Ancestor: George W. Chamberlain and his son George
Descendant: Edith L.
My 3rd great-grandfather, George W. Chamberlain, was a comfortably situated middle-aged carpenter in Nashua, NH when the Civil War broke out.
He enlisted in the NH 7th Regiment, accompanied by his young son George who served as a drummer boy. I knew this part of their story before I did family research. My Dad was always proud of their joint service -- one too old, one too young, both determined.
Like their namesake, George Washington, they were willing to fight for country and for freedom. Research, however, unearthed a deeper truth about their sacrifice.
Despite being in his forties, the elder George served two tours of duty -- and ultimately his pension papers show -- was blinded. Undaunted, he and young George ran a rooming house in Lawrence, MA so his other children could eke out hard-earned livings in the textile mills.
The whole family paid a huge price for father and son serving in the Union army. Their story has inspired lives of service and resilience in five more generations of our family.