LOGO

Lt. Col. Francis W. H. Baldwin


High Ranking Marshall County Civil War Soldier

     From records of the Adjutant General's Office, compiled by the West Virginia State Archives:

     Francis W. H. Baldwin; commissioned Lt. Col. 06 Feb 1865; mustered out 01 Jul 1865. Enrolled as Sergeant Company "B", 07 Aug 1861 at age 20; mustered in near Petersburg, Va.; promoted to 2d Lieutenant 06 Jul 1864; promoted to 1st Lieutenant 24 Sep 1864; promoted to Captain 27 Oct 1864, vice Evans mustered out; promoted Lieutenant-Colonel 06 Feb. 1865, vice Isaac B. Fisher discharged. Honorably discharged from U.S. Service.


Submitted by Gary W. Timmons

NATIONAL ARCHIVES PENSION FILE
(Partial)

Volunteer Enlistment (Second)

State of Virginia
Town of Stevensburg

     I FRANCIS BALDWIN born in GREENE COUNTY in the State of PENNSYLVANIA aged TWENTY THREE years, and by occupation a FARMER Do hereby acknowledge to have volunteered this TENTH day of JANUARY 1861, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I, FRANCIS BALDWIN do solemnly swear, that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.

FRANCIS BALDWIN
Sworn and subscribed to, at Stevensburg, Va.
this 4th day of Jany 1864
Before LT. J. F. RAVENSCROFT 7 Va Vol

I certify, on honor, That I have carefully examined the above-named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that, in my opinion, he is free from all bodily defects and mental informity, which would in any way disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.

WILSON T. HICKS, Asst Surg. 7th Va Vols.
Examining Surgeon

I certify, on honor, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, FRANCIS BALDWIN previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgement and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, is accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier. I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service.
This soldier has BLUE eyes, SANDY hair, FAIR complexion, is FIVE feet EIGHT & -- inches high.

J. F. RAVENSCROFT, 1st Lt.
7th Regiment of West Va Volunteers,
Recruiting Officer.

Mustered into the service of the United States, in Company B, 7th Regiment of West Virg Volunteers, on the 4th day of January, 1864, at Stevensburg, Va.

THOMAS B. (Illegible)
Capt 1st Del. Vols.
A. C. M.

DECLARATION OF RECRUIT
I, FRANCIS BALDWIN, desiring to volunteer as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of three years, do declare, That I am TWENTY-THREE years and - months of age; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentecne of a court-martial, or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for three years.

Given at Camp near Stevensburg, Va.
the 4th day of January 1864
FRANCIS BALDWIN
Witness: CALVIN COBUN


Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension

State of WEST VIRGINIA, County of MARSHALL, ss:
On this 25th day of NOVEMBER A.D. one thousand eight hundred and EIGHTY NINE personally appeared before me a clerk of the COUNTY COURT a Court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid FRANCIS W. H. BALDWIN ages 49 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical FRANCIS W. H. BALDWIN who was enrolled as a PRIVATE on the 7th day of AUGUST, 1861, in Company B of the 7th regiment of WVA INFTY VOLS commanded by COL. JAMES EVANS and was honorably discharged at MUNSON'S HILL VA on the 1st day of July, 1865; That his personal description is as follows: Age 49 years; height 5 feet 8 1/2 inches; complexion FAIR; hair BROWN; eyes, BLUE. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the ervice and in the line of duty at or near Munson's Hill in the State of Virginia on or about the 1st day of JUNE, 1865, he while acting as corps officer of the day his horse frightened at the cars and jumped over a ravine throwing me over the front of the saddle badly spraining my back and injuring my left testical. Said injuries have ever since continued to hurt me rendering me at times wholly unable to perform manual labor and from which injuries I have never recovered. Shortly after receiving said injury I together with my Regt. was mustered out of the service by special order No. 158 Army of the Potomac June 22 1865 at the date of receiving my said injury before and up to my being mustered out of the service I was Lieutenant Colonel commanding my said Regiment.
That he has NOT been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above...
That he has not been in the military or naval service of the United States since the 1st day of July 1865. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided near ROCK LICK of MARSHALL COUNTY in the State of WEST VA and that he is now VERY GREATLY disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States. he hereby appoints with full power of substitution and revocation GEORGE E. LEMON......
That he has not received nor applied for a pension; that his residence is ROCK LICK Marshall County W.Va. and that his post office address is Rock Lick Marshall County WVa.

Signature of Claimant - FRANCIS W. H. BALDWIN
Two Witnesses - T.(?) W. MANNING
T. J. PARSONS


Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Inv Cetf. No. 687501
Lt. Col. 7 Reg. W.Va. Vol. Inf.

Washington, DC, Dec 15, 1897

Sir:
Will you kindly answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below? The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your family.
Very Respectfully, H. Clay Evans, Commissioner.

Francis W. H. Baldwin
Moundsville, W. Va.

No. 1. Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife's full name, and her maiden name.
Answer: Clarinda Parkinson

No. 2. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer: December 30th 1876 at the Home of John Parkinson Marshall County W.Va.

No. 3. What record of marriage exists?
Answer: Certificate by Rev. Phil R. Danley

No. 4. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
Answer: Quintilda Keller. Died Sept 7" 1874 near Rock Lick, W.Va.

No. 5. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer:

John F. born Nov 5th 1877
Mary E. born May 3rd 1879
Clara Maria born Ot 24 1881
Nellie K. born March 18 1886
Laura S. born February 12 1890

Date of reply, June 14", 1898
F. W. H. Baldwin


Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, DC, January 2, 1915

Francis W. H. Baldwin,
701 11th St.
Moundsville, W.Va.
687501 Act May

Sir:
Will you kindly answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below? The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your family.
Very Respectfully, G M. Saltzgabber, Commissioner.

No. 1. Date and place of birth?
Answer: Greene Co. Pa.
The name of organizations in which you served?
Answer. 7th West Va Vol Inf

No. 2. What was your post office at enlistment?
Answer: Rock Lick, Marshall County, W.Va.

No. 3. State your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer: Clarinda Parkinson.

No. 4. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer: December 30th 1876 by Rev Phil Danley.

No. 5. Is tehre nay official or church record of your marriage?
Answer: Certificate.

No. 6. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
Answer: March 12, 1864 to Quintilda Keller. Died May 1873.

No. 7..... blank

No. 8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation?
Answer: Wife died Nov 3" 1914.

No. 9. State the names and dates of birth of all of your children, living or dead.
Answer:

John Francis Baldwin born Nov 5" 1877
Mary E. Baldwin born May 3 1879
Clara Maria Baldwin born Oct 24th 1881
Nellie Kate Baldwin born March 18th 1886
Laura Sophie Baldwin born Feb 12th 1890

Date April 19" 1915
Francis W. H. Baldwin


OBITUARY OF COL. FRANCIS W. H. BALDWIN

Wheeling Register - March 18, 1922

Colonel Baldwin Answers Taps

Distinguished Civil War Veteran Goes to Reward Yesterday Morning at Moundsville Home.

Following a comparatively brief illness of pneumonia, Col. Francis W. H. Baldwin, Marshall county's most distinguished veteran of the Civil war, passed to his reward yesterday morning in the home of his daughter. Mrs. Will T. Beam, on Tomlinson avenue, Moundsville.

Colonel Baldwin was the only Marshall county boy who served in the Civil war to rise from the rank of private to a colonelcy. He enlisted at the age of 20, a country boy, in Company B, Seventh West Virginia infantry, formed at Cameron, under the command of Captain Thomas Morrison. He served throughout the war, and history states that there is scarcely a regiment suffering more or accomplishing as much as the West Virginia Seventh.

"Buck" was the name his comrades and members of his command had for him, and he was loved and revered by each and every one of the Marshall county lads who served with him. His rise to the colonelcy was not meteroic but was gained through earnest and capable endeavor. He attained the ranks successively until he gained the high honor which he carried when the war ended.

Colonel Baldwin was born in Greene county, Pa., October 24, 1840. He was married in 1876 to Miss Clara Parkinson, and later resided on a farm at Rock Lick, Marshall county. He moved to Moundsville in 1894 and has resided here since. He was a member of the G.A.R., Moundsville lodge of Elks and the Baptist church.

One son, John F. Baldwin of Pittsburgh, and three daughters, Mary E., now at Terra Alta; Mrs. W. T. Beam of this city, and Mrs. C. S. Crow of New Brunswick, N. J. survive.

The funeral arrangements are incomplete, but services will be held Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Beam home. The Elks will probably have charge.


BACK