Billings, Calvin

MILITARY SERVICE Age: 26, credited to Whiting, VT Unit(s): 11th VT INF, 5th NY CAV Service: enl 7/30/62, m/i 9/1/62, Pvt, Co. B, 11th VT INF, m/o 10/13/62, "Discharged Oct 15, 1862, Negro dropped from the Rolls, Fort Lincoln, DC"; enl, Ticonderoga, NY, 12/5/63, m/i, Pvt, Co. B, 5th NY CAV, 12/5/63, tr to Co. C, 12/18/63, dis/dsb 10/24/64 (laborer, eyes, black; hair, black, complex. dark, 5' 7") See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALS Birth: About 1832, Jay, NY Death: Before 2/13/1891 Burial: May be buried in ..., , NY Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone researcher/photographer: Findagrave Memorial #: 0 (There may be a Findagrave Memorial, but we have not recorded it) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, Mother Amanda Billings, 2/13/1891, NY, not approved; widow's application, Mary O., 2/23/1918, FL, not approved Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (State digraphs will show that this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldier's home) Remarks: None Note: The 11th Vermont Infantry was also known as the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery; the names were used interchangably for most of its career DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today)

BURIAL: Copyright notice New York Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there.

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Biography

Calvin Billings was the son of Peter Billings and Amanda Smith. Peter and Amanda were natives of Vermont. Between at least 1850 and 1880, Peter is consistently recorded as mulatto, and Amanda as white.

In 1850, Peter and Amanda were living in Chazy, Clinton, New York. Calvin, 18, was the oldest of five children. Peter and all the children were listed as mulattos.

In 1860, Calvin, listed as a mulatto, was a 28yo farm laborer, living on William Dickinson's farm in West Haven, Vermont. The census indicates he was born in New York.

Calvin enlisted in Whiting, Vermont on 30 July 1862. His physicial description was listed as 5' 7" tall, dark hair, eyes and complexion. He said he was born in New York, and was a farmer.

He was assigned to Company B, 11th Vermont Infantry, on 1 September 1862 when the regiment was mustered in. He received a $25.00 bounty and a $2.00 premium upon muster in.

There are four notations in his short Compiled Service Record:

"Dropped Oct. 15, 1862, He being a Negro by his own confession."

"Negro by his own admission. Dropped as soon as known."

Oct. 1862: (11 Regt Vt Inf) Loss Oct 15/62 Fort Massachusetts DC. Negro by his own admission. Dropped from rolls as soon as known."

"Discharged Oct 15, 1862. Negro dropped from the Rolls Fort Lincoln, DC."

In a letter to his father from Fort Massachusetts on 14 October 1862, 1st Lieutenant Aldace Walker, Co. B, commented "One man, a negro, we were just ordered to drop from our rolls."

Not to be deterred, Calving enlisted on 5 December 1863, in Ticonderoga, and mustered in the same days in Co. C, 5th New York Cavalry. The New York Adjutant General's records indicate he was born in Jay, New York. His physical description was the same as listed before.

He was discharged 26 September 1864 on a surgeon's certificate of disability.

He apparently died 8 September 1871, but there is conflicing information as to where he died. (See below)

In 1880, Peter and Amanda were living in Altona, Clinton, New York.

On 13 February 1891, Calvin's mother Amanda applied for a pension from New York, based on his service in both units, but it was never approved.

On 13 or 23 February 1918, Mary O. Billings, applied for a widow's pension from Florida, based on his New York service, but it was not approved either (the two forms of pension index cards have conflicting dates)

Pension record index cards to be attached, showing he died either in Lynn Haven, Florida or Mount Tabor, Vermont.

Draft biography pending