
In Part 1 we listed the Union Naval Officers who were known to have settled and died here after the war. This site continues the listing of Civil War personnel buried in Australia, giving brief biographical details of naval enlisted men, a Marine Corps private and a Merchant Marine officer whose encounter with a Confederate warship qualifies him for inclusion here. The majority of the information shown here was obtained from Military and Pension records at the National Archives, Washington DC. Other details are available through the kind assistance of the personnel at the Naval Historical Center, Washington, DC. Additional information on Charles Harrison Bristol was provided by the kind courtesy of the History and Genealogy Unit, Connecticut State Library at Hartford, on John Lester by Mrs N.Y. Baldock at the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society, Inc. in Adelaide, and on Josephin Cresp by Mrs. Norah Kendall. Some sources, especially for veteran Joseph Woodville Bolles' data, have not been shown here to prevent plagiarism, which has been encountered, especially from a so called researcher living in Brisbane.
Once again we wish to thank Roy Parker, of Sydney, NSW who has been the driving force behind this research. Barry Crompton, of Melbourne, VIC and Bob Simpson, of Beechworth, VIC have also provided much valuable help. Our thanks also go out to the many others whose names have not been mentioned, and without whose help this site would not have been possible.
WILLIAM EDWARD BLOOMER, a native of Baltimore, MD was born about 1840. Prior to his enlistment in the U5 Navy on May 16, 1861, he was employed as an office boy and civil engineer. He enrolled as a Landsman on the receiving ship ALLEGHENY at Baltimore. Later serving aboard the WISSAHICKON on the Mississippi River, he contracted dysentery and malarial fever about July 1862 and was sent to the US Naval Hospital at Philadelphia, PA where he was discharged on September 6, 1862. After the war he was employed in various pursuits, residing in several eastern US cities and towns including Baltimore, Washington, DC, Annapolis, MD and Glen Rock, PA. The mid-1880's found him in Sydney, NSW. He married Hannie Josephine Carden at Sydney about 1893 and passed away on June l8, 1896, being laid to rest at the Rookwood Cemetery.
JOSEPH WOODVILLE BOLLES, although not a serving member of the Union Navy at the time of the Civil War, is included here because he was 4th Mate aboard the merchant vessel WAVERLEY when she was captured, together with seven other whalers, in the Behring Straits on June 28, 1865 by the Confederate warship SHENANDOAH. Bolles was born January 14 (not the 15th, as shown in some sources), 1843, at Rochester (not Mattapoisett, where he later lived with his family), Massachusetts, son of cooper Prince Bolles and his wife, Deborah. Brother of William, Kerry and Charles. Followed the calling of the sea from an early age, and was engaged in whaling expeditions. He was compensated by the ALABAMA Claims Commission for loss of property on the WAVERLEY when that vessel was burnt by the SHENANDOAH. After the war, he went to New Zealand, and later served on a merchantman sailing from Sydney. He was shipwrecked, rescued and eventually landed in Brisbane, where he was very well treated, and which fact possibly gave him the decision to settle in Queensland. The early 1870's found him engaged with a fleet of punts, on the Brisbane River, shipping coal from the pit of Blond and Wright. He later moved to Cooktown, Queensland, during the Parlmer River gold rush, and he traded in beche-de-mer, and engaged in shipbuilding. He was the first to open up communication between the Stewart River and Cooktown. When the Coen River (in far Northern Queensland) gold rush was on, he brought the first cargo of telegraph material from Cooktown to Normanton, having, during his time in Cooktown, qualified as a Master Mariner. He made a number of trips from Cooktown to New Guinea, and had many and varied experiences with the natives there, as he also did with the Aborigines in and around Cooktown. He was intimately acquainted with the persons whose names were later synonymous with what became known as the Lizard Island Tragedy. Moved to Townsville, with his family, at a later stage, and continued in the line of shipbuilding, from which he retired about 1915. Bolles was a member of the Masonic Order in 1874, and was also a member of the PFSOA. He became master of his own vessel, the DOVE, during the 1890's. He enjoyed excellent health until a few weeks before his death. He died in Townsville, QLD on April 8, 1930 and is buried at the West End Cemetery. The high esteem he was held in was shown by the large number of wreaths and messages of condolence received at his funeral. When he passed on he left family members who resided in Cairns, Queensland, Perth, Western Australia, as well as in Townsville.
![]() of Tuesday, July 26, 1932. |
CHARLES HARRISON BRISTOL, was born March 12, 1840 at Middletown, CT. He enlisted in the US Army on April 22, 1861 under his original name. Serving in Company G, 2nd CT Infantry as a Private, he was mustered out on August 7, 1861 at New Haven, CT. On September 23, 1861, he enlisted in the US Navy under the name Charles Brown. The reason for this assumed name is unknown, but he served honoralbly as a Landsman aboard the UNADILLA and BRITTANIA and was discharged in 1864 at Norfolk, VA. Once again using his own name, he enlisted, on December 17, 1864, in the l5th CT Infantry and was captured at Kinston, NC on March 8, 1865. On March 23, 1865, he was transferred to Richmond, VA, and three days later he was paroled at Boulware & Coxe's Wharf, VA. On March 30, 1865 he was furloughed for 30 days. Accounts of his subsequent service differ with one source showing he deserted and another showing he was transferred to the 7th CT Infantry on June 24, 1865. After the war he went seafaring for about four years, arriving in Victoria, Australia shortly after. On October 19, 1876 he married Eliza Ann McCarron at Kaarimba, VIC and was employed farming and as a carpenter. He died at Katunga, VIC on July 23, 1932 and is buried at the Numurkah Cemetery.
JAMES BROWN, a Scotsman, born in Glasgow on October 6, 1833, enlisted March 1, l865 at New York and served as a 2nd Class Fireman aboard the Union naval vessels VERMONT, VANDERBILT, POTOMAC and BUCKTHORN. He was discharged at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY on March 28, 1867. Very soon after his discharge he came to Australia and married Julia Williams at Melbourne, VIC on July 26, 1869. He was employed as a fireman and died at Melbourne on September 20, 1908 and is buried at the Footscray Cemetery.
JOSEPHIN CRESP, was born in France on February 26, 1848. In January 1864 he enlisted in the Union Army under the surname Peter Martin and served only five months in the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry before transferring to naval service on May 9, 1864. He served aboard the NORTH CAROLINA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, O.M. PETTIT and VERMONT before leaving the service in April 1866. within a few years he had arrived in Australia and in April 1878 married Catherine O'Connor at Horsham, VIC. Later he farmed in Victoria, before moving to Berri, South Australia, where he died on February 27, 1922.
MURTHA DOYLE, a native of Ireland, was born at Gorey, County Wexford on June 4, 1836. On November 2, 1857 he joined the regular army at Buffalo, NY, as a private in Company A, 8th US Infantry and served five years until his discharge at Berlin, MD on November 2, 1862. Three weeks later he enlisted in the US Marine Corps at New York and served aboard the naval vessels UNION and VANDALIA, as well as at Marine Barracks' at Pensacola, FL, Boston, MA and Portsmouth, NH, where he was discharged on completion of service on November 29, 1866. After leaving the service he travelled to Ireland, where he remained for some years before heading for New Zealand and then Australia. While in Ireland he married Susan Cassidy on November 27, l87l. Doyle spent his final years in Sydney, NSW where he died on October 10, 1913.
THOMAS MASON FRANCIS,a North Carolinian by birth, was born January 6, 1839 at Columbia. He joined the US Navy at Boston in l862 and served on the COLORADO. He was discharged at New York and continued his seafaring career in the merchant marine. Sailing to England, Mauritius and finally Melbourne where he got his discharge in 1866, he travelled to New Zealand before returning to Australia in 1873. On May 12, 1888 he married Eva Emma Judd at Dubbo, NSW where he worked as a carpenter. He died and is buried at Gilgandra, NSW on December 5, 1927.
JOHN HANNA, was born in New York City on February 8, 1841. Two Statutory Declarations filled out by him in the early 1900's state that he was also known as Robert Hanna. He was in Mobile, AL in l861 or l862 and joined the Confederate Army. When able to he immediately deserted and joined the US Navy at New York on September 8, 1862 as a Landsman. He served aboard the NORTH CAROLINA as well as the MEMPHIS, which was on blockading duty at Charleston, SC. On September 7, 1863 he was transferred to the PRINCETON at Philadelphia, where he was discharged ten days later. He left New York in 1864 for Australia where he married Selina Dean on October 9, 1869. He died at Liverpool, NSW on August 28, 1910 and is buried at St. Lukes Cemetery.
![]() Eliza Hazelman about 1910. (Courtesy of Roy W. Parker) |
THEODORE LAURENT HAZELMAN, was born August 14, l840 in Luxembourg. As a mariner aboard the merchant coaling vessel JOHN CARVER in 1861 he was taken prisoner by the Confederate naval brig JEFF DAVIS at Key West, FL. Taken to St. Augustine, he was compelled to join the Confederate Army, on October 5, 1861 as a private in Company F, 8th Florida Infantry, deserting on June 30, 1862. On August 14, 1863, he enlisted in the US Navy as a Seaman at New York with service aboard the vessels NORTH CAROLINA and FORT JACKSON. He was discharged from the naval service on November 3, l863, and this short service later affected his pension application. He arrived in Melbourne about July l864 and farmed in the Kyabram district of Victoria. He died on June 21, 1934.
ROBERT HUGHES, was born at Carnarvon, Wales on April 5, l841. As a seaman he travelled to the US and on January 20, 1864 joined the Union Navy. He served aboard the NORTH CAROLINA, FEARNOT, VINCENNES and COWSLIP before being discharged on January 31, 1865. Later he returned to Britain and joined the Royal Navy. In 1876 he commenced a de facto relationship with Elizabeth Roberts at Liverpool, England. They later sailed to New Zealand and then Australia. Robert died in Sydney on November 27, 1918 and is buried at the Rookwood Cemetery.
JOHN LESTER, was born about 1846 in London, England. He enlisted in the 28th Massachusetts Infantry at Eastham on April 9, 1864 and appears to have transferred to naval service twenty days later at Philadelphia. Naval records show him as a member of the PRINCETON and the JAMES ADGER, from which he deserted on April 29, 1865. Served in the merchant marine after the war. It is not known exactly when he arrived in Australia but he settled and died at Murray Bridge in South Australia on September 16, 1907 and is buried in the local cemetery.
SILAS LYON MOFFETT, a native of New York, was born at New Woodstock on July 24, 1841. He enlisted in the US Navy at New York on August 23, 1864 as a Landsman, and served aboard the VERMONT, VANDERBILT and NORTH CAROLINA. After the war he lived in New York and Michigan and worked as an architectural draftsman and builder. In 1866 he married Julia Idolia Tackabury at New York and they came to Australia about 1884. They lived in Newcastle, and then Sydney, NSW, where he died on December 11, 1923 and is buried at the Rookwood Cemetery.
JAMES ABNER SHERMAN was born on September 27, 1845 at Liverpool, England and moved to the US in 1846 with his parents. His pre-war residences included Chicago, IL and on June 28, 1864, he enlisted in the US Navy at Cincinnati, OH under the assumed name of Thomas Haynes. He served on the GRAMPUS as a seaman and later as a Paymasters Steward on the GREAT WESTERN. He was discharged on August 2, 1865 at Cairo, IL. After the war he joined the Grand Army of the Republic at Chicago and later joined the merchant marine, arriving in Australia in 1877. On August 5, 1884 he married Margaret Doyle at Warragul, VIC. On January 15, 1916, he died in Melbourne and is buried at the Coburg Cemetery.
EDWARD STANLEY assumed the name of FRANK LAWRENCE when he enlisted in the US Navy at Havana, Cuba in November, 1861. He was born on March 25, 1836 at Belfast, Ireland. His service as a seaman was aboard the SANTIAGO DE CUBA, MONONGAHELA, NIPSIC, FRANKLIN and PRINCETON and he was Captain of the Top by the time of his discharge at Philadelphia in December, 1864. The date of his arrival in Australia is unknown but on December 21, 1878, he married Mary Ann Chilton at Echuca, VIC. His death on February 27, 1908 occurred at Cottesloe beach in Western Australia.
ADAM EDWARD WALSH was born at Waterford, Ireland on June 17, 1841. He served with the Revenue Cutter Service and the US Navy under the assumed name of George Davis, for a period of about ten years from 1858. His Civil War service was aboard the vessels CHOCURA and BRANDYWINE. After his arrival in Australia he joined the Queensland Customs Service, where he served thirty years. On September 8, 1875 he married Josephine Charlotte Andersen at Maryborough, QLD. On January 21, 1925, he passed away at Bundaberg, QLD and is buried at the Bundaburg General Cemetery.
JAMES FRANCIS WATERS, a native of Louth County, Ireland, was born on June 4, 1842. On April 24, 1863 he enlisted for two years as a Landsman in the US Navy, and served aboard the PRINCETON, LILAC and NORTH CAROLINA. After his discharge on July 24, 1865 he re-enlisted in naval service for several terms and then joined the merchant marine. He left the US in 1879 and arrived in Tasmania on July 3 of that year. He settled down in that state and married Rachel Elizabeth. His final years were spent in the Hobart area where he died on May 22, 1923, and was laid to rest at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery.
WILLIAM WATERS, was born June l5, 1845 at Yorkshire, England. On December 17, 1863, he enrolled in the US Navy at Philadelphia. His term of service as a Landsman was aboard the PRINCETON and KANSAS. After his discharge at Philadelphia on September 25, 1864, Waters went west where he was engaged in gold mining for several years until leaving for England in 1868. He lived there for about a dozen years and married Meggy Golders about 1870. She passed away in 1882 at Manchester and soon after he came to Queensland, Australia, where on October 18, 1883 he married Susannah Moss in Brisbane. He was employed as a carpenter in Brisbane and he was highly thought of by his employers. William passed away in Brisbane on July 23, l922 and is buried in an unmarked grave at the Toowong Cemetery.
PLINY WILLIAM WISE, our first African-American Civil War veteran was born December 4, 1834 at East Greenwich, RI. He enlisted in the US Naval service on August 27, 1862 at Boston, as a seaman aboard the OHIO. He then served respectively aboard the naval vessels PRINCETON, WISSAHICKON, VIXEN, NORTH CAROLINA, DAYLIGHT and MORSE until August 27, 1863 when he was discharged at Baltimore. Wise also declares service aboard the CIRCASSIAN and IROQUOIS. This is probably true given the incomplete records of the period. His post-war residences included New York, Philadelphia and New Bedford, before his eventual arrival in New South Wales, Australia where he worked as a General laborer. His first marriage to Sarah Francis ended with her demise in September 1877 at Sydney. In August 1878 he married again, this time to Euphemia Abbot in Sydney. William Wise continued living in this city until his death on April 2, 1904. His remains were laid to rest at the Field of Mars Cemetery.
Thank you for visiting this site. If you would like more information, or have details of other Civil War veterans who lived and died in Australia, please send an e-mail message to Terry Foenander or Barry Crompton.
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