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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Norfolk => England => Norfolk Lookup Requests => Topic started by: knighttemplar on Friday 02 October 20 10:19 BST (UK)

Title: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Friday 02 October 20 10:19 BST (UK)
Could someone who is visiting the Norwich Record Office during their next visit, spare a brief moment to help a Hampshire resident trace the burial of an old Englishman, of about 1824, who served in the American Civil War as a surgeon and died in Great Yarmouth area on November 4 1896? Any help to find his burial would be greatly appreciated. Maurice
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Friday 02 October 20 10:22 BST (UK)
Sorry, I forgot to mention his name. He was John Harry Thompson.
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: Viktoria on Friday 02 October 20 12:12 BST (UK)
Can we presume the first date is his birth and not his burial as you go to the 1890’s .?It reads as his burial.
The American Civil war was 1860 ‘s  .
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 02 October 20 12:20 BST (UK)
Presumably it would have been a Roman Catholic burial. He was "late of Rome" and "fortified by the Rites of the Holy Church" per his death notice in The Tablet (21 November 1896, page 16).
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Friday 02 October 20 12:31 BST (UK)
Hi Shaun and Viktoria, thanks for replying. Yes he died on November 4 1896 and his burial took place a few days later. At this stage I don’t know what religion he is, I’m sure the burial register will inform me of that if it’s found. Any help would be appreciated. Maurice
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 02 October 20 12:39 BST (UK)
If you are asking people to search burial registers I think it will be very helpful for them to know that he was a Roman Catholic.

Per The Tablet of 25 April 1896 Dr and Mrs Harry Thompson had been recent departures from Rome, leaving because of his continued ill health. He was a convert.
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Friday 02 October 20 14:13 BST (UK)
Hi Shaun, yes you are right, I do apologise to you and the group. At this stage I’m not sure of his religion, but if it is of any help his father was Church of England and the soldier/surgeon was married at St Matthew’s Episcopal Church in New Jersey. Maurice
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: barryd on Friday 02 October 20 16:02 BST (UK)
Which side was he with during the Civil War?  Confederates or Union?
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Friday 02 October 20 16:34 BST (UK)
Hi Barry, he was in a New York regiment, making him Union. He became an internationally renowned doctor with practices in London, Paris, and Rome, the latter he treated Italian Royalty. A native of Yarmouth, he died at 24, Trafalgar Square. His last resting place is lost to history and it would be an honour to trace it and to know if it’s marked. Maurice
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: barryd on Friday 02 October 20 19:50 BST (UK)
I would have thought that one of the local newspapers would have picked up on his burial.
 
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Friday 02 October 20 20:15 BST (UK)
Barry, afraid not. Nor did the Catholic Tablet other than his death date or the British Medical Journal other than report his death. The US Medical Department don’t know where he’s buried, the Ancestry site and all the other family trees and the Mormon site. The internet doesn’t know, and all the American and British papers who reported his death didn’t know, other than report his death.
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: barryd on Friday 02 October 20 20:48 BST (UK)
No luck with his burial but here he is for all of us Rootschatters

https://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/moh/bios/thompson.html
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: barryd on Friday 02 October 20 21:04 BST (UK)
This is what many of the Southern battlefields look like including New Bern,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bern_Battlefield_Site#/media/File:New_Bern_Battlefield.JPG
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: Gibel on Friday 02 October 20 22:16 BST (UK)
The Great Yarmouth Mercury in 2012 had an article requesting help from a Mr Hammerson of London to find the grave. Has his wife’s grave been traced?
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Saturday 03 October 20 05:16 BST (UK)
Good morning Gibel, she remarried after his death and lies buried elsewhere. The Ancestry trees inform us of that. Mr Hammerson does not know his resting place. The only way to find it if somebody is visiting the record office can they do a look up for me if they find they have some time on their hands. The answer lies in the public Library.
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: amondg on Sunday 04 October 20 07:56 BST (UK)
Death registration in Great Yarmouth 1896 he is John Harry Thompson

Civil War records his name is James Harry Thompson who also died 1896 so you may need to check under James and not John
Title: Re: Civil War veteran
Post by: knighttemplar on Sunday 04 October 20 08:17 BST (UK)
Morning Amondg I am aware of the two names a bit confusing I know but the entry in the burial register to a seasoned researcher will and should spot a J Harry Thompson in his 70’s, surgeon, having been buried in a cemetery in Great Yarmouth in November 1896 standing out amongst the rest of the entries. Can I request the group and the people who may read my post, not to trouble themselves further over this issue. I have since these last few days decided to write to the library instead over this and expect a positive answer shortly. Thank you kindly for all your posts you have been most helpful. Maurice