G2G: Union U.S. Civil War Dr. Theodore Gay of Malone, N.Y.

Question

Hi Wikitreers,

In my continued research of the glorious 106th New York Infantry Regiment and my ancestors. We have a man who assessed my 3rd gg wounds by the name of Dr. Theodore Gay and I believe I have found his memorial see HERE as is on my ancestors report “The following is a transcription of the medical exam from the notes of Dr. Theodore Gay for John’s pension application made in Malone, NY…. See report on profile for John  

1.) Does Dr. Gay have a Wikitree profile? Created to cont research see Here

2.) Who was Dr. Gay? What service to the Union did he provide and what unit and regiment did he serve?

3.) Dr. Gay donated his “fine library” to the state library see new clip Franklin Gazette, 3 February 1899 — Page 3

4.) Does Dr. Gay have a obituary?

5.) It appears he had a son W.W. Gay who was of the editorial staff of the New York Journal. See The Malone Palladium, 16 November 1899 — Page 3

6.) Possibly a sketch of our Dr. Gay found here see link: https://archive.org/details/middpf_a9pf.1835.gayt

We would like collaboration into the life and genealogy of Dr  Theodore Gay. 

Any collaboration is appreciated 

Thank you 

Answer 1

It looks like there is a memoir of his practice, just not on-line:

https://www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/subject_headings/4d2f295c-39aa-4905-a288-839bf4312359?label=Gay%2C%20Theodore%2C%201812-1899

There is a button to request a scan, though.

Comments

Here is a link to an alumni list for Middlebury that has some information on him:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catalogue_of_the_Officers_and_Alumni_of/9cdBAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Theodore+Gay+physician+Malone+New+York&pg=PA77&printsec=frontcover

Here is a more extensive listing:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catalogue_of_Officers_and_Students_of_Mi/d1kiAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Theodore+Gay+physician+Malone+New+York&pg=PA103&printsec=frontcover

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Here is a biography about him followed about one about his son:

https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QacOWg9skX1Ux7WD3I-QcQaA68ErCSlghmKkWcB1q3NvukQeiV1LWnykGLOMEst6qbQWwVBgS7_6c9wVXNPUBrjoSBFVPQKErWh7q5NvKTT2QXgvVQeMBzmnQ3QuSOKZUIu_6OvERAxX6W-2B7LKN1rBXGDyB-9u4pfOjm6ENuVpNfCV3U9DUOi8owihrNDPrt8SHBR7VCpm8PsXd5LCbr-fUdRsweNfLE72prAiQJpfEf_p5xG5tqTv4UiYI0dBuqoRa96Stwm9BFZC9h5xexPLOKs6_w

No mention of Civil War service.

Here is an excerpt from the memoir about his lawn:

https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QacOWg9skX1Ux7WD3I-QcQaA68ErCSlghmKkWcB1q3NvukQeiV1LWnykGLOMEst6qbQWwVBgS7_6c9wVXNPUBrjoSBFVPQKErWh7q5NvKTT2QXgvVQeMBzmnQ3QuSOKZUIu_6OvERAxX6W-2B7LKN1rBXGDyB-9u4pfOjm6ENuVpNfCV3U9DUOi8owihrNDPrt8SHBR7VCpm8PsXd5LCbr-fUdRsweNfLE72prAiQJpfEf_p5xG5tqTv4UiYI0dBuqoRa96Stwm9BFZC9h5xexPLOKs6_w

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Andrew:

You'll like this one - here is a newspaper article about him examining men in Franklin County in 1862 for possible military service:

https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=fpa18621218-01.1.3&srpos=6&e=--1859---1867--en-20--1--txt-txIN-Theodore+Gay-------Franklin--

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Hi Roger,

The article is perfect for this time of year mentions much about the Christmas “Christian” holiday. 

It does indeed appear our doctor from Franklin county was involved in clearing those or declaring those others who were eligible or ineligible for the U.S. Civil War but he himself does not seem to have served in the military as a veteran. He did contribute however it seems from his home county in a more civilian role.

The article is excellent it takes us to Christmas time of 1862! 

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It declares he was “Examining surgeon for pension in 1863”

I believe there is a category that exists for civilians who participated in the Union efforts of the U.S. Civil War?

He attended “Castleton Medical College” see category on Wikitree here https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Castleton_Medical_College

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His parental lineage is listed in this source. He needs connecting

He was born on April fools day the 1st day of 1812 in Bridport, Vermont to a Martin and Rebecca (Sadler) Gay.

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Here is his father and mothers memorials on FindAGrave 

Father: Dr. Martin Gay 1766-1841 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66272215/martin-gay

Mother: Rebekah Saddler Gay https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66272186/rebekah-gay

He is now connected as his parents already had profiles on Wikitree but they need improvements. see link: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gay-3015

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History is really fascinating just knowing this is the same doctor who examined my grandfather during his U.S. Civil War service after being wounded at the “Battle of Monocacy” and even seeing a portrait of the man is remarkable!

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Dr. Theodore Gay lost his wife in 1871. She was about 47 years old. It appears he never remarried. A tragedy for the family as it seems too young by today’s definition

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Two broken links don’t work

“Here is a biography about him followed about one about his son:”

 “Here is an excerpt from the memoir about his lawn:”

I think they would be excellent though to read 

Answer 2

Hi Andrew,

I checked the two pension indices (by name, on Ancestry, and by unit, on Fold3), the 1890 Veterans census, and the index to compiled military service records (on Fold3). He's not in any of them.

So I suspect he didn't serve in the Civil War, but was a civilian physician who evaluated John to prove he was eligible for a pension.

I checked Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank without finding an obituary. He's not in the Directory of Deceased American Physicians 1804-1929 (on Ancestry at https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7833/), or the US, Deceased Physician File (AMA), 1864-1968 (FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2061540).

I gather the Saint Albans' Messenger (from St Albans, Vermont) is one of the papers that covers Malone. Newspapers.com has it, but is missing 1895-1899. GenealogyBank doesn't have it. GenealogyBank has the Malone Telegram from 2008 until now, and it started only in 1905. Newspapers.com doesn't have any newspapers from Malone.

He has a FamilySearch profile (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KZCQ-53D), which at least lists census and the NY death index.

Comments

Thank you…I suspected the possibility he wasn’t a veteran and a bit surprised he wasn’t. So very helpful 

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I believe this doctor played a significant role in the Malone, Franklin County area of New York during the U.S. Civil War of those who served, were wounded, declared ineligible, etc…

How interesting!

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Dr. Gay’s granddaughter is Eleanor “Althea” Gay Van de Water 1886 – 1968 wife of a “noted author and book critic” Frederick Franklyn Van de Water (1890 - 1968)

Wikitree profile: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gay-5240

Eleanor is now connected

Answer 3

I think he became a doctor after the War.

The New York Adjutant General lists a John C Gibbs in Company H, 106th Infantry as a Private.

The pension index card at Fold3 shows he died January 4 1814, in Plessis, New York.

Comments

Dr. Theodore Gay is very interesting and initially I thought he was a veteran of the war but it appears even though he started working in the profession about 1840 he was a civilian  physician from what is sourced.

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John C. Gibbs died 21 Jan 1914 but I do believe the pension card shows 4th. He was my 3rd great grandfather. I’m surprised he survived the wound and it appears he suffered from the disability it caused. Modern medicine wasn’t in use at the time as we think of it not even Tylenol if needed. I’m sure they had their remedies for the time they lived 

State Death index shows death on the 21st 

Fold3 pension card index shows the 4th same year same town. 

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Andrew,

Have you obtained the cards in his service record? It would be interesting to see if he was present with the company during the course of the War, or if he was detailed to a hospital.  I don't recall a surgeon being listed as a Private before. Seeing where he was at during the War may be informative.