Mary was a Civil War Nurse serving on hospital transports, in the field and in hospitals from July 1862 thru Jun 1865; duties included standard nursing, cooking, and, hospital head and matron.
Mary was born in 1826. She was the daughter of Henry Morris and Eliza Smith and granddaughter of Robert Morris Jr. who was a signer of the US Declaration of Independence and Senator from Pennsylvania. Miss Morris married Joshua L. Husband who was an attorney about 1840 and they had two sons, Henry and John.
1850 United States Federal Census: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Name
Role
Sex
Age
Occupation
Birth Place
Joshua L Husband
head
M
35
Pennsylvania
Mary M Husband
wife
F
27
New Jersey
Henry M Husband
son
M
9
Pennsylvania
John L Husband
son
M
7
Pennsylvania
Serena Seymour
F
21
New Jersey
During the US Civil War, she was a nurse aiding soldiers on transports, in the field, and in hospitals. She performed clinical nursing, work in diet kitchens, and also executive functions supporting care of the soldiers from July 1862 to the end of the war and the disbanding of regiments in June 1865. Mary traveled extensively, caring for the wounded from the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and many others. Her devotion to the sick and wounded earned her their respect and affection. Soldiers anxiously awaited her daily rounds which were filled kindness, cheerfulness, and compassion, and often included a small token for each kept the row of deep pockets she had added to her apron – these "miracle pockets" were filled several times a day.
1880 United States Federal Census: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Name
Role
Sex
Age
Occupation
Birth Place
Marital Status
H. M. Husband
head
M
38
letter carrier
Pennsylvania
single
Mary M. Husband
mother
F
59
retired
Pennsylvania
widowed
She died in Washington, D. C. and was buried in Philadelphia in 1894.
Research Notes
Some source records indicate her place of birth was New Jersey and some records indicate Philadelphia. The chapter on Mrs. Husband in Brockett's Woman's Work in the Civil War mentions that she nursed one of her sons through illness during his service. Later in the chapter on page 296, there is a passage that states Mrs. Morris secured a pardon from President Lincoln for a court-martialed soldier who was sentenced to be executed. This narrative matches with the records of her son Henry who was recorded as a being a deserter and is also documented as being in need of clearance of a court-martial in order to receive a pension for his military service. Henry's time of convalescence could have been mistaken for desertion by his regiment. This could be coincidence, but it is an interesting hypothesis for some further research.
Sources
1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850" citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). FamilySearch Record: M4CN-1V1 (accessed 7 September 2022) FamilySearch Image: S3HY-D1JQ-8V8 Image number 00390 Name: Mary M Husband; Census Date: 1850; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Ethnicity: American; Race: White; Birth Date: 1823; Birth Place: New Jersey; Age: 27; Source House Nbr: 927.
1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860" citing Page: 157; Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Affiliate Film Number: 1157; FHL microfilm: 805157; Record number: 6262; FamilySearch Record: MX5T-Z8M (accessed 7 September 2022) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9BSZ-9J6B Image number 00619 Name: M M Husband; Census Date: 1860; Census Place: 7th Ward Philadelphia City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Birth Date: 1820; Birth Place: New Jersey; Race: White; Age: 40.
1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870" citing Page: 82; Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 32; FHL microfilm: 000552891; Record number: 30403; FamilySearch Record: MZ5D-D3Q (accessed 7 September 2022) FamilySearch Image: S3HY-63Y3-1GH Image number 00768 Name: Mary M Husband; Census Date: 1870; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Ethnicity: American; Race: White; Birth Date: 1822; Birth Place: New Jersey; Age: 48.
1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880" citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm . FamilySearch Record: MWJY-2XH (accessed 7 September 2022) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBV-H66 Image number 00147 Name: Mary M. Husband; Census Date: 1880; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Ethnicity: American; Marital Status: Widowed; Occupation: Retired; Race: White; Birth Date: 1821; Birth Place: Pennsylvania, United States; Age: 59; Relationship To Head: Mother; Source Person Nbr: 1.
Death: "District of Columbia Deaths, 1874-1961" citing reference ID cn 94961, District Records Center, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,135,979. FamilySearch Record: F7RT-B6D (accessed 7 September 2022) FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9ZR-V9CW-R Name: Mary Morris Ausband; Death Date: 03 Mar 1894; Death Place: District of Columbia, United States; Burial Date: 06 Mar 1894; Burial Place: Philadelphia, PA; Marital Status: Widowed; Birth Date: 1821; Birth Place: NJ; Residence: District of Columbia; Age: 73; Note Death Place: 1423 I St., N.W.; Dasverify: 12-AUG-14; Misc Flag Additional Relatives: X; Frame Nbr: 261.
Death: "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915" citing 19084, Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; FHL microfilm 1,871,369. FamilySearch Record: JFK3-V8W (accessed 7 September 2022) FamilySearch Image: S3HY-DTG9-PQ6 Name: Mary M. Husband; Death Date: 03 Mar 1894; Death Place: Washington, District of Columbia; Birth Date: 1821; Burial Place: Philadelphia, Pa.; Age: 73; Event Type: Death; Cemetery Name: Lauel Hill (Centre); Frame Nbr: 1281; Image Nbr Jira: 01283; Image Nbr Orig: 01283; Note Pr Name: Also on Frame 1282.
See Also:
Memorial: Find a Grave (has image) Find A Grave: Memorial #28643187 (accessed 7 September 2022) Memorial page for Mary Morris Husband (7 Jul 1826-3 Mar 1894), citing Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA (plot: Section Q, Lot 111); Maintained by RPD2 (contributor 309).
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Morris-39452 and Morris-36847 appear to represent the same person because: I added a new profile for Mary Morris Husband by mistake. Please approve this merge so that the new one will be removed. I've got some additional information that I can add to the profile once that merge is complete.
sorry, sue
Enjoy genealogy, Warren