Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - John Convery

105^th NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: November, 1861 - March, 1862 Rochester, NY & LeRoy, NY
Mustered In: 3/15/1862
Consolidated: 3/10/1863
 

94^th NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY:
Organized: Winter 1861/'62
Mustered In: 3/10/1862 Sacket's Harbor, NY
Mustered Out: 7/18/1865 Washington, D.C.
 

2^nd BATTALION VETERAN VOLUNTEER RESERVE CORPS
Organized: 6/9/1863
Mustered In: 6/9/1863
Mustered Out: 12/31/1865

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (105^th)
 

The 105^th - also known as the “LeRoy” or” Rochester Regiment” - was a three year infantry unit. Its entire service tenure was within the eastern theater of the American Civil War (ACW). 
 

Recruitment of the 105^th was primarily from the counties of Cattaraugus, Genesee, Monroe and Niagara. The regiment was organized on 3/15/1862 when men recruited in Rochester were consolidated with those recruited in LeRoy.
 

On 4/4/1862 the 105^th departed its home state for Washington, D.C. From there it moved into Virginia where it saw its first action at the battle of Cedar Mountain (8/9). Regimental losses were eight wounded.
 

Almost immediately following Cedar Mountain the 105^th entered into Union Gen. Pope's Virginia campaign which included  the second battle of Bull Run/Manassas (8/28 - 8/30). During this campaign losses to the regiment were eighty nine killed, wounded and missing.
 

The regiment experienced slight loss at South Mountain, MD (9/14/1862), but suffered severely at Antietam (9/17) losing seventy four killed, wounded or missing. The clash with the enemy at Fredericksburg, VA (12/11 - 12/15) cost the unit another seventy eight killed, wounded or missing.
 

By early 1863 the 105^th had become reduced in numbers to a point where, in March it was consolidated into a five company - "F", "G", I", "F" & "K"- battalion which was which then merged into the 94^th New York Infantry.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 2; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 43; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  45.   

REGTIMENTAL HISTORY:  (94^th)

The 94^th, also known as the "Bell Rifles", was a three year infantry regiment recruited from within Jefferson County, NY. Its term of existence was spent in the eastern theater of the American Civil War (ACW).
 

Leaving New York State on 3/18/1862, the 94^th travelled to Washington, D.C. It then served in the defenses of Washington City until June when it joined Union Gen. Pope's Virginia campaign. During those movements and actions it lost one hundred forty seven killed, wounded and missing.
 

In September, 1862 the 94^th marched into Maryland. There, it saw action at South Mountain (9/14) and Antietam (9/17). It concluded the combat year at Fredericksburg, VA. (12/11 - 12/15).
 

The Winter of 1862/'63 was spent in camp near Falmouth, VA. Then, during March, 1863 the 94th was consolidated into a five company battalion to which five companies of the former 105^th NY Infantry were added.
   

The 94^th lost two hundred forty five killed, wounded and missing at Gettysburg, PA (7/1 - 7/4/1863). In November it shared in the Mine Run fiasco (11/27 - 12/2).
 

During the winter of 1863/'64 a large number of the 94^th re-enlisted thereby giving the regiment veteran volunteer status. Virginia actions of '64 included the Wilderness (5/5 - 5/7), Cold Harbor (5/31 - 6/12) and Totopotomoy Creek (5/28 - 5/30). It then moved to Petersburg with the Army Of The Potomac.
 

On 8/10/1864 the 94^th was infused with more new blood, this time by men of the 87^th New York Infantry. The reconstituted unit then remained at Petersburg until the end of the siege of that place (4/2/1865.) It concluded The War at Five Forks and was present at Appomattox Court House for the surrender of Confed. Gen. R.E. Lee and the Army Of Northern Virginia.
 

After Lee's surrender the 94^th returned to Washington, D.C. There, it was mustered into the history books on 5/18/1865.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  5; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 105; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  137. 

BATTALION HISTORY:   (2^nd)
 

This military reserve organization was initially established in April, 1863 as the Invalid Corps. Dislike of that designation resulted in the name being changed to the Veterans Reserve Corps (VRC).
 

The IC/VRC was created to make suitable use in military or semi-military duties of soldiers who had been rendered unfit for active field service on account of wounds or disease contracted in the line of duty, but who were still fit for garrison or other light duty assignments thus freeing able-bodied soldiers to serve on the front lines.

Originally, the IC/VRC soldiers had to be, not only disabled, but in the opinion of their commanding officers, meritorious and deserving.  However as The War dragged on, it was proved that additions to the Corps hardly equaled the losses by discharge or other means. As a result it was ordered that men who had had two years of honorable service in the Union Army or Marines could enlist without regard to disability, etc.
 

The Invalid Corps/Veterans' Reserve Corps was composed of both regiments and battalions. As of this writing, no history of the 2^nd Battalion VRC has been found.
 

BATTALION LOSSES:
No Loss Information Available

SOLDIER: (105th)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: ca. 26 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 11/12/1861 Rochester, NY   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 12/23/1861
Transferred Out: 3/10/1863
Highest Rank: Sgt.
Rank At Transfer: Sgt. 

SOLDIER: (94^th)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: ca. 28 yrs.
Transferred In: 3/10/1863   Rank: Sgt.
Discharged for Disability: 1/6/1864 Alexandria, VA
Highest Rank: Sgt.
Rank At Discharge: Sgt.

SOLDIER: (2^nd)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: ca. 29 yrs.
Enlisted: 6/9/1864 (est.)   Rank: Sgt.
Mustered Out: Inf. Not Avail.
Highest Rank: Sgt.
Rank At Discharge: Sgt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of John Convery was created in May 2022 near the end of 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. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 John Convery was born in Ireland. Birth years range between 1834 and 1836. As no specific year, month or date has been located in available documents so, herein we are adopting 1835.
 

Both of John's parents were born in Ireland.  Nothing additional is known regarding either. 
 

In terms of siblings, it appears John had at least two brothers and two sisters. They were named in his will. In 1893 brothers Thomas and James were then living in Ireland. One sister, Mary, was then in Scotland while the   second, Bella, was in Ireland.
 

Finally, other last great unknowns are when John came to America. Also, if he immigrated here with others, whom they were. 
 

By early November, 1861 John was in Rochester, NY. We know this because - when he enlisted in the U.S. Army on 11/12/1861- he did so in Rochester.
 

John's unit was the 105^th New York Infantry. Within that organization he was a member of Company "H." He entered the 105^th at the rank of private, but on 3/25/1862 was promoted to sergeant. The sergeant rank didn't last long, however, as on 4/3/1862 he was - for whatever reason - reduced back to being a private. The reduction lasted until 6/12/1862 when his sergeant's status was reinstated. Then on 8/20/1862 he was honored by being appointed his company's color sergeant.
 

There is documentation of Sergeant Convery’s becoming wounded at Fredericksburg, VA during actions at that place on 12/13/1862. If so, the wounding was initially considered to no be too serious as our sergeant continued with his duties into 1863 when the 105^th was merged into the 94^th New York Infantry. From that point until 1/1864 Sergeant Convery served with the 94^th NY.
 

While with the 94^th it appears Sergeant Convery's   old wound/wounds came to a point of disabling him. As of April, 10, 1863 he was muster rolled as being absent in the hospital. The hospitalization appears to have been lengthy and, as of 1/1864, garnered him a disability discharge.
 

From the 94^th Sergeant entered the Veteran Reserve Corps. Exactly when this transpired is unclear.
 

Other unknowns are how long Sergeant Convery spent in the VRC and the nature of his duties in that organization. As for the former it may not have been long as on 3/13/1864 he applied for and was granted a U.S. Government disability pension. The receipt of such a pension while The War was still raging would seem to point to a rather serious injury. Further, the March dating indicates that by that date he had exited the military. Accessing John’s military service records would help to answer these and other questions associated with this veteran’s soldiery service.

 After 1864 there is a huge information gap in John Convery's life line. We next encounter him in the U.S. Census of 1880. At the time of that tally he was residing in Seattle King County, Washington Territory (WT), married and employed as a carpenter/joiner.
 

We know very little about John's bride.  Her first name was Rosa and her middle initial was H. No maiden surname has not been located in available documents. She had been born in Canada during 1845 of Scottish parentage.
 

When Rosa had immigrated to American and how, where and when she and John had met are unknowns.  During their time together John and Rosa produced no children.
 

Both John and Rosa lived out their lives in Seattle. Rosa died there on 1/5/1893. The cause of her passing at the age of forty seven or forty eight is not known. She was/is buried in that city's Calvary (Catholic) Cemetery.
 

After his wife's death John remained in Seattle. He died there on 8/1/1896. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper for Sunday 8/2/1892 noted his passing as follows:
 

PIONEER JOHN CONVERY DEAD
 

John Convery, one of Seattle's oldest and best known citizens died suddenly at his home at Sixth Avenue and Pike Street last night, of heart disease. Mr. Convery was a member of Stevens Post No. 1, G.A.R. and his death will come as a surprise to many who saw him apparently in the best of health only a few hours before his death was announced. Mr. Convery attended the game of ball in the afternoon between the railroad men of this city and on his return home complained of feeling somewhat ill. Dr. Eames was sent for, and while attending to his patient Mr. Convery, who was sitting up talking, fell forward dead. The deceased was a devout Catholic, and was a widower, his wife having died about two years ago. It is likely that the funeral or a portion of the ceremony will be conducted by the G.A.R. post of this city among the members of which he was very popular.
 

Burial was/is in Seattle’s Calvary Cemetery.
 

After the death of his wife, perhaps sensing his own mortality, on 4/22/1893 John had created his last will and testament. Unlike many of his elderly comrades, John Convery was not a destitute or poor man. He bequeathed his property and monies to his two brothers and two sisters, the executors of his estate and the Roman Catholic Church.
 

POSTED: 6/2/2022

UPDATED:

Buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery
Row: Calvary Cemetery First, Lot 112,
Site: Space 7