Santa Cruz County History - People

Old Soldiers: Santa Cruz County Civil War Veterans
by Robert L. Nelson

SYLVESTER, WILLIAM (1839-1904)

Sawtelle Soldiers Home Records

NAME: William H. Sylvester
REGISTER #: 3291

Military History

RANK/CO/UNIT: Pvt./K Co./47 MA Inf.
ENLISTMENT: 1862/10/31 Boston
DISCHARGED: 1863/09/15 Readville MA, End of Service
RE-ENLISTMENT: 1863/10/05 Boston MA
RANK/CO/UNIT: Pvt. 3 MA HvA
DISCHARGED: 1865/05/04 Ft. Slocum Disability
DISABILITY: Injury to head

Domestic History

BORN: 1837? Massachusetts
AGE: 59
HT/CMP/EYE/HR: 5'7/Fair/literate
RELIGION: Protestant
OCCUPATION: Painter
RESIDENCE: Santa Cruz
MARRIED SINGLE: Married
NEXT OF KIN: Mrs. Alice Sylvester (wife) Santa Cruz

Home History

PENSION AMOUNT: $12
ADMISSION: 1896/07/23
DISCHARGED:
DATE OF DEATH: 1904/10/04
CAUSE OF DEATH: Mitral aortic

General Remarks

PENSION CERT: #286.674
EFFECTS: Cash .15, Personal $7.00
HOW DISPOSED OF: To Mrs. A.A. Sylvester Widow Pinole CA
BURIAL INFO: Buried in Santa Cruz

Records of Members of the Grand Army of the Republic, William Ward

HS Crocker, San Francisco 1886

WILLIAM H SYLVESTER Was born May 6, 1839, in Plymouth, Mass., has been a steam engineer, is at present a house painter. Enlisted in the spring of 1862 in the 47th Massachusetts Infantry, and served as a private; was attached to the 22d Army Corps; took part in the battle of Vicksburg and many skirmishes; was wounded in the chin and head; was honorably discharged May 4, 1865. Comrade Sylvester is a member of WHL Wallace Post, GAR of Santa Cruz Cal, where he resides. Came to California in 1867, and has lived in Monterey, Oakland, and Santa Cruz.

Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, Adjutant General's Office of Massachusetts

William H. Sylvester, Residence Boston MA, a 23 year old Seaman enlisted on 6/29/61 ant New Bedford, MA as a Private. On 6/29/61 he mustered into US Navy. He deserted on 8/25/61 at Kinston, Jamaica. On 9/19/62 he mustered into "B" Co. MA 47th Infantry. He deserted on 10/15/62 at Roxford, MA. On 3/15/63 he returned into "B" Co. MA 47th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 9/1/63 at Readville, MA (As: William Spears) On 10/23/63 he mustered into "G" Co MA 3rd Heavy Artillery. He was discharged for disability of 5/4/65 at Fort Slocum D.C.

Intra Regimental Company transfers: 4/1/63 from Company B to Company K (Estimated Day)

Ranks in Navy- Ord Seaman 6/29/61. Ships served on in Navy, USS Ohio, USS North Carolina, USS Richmond.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (January 7, 1890)

A pension has been issued to Wm. Sylvester of Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (November 1, 1896)

Friend of the Veterans

Ed. "Sentinel"- I want to speak a good word to the old soldiers in favor of Senator Perkins, who is always the friend of the veterans. No soldier should vote to send representatives to the Legislature who will vote to defeat him. Two years ago I was receiving a small pension, and applied for an increase. For ten months no attention was paid by the Pension Department to my appeal. Seeing there was no use for me to write to the Department I had a friend write to Senator Perkins, who in person handed the letter to the Commissioner of Pensions, who by return mail notified me that my application would be promptly considered, and very shortly thereafter it was granted.

A short time since, while at the Soldiers' Home at Santa Monica, I desired to return to Santa Cruz. Being short of funds I wrote to Senator Perkins asking if he would assist an old soldier in distress. The reply came in the shape of a half fare steamship ticket. Veterans can easily see who their friend is. For my part, although my marching days are over, I would gladly walk, if it were necessary, fifty miles to cast my ballot in his favor.
W.H. Sylvester Co. G. 3d Massachusetts Artillery , 47 months at the Front. East Santa Cruz Oct. 31st.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (October 6, 1904)

DIED: SYLVESTER- At the Soldiers Home, Santa Monica, Oct 4th, William H. Sylvester a native of Plymouth Massachusetts, aged 69 years

Old Resident Dead
William H Sylvester Passed Away at Los Angeles

The body of William H. Sylvester, who passed away in Los Angeles Tuesday morning, arrived here Wednesday and was immediately taken to the undertaking parlors of Wessendorf and Staffler, where it will be prepared for burial this Thursday at 10:30 A.M.

Mr. Sylvester was an old resident of this city, having resided here the most of his life. He was also a veteran of the Civil War, and was at one time a member of the G.A.R. Post of this city, under whose auspices the funeral services will be conducted.

The death of Mr. Sylvester was due to heart disease, from which he had been suffering for a number of years, and while his death was a shock to his relatives it was not unexpected.

Besides a wife and a son, Clarence the deceased leaves a sister, Mrs. F. W. Lucas, who resides in Santa Cruz. The remains will be buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, of which order Mr. Sylvester was a member and from whom he had secured a family plot.

The wife and son reside at Pinole, Contra Costa Co., and as Mrs. Sylvester is very ill, she will be unable to attend the funeral.

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