Dolby Days Genealogy Military

ISAAC DOLBY
31 July 1842-1 February 1875

Isaac Dolby was the son of Christian & Catherine (Zimmerman) Dolby. He was born in Lancester County PA and died in Peoria IL. Isaac served in the 51st PA Regiment. The Pension Papers are in the hands of Clifford Doll.

Isaac died on a cold, winter day in Peoria Illinois. We don't know why Isaac and his family were living in Peoria at this time, but we do know that there were no other family members around to help out at the time of his death. Martha loaded his body into a wagon, bundled up her children and set out to take him home to Lancaster County PA for burial. Martha was 6 months pregnant at this time and we believe she made this trip alone - just herself and her 3 children, Jonas then 11, Christian 6 and Samuel ony 4 years of age. She arrived in Lancaster PA around February 22nd as this is the day that Isaac was buried. The papers say that Isaac was "killed" in Peoria Il - I've never been able to find out what happened there. This had to be one long, 3 week nightmare for Martha, a most determined and loyal wife.


Declaration for Invalid Pension
State of ILLINOIS County of Stephenson 2 October 1866
B S Stevenson, Deputy Clerk Circuit Court within and for the county and state aforesaid by law duly authorized to administer oaths for general purposes. "Isaac Dolby" who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is age "24" years and is a resident of "Lancaster" county of "Stephenson" in the state of "Illinois" and that he is the identical "Isaac Dolby" who was a "Private" in Company "E" comanded by "Captain Foster" in the "51st" Regiment "Pennsylvania" Volunteers, comanded by Colonel "Humphrey?" in the war of 1861 and 1862 and was Honorably Discharged at "Philadelphia PA" on the - day of "September" 1865.

That while in said service, and in the line of duty at "Spotsylvania Courthouse " in the state of "Virginia" on the "12th" day of "May" 1864 received the following wound or disability to wit:
" Unreadable. - appears to be Gun Shot wound to Left Arm from Shoulder, fracturing the bone and gunshot wound to left hand severing a thumb and rendering him unfit for duty". That since leaving the service, said applicant has resided in "Lancaster" County of "Stephenson" and State of "Illinois" and his occupation has been "farming". States his PO is Freeport IL..

Adj. Gen reports him admitted to Gen. Hosp. Phil. Pa. Aug. 9th/64 from Summit House, with G.S. wound of left arm. Transferred to 55th Co. 2nd Batt. V.R.C. 2. His late Captain testifies that he was wounded in action while in line of his duty at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12th/64. Wound of left hand and arm. 3. Dr. Holland reports June 10th/67 G.S.W. Thumb of left hand shot away, and the flexor tendons of fingers cut at wrist. Ball lodged in the humerus after passing through the biceps flexor cubiti muscle. The fore-arm is flexed at elbow at an angle of nearly ninety degrees. Dis. Total Permanent. Admitted Sept. 27, 1867, to a Pension of $8 per month, commencing Nov. 17, 1866 Disability Total Disabled by G.S.W. of left arm C.C. Shuler Jas. W. Somers Freeport Ill. Examining Clerk.
31 Dec 1868
Isaac Dolby Warsaw, Benton Co MO

Surgeon Certificate Sep 5 1873
Invalid Certificate 83739 St Louis Agency $8.00 Per month.
Height 5"8" Weight 143

Applicant is suffering under the affects of three gun shot wounds. Shoulder, Hand and Leg. His general health was good.

Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension
State of ILLINOIS County of Peoria 9 Dec 1873
Isaac Dolby age 32 a resident at Peoria IL enrolled at the St Louis Pension Agency at the rate of $8.00 per month. States a wound through the left thigh and into the right thigh by minnie ball - a wound by minnie ball entirely through the right breast - right thumb injured. Left thumb cut off by ball entering into the arm and remaining at times disability total.. Lived at 811 Madison St in Peoria IL.
Declaration for Dependent Widows Pension
State of PA County of Northumberland. 2 Aug 1890
Martha DOLBY 53 resident of Chilliaquaqua Twp county of Northumberland state of PA, Widow of Isaac Dolby, married 16 Aug 1863 by Rev. Siebert near Lewisburg PA. Children Listed Jonas T Nov 16 1864, Christian Jun 14 1869, Samuel Feb 7 1871 and Edwin J May 18 1875.
Amanda TRUTT (Sister of Isaac Dolby) provided Proof of Birth for Edwin J Dolby son of Isaac Dolby stating he was born on 18 May 1875 acting as nurse. She also states that Martha came from Peoria IL in February 1875 bringing her husband with her who was killed on the 2nd day of Feb 1875. Isaac was buried 22 Feb 1875..
5 Aug 1911 Letter from Atty Geo M Leopold
Letterhead: Leopold & Leopold Rooms 18 & 19 Davis Building Dayton Ohio

Sirs: One Isaac Dolby, Company "E" 51st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers ( Civil War) - died in 1875 and was on the Federal Pension Rolls for $8.00 per month at the time of his death. His widow, Martha Dolby, applied for a pension sometime after the above date and her claim was allowed in 1892. Together with "back pay" allowance. She died at Montandon PA in 1892 and before she was able to complete the colection of her claim. My client desires to know whether the "back pay" can be recovered by the heirs of Martha Dolby. Kindly advise me in the ?? Geo M Leopold

Affidavit State of PA county of Northumberland NO DATES
In the Pension Claim of Widow of Isaac Dolby late of E 51 Penn. Personally came before me, a justice of the peace, in and for the county and state aforesaid, Mrs Martha Dolby, whose Residence and Post Office address is Pottsgrove, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows: That her husband Isaac Dolby was not in the Military Service of the US subsequent to Sep 15 1865 the date of his discharge.. Signed Mrs Martha Dolby A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE 51st
Fifty-first Infantry.-Cols., John F. Hartranft, Edwin Schall, William J. Bolton; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas S. Bell, Edwin Schall, William Allebaugh; Majs., Edwin Schall, William J. Bolton, Lane S. Hart, Joseph K. Bolton. This regiment was recruited during the summer and fall of I86I by Col. Hartranft for three years' service, most of the officers and men having served for the three months' term. Cos. A, C, D, F and I were recruited in Montgomery county; E, H and K in Union and Snyder; G in Center and B in Northampton. The place of rendezvous was Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, and the regimental organization was completed on Nov. I6 I86I. Two days later it left for Annapolis, Md., where it remained, perfecting itself in drill and discipline, until Jan. 6, 1862, when it was assigned to the 2nd brigade (Gen. Reno), Burnside's corps, embarked as a part of Burnside's expedition to North Carolina, and landed at Roanoke island on Feb. 7. It shared in the capture of the enemy's works here on the 8th and was active at the battle of New Berne, N. C., in March, where it executed a gallant charge. It was again active in the battle of Camden, losing 3 killed and 21 wounded. It returned to Fortress Monroe in July and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th corps, Gen. Ferrero commanding the brigade. It was active at the second Bull Run and Chantilly, and in Sept., 1862, moved with the 9th corps on the Maryland campaign. It skirmished with the enemy's cavalry at Frederick, Md.; was hotly engaged at South mountain and again at Antietam, where its losses were 125, including Lieut.-Col Bell, and Lieuts. Beaver and Hunsicker killed; Capts. Bolton and Hart, Adjt. Shorkly, Quartermaster Freedly and Lieut. Lynch wounded. Maj. Schall was now promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Bolton to major. The command suffered severely in the fierce fighting at Fredericksburg in December, its losses being 12 killed and 74 wounded. It was ordered to Fortress Monroe in March, 1863, brigaded with the 51st N. Y., 2Ist Mass., and IIth N. H., and moved thence, with two divisions of the 9th corps, to Kentucky, being posted successively at Winchester, Lancaster, Crab Orchard and Stanford. In June it moved with its corps under command of Gen. Parke to the support of Grant at Vicksburg, arriving on the I4th and going into camp at Mill Dale. It was employed here and at Oak ridge for several weeks in building fortifications, and joined Sherman in his campaign to Jackson in July. The command then returned to Kentucky, encamping at Camp Nelson, where it rested and refitted after its arduous service in Mississippi. The regiment moved from Camp Nelson to Crab Orchard, where a number of recruits were received, and thence to Knoxville, Tenn. It was active at the battle of Campbell's station, and suffered all the hardships endured by Burnside's army, when besieged in Knoxville by the enemy under Longstreet. After the siege was raised it joined in the pursuit of the enemy, skirmishing with his rear-guard at Rutledge, and later went into winter quarters at Blaine's cross-roads, where the men suffered much from the meager supplies of food and clothing received. On Jan. 5, 1864, the regiment reenlisted for a term of three years and returned to Pennsylvania on 30 days, veteran furlough. While at home the command was rapidly recruited to the maximum strength, as it was a very popular organization, and on the expiration of its furlough it proceeded to Annapolis, where it was assigned to the Ist brigade, Ist division, 9th corps, Col. Hartranft commanding the brigade and Lieut.-Col. Schall the regiment. The 5Ist participated in all the sanguinary engagements leading up to the siege of Petersburg, losing heavily. Dating from the battle at the Ny river, May I2, Col. Hartranft was promoted to brigadier-general, Lieut.-Col. Schall became colonel, Maj. Bolton lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Hart major. In the fierce fighting at Cold Harbor Col. Schall was killed while leading a charge and was succeeded in command by Lieut.-Col. Bolton. The command arrived in front of Petersburg on the I7th and at once engaged the enemy. It was in action again the next day, capturing and holding a position close to the enemy's works. This position was so exposed that a constant fire was kept up, night and day, for more than two weeks, one-third of the men being constantly employed to hold the position. It formed part of the assaulting column at the explosion of the mine, but was ordered back before it entered the crater. In this advance, Col. Bolton was severely wounded and Maj. Hart succeeded to the command. The regiment remained on duty in front of the crater for a few days, when it was relieved, and remained encamped in the rear until Aug. I9. It shared in the movement for the capture of the Weldon railroad, and participated in all the subsequent operations of the brigade, including the engagements at Poplar Spring Church, Ream's station, Hatcher's run, and the final assault on Petersburg, April 2, 1865. It was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., July 27, 1865, after four years of most trying service. Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

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