CIVIL WAR SOLDIER 69TH PA.INF
Francis was born April 1840 to John Shields and Ann Gallagher in the small town of Kilmacrenan in N.W. Donegal near the larger town of Letterkenny. He was baptised 12th April.By 1861 he and his parents were in Philadelphia and living in the Kensington area of the city. Probably their emigration to America hastened by bad times in Ireland circa the Great Famine of 1847. Their probablt emigration route would have been via Derry, In 1861 he was living with his parents at the corner of Berks and Thompson Streets. On 26th Aug 1861 Francis enlisted in Co. K of the 69th Pa Infantry. He gave his age as 26 though probably only 21. He mustered in at Camp Observation Md. 31st Oct.1861. No doubt he took part in all the early engagements that the 69th got involved in. However his short life would be ended at the battle of Antietam on Sept 17th 1862 when he was mortally wounded. His body was retrieved and he was buried in Philadelphia Oct 7th 1862. He was as per his headstone aged 23 years of age.
The smaller stone at the front of the main family headstone was probably laid by members of GAR 51 of Philadelphia long after the Civil War ended.
GAR No. 51 was commanded by CPT Philip R. Schuyler of the Philadelphia Association.
Francis was born April 1840 to John Shields and Ann Gallagher in the small town of Kilmacrenan in N.W. Donegal near the larger town of Letterkenny. He was baptised 12th April.By 1861 he and his parents were in Philadelphia and living in the Kensington area of the city. Probably their emigration to America hastened by bad times in Ireland circa the Great Famine of 1847. Their probablt emigration route would have been via Derry, In 1861 he was living with his parents at the corner of Berks and Thompson Streets. On 26th Aug 1861 Francis enlisted in Co. K of the 69th Pa Infantry. He gave his age as 26 though probably only 21. He mustered in at Camp Observation Md. 31st Oct.1861. No doubt he took part in all the early engagements that the 69th got involved in. However his short life would be ended at the battle of Antietam on Sept 17th 1862 when he was mortally wounded. His body was retrieved and he was buried in Philadelphia Oct 7th 1862. He was as per his headstone aged 23 years of age.
The smaller stone at the front of the main family headstone was probably laid by members of GAR 51 of Philadelphia long after the Civil War ended.
GAR No. 51 was commanded by CPT Philip R. Schuyler of the Philadelphia Association.
CIVIL WAR SOLDIER 69TH PA.INF
Francis was born April 1840 to John Shields and Ann Gallagher in the small town of Kilmacrenan in N.W. Donegal near the larger town of Letterkenny. He was baptised 12th April.By 1861 he and his parents were in Philadelphia and living in the Kensington area of the city. Probably their emigration to America hastened by bad times in Ireland circa the Great Famine of 1847. Their probablt emigration route would have been via Derry, In 1861 he was living with his parents at the corner of Berks and Thompson Streets. On 26th Aug 1861 Francis enlisted in Co. K of the 69th Pa Infantry. He gave his age as 26 though probably only 21. He mustered in at Camp Observation Md. 31st Oct.1861. No doubt he took part in all the early engagements that the 69th got involved in. However his short life would be ended at the battle of Antietam on Sept 17th 1862 when he was mortally wounded. His body was retrieved and he was buried in Philadelphia Oct 7th 1862. He was as per his headstone aged 23 years of age.
The smaller stone at the front of the main family headstone was probably laid by members of GAR 51 of Philadelphia long after the Civil War ended.
GAR No. 51 was commanded by CPT Philip R. Schuyler of the Philadelphia Association.
Francis was born April 1840 to John Shields and Ann Gallagher in the small town of Kilmacrenan in N.W. Donegal near the larger town of Letterkenny. He was baptised 12th April.By 1861 he and his parents were in Philadelphia and living in the Kensington area of the city. Probably their emigration to America hastened by bad times in Ireland circa the Great Famine of 1847. Their probablt emigration route would have been via Derry, In 1861 he was living with his parents at the corner of Berks and Thompson Streets. On 26th Aug 1861 Francis enlisted in Co. K of the 69th Pa Infantry. He gave his age as 26 though probably only 21. He mustered in at Camp Observation Md. 31st Oct.1861. No doubt he took part in all the early engagements that the 69th got involved in. However his short life would be ended at the battle of Antietam on Sept 17th 1862 when he was mortally wounded. His body was retrieved and he was buried in Philadelphia Oct 7th 1862. He was as per his headstone aged 23 years of age.
The smaller stone at the front of the main family headstone was probably laid by members of GAR 51 of Philadelphia long after the Civil War ended.
GAR No. 51 was commanded by CPT Philip R. Schuyler of the Philadelphia Association.
Inscription
From what can be read off the headstone.
Sacred.
Francis Shields.
Son of John and Ann Shields
Who was killed at the battle of Antietam.
Sept 17th 1862.
In the 23rd year of his age.
Mrs Ann Shields
....78 years...
Ellen Gallagher
Ann M Shields
Gravesite Details
This is obvioulsly a family grave.Mrs Ann Shields was in fact his mother Ann Gallagher. The other two were family members.
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