Thomas Denny (abt. 1820 - 1877)

Born about 1820 in Cobh, County Cork, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Rachel Rebecca (Richards) Denny — married 7 Jul 1851 in London, Middlesex, England

Husband of Susan (Hill) Denny — married 23 Aug 1853 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Mary Ann (Mills) Denny — married 4 May 1857 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Mary Ann (Hagan) Denny — married 12 Jul 1864 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Jan 1877 at about age 57 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Thomas was born about 1820 in Ireland (possibly Cobh, Cork County) to Thomas Dennehy and an unknown mother. He traveled to London, Middlesex, England around 1850 and married Rachel Richards in 1851^[1]. He and his wife immigrated to the United States sometime in 1851 or 1852 and resided in Manhattan, New York City. Unfortunately, his wife passed away in 1852^[2]. Thomas worked as an iron moulder and melter and lived in Manhattan as well as Williamsburgh^[3][4]. Thomas married again to Susan Hill in 1853^[5]. They had 2 children; Hattie in 1854 and Susan in 1856. Unfortunately, Susan and their daughter Susan passed away from Smallpox shortly after birth^[6][7]. Thomas married a third time to Mary Ann Mills in 1857^[8] and they had 3 children; John in 1858, Mary Ann in 1859, and Thomas in 1861. Mary Ann and Thomas both passed away when they were children. Mary Ann Mills also passed away in 1863^[9]. Thomas was widowed three times and his last marriage was to Mary Ann Hagan in 1864^[10]. He also might have had a sixth child in 1876, Alice.

Thomas enlisted in the Civil War^[11] for the Union on May 15, 1861 at Camp Scott where he became a Sergeant in the 71st New York Infantry Volunteers in Company C^[12][13]. This unit was also part of the second Excelsior Brigade (AKA Sickle's Brigade). He was active in McClellan's Peninsula campaign and was present during the Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Seven Pines, and Battle of Oak Grove. In his last battle at Oak Grove, Thomas was struck in the knee by buckshot and shot in the neck (the bullet passing through his body). He collapsed on the ground as the unit retreated and was captured by the Confederates. Luckily Thomas survived and he was transported to Libby Prison where he stayed for one month. He was paroled, and ended up back in New York City where he was sent to Bellevue Hospital for his injuries. After being passed around various hospital camps, he was eventually discharged at Camp Convalescent in 1863 due to a hernia and the effects of his previous injuries^[14].

Sergeant Thomas Denny served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: May 15, 1861
Mustered out: May 27, 1863
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 71st New York Vol. Infantry, Company C; Excelsior Brigade

Thomas Denny was Wounded in Action during United States Civil War.

Thomas also became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1863^[15]. He was 5'9" tall, weighing about 160-170 pounds with gray eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion^[16].

The wounds he suffered during the war affected him the rest of his life as he could not continue any kind of manual labor. He had to use a cane to walk and suffered headaches from the bullet wound in his neck. Luckily he was given a pension from the Army^[17] which helped cover some of the costs of living. Even that made life difficult as he applied for pension increases multiple times. Thomas and his wife and 2 children had stayed in New York City and he is living there in 1870 working as an iron moulder^[18].

Around 1876, Thomas suffered a stroke which paralyzed one whole side of his body and confined him to his bed. After some months, he was able to regain some control of that side of the body until he was struck with another stroke that took his life in 1877^[19]. Thomas was buried in Calvary cemetery in Queens in New York City^[20].

Sources

1. ↑ London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2530872:1623
2. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6M5-RQM : 11 May 2022), Rachel Denny, 1852.
3. ↑ Civil War Pension record file
4. ↑ U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1201375862:2469
5. ↑ New York Roman Catholic Parish Marriages https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=US%2FNY%2FCATH%2FPR%2FMAR%2FPH2%2F00249510%2FB
6. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6M9-4M7 : 3 June 2020), Susan Denny, 1856.
7. ↑ Greenwood Cemetery records https://www.green-wood.com/burial-search/
8. ↑ New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/155655:61224?ssrc=pt&tid=170867582&pid=142227405566
9. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WHQ-MWL : 3 June 2020), Mary A Denny, 1863.
10. ↑ Civil War Pension record file
11. ↑ U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2825234:1555?ssrc=pt&tid=170867582&pid=142227405566
12. ↑ NPS Soldier Database https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=F72EDA95-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
13. ↑ Fold3 records https://www.fold3.com/memorial/657564336/thomas-denny-civil-war-stories?xid=1945
14. ↑ Civil War Pension record file
15. ↑ "New York Naturalization Index (Soundex), 1792-1906," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVT7-FQNZ : 19 February 2021), Thomas Denny, 1863; citing , New York, New York, United States, Index to Naturalization Petitions filed in Federal, state and local court in New York, 1792-1906, NARA microfilm publication M1674 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 60; FHL microfilm 1,420,173.
16. ↑ Civil War Pension record file
17. ↑ U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1773450:4654?ssrc=pt&tid=170867582&pid=142227405566
18. ↑ United States Census, 1870 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8FM-RJX
19. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WST-NVL : 11 May 2022), Thomas Denny, 1877.
20. ↑ FindaGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237758526/thomas-denny