Peter Atherton Hutchins (1837-1895) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Peter Atherton Hutchins

Born 10 Mar 1837 in Yarmouth Township, Elgin, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Son of Mathew M Hutchins and Sarah Ann (Atherton) Hutchins

Brother of Thomas William Hutchins and Samuel Shotwell Hutchins

Husband of Sarah Anne (Procunier) Hutchins — married [date unknown] [location unknown]

Descendants

Father of Frank Munroe Hutchins, Olive Hutchins and Fanny Grace (Hutchins) Barry

Died 19 Jan 1895 at age 57 in Walsingham, Norfolk, Haldimand-Norfolk Municipality, Ontario, Canada

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Profile last modified 13 Apr 2022 | Created 1 May 2016

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Biography

Throughout this bio, references are made to artifacts that support the dialogue. See images for actual supporting documents.

Peter Atherton Hutchins: Mathew and Sarah Hutchins’s son Peter was born about 1837, five years after their marriage in 1832, two years after Mathew was teaching in New Brunswick. The marriage documents indicate Peter Atherton Hutchins was born in Yarmouth. Peter’s place of birth, Yarmouth, in this case is Yarmouth Township which was in Elgin County near Port Rowan (as opposed to the Yarmouth in Nova Scotia.) Yarmouth Township was amalgamated with nearby cities in 1998 so it does not show up on current maps. It appears that Peter Atherton Hutchins enlisted in the civil war on 30 October 1861. According to civil war military records (see images), Peter A Hutchins was part of Company M 2nd Regiment Ohio Cavalry. Unequivocal evidence indicates that Peter Atherton Hutchins kept a diary under the suto name of "Frank Williams" during a (believed to be 2nd) enlistment in the Union Army. We have yet to ascertain why Peter used the suto name in his 2nd enlistment with the Union Army but it was common for enlistees to “walk away/desert” from an enlistment commitment during the civil war. That may have required that he use an alternate name in a subsequent enlistment. These entries are taken from the Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio.

The Ohio 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Peter Atherton Hutchins’ unit began on October 10th, 1861. The Regiment participated in following events: • Skirmish at Horse Creek, MO (May 7th, 1862) • First Newtonia (September 30th, 1862) • Chancellorsville (April 30th, 1863 - May 6th, 1863) • Buffington Island (July 19th, 1863) • Skirmish at Richmond, KY (July 28th, 1863) • Skirmish at Greenville, TN (October 2nd, 1863) • Blue Springs (October 10th, 1863) • Skirmish at Blue Springs, TN (October 10th, 1863) • Skirmish at Russellville, TN (December 12th, 1863) • Skirmish at Rutledge, TN (December 16th, 1863) • Skirmish at Ashland, VA (March 1st, 1864) • Wilderness (May 5th, 1864 - May 7th, 1864) • Spotsylvania Court House (May 8th, 1864 - May 21st, 1864) • Totopotomoy Creek (May 28th, 1864 - May 30th, 1864) • Skirmish at Hanover Court House, VA (May 30th, 1864) • Skirmish at Salem Church, VA (June 4th, 1864) • Skirmish at Winchester, VA (August 17th, 1864) • Third Winchester (September 19th, 1864) • Fisher's Hill (September 21st, 1864 - September 22nd, 1864) • Tom's Brook (October 9th, 1864) • Cedar Creek (October 19th, 1864) • Skirmish at Cedar Creek, VA (November 12th, 1864) • Dinwiddie Court House (March 31st, 1865) • Five Forks (April 1st, 1865) • Namozine Church (April 3rd, 1865) • Sailor's Creek (April 6th, 1865) • Appomattox Station (April 8th, 1865) • Appomattox Court House (April 9th, 1865) The Regiment mustered out of service on September 11th, 1865.

The Ohio 42nd Infantry Regiment, Frank Williams’ unit began on November 27th, 1861. The Regiment participated in the following events: • Middle Creek (January 10th, 1862) • Chickasaw Bayou (December 26th, 1862 - December 29th, 1862) • Arkansas Post (January 9th, 1863 - January 11th, 1863) • Port Gibson (May 1st, 1863) • Raymond (May 12th, 1863) • Champion Hill (May 16th, 1863) • Big Black River Bridge (May 17th, 1863) • Vicksburg (May 18th, 1863 - July 4th, 1863) • Skirmish at Vicksburg, MS (May 18th, 1863) • Skirmish at Opelousas, LA (October 21st, 1863) The Regiment mustered out of service on December 2nd, 1864.

Peter Atherton Hutchins did join the Ohio 2nd Cavalry Regiment in August 1861, there are multiple reference establishing that as factual. Assuming he stayed with that unit for the duration, he would have been involved in the efforts that concluded at Appomattox and ended the civil war. The diary entries clearly indicate that he was in New Orleans in December 1864, so given we are sure that he was the diary owner, he was not with the 2nd Cavalry by late 1864.

The 42nd Infantry Regiment that Frank Williams was supposedly in, mustered out of service in late 1863 after the battle at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Frank Williams’ record indicates that he “mustered out” and/or did not survive the battle of Vicksburg. There were significant losses during the Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi battles and many divisions were recombined to make up for the losses. It is not clear when or where Frank Williams died or even if he ever existed. There are two candidate records for Frank/Franklin Williams. The second record indicates that he deserted 15 January 1864. Its is not likely we will resolve the Williams part of this story any time soon.

It is unclear how the diary got in the hands of Peter Atherton Hutchins but the content of the diary clearly indicates that Peter was the only person making entries in the diary, and it is clear that he was doing that under the guise of Frank/Franklin Williams. An analysis of the hand-writing indicates that only one person was writing in the diary. From beginning to end, the hand writing is consistent.

The current diary owner indicated that the diary was passed down through his maternal side; ladies directly related by birth to Peter Atherton Hutchins.

The XIII Corps was involved in the Battles of Vicksburg and Jackson MS. After the retreat of the Confederates from Jackson, the XIII corps returned to Vicksburg, and in the following month (August, 1863) moved on transports down the Mississippi toward New Orleans. The troops were assigned to duty at various places in area. The winter of 1863-4 was spent in the vicinity of New Orleans, MS, and east TX. They spent 1864 in and around these areas.

Per the diary, “on December 12th, 1864, ... in New Orleans.” That would mean that he is no longer with the 42nd Infantry Regiment given the 42nd “mustered out of service on December 2nd, 1864. If he joined or was assigned to either the XIII Corp unit or the XVI, then his diary entries are consistent with the XIII/XVI Corps OOB. Both the diary and history name General AJ Smith as commander of the XVI Artillery Regiment at Mobile AL.

In April 1865 the Union forces were engaged in the Mobile Campaign. The Army’s Mobile campaign included the battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley. The units engaged against Fort Blakeley included the XIII Corps and the XVI Corps. According to Civil War records, the XIII Corps proceeded to Mobile and were involved in the storming of Fort Blakely on April 9, 1865 “which was the last general engagement of the war.” So whoever was making diary entries at that point was in a different unit than what Peter and Frank were originally enlisted in.

The cover page states twice, very clearly that the diary belongs to "Franklin Williams."

The initial diary page makes clear that the diary owner is in fact Peter Atherton Hutchins. Look closely at the upper right and you can see both M M Hutchins and T W Hutchins. Peter’s future wife, Sarah Ann Procunier’s name and location are on the upper left. Look closely at the lower right and you can make out the words “Frank Williams a member of 1st Ma Company G Art. (a reference to Artillery)

This diary page lists Peter Atherton Hutchins' family, his finance, and a friend from Port Rowan. Canada while suggesting they are “friends” of Frank Williams.

The page reads as follows: “If any thing should happen to the owner of this Book Please write to his friends. Their address areas follows [sic] This page then lists • His future wife, Sarah Procunier of Pt Royal Norfolk Co, Canada West, • His father, Mr M. M. Hutchins of Brockway Po, Officer St. Clair Co, Michigan, • His future brother-in-law, Mr. Titus Powell, Goodland PO Office, Lapeer Co, Michigan, • His Maternal Uncle, Calvin Atherton of Elgin County, Canada West, • His younger brother, T. W. (Thomas William) Hutchins of Pt. Huron, Michigan, • Mr. Charles F Amesbury: an acquaintance in Pt Rowan, Norfolk Co, Canada West. Please write to the above addresses [sic] and by doing so you will do them a great favor. Frank Williams.

Peter’s father, Mathew, Was living in Michigan in the 1863-1868:timeframe.

The wording is interesting: “If any thing should happen to the owner of this Book please write to his friends.” If this were in fact Frank William It seems that he would have said “write to my friends.”

Charles Amesbury appears to be a neighbor from the Port Rowan area. The 1861 Norfolk, Canada West census lists Charles Amesbury age 26, religion Church of England and Peter Hutchins age 24, religion Baptist on the same page very near each other. This suggests they were acquaintances. The location given: Port Rowan, Norfolk County, Canada West could not be more explicitly pointing to the individuals in the 1861 Norfolk census.

The location for Thomas Hutchins in the 1870s is correct and the 1870 census shows Matthew M Hutchins in Michigan. Both Matthew M and Thomas William Hutchins are identified in this artifact, which clearly indicates the lineage goes back to Matthew M. Hutchins and includes Peter Atherton Hutchins.

As confusing as the diary is, clearly Frank Williams’s identifies Peter Atherton Hutchins’s family and friends which strongly suggests; Frank Williams and Peter Atherton Hutchins are one and the same individual.

The references are sufficient to eliminate any ambiguity. Regardless of how he managed to get into the civil war, it is 99% certain that this is the Peter Hutchins we are focused on.

THE FOLLOWING IS ALLUDES TO MOBILE NARRATIVE PAGE 1. This page and its content is not ordered chronologically relative to the rest of the pages. This first page has diary entries from the end of or after the Mobile campaign but also has entries from 1864.

The text identifies Samuel Harris, Springfield, MO. A Samuel Harris enlisted in September 1862 and was mustered out by LT Hook on 12 July 1865 in Mobile, Alabama, the same date and location when and where Peter Atherton Hutchins, the diary owner mustered out.

The reference to the Ohio Belle is accurate. The Ohio Belle was a 406 ton side wheeler used by both the Confederates and Union forces. In 1864 it was in use by the Union Army as a transport carrying troops south on the MIssissippi.

Halfway down the page, the text seems to read: “Left Cavalry Depo on the first of November the 16 shipped on board the steamer Satan... with horses.” This could be referring to either the 16th Ohio Infantry or the 16th Battery Ohio Light Artillery; There are repeated references throughout the Mobile campaign diary pages to the “16” Comments in the diary appear to suggest the diary owner was in an artillery group. Both the 16th Ohio Infantry and the 16th Battery Ohio Light Artillery were involved in the battle at Vicksburg and might have been moving south with the XIII Corps that was under Maj Gen U.S. Grant. The subsequent pages refer to General staff including Generals AJ Smith, and (Frederick) Steel. Smith was the “chief command of the cavalry.” A second possible reference is to the XVI Regiment that General AJ smith commanded. That unit ended up in the Mobile Campaign where the diary indicates Frank Williams was serving.

These are the same staff and entities that were battling at Vicksburg in 1863 and are mentioned in subsequent pages of the diary. One can only wonder if Perter Atherton Hutchins was involved in the Vicksburg campaign.

The right hand page suggests the the diary owner was in Spanish Fort July 17,1865, The battle at Spanish Fort was waged between March 27 and April 3, 1865. It is not clear that Peter/Frank was there during the battle but the diary owner was there for the “200 gun salute” to commemorate the victory.

This diary page suggests that they marched from Spanish Fort to Fort Blakely on May 6. The battle for Fort Blakely occurred on April 2-9; if that is the case then Peter/Frank were not involved in the battle for Fort Blakely either.

The next entries indicate that the brigade passed a geneal review in Mobile, Al on June 3 and he “mustered out of the service on 12th of July” 1865 at Mobile, Alabama.” The final entries on this page indicate that he went to New Orleans on the 20th (July, 1865) and worked in the cavalry depot on August 1st, 1865. The last entry at the bottom of the page states “at Greenville” which was a Union Cavalry and Barracks encampment in use in August, 1865. It is likely that the “depot” where he worked was the Greenville location pictured in the images.

The remaining entry was made on the lower part of the left page: it suggests that he left New Orleans for Cincinnati on August 9 and arrived Cincinnati on the 14th in possibly 1866.

THE FOLLOWING IS REPRODUCED FROM MOBILE NARRATIVE PAGE 2. The left side has some discernible information. The Danial Slayton entry suggests an individual from Rochester in Fulton County, Indiana. No record of a Slayton was found.

It is interesting that there seems to be a reference to “wrote to” what appears to be “wife.” The configuration of the characters following that note could be construed to be an S overlaid by the upper part of a P. If he is referring to a wife and not an intended wife, then Peter may have considered himself (informally) married to Sarah Ann Procunier. Peter did not actually marry Sarah Ann Procunier until 1868 and Frank Williams has no traceable life let alone a wife. It is possible Peter and Sarah were living together “informally married” before he left for the civil war effort.

The reference to “what appears to be” Samuel W ... Greenville Bond Co Ill” is possibly referring to Greenville, Bond County, Illinois. According to the Bond County Illinois Genealogy Trails History Group, the 130th Illinois Companies E & F were mustered in in 1862 and were involved in many battles including “Spanish Fort and Blakely, Ala and the surrender of Mobile.” So Samuel W may have encountered Peter Atherton Hutchins in the Mobile battles.

The right side page describes the 150 mile movements between Lake Ponchatrain, Louisiana and the Mobile Bay area between December 12 and December 18, 1864. It suggests they arrived by transport at Fort Gaines which is on Dauphin Island outside Mobile Bay on the 14th (of December 1864.) If they continued on the transport toward the “mouth of Dog River” then they were on the west side of the bay approaching Mobile from the south. That is possible becuase in subsequent entries, the diary suggests they had to fallback toward the landing site. The final assault on Mobile did not commence until mid 1865 and the union troops and artillery were on the east side of the bay.

THE FOLLOWING IS REPRODUCED FROM MOBILE NARRATIVE PAGE 3. This page recounts events between 22 December 1864 and mid-january 1865. The reference to “25 miles from Mobile near the line between the state of Mississippi @ Alabama” suggests the were pressing on Mobile in early 1865 but had to fall back which is consistent with the earlier page.

THE FOLLOWING IS REPRODUCED FROM MOBILE NARRATIVE PAGE 4. These pages appear to recount movements between Pascagoula, MS and Mobile Bay between January and April 1865. These are consistent with the history of union forces in the area and timeframe. 

THE FOLLOWING IS REPRODUCED FROM MOBILE NARRATIVE PAGE 5. The left side is the strongest assertion that the diary owner was part of an artillery group: “ordered to man 5 eight inch howitzers and move to the front on the 6th ... took up positions on the 7th ... the 8th our line opened fire on the enemy.” The diary mentions capturing 22 hundred prisoners and two Major Generals.” The dates match the historical sequence of events.

These pages are the strongest assertion and make it fairly clear that the diary owner was in fact involved in the battles for Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. The right side page mentions Generals Steel and Cambry. According to the Seventy-sixth Infantry history of the time: “General Steel’s forces united with General Canby’s and General Granger’s from Fort Morgan. April 8 Spanish Fort was captured, and April 9 the Seventy-sixth participated in the charge on Fort Blakely, capturing the entire garrison.” That would have been the 2200 prisoners.

On the right side half way down, the diary refers to “the Mayor of the city Sibly Surrendered.” Sibly refers to the earleir name for the city at Montrose, Alabama. These pages essentially recount the end of the Civil War, given Lee surrendered at Appomatox on the 9th of April, 1865 and Mobile fell on April 12.

THE FOLLOWING IS REPRODUCED FROM MOBILE NARRATIVE PAGE 6. At least one of the names on the right are fact based: Charles Loomis was a Sergeant in Company L 2nd Regiment Missouri Cavalry. According to the 1890 Wisconsin Veterans Schedules he was discharged in November 1865 after almost 4 years service. According to the 2nd Missouri Volunteer Cavalry order of battle: they were “operating against guerrillas in Georgia and Alabama...January to September 1865. Mustered out September 19, 1865.” So this may have been the Charles in the diary.

The text on the left, mid-page reads: “Sent 60$ dollars to N.Y. by Adams Express Co. The Adams Express Co is referring to an organization founded in 1854 that carried letters and small packages throughout the early United States. Peter Atherton Hutchins was sending the money to Devaugh & Brothers at 15 Maiden Lane. The image from the Harpers Weekly makes the message somewhat clearer. The Harper’s Weekly advertisement for Arcana watches matches the diary text sufficiently to indicate that Peter Atherton Hutchins was purchasing watches for either gifts or investment.

Two lines down the text is marginally ledgible but lists an address “@ 197 Broadway, NY.” According to the Internal Revenue Recorder which was printed in early 1865, That address was occupied by Wm A. Wheeler, dealer in Staples and Fancy Stationary, ...Printer, Lithographer and manufacturer of Account Books. Again, the actual recipient is not ledgible beyond ...gift- Association.

It is not yet clear when Peter Atherton Hutchins returned to Canada but Peter and Sarah Ann Procunier were married on 30 March 1868 in Walsingham Township, Port Rowan, Canada at age 31and 27 respectively. This is yet again the Port Rowan in Elgin County where other events from Peter and Matthew’s lives are recorded. The image of the marriage certificate identifies his parents as Matthew M and Sarah Ann.

The 1881 census shows Peter and Sarah in Norfolk County, Canada where they live out their lives. The 1881 Canadian census lists Peter’s family which includes an 81 year old, Fannie G Hutchins. She would have been born ca 1800. An elderly Fanny G does not appear in the 1891 census (or any other census that has been associated with the Hutchins families discovered to-date. It is likely that Peter and Sarah named their daughter, born in 1881, Fanny G and that the 81 year old is actually the infant; the census scribe had to have noted her birth year versus her age?

Peter and Sarah’s family are depicted in the images. The picture of “Peter Atherton Hutchins/Frank Williams is believed to be actual based on the fact that it originated with a descendant from Canada.

Peter Atherton Hutchins died January 19, 1895 of a sutb-clavical aneurysm which is interesting because that is the same condition that James Harley Hutchins, a descendant of Matthew M Hutchins, died of.