John Reay (1844 - 1907)

Born 4 Oct 1844 in Beekmantown, Clinton, New York, United States

Died 20 May 1907 at age 62 in Beekmantown, Clinton, New York, United States

John Reay served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Mar 15, 1865
Mustered out: Aug 21, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 5th New York Veteran Infantry

Biography

John was born in 1844. He was the son of James Reay and Jane Beggs. He passed away in 1907.

The following story comes from the Clinton County, NY, Civil War Records 1861-1865 Facebook Page:

FOLLOWED HIS FATHER INTO THE MILITARY - James Reay from Beekmantown was captured in action at Drewry’s Bluff on May 16, 1864, and was taken to Libby Prison in Richmond where he died on May 29th. He was buried in what would become Richmond National Cemetery. He is also mentioned on a gravestone in the Ingraham Cemetery in Ingraham in the Town of Chazy.

Less than a year after his father’s death, his eldest son, John, who was born in 1844, enlisted in the 5th Veteran Infantry on March 15, 1865. He was a substitute for Andrew J. Taylor.

John and about a dozen men who also enlisted in Plattsburgh were sent to join the regiment. He joined his regiment on April 22nd, after the they had marched back to Washington subsequent to Lee’s defeat at Appomattox Court House. John was a participant in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23rd in the capital. Later that week they went to Hart Island off the coast of the Bronx, and were mustered out in August 21st.

John returned home to help his widowed mother, the former Jane Beggs, on their farm. He died in 1907, at the home of his sister, Mary, Mrs. Webster Barber, on her farm in Beekmantown and was buried in the Ingraham Cemetery under the stone that also commemorates his mother and father as well as several other members of his family.

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #78872254

• "New York State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKMR-PK2 : 8 March 2021), John Rea, Beekmantown, E.D. 01, Clinton, New York; citing p. 34, line 16, various county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 863,413.

• Rosters Of The New York Infantry Regiments During The Civil War—5th Veteran Infantry

• "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHC9-L28 : 24 March 2016), John Reay, 1891.

• "United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K83D-RXF : 8 March 2021), John Reay, 1890; citing NARA microfilm publication M123 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 338,211.

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCTY-GVG : 23 December 2020), John Rea in household of Archibald Beggs, Beekmantown, Clinton, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCQV-T7H : 18 February 2021), John Reay in entry for James Reay, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8FF-42X : 29 May 2021), John Reay in entry for Jane A Reay, 1870.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZZX-F4F : 19 February 2021), John Reay in household of Jane A Reay, Chazy, Clinton, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 17, sheet 234C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,819.

• "New York State Census, 1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ9G-NM1 : 23 February 2021), John Reay, 1892; citing Chazy, E.D. 02, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 863,412.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS6P-8Y3 : accessed 15 August 2021), John Rea in household of Webster Barber, Beekmantown Township (west part), Clinton, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 6, sheet 1B, family 20, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,018.