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Jacob Coleman – Was He a Deserter?
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 22, 2018
During his lifetime Jacob Coleman (1822-1886) made an attempt to get a Civil War pension but was denied. After his death, the former Elizabeth Savage, his widow, also made a claim for a pension but was also denied.
The death of Jacob Coleman was reported in the Milheim Journal (Centre County, Pennsylvania), 9 December 1886:
Jacob Coleman, residing with his son at Fowler, Pennsylvania, died last Thursday at the age of 64 years, 10 months and 10 days. Deceased has been an invalid since 1861, during which time he has been helpless as a child. Death was indeed a relief to this sufferer. His remains were buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Aaronsburg last Monday.
The Pension Index Card confirms the denial of pension:
According to the card available from Ancestry.com (above), Jacob Coleman first applied on 5 August 1879. His widow waited until four years after his death to apply. In both cases, no pension was granted.
Previously on this blog, Jacob Coleman was named as a deserter in a post entitled “Deserters – 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I.” The following was stated:
JACOB COLEMAN. Born about 1822. Draftee from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Mustered in on 2 November 1862 by Capt. Norton. Deserted from Camp Curtin on 2 November 1862. Jacob lived in Lykens Township before the war. After he deserted, he moved about and eventually attempted (unsuccessfully) to apply for an invalid pension. After his death, his widow, Elizabeth [Savage] Coleman, also attempted to get a pension based on his “service” in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry. She too was unsuccessful. The Pension Index Card which references the applications is shown….
In the case of Jacob Coleman, pages from the actual pension application are available. In those pages, Jacob Coleman, claimed (under oath) that he came about his illness, rheumatism, by sleeping in a tent on damp or wet ground at Camp Curtin. Furthermore, he claimed that his Captain, Benjamin J. Evitts, told him to go home and not return until he was able to perform his soldier duties. Jacob Coleman never got well enough to return. As a result of his illness, he was unable to practice his trade of shoemaker. In his application, he stated that at the time he was drafted into the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, he was a resident of Lykens Township, Dauphin County. He also stated that he had moved about after the war.
Unfortunately, for Jacob Coleman, his testimony was not borne out by Capt. Evitts, nor was it borne out by a Lykens Township physician, Dr. Schminky. The doctor could not remember treating him and the Captain indicated that he had denied his request to go home.
Based on the information available from the Pension Application, it has to be concluded that Jacob Coleman was a deserter.
Comments are welcome from readers.
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