Living in the County Archive: Indigent Soldier’s Burial Relief Records

 

Happy Independence Day from your county archive! In honor of the holiday, we are remembering those who fought for their country by digging in to the records that are “Living in the County Archive”, and examining Indigent Soldier’s Burial Relief Records.

These records document the burials of honorably discharged Union veterans of the Civil War, who at their time of death were unable to afford burial costs. Authorized by the County Commissioners, these records seem to have been eventually classified as records of the County Auditor. Entries of the record indicate the name of the deceased veteran and the name of their widow if applicable, residence of the deceased, military unit of the veteran, date and place of death, burial place, occupation of the deceased, cost of burial, and names of persons who testified to the inability of family members to pay for the burial despite title of records.


 Transcribed, the record reads:

“The State of Ohio. To the Board of County Commissioners of    Licking    County, Ohio: We, the undersigned, appointed by you, for _____________ Township, Licking ___County, Ohio under and by Virtue of ‘an Act Authorizing the burial of the body of any honorably discharged ex-union soldier.’ &c. passed April 11, 1884, (P. 146, Vol. 81, O.L.), respectfully report to you that we are satisfied, after careful inquiry into, and examination of all the circumstances in the case that the family of _________ of Co. ____________ is unable, for want of means, to defray the expenses of burial of said _____who died at _________on the _____ day of _________ 188_, and was buried at _______. Occupation while living __________.

                Attached hereto is an accurately itemized statement of the expenses incurred by reason of the burial aforesaid__________ Statement_______Coffin______ Grave______ Other expenses__________ Total______


_____________Township,        _____________               
Persons Appointed as Aforesaid.

_____________ County,          ______________

_____________188_                _______________

 

We, the undersigned, residents of _________ Township,_________County, Ohio, hereby certify that we know the within statement, relative to the indigency and inability of the family of__________ to defray said funeral expenses, to be true.


  ____________ Ohio,         ______________

_____________ 188_         _______________”

 


 The aid for indigent service member’s burial was also extended to their widows. The above image is in reference to the burial of “Mrs. Anna Honell widow of Samuel Honell.” Samuel was in Company H, 5th Regiment CVJ.

At the time, the County Commissioners also appointed three citizens from each township/ward in the county to assist in making burial arrangements.

 


Transcribed, the newspaper clipping reads:

“Of interest to Soldiers. A Committee Appointed by the County Commissioners. To Arrange for the Burial of the Deceased Soldiers Who May be in Indigent Circumstances.

                The County Commissioners have appointed three citizens from each township in the county, and ward in the city, to attend to and make arrangements for the burial of all honorably discharged soldiers who may decease and be in indigent circumstances. Following is a list of persons comprising the committee:”

                 Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers aid to veterans and their families for burial costs. There is something special, however, when the aid comes directly from your community. Committee members assigned to help make preparations for the burial came from the same township or ward, so they could have been your neighbor or at the least someone who lived nearby. They could have known you and your family, making it a more personal affair during a difficult time.

 To learn more about the Indigent Soldier’s Burial Relief Records and take a look at the volumes, you can stop by or make an appointment to visit the office by contacting 740-670-5121, or email the Records Center at archives@lcounty.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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