George Wood

Originally from England, he emigrated to Western Australia soon after the colony was established there in 1829. By 1849 he was running the Victoria Hotel in Fremantle, and later took up the baking business. He went to New York City and enlisted there on 18 September 1861 at age 37, and mustered in as Private, Company F, 51st New York Infantry on 18 October.

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

He died of his wounds on 30 September 1862 at the field hospital at Big Spring near the battlefield. He was probably originally buried near the hospital and reinterred in the National Cemetery dduring or before 1867.

George left behind his wife Ellen (née Woodward) and son Barrington Clark Wood, who was later the first Mayor of Fremantle (1883-85).

Basic information from the Antietam Cemetery History1, which says he was killed in action on 17 September. Service data from the State of New York2. Thanks to Allen Graham for the pointer to Wood and the research into his pre-War history. Thanks also to Allen for links to Wood's 1863 death notice in the (Perth) Inquirer & Commercial News for Wednesday, 4 March 1863, which also led to further family information in a finding aid to a collection of papers in the National Library of Australia. The death notice had his place of death as "Washington".

c. 1824 in ENGLAND

09/30/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Antietam National Cemetery, Sharpsburg, MD