John Shorter was born about 1844 in Seneca County, New York.
In 1860, 11-year-old John Shorter was the youngest of 3 children in the household of James and Catherine Smith. Born in New York, John was now residing on James Smith farm in Amboy in Hillsdale County, Michigan.[1]
He stood about 5 foot 6 inches (1.68m) tall with a brown complexion, brown eyes and black hair when he enlisted with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in 1863.
John Shorter was born about 1847 in New York. He died in Boston on October 18, 1885.[2]
In 1890, Rebecca, widow of John Shorter, was living in Boston. John had served as a private with the 54 Massachusetts Regiment from April 9, 1863 to June 3, 1865.[3]
Occuptions
1863, 1880: Farmer
Residences
1863: Amboy, Michigan (military enlistment)
1850: Amboy, Michigan with 16-year-old Hezekiah Shorter, 11-year-old John Shorter, and Catharine and James Smith
Military Service
Private John Shorter was wounded in action during the American Civil War.
Private John Shorter served in the United States Civil War. Enlisted: 9 Apr 1863 Mustered out: 3 Jun 1865 Side: USA Regiment(s): Company G, 54th Regiment, MA Colored Infantry
During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company G of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 16 years old, married and working as a farmer when he enlisted from Amboy, Michigan on 9 April 1863. He was wounded in action on 30 November 1864 at the Battle of Honey Hill. Discharged on 3 June 1865 from St. Andrews Parish, South Carolina.[4]
Note: There is also a John F. Shorter who served with the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Sources
↑1860 Census:
"1860 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1860; Census Place: Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan; Roll: M653_543; Page: 291; Family History Library Film: 803543 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7667 #44690226 (accessed 16 October 2022)
John Shorter (11) in Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan. Born in New York.
↑Death:
"Massachusetts, U.S., Death Records, 1841-1915"
New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840???1911 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2101 #2619807 (accessed 16 October 2022)
John Shorter death 18 Oct 1885 (age 38) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
↑1890 Census:
"1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census"
The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Series Number: M123; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Record Group Number: 15; Census Year: 1890 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 8667 #146159 (accessed 16 October 2022)
John Shorter.
Military: "U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865" National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/>, acquired 2007 Ancestry ca Record 1138 #3945336 (accessed 16 October 2022) Name: John Shorter; Side: Union; Regiment State/Origin: Massachusetts; Regiment: 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (Colored); Company: G; Rank In: Private; Rank Out: Private; Film Number: M589 roll 78; Memorial: Part of the African American Civil War Memorial; Plaque Number: E-155; Displayed As: John Shorter.
1860 United States Federal Census Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan; Roll: M653_543; Page: 291; Family History Library Film: 803543
Memorial: Find a Grave (has image) Find A Grave: Memorial #145905275 (accessed 16 October 2022) Memorial page for PVT John Shorter (1844-unknown), citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by James Ahaesy (contributor 49059682).
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