William J. Withers Jr (1836 - 1916)

Born Sep 1836 in New York, United States

Husband of Jeannie (Gourlay) Struthers — married 1865 in Washington City, District Of Columbia, District of Columbia, United States

Died 5 Dec 1916 at age 80 in New York, United States

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Biography

William was born in September 1836, In New York. William was the son of William and Elizabeth Withers. His father was a musician who had had immigrated from England, His mother was from Scotland.

In 1860, William, age 23, was a musician still living at home in Washinton, DC, along with his parents and siblings: Joseph, age 19, also a musician; Reuben, age 16 a musician; Francis Withers, age 13, a musician; Melvina, age 11; Charlotte, age 9; Louisa, age 7; Adelia, age 5; and Camelia, age 4. All of the Withers children were born in New York, with the exception of the youngest, Camelia, who was born in Washington, D.C.

In 1861, The American Musical Directory listed the “Withers’ Brass Band” as one of the three resident bands in Washington, D.C. William was identified as the leader of the band, with the other members being his father, William Sr., and his brothers, Joseph, Reuben, and Frank.

On 4 September 1861, William was mustered into the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry, as a non-combat member of the regimental band. At the time of their enlistment the regiment stationed at Camp Corcoran in the defenses of Washington. When regiments were forming at the beginning of the war, each was required to have one. The musicians were specifically non-combatants, and their primary duty… was to provide music during the marches and ceremonies…. The regimental band, made up primarily of brass instruments, was distinct from the field musicians which was made up, ideally, of a drummer and fifer from each company, as well as a bugler After the Civil War, William was an orchestra leader on several occasions in Harrisburg, Dauphin County.

William's 1863 Civil War Draft Registration record indicates that he lived on 7th Street between E and F Streets in Washington, D.C. He was a 27-year-old musician and had three years of prior military service. On 14 April 1865, the evening President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, William Withers Jr. was the orchestra leader at Ford’s Theatre. William claimed to be backstage at the time the shot was fired and was cut by the John Wilkes Booth as he ran to the back door of the theatre. Because of his claims, Withers was called as a witness and his testimony, given under oath, was transcribed and is available as a “firsthand” account of the moments after the tragedy.

He collected a pension, based on his war-related disability.

He married actress Jeannie Gourlay just days after the Lincoln assassination. They later divorced.

William retired to New York where he first lived with his brother Reuben and later with a sister.

He died 5 Dec 1916, in New York

Sources

• 1855 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1855"
  New York State Archives; Albany, NY, USA; Census of the state of New York, 1855; Line Number: 21
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7181 #1653229546.
• 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
  The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Washington Ward 6, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: M653_104; Page: 647; Family History Library Film: 803104
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #10564063.

• 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1880; Census Place: Rye, Westchester, New York; Roll: 946; Page: 234a; Enumeration District: 123
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #5672560.

• 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1900; Census Place: Bronx, New York, New York; Roll: 1128; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 1060
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #45372998.

• 1910 U.S. Federal Census, New York, Westchester County, Rye,

• U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 Author: Ancestry.com Original data - Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865. NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. Records of the Provost Marshal Generals Bureau (Civil War),

• U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 Ancestry.com. Original data - National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/ , acquired 2007.

• Death: "New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948"
  New York City Department of Records & Information Services; New York City, New York; New York City Death Certificates; Borough: Bronx; Year: 1916; Certificate Number: 7403
  Ancestry Record 61778 #128339 (accessed 6 April 2024)
  William Withers death 5 Dec 1916 (born 26 Sep 1836), son of William Withers & Mary Withers, in New York City, Bronx, New York, USA.

See Also

• Bogar, Thomas A. Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination, Washington, D.C.: Regnery History, 2013.

• Taylor, Dave. "The Ford's Theatre Orchestra," Lincoln Conspirators Blog, 11 Aug 2018. Available at LincolnConspirators.com

• The Wikitree Our American Cousin Free Space Page