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Mrs. Comuskey of Williamstown
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 12, 2019
Previously on this blog, Mary Kilraine of Williamstown – Civil War Laundress was presented. Mary was first married to Patrick Craven of Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. After his death, she married Patrick Comuskey.
The following story about Mary Comuskey was printed in the Williamstown Sesquicentennial Book in 1976.
Mrs. Comuskey, “Woman with war history,” was born in County Wiclow, Ireland. The family immigrated to this country when she was fourteen years old. One year later, she was united in marriage with Patrick Craven of town [Williamstown] They settled in New Mines, Schuylkill County.
Two sons were born when the husband and father was mustered for the war. This plucky woman, whose name goes down in history, fought the “wolf of want” from the door, until her resources seemed gone when she determined to seek redress from the President. Starting southward, she at last reacherd the White House and seated herself near the Mansion and awaited developments. Presently a youth noting her dejected look approached and inquired about her presence there. on hearing her simple story, he gave her a card. On presenting the card the next day, she was ushered in to see President Lincoln and his cabinet officers, On hearing her story he informed her that nothing could be done toward discharging an able bodied man, but in case of accident to him, he should be returned to her. “In such a case, he would be of no use to me,” she replied. Her answer so amused the President that arrangements were made to place her into her husband’s company, where she took charge of the laundry department.
Mr. Craven was wounded and taken prisoner and died in Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. He was buried in Soldier’s Cemetery at Key West, Florida. His name is listed on the Soldier’s Monument at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Two years later she married the Orderly Sergeant of Major Randolph, Patrick Comuskey, together they continued their service for the Fifth Regular Battery at Garden Keys, Florida, until the close of the war, when they went forth honorably discharged. They came to Williamstown, where she lived for over thirty years before her death on July 26, 1906.
Mrs. Patrick Comuskey is listed as a nurse on the roll of honor for our Civil War veterans.
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No known picture exists of Mary Kilraine. The photograph at the top of this post is from the Library of Congress and shows a “wash woman” with a Union regiment. However, the woman pictured has young children with her. It is not known where Mary’s two sons were residing during the war and there is no evidence that she took the children with her to Florida.
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