Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Leonard Dearborn

11^th NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: August/September, 1862 Concord, NH
Mustered In: 9/3/62 Concord, NH
Mustered Out: 6/4/65 Alexandria, VA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 11^th New Hampshire was a three year infantry regiment. It served in both eastern and western theaters of the American Civil War.

The regiment departed Concord NH on 9/11/62 and moved to Baltimore, MD. From there it travelled to Washington, D.C., then into northern Virginia before journeying back to Washington City. October found the 11^th in Maryland once again. The unit concluded the year participating in the battle of Fredericksburg, VA (12/11 - 15).

February, 1863 found the 11^th in Newport News, VA. From there it sailed to Baltimore, MD. From that city it moved by rail into Kentucky. It then proceeded to Vicksburg, MS.

 With the fall of besieged Vicksburg on 7/4/63 the 11^th marched to Jackson, MS where it assisted in forcing Rebel troops from that location. In November it took part in the siege of Knoxville, TN. In December the regiment was pursuing fleeing Rebels in the hills of eastern Tennessee. It was the only New Hampshire unit to participate in that long and arduous campaign.

In early May, 1864 the 11^th rejoined the Army Of The Potomac as Union Generals Grant and Meade opened up their Overland Campaign into Virginia with the battle of  the Wilderness (5/5 - 7). From that time until The War ended the regiment took part in all the marches, skirmishes, battles and sieges of that campaign. On 3/3/65 it marched into Petersburg, VA with its colors flying. It then pursued the Confederate forces under Gen. Robert E. Lee until they surrendered at Appomattox Court House, VA on 4/9/65.

The War ended, the 11^th participated in 5/24 Grand Review in Washington, D.C. Final muster and discharge came the following month.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  5; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  1; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  140; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 151.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Candia, NH   Age: 24.9 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/15/62   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 9/2/62 Concord, NH
Discharged For Disability: 7/2/64 Annapolis, MD
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of Leonard Dearborn was created in January, 2021 during the Covid-19 medical pandemic. It contains less depth of detail than many other biographies within this website because military service, pension and other veteran-related files housed in Washington, D.C.'s National Archives were not available. At a later time those documents may be obtained and the data contained therein added to the narrative which follows.
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Leonard Freeman Dearborn was born 10/27/37. The location of his birth was Candia Rockingham County, NH.

Parenting Leonard F. were Leonard - no middle name or initial - Sr. (b. 1806 NH - d. 12/12/71 Lowell Middlesex County, MA) and Jane (no nee b. 10/10/12 Warren Grafton County, NH - d. 5/25/96 Candia Rockingham County, NH) Dearborn.   During the 1860 U.S. Census for Candia Rockingham County, NH the senior Leonard Dearborn listed his occupation as "tamale maker."

Jane and the senior Leonard produced five children, all sons. Leonard F. was the second of the five. Older than he was Stephen Dearborn (b. 1834 NH *). His younger brothers were Henry Holbrook Dearborn (no b. d.), George Frank Dearborn (4/16/47 Manchester Hillsborough County, NH) and Richard E. Dearborn (b. 1849 Candia Rockingham County, NH).

On 2/12/62 in Candia Rockingham County, NH Leonard F. - henceforth Leonard - married. His bride was Mary Caroline Fitts. Mary was born on 3/20/44 in Candia Rockingham County, NH. Likely the two had grown up together...................

Leonard and Mary produced five children only four of whom are identified. Those four appear to have been living as of 1900. The identified Dearborn children were: Wilber "Willie" Freeman (b. 2/62!! Candia Rockingham County, NH), Henry Irving (b. 12/6/66 Candia Rockingham County, NH), Ralph Waldo (b. 5/5/73 Candia Rockingham County, NH) and Arthur Leonard (b. 1/9/75 NH).

After their marriage Leonard and Mary continued to reside in Candia, NH. Whether they set up a household of their own or were bunking with one of their parental families is an unknown.

In August of their marriage year Leonard left his bride and young son to join the U.S. Army. His enlistment may have been spurred by patriotism, but - then again - it may have been financially motivated. In 1862 economic times were tough in the U.S. Perhaps, then, the enlistment was based upon alluring enlistment financial bonuses (bounties) as well as the prospect of a $13 per month pay check!!

Without access to Private Dearborn's military service or pension files we really only known two things about his period of service. Firstly, he suffered some sort of medical disability. Secondly, because of that disability he received an early discharge and returned to his wife and family.

The community to which Leonard returned appears to have been Candia. The U.S. Census for 1870 found him and his growing family there residing under the roof of Mary's parents. At that time Leonard listed his occupation as "shoe maker."

A decade later. 1880. Leonard, Mary and family were still in New Hampshire, but then living in Manchester Hillsborough County. In that locale Leonard's occupation was noted as being "wood and vinegar dealer."

There is no U.S. census data on the Dearborns for 1890 as most of the tally was destroyed by fire.  That year's Civil War Veteran census, however, placed Leonard and Mary in Candia, NH. Further, on March 15th 1890 Leonard applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering.

The pension request - likely based on whatever medical conditions had resulted in Private Dearborn's discharge - was granted. It appears the old soldier's initial stipend was $12 per month. During ensuing years the payment increased, apparently peaking at a tidy $50 per month in 1920.

1900. At the dawn of the new century, Mary - who declared herself as married - was residing in Candia with one Laurence/Lawrence Dearborn (b. 1834). There is no sign of Leonard that year. Perhaps he had gone west to establish a new residence in Washington State..

Mary died during 1909. Her place of death was the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Beyond the fact that she was/is  buried in Acacia Memorial Park located in unincorporated King County north of Seattle (the present day city of Lake Forest Park) no details are available pertaining to her passing.

In 1910 Leonard was censured in Ward 3, Seattle King County, Washington. Under his roof were son Arthur and a female servant identified as Anna Slater.

No census information has been located for Leonard during 1920 or 1930. He died 8/9/34 at the age of 96.9 years. His passing occurred in the Snohomish County community of Edmonds north of Seattle on the shores of Puget Sound. With who he was residing at the time is an unknown. Burial was/is in Acacia Memorial Park with Mary.
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* During the American Civil War Stephen Dearborn apparently served in a  New Hampshire state military unit as well as  Company "H" of the 3^rd New Hampshire (Federal Volunteer) Infantry. He was killed 6/16/62 in Secessionville, SC.

Buried at Acacia Memorial Park Cemetery