Stephen and Fanny (Bradley) Sperry of Russia. Born March 1804; died December 12, 1842. (both buried Gravesville Cemetery). Stephen Sperry, the son of Asa and Esther (Tuttle) Sperry, was born Sept. 24, 1777, in Woodbridge, Conn. Married Fanny Bradley, born Mar. 18, 1780; died June 3, 1840, the daughter of Philo and Rhoda (Wattles) Bradley. Stephen Sperry was a farmer and of the Methodist Episcopal faith. From Russia he moved, about 1818, to Genesee County, N.Y., and thence to the town of Clayton, Jefferson County, N.Y. He and his wife are buried at Clayton Center, N.Y. (See Families of Russian Union Church Part 6 for more information.) br>
Children of Solon Hubbard and Grace Sperry are:
i. Martha A. Hubbard, born 1822"2"842; died 1822"2"842. (Gravesville Cem)
3 ii. Fanny W. Hubbard, born Abt. 1830 in Russia, Herkimer, NY; died May 18,
1863 in Herkimer Co., NY probably; married George W. Collins Aft. June 1850.
iii. Heriet Hubbard, born June 1833; died December 20, 1834.
Children of Solon Hubbard and Ann are:
i. Theodore M. Hubbard, born Abt. 1845 in New York; died Aft. 1869.
ii. Emma C. Hubbard, born January 10, 1847 in Herkimer Co., NY; died June
17, 1870 in Herkimer Co., NY; married Herman Isaiah Johnson.
Generation No. 4
10. Elisha Poole, born January 09, 1764 in Willington, Tolland, CT; died Abt. 1800 in Stephentown, Rensselaer, NY. He was the son of 20. John Poole, Jr. and 21. Zerviah Sibley. He married 11. Esther Vincent.
11. Esther Vincent, born 1760"2"770; died Aft. 1800.
Children of Elisha Poole and Esther Vincent are:
5 i. Zerviah Poole, born 1787 in Willington, Tolland, CT; died October 13,
1850; married George Collins.
ii. Elisha Poole, born Abt. 1794 in Clearbrook, NY area; died June 1878 in
Clinton, Oneida, NY; married Junia.
iii. Esther Poole, born August 27, 1797 in Herkimer, Herkimer, NY; died March 14, 1870 in Clinton, Oneida, NY; married Harrison Earle February 11, 1835.
iv. Elizabeth Poole, born Abt. 1800 in Stephentown, Rensaeller, NY; died
Aft. 1850; married Samuel Tyler.
Generation No. 5
20. John Poole, Jr., died Deceased. He married 21. Zerviah Sibley March 06, 1755 in Willington, Tolland, CT.
21. Zerviah Sibley, born August 31, 1729 in Oxford, Worcester, MA; died Deceased. She was the daughter of 42. Benjamin Sibley and 43. Priscilla Rich.
Children of John Poole and Zerviah Sibley are:
i. Zerviah Poole, born November 26, 1755; died Deceased.
10 ii. Elisha Poole, born January 09, 1764 in Willington, Tolland, CT; died
Abt. 1800 in Stephentown, Rensselaer, NY; married Esther Vincent.
Generation No. 6
42. Benjamin Sibley, born September 19, 1703 in Sutton, MA; died November 02, 1780 in Willington, Tolland, CT. He married 43. Priscilla Rich.
43. Priscilla Rich, born September 28, 1706; died February 01, 1782 in Willington, Tolland, CT.
Child of Benjamin Sibley and Priscilla Rich is:
21 i. Zerviah Sibley, born August 31, 1729 in Oxford, Worcester, MA; died
Deceased; married John Poole, Jr. March 06, 1755 in Willington, Tolland, CT.
#1 Fairfax Court House: June 19, 1863
In this letter George notes that "they are glad to have them come back anytime". At this point in the war many men were deserting. It was a time of bounty men, who were looked upon by the veterans as less than secondary troops. George was an experienced soldier.
#2 Camp Near Berlin, Md: July 17, 1863
It's possible that George was viewing the action from the Roundtops.
#3 Camp Near New Baltimore, Md: September 16, 1863
The soldiers were in the habit of bartering with civilians for items the latter were deprived of. At this point the Conferate dollar had become inflated and blockades affected the availability of items such as coffee and sugar. It was also common that opposing pickets exchanged newspapers, tobacco and friendly greetings - much to the chagrin of the officers on both sides.
#4 On Picket at Raccoon Ford: October 6, 1863
Picket duty was no longer as friendly. George's regiment was in a relatively unprotected position and had become more apprehensive of the Confederates' positions.
#5 Warrenton, Va: November 3, 1863
George's regiment has been continually on the move and experiencing deprivation in rations. While the soldiers complain amongst themselves, the Northern papers are filled with stories of success and glory. In his statement that "our retreat and advance has not amounted to much as we can see", George tells Eunice that the men are also questioning the strategy of their own officers.
#6 Camp Near Brandy Station, Va: December 17, 1863
A review was a parade or inspection of all the troops. The Russians visited San Francisco and New York as a show of force and support for the Union effort. The Russians, who had not forgotten the Crimean or Napoleonic Wars, and who had interests in Alaska, had told the English and French that if they sided with the Confederacy they, the Russians, would declare war on them.
#7 Camp Near Brandy Station, Va: January 7, 1864
If the soldiers were issued that many rations (8 days) it meant that a march or sudden movement was up and coming and they would probably be beyond their supply trains. George implies that a scout had alerted the generals to Southern troop movement, so they had to be mobile at a moment's notice.
#8 Camp Near Wolfords Ford: February 4, 1864
Visitors from the north came to the soldiers' winter quarters via wagon or railroad, bringing food, gifts and civilian company. If they were visiting officers they stayed with them; if visiting the men, they hovered around as camp followers. In hindsight, we would consider this a security risk.
#9 Camp Near Wolfords Ford: March 13, 1864
The Copperheads were a Northern party who wanted to have peace with the South and to end the war at any price.
"George's service records have been ordered from the National Archives. We do know from the Herkimer County Historical Society records that George was 5' 10" and had dark eyes, black hair, dark complexion." Joan Jones
The battle for Spotsylvania Court House was truly one of the bloodiest of the war. The regiment suffered 155 casualties, including 49 dead, which included George Collins. For the regiment, Spotsylvania was second only to Salem Church in numbers of casualties. There the regiment lost 104 men and suffered a total of 278 casualties. The 121st suffered some of the highest number of fatalties during the war - 275, putting the total lost at 19.28 percent of the enrolled numbers of 1426. Jerry Reed
Photos of Spotsylvania Battlefield and Historical Plaque
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