I wish I had known my great grandfather, Matthew Duggan. From what I have been able to discover, he must have been a very interesting person. He certain led an incredibly interesting life.
Matthew was born July 1, 1838, and according to my Uncle John he was born in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. He was one of Hamilton and Euphemia's eight children. I have not yet discovered what his life was like during his boyhood years. However I do know, from documents found on http://Ancestry.com and the http://archives.gov, he enlisted in the US Regular Army on March 22, 1858 in New York City.
Matthew was born July 1, 1838, and according to my Uncle John he was born in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. He was one of Hamilton and Euphemia's eight children. I have not yet discovered what his life was like during his boyhood years. However I do know, from documents found on http://Ancestry.com and the http://archives.gov, he enlisted in the US Regular Army on March 22, 1858 in New York City.
Family stories told were about how they travelled up from Texas in a covered wagon. Sounded like something right out of a western movie! Stories also told were how he would have been with General Custer at Little Bit Horn if he hadn't been set away as a messenger before that ill fated day happened. I'm still researching that story to see if it could be true. Stay tuned!
Matthew stayed in the US Regular Army for 40 years. I will go into more detail on these years later on. Meanwhile, the last place Matthew was to reenlist was New York City. That was in 1886 he reenlisted at Fort Hamilton in New York City. He was stationed at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook Proving Ground, New Jersey. He was here when he received the letter about his father's death. In 1890 New Jersey Census puts them living in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Upon his retirement in 1898 he purchased a home in Astoria, Queens, New York. He lived here until his death in May 19, 1912. I have often wondered why he chose Astoria when the rest of the family was in New Jersey.His gravestone in Cedar Grove, Queens, New York, states "Ordinance Sergeant USA, In Service of His country 1858-1898.
Matthew stayed in the US Regular Army for 40 years. I will go into more detail on these years later on. Meanwhile, the last place Matthew was to reenlist was New York City. That was in 1886 he reenlisted at Fort Hamilton in New York City. He was stationed at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook Proving Ground, New Jersey. He was here when he received the letter about his father's death. In 1890 New Jersey Census puts them living in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Upon his retirement in 1898 he purchased a home in Astoria, Queens, New York. He lived here until his death in May 19, 1912. I have often wondered why he chose Astoria when the rest of the family was in New Jersey.His gravestone in Cedar Grove, Queens, New York, states "Ordinance Sergeant USA, In Service of His country 1858-1898.
I have been researching Oyster Bay, but have not yet come up with anything definite. I learned that there were hatters that worked in that area either out of their own shops or homes. They probably worked for one of them, or perhaps out of their own shop or home.
Matthew made the army his life. By using enlistment and discharge records found on Ancestry.com, I was able to determine that he enlisted on March 22, 1858. He was part of the following US Regular Army regiments: Co E – 5th Infantry 1858-1868, 2nd Battalion of Engineers 1868-1871, Co. K – 19th Infantry 1871-1874, and Ordinance Sergeant USA 1874-1898 when he retired.
His first assignment with the army brought him west. He was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was fighting Indians, establishing posts and maintaining the safety of wagon train passengers and mail traveling west.
Once the Civil War broke out most of the US Regular army regiments stationed in the west were brought back east to fight. However, Matthew's regiment was not. He remained in the west and participated in two Civil War battles out there. Valverde, NM in Feb 1862 and another in March 1863 Los Pinos, NM.
Upon returning to New York City in 1886 he reenlisted at Fort Hamilton in New York City. He was stationed at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook Proving Ground, New Jersey. He was here when he received the letter about his father's death. In 1890 New Jersey Census puts them living in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Upon his retirement in 1898 he purchased a home in Astoria, Queens, New York. He lived here until his death in May 19, 1912. His gravestone in Cedar Grove, Queens, New York, states "Ordinance Sergeant USA, In Service of His country 1858-1898. After the war Matthew travelled over a lot of territory in the west. I was able to track his whereabouts, are you ready for this
Matthew made the army his life. By using enlistment and discharge records found on Ancestry.com, I was able to determine that he enlisted on March 22, 1858. He was part of the following US Regular Army regiments: Co E – 5th Infantry 1858-1868, 2nd Battalion of Engineers 1868-1871, Co. K – 19th Infantry 1871-1874, and Ordinance Sergeant USA 1874-1898 when he retired.
His first assignment with the army brought him west. He was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was fighting Indians, establishing posts and maintaining the safety of wagon train passengers and mail traveling west.
Once the Civil War broke out most of the US Regular army regiments stationed in the west were brought back east to fight. However, Matthew's regiment was not. He remained in the west and participated in two Civil War battles out there. Valverde, NM in Feb 1862 and another in March 1863 Los Pinos, NM.
Upon returning to New York City in 1886 he reenlisted at Fort Hamilton in New York City. He was stationed at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook Proving Ground, New Jersey. He was here when he received the letter about his father's death. In 1890 New Jersey Census puts them living in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Upon his retirement in 1898 he purchased a home in Astoria, Queens, New York. He lived here until his death in May 19, 1912. His gravestone in Cedar Grove, Queens, New York, states "Ordinance Sergeant USA, In Service of His country 1858-1898. After the war Matthew travelled over a lot of territory in the west. I was able to track his whereabouts, are you ready for this
From Albuquerque and Valverde, New Mexico 1860-1863 the first battle, to Downer Station in Kansas 1863. He then went back to Los Pinos in, New Mexico 1863-1868, where the second battle took place. While there he received a court martial for drinking while on duty. Fortunately, he was a good soldier, and his excuse for drinking was he had just learned of the death of someone close to him. This must have been true because his superior officers gave him a raving review at court proceedings and he was pardoned. From there he went onto Jefferson Barracks, Missouri 1868, over to St. Louis, Missouri 1868-1871. Here again he received another court martial for drinking while on duty and, even though he was thought highly of, he was found guilty. He was reduced to a grade of private. He was also confined to hard labor, in charge of the guard, for a period of one month. After that he went down to New Orleans, Louisiana 1871. After that he went west to Ringgold Barracks, Texas 1871-1873 and then right back up again to St. Louis, Missouri 1873-1876 where he eloped with Winifred Law. I have often wondered if they met when he was first in St Louis in 1870 and he went back for her.
Matthew and Winifred went on to Ringgold Barracks, Texas. In 1874 he was promoted to Ordinance Sergeant. This is where they had their first child, Josephine born 1875. He received orders that he was assigned to Fort Stockton, Texas. It was while at Fort Stockton that they had four more children, Winifred born 1879 and from what I can tell lived only a few years. William born 1880 came next, followed by Euphemia "Effie" born 1880 and the last one Alfred, my grandfather.
Matthew and Winifred went on to Ringgold Barracks, Texas. In 1874 he was promoted to Ordinance Sergeant. This is where they had their first child, Josephine born 1875. He received orders that he was assigned to Fort Stockton, Texas. It was while at Fort Stockton that they had four more children, Winifred born 1879 and from what I can tell lived only a few years. William born 1880 came next, followed by Euphemia "Effie" born 1880 and the last one Alfred, my grandfather.
Matthew Duggan
Winifred Law Duggan
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/tplclick?lid=41000000029953452&pubid=21000000000250976
MATTHEW DUGGAN
