Swinyer, Alfred Saxe
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 17, credited to Huntington, VT Unit(s): 7th VT INF Service: enl 12/16/61, m/i 2/12/62, Pvt, Co. E, 7th VT INF, m/o 10/15/62; enl 8/5/64, m/i 8/5/64, Pvt, Co. K, 7th VT INF, m/o 7/14/65 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 07/30/1844, Hinesburg, VT Death: 12/23/1928 Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Rochester, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone photographer: Joe Schenkman Findagrave Memorial #: 107476394 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 12/3/1862 Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS 2nd Great Granduncle of Steve Gillette, Nashville, TN (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice  Woodlawn Cemetery, Rochester, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
A family with a Most Remarkable War Record
Laurence Swiney and His Eight Sons, Who All Fought in the Civil War and Who All are Still Living
It is doubtful if this country can produce another family with the remarkable war record possessed by the one which we illustrate in the above engraving. That eight brothers should have served as Union soldiers in the civil war is astonishing enough in itself, but that all eight should be alive and in good health 43 years after the cessation of hostilities is something which would be incredible if the proof were not so readily available.
In the illustration the place of honor in the center is occupied by Laurence Swiney, of Stocksboro, Vt., the father of the eight warrior sons. Mr. Swiney was a veteran of the war of 1812 and lived to be 82 years old, proud that he could point to eight sons who had fought that their country might remain one and indissoluble.
Of the eight sons four are twins and in order to enter the service it was necessary for some of them to pretend to more years than they had really lived. The heroic father, however, gave each boy his blessing as he marched away to war, though some of them were little more than children.
John Swiney, the oldest of the brothers, is now 82 years of age and is a farmer residing at Huntington, Vt. He enlisted in the Thirteenth Vermont Infantry, a nine-month regiment, part of Stannard's brigade which did such heroic work at the battle of Gettysburg. At the expiration of the term of enlistment, he re-enlisted in the Ninth Vermont and served until the close of the war. That regiment was the first one to enter Richmond.
Lawrence Jr., also a farmer, living at Huntington, Vt., enlisted in the Eighth Vermont and was with Butler at New Orleans. He was afterward with Grant at Vicksburg, where he was wounded. He also served under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, and was wounded the second time at the battle of Winchester. He continued with the Eighth Vermont until the close of the war.
Stephen J., 70 years old, a resident of Danville, Ill., is a lawyer and circuit judge. He enlisted in the Seventeenth Illinois, and was supposed to have been mortally wounded at the battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing. On recovery he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois, and was again wounded during Sherman's march to the sea.
Truman W. and William W. are twins, 64 years old. Truman W. is a merchant at Gibbons, Neb. He enlisted in the Fifth Vermont, one of the regiments of the famous Vermont brigade, and was seriously wounded at the battle of Savage Station, and was discharged by reason of his injuries. Upon recovery, he enlisted in the Seventh Vermont, and served in the Department of the Gulf until the end of the war.
William W., of Vergennes, Vt., enlisted in the First Vermont Cavalry at the age of 16. When the regiment was mustered in, he was rejected, as it was necessary to be 18 years old. In about two hours afterward he enlisted in the Sixth Vermont Infantry, and this time his age was 18, he having gained the two years in two hours. He served with the Army of the Potomac for three and one-half years, and was wounded at the taking of the Weldon Railroad and at Five Forks. He was put on detached duty and was not discharged until about a year after the war closed. [Webmaster's note: while an amusing story, the truth is a bit different; see William's actual biographical sketch]
Alpheus M. and Alfred S. are twins, 62 years old. Alpheus M. resides at Holyoke, Mass., and is a veterinary surgeon. He enlisted in the Seventh Vermont, and served about two years in the Department of the Gulf, being discharged for disability.
Alfred S., a speculator living at Rochester, Vt., was a member of the Seventh Vermont and served in the Department of the Gulf until the close of the War.
James B., the last of the eight brothers, is a machinist at Rochester, Vt., 61 years old. He enlisted in the Seventh Vermont and served two years in the Department of the Gulf.
Source: Utica (New York) Saturday Globe, August 22, 1908, "A Family With A Most Remarkable War Record." Article contributed by Sue Greenhagen, Technical Services Librarian, SUNY Morrisville College Library, Morrisville, NY 13408. Sue is also webmaster of New York State and the Civil War. The photograph from the newspaper article has been replaced with the Library of Congress.
Obituary
Alfred Swinyer died Monday and the funeral was held in the Methodist church yesterday. He is the last one of eight brothers, except one that served served in the war of 61-65. A more extended sketch of his life will be given next week.
Source: Bethel Courier, December 27, 1928
Alfred S. Swinyer was born in Hinesburg in 1841 and died Dec. 24, at the advanced age of 87. Mr. Swinyer came to this town in1886 and has lived here since, farming most of the time. He and seven brothers served in the war of 61-65 and all returned. There is one brother living, Wallace of Vergennes. Deceased is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Carrie Jackman of Lebanon, N.H., Mrs. Hattie Thresher, and one son, Henry C. Swinyer of Rochester. The funeral was held in the M. E. church, Wednesday, Dec. 26, under the auspices of the Legion, with full military honors, Rev. Norman Webster officiating. Those from away to attend were James Swinyer and family of Burlington, W. M. Eddy and family of Royalton, Maude Eddy and Mr. and Mrs. George Thresher of Randolph.
Source: Bethel Courier, January 3, 1929
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.