James Brotchie (1845 - 1916)

Born 15 Jul 1845 in Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 22 May 1916 at age 70 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Private James Brotchie served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: August 12, 1862
Mustered out: June 2, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 39th Mass. Infantry

James was born in Scotland, the son of James and Ann (Keith) Brotchie. The family immigrated to the United States about 1853.^[1] He was certainly in the U.S. by 1860, when he lived in Boston, Massachusetts, with his parents and 5 siblings.^[2]

James was an 18 year old painter in 1862, when he enlisted to serve in the Civil War of his adopted country. He mustered in on August 12, 1862, as a private in Company E of the 39th Mass. Infantry, which was known informally as the Somerville City Guards, for the large number of Somerville residents among the ranks. He served a 3 year term, and was one of the few to remain with the company during its whole period of service.^[3] He was discharged June 2, 1865, at Readville, Massachusetts.^[4]

James's father passed away in 1864, and the 1870 census shows his mother Ann as the head of the family in Boston. James worked as a porter in a store, and his sisters were saleswomen. Even 14 year old Charles contributed to the family as an errand boy.^[5] He spent at least 3 years (1882-1885) as a fireman in Boston.^[6]

He never married. He was employed by the City of Somerville for several year, and later removed to neighboring Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the time of the 1900 census, he resided in Weston, Massachusetts, with his brother Andrew Brotchie and family.^[7] His occupation at the time was "engine wiper".

In 1894, he was admitted to the Disabled Soldiers' Home in Togus, Maine, as his years in the war started to catch up with him.^[8] He was described as being 49 years old, 5'4" tall, with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion. He was of the Protestant religion and worked as a laborer. His next of kin was listed as Mrs. Ella D. Flavell, his niece. He was a patient at the home off and on for many year, leaving many times at his own request.

James died in 1916, at the age of 70 years. He is buried at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9TV-JLC : accessed 29 December 2020), James Brotchie in household of Andrew K Brotchie, Weston town, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZC2-YKP : 11 November 2020), James Brotchie in entry for James Brotchie, 1860.
3. ↑ Company E, 39th Mass. Infantry, in the Civil War, Historic Leaves, Somerville Historical Society, Vol. 7, p. 1: "Brotchie, James, one of the very few to remain with the company during its whole period of service; mustered out June 2, 1865; in the employ of Somerville many years; lives in Cambridge."
4. ↑ The American Civil War Research Database", accessed 29 Dec 2020, James Brotchie
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD3P-R7V : 19 March 2020), James Britchie in entry for Ann K Britchie, 1870.
6. ↑ Boston City Directory, 1882, p. 151: "Brotchie James, fireman, house 180 West Eighth"
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9TV-JLC : accessed 29 December 2020), James Brotchie in household of Andrew K Brotchie, Weston town, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
8. ↑ "United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VH4D-HF6 : 12 March 2018), James Brotchie, 1894
9. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:23RN-Q8V : 22 October 2019), James Brotchie, 22 May 1916