James H. Willard

A 19 year old farmer in Ashburnham, MA, he enlisted for 3 years in Worcester as a Private in Company H, 21st Massachusetts Infantry on 5 August 1861.

He was wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was listed as absent without leave beginning on 28 March 1863, was arrested - probably in or near Columbus, OH - as a "smuggler"in August, was convicted by a General Court Martial in October 1863 (charge not known), and was sentenced to hard labor for the remainder of his enlistment (to August 1864).

On 13 September 1864 he enlisted again, in Company F of the First New York Veteran Cavalry at Kingston (NY?). He mustered out with them on 8 June 1865 at Camp Piatt, WV.

By 1880 he was a farm worker in West Newbury, MA and was a pressman there in 1900. He was granted a veteran's invalid pension in February 1888, and his widow continued to receive it after his death.

His service from Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 via fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census for 1880 and 1900. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Katherine E Murphy (1845-1923) in April 1869 and they had 9 children.

04/1841 in

05/01/1915; West Newburyport, MA; burial in Bridge Street Cemetery, West Newbury, MA