John R. O'Neal (abt. 1839)

Born about 1839 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Died [date unknown] in United States

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Biography

John O'Neal is a part of US Black heritage.

Private John O'Neal served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 17 Mar 1863
Mustered out: 25 Apr 1865 (deserted)
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. D, 54th Mass. Inf. (Colored)

John R. O'Neal (also O'Niel, Oneil) was born about 1839^[1][2]-1846^[3] in Baltimore^[4], Maryland^[3][2]. His parents were born in Maryland^[3]. He was the husband of Emma^[3]. He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.

Occupations

• 1880^[3]: Barber
• 1863^[1]: Cook
• 1862^[2]: Laborer

Residences

• 1880: Market Street, Sunbury, Pennsylvania with his wife Emma and their child Howell^[3]
• 1863: Buffalo, New York (military enlistment)^[1]

Military Service

During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company D of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, the first regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 24 years old, married and working as a cook when he enlisted on 17 March 1863 in Buffalo, New York. Deserted 25 April 1865 from Georgetown, South Carolina, four months before the regiment mustered out.^[1]

Company Remarks

See also Images.

19 August 1863

Privates O.neil, A. Prater, J. Butler, F. Green Wm Passerby, L West, Kennard, Burrel, Drummer R. Jones, Knox, Vroman, Hallowell, Davis, Griffin, Hopkins all sick in quarters Conf prisoner in Hospital

Research Notes

Raymoure-1 21:02, 2 May 2020 (UTC): There's no military record yet to confirm absolutely the 1880 census record on which I'm basing the non-military part of his identity, but moving forward optimistically in the hope of finding one as I fill in some blanks. Fingers crossed!

Raymoure-1 08:03, 23 January 2020 (UTC): Possible census match?

Year: 1860; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 9, Erie, New York; Roll: M653_748; Page: 699; Family History Library Film: 803748

John Neal / b. abt. 1838 Maryland / Mulatto / m. Lavinia / children: Clara and Louis

Possible grave?

John O'Neil d. 17 Aug 1874 Civil War marker MASS. Hampton National Cemetery, Virginia

John O'Neil d. 21 Oct 1904 Civil War marker MASS. Hampton National Cemetery, Virginia

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Emilio, Roster p. 357
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Buffalo, New York Register of enlisted men
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} 1880 federal census
4. ↑ regimental descriptive

• 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Sunbury, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1164; Page: 516A; Enumeration District: 168
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• Fold3.com. "Records of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored), 1863-1865." National Archives Catalog #577134. "Regimental and Company Books of Civil War Volunteer Union Organizations, compiled 1861 - 1865." Free Access Civil War Records 1-15 April 2018.
• New York State Archives. Registers of Officers and Enlisted Men Mustered into Federal Military or Naval Service during the Civil War. Series A0389 (6 volumes). New York (State). Bureau of Military Statistics. Albany, New York.