Tombstone Tuesday: The Williamson Boys

W. Henry Williamson and Lt. Samuel Williamson, Civil War soldiers, are buried together in the Cheyney Burial Grounds. The cemetery is located in Thornbury Township, Chester County. The Cheyney land, including the university that now stands there, crosses both Delaware and Chester Counties.

William Henry enlisted in the Co. D 124^th Regt. Pennsylvania Infantry. He was, according to his stone, just 19 when he died at the Stafford Court House in Virginia on 3 February 1863. He was also known as William Henry and William Harry, according to the National Park Service (NPS), which lists his rank as musician.

Samuel was a lieutenant with Co. D 5^th Pennsylvania Calvary (65^th Volunteers). He was, according to his stone, just 20 when he was killed on 7 February 1863 in an engagement in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Samuel enlisted as a Sergeant on 30 July 1861. He was promoted up to Full 2^nd Lieutenant on 26 January 1862 and to Full 1^st Lieutenant on 1 January 1863, according to the History of Pennsylvania Volunteers. According to the NPS, that regiment lost only one officer and 76 enlisted men killed. Another 216 died from disease over the four years of service. The History of Pennsylvania Volunteers states Samuel mustered on in Williamsburg, Virginia on 15 January 1863 and that he did not survive the war. (I mention this only because the date conflicts with the death date on his tombstone.)

The boys were brothers. Their parents are William Williamson and Miranda Cheyney, daughter of Waldon Cheyney and Martha Scott.

Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

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