Alfred Markham was born about 1845 in Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts and died on March 4, 1888, at Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Markham, who was born about 1808 at West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts and died in May of 1882 at Eden, Benton County, Iowa and Lucy Ann Wheeler, who was born on February 20, 1811 at Stonington, New London County, Connecticut and died on August 16, 1880 at Eden, Benton County, Iowa. They were married after January 22, 1832, in Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Lucy Markham is buried at Eden Cemetery, Benton County, Iowa. John Markham’s burial site is unknown.
Alfred married Albertine Bristol on August 25, 1867 at East Chatham, Columbia County, New York. She was born on March 15, 1845 at West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts and died on February 9, 1906, at Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Albertine was the daughter of Daniel L. Bristol who was born about 1813, most likely in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and died on November 1, 1877 at West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts and Mary Ann Son, who was born about 1813 at New York and died December 21, 1901 at West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Daniel L. Bristol and Mary Ann Bristol are buried in the West Stockbridge Cemetery, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Alfred and Albertine were the parents of: Gertrude Markham, January 29 1869; Evangeline Markham, October 16, 1870; Adele Markham, September 21, 1875; Roderick Markham, July 31, 1878. All of their children were born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Adele Markham was married to Roland Albert Williston on February 1, 1896 at Holyoke, Hamden County, Massachusetts. (Roland Williston was named after his uncle, Roland Stebbins Williston, who served with the Massachusetts 2nd Regiment, Company G and died of wounds received during the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 18, 1862. His other uncle, George Monroe Peter Williston served with the New York 95th Regiment NY Infantry Companies C and I, in place of his sister Emily’s husband, Charles Myers; George was wounded on May 5, 1864 during the Wilderness Campaign; although mustered out on July 16, 1865, his burial site is unknown.)
Alfred and Albertine Bristol Markham Blake were buried at the West Stockbridge Cemetery, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Alfred Markham’s Enlistment Record:
Alfred Markham, Residence: Richmond MA, an 18 year old Farmer, enlisted on September 6, 1862 as a Private; on September 19, 1862 mustered into Company B MA 49th Infantry, mustered out on September 1, 1863 at Pittsfield.
History: Forty Ninth Regiment MA Volunteer Infantry
The 49th Regiment MA Volunteer Militia was a Berkshire County Regiment, raised, like the 47th and 48th and the other nine month regiments in response to the call of the President of August 4, 1862. Its first rendezvous was at Camp Briggs, Pittsfield, the camp being commanded by Captain William Francis Bartlett who had lost a leg at Yorktown while serving with the 20th MA Infantry. Here the regiment received from Captain Bartlett its initial instruction in military drill and discipline, and here, between September 18 and October 28, all its companies were mustered into the service.
On November 7, the regiment was transferred to Camp Wool, Worcester, where it remained three weeks. Captain Bartlett having now been commissioned colonel of the 49th under his command it left Camp Wool, November 29, and proceeded via Norwich CT to New York City and thence to Camp Banks on Long Island, the rendezvous of the Banks expedition to Louisiana. Here the regiment gained for itself such a reputation for good discipline that the commandant of the camp, Brig. Gen. George L. Andrews, detailed large detachments from it for provost duty in New York City. So efficient was its service that it was retained in the vicinity of New York until all the other regiments of the Banks expedition had been sent forward.
Embarking January 23, 1863, on the steamer, ILLINOIS, on February 7, it reached New Orleans and went into camp at Carrollton, seven miles above the city. Here it remained until the 16th when it was transferred to Baton Rouge being assigned to Chapin’s First Brigade, Augur’s First Division, 19th Corps, the 48th forming a part of the same brigade.
On March 14 the 49th proceeded with Augur’s Division, which was followed by the rest of the corps, toward Port Hudson to make a demonstration in behalf of Farragut’s fleet. That night a part of the fleet passed the batteries successfully and secured a position above the city. The regiment returned to Baton Rouge, March 20, where it remained two months during which period it suffered much from sickness.
About May 20 it started for Port Hudson and on the following day was engaged at Plains Stores where several men of the regiment were wounded, Lt. Tucker of Company D losing a leg. About May 24 it arrived before Port Hudson and two days later was called upon to furnish volunteers for a “forlorn hope” which was to lead the assault which had been ordered for the 27th. To this call 65 officers and men responded. In the assault, which took place on the afternoon of May 27, the 49th lost 16 officers and men killed and 64 wounded, among the latter being Colonel Bartlett and Lt. Col. Sumner. The colonel’s wound in his left arm was so severe that he was never again able to do duty with the regiment. The Lt. Col was also permanently disabled, and the command of the regiment devolved on Major Plunkett who held it until its muster out.
In the assault of June 14, the 49th had no active part, but was under fire, losing one man killed and 17 wounded. Following this last assault it performed duty in the trenches until the surrender of Port Hudson, July 9. Transferred to Donaldsonville, on July 13, it took part in a short expedition into the interior along the line of Bayou Lafourche, being heavily engaged on the afternoon of that day with a loss of three killed five wounded and 16 prisoners. Returning to Donaldsville the regiment remained there until August 1, when it was transferred to its old camp at Baton Rouge. Here on the 7th it received the prisoners whom it lost at Bayou Lafourche, Transferred to New Orleans on the 8th the following day it embarked on the steamer, TEMPLE bound for Cairo,, where it took train for home. Arriving in Pittsfield, August 22, it received an enthusiastic reception, and here, September 1, it was mustered out of the United States service.
A review of his service record revealed that Alfred worked as a nurse at the Baton Rouge Hospital in Louisiana.
1870 Census Berkshire County West Stockbridge Page 782
Alfred Markham, carpenter, aged 23 Born in MA
Albertine, aged 25, Born in MA
Gertrude aged 1, Born in MA
1880 Census Berkshire County West Stockbridge Page 41A
Alferd (sic) Markam (sic) aged 32, born in MA
Albertine aged 32, born in MA
Gertie aged 11,born in MA
Evangline aged 10, born in MA
Adele aged 4, born in MA
Rodrick aged 1, born in MA
Mary Bristol aged 67, born in NY
Civil War Pension Record
Alfred Markham 49 Mass Inf, Company B
August 25, 1890, Widow, Albertine Markham
Application of Civil War Pension of A Widow June 20, 1891
Albertine Markham. aged 45, resident of 411 Main Street Holyoke, MA, widow of Alfred Markham, Company B 49th Regiment MA VOL INF; daughter Adeil Markham, born September 20, 1875
Granted $8 per month and an additional $2 per month for daughter Adeil until she reached 16; issued December 1892
US Pension Agency Boston MA
Albertine Markham who was a pensioner on the rolls of the agency certificate #354399
and who was last paid at $8. to July 17, 1893 has been dropped because of remarriage
Index to US Military Pension Applications of Remarried Widows for Service between 1812 and 1911 page 61
Blake, Albertine WC 354399 filed April 25, 1901 widow of Alfred Markham of Company B 49th MA infantry
Aug 1863.