William Gibson - also known as John Saunders - was born about 1836 in Kentucky. He settled in Chatham, Ontario, Canada West, but returned to the Union when the call went out for soldiers of color to join the first federally authorized regiment of its kind in Massachusetts. Chatham was a common destination for freedom seekers and Underground railroad operatives, especially after the Refugee Slave Act of 1850 which made it even less safe to be a free Black person anywhere in the United States.
He enlisted with Company D of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as Private John Saunders on 27 March 1863. He trained at the Readville camp near Boston, Massachusetts, was wounded in action on 30 November 1864 at the Battle of Honey Hill, recovered and continued to serve until 20 August 1865 when he mustered out with his regiment.
Thereafter, he was known as William Gibson.
William settled in Hanover in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana by 1880 with his wife Dorcas. The couple had at least five children: Louisa, Mary, Hattie, William "Willie", and Leander / Leonidas. After Dorcas passed away, he remarried to Caroline "Carrie," whose grave is near his at his final resting place.
He enlisted with Company D of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as Private John Saunders on 27 March 1863. He trained at the Readville camp near Boston, Massachusetts, was wounded in action on 30 November 1864 at the Battle of Honey Hill, recovered and continued to serve until 20 August 1865 when he mustered out with his regiment.
Thereafter, he was known as William Gibson.
William settled in Hanover in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana by 1880 with his wife Dorcas. The couple had at least five children: Louisa, Mary, Hattie, William "Willie", and Leander / Leonidas. After Dorcas passed away, he remarried to Caroline "Carrie," whose grave is near his at his final resting place.
William Gibson - also known as John Saunders - was born about 1836 in Kentucky. He settled in Chatham, Ontario, Canada West, but returned to the Union when the call went out for soldiers of color to join the first federally authorized regiment of its kind in Massachusetts. Chatham was a common destination for freedom seekers and Underground railroad operatives, especially after the Refugee Slave Act of 1850 which made it even less safe to be a free Black person anywhere in the United States.
He enlisted with Company D of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as Private John Saunders on 27 March 1863. He trained at the Readville camp near Boston, Massachusetts, was wounded in action on 30 November 1864 at the Battle of Honey Hill, recovered and continued to serve until 20 August 1865 when he mustered out with his regiment.
Thereafter, he was known as William Gibson.
William settled in Hanover in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana by 1880 with his wife Dorcas. The couple had at least five children: Louisa, Mary, Hattie, William "Willie", and Leander / Leonidas. After Dorcas passed away, he remarried to Caroline "Carrie," whose grave is near his at his final resting place.
He enlisted with Company D of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as Private John Saunders on 27 March 1863. He trained at the Readville camp near Boston, Massachusetts, was wounded in action on 30 November 1864 at the Battle of Honey Hill, recovered and continued to serve until 20 August 1865 when he mustered out with his regiment.
Thereafter, he was known as William Gibson.
William settled in Hanover in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana by 1880 with his wife Dorcas. The couple had at least five children: Louisa, Mary, Hattie, William "Willie", and Leander / Leonidas. After Dorcas passed away, he remarried to Caroline "Carrie," whose grave is near his at his final resting place.
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WILLIAM
GIBSON
CIVIL WAR
VETERAN
1836 - 1922
Family Members
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