Person:John Chollar (1)

Massachusetts marriage records put him in Douglas in 1846, a blacksmith, and with the spelling of his family name as Collar. This is the same spelling shown in the birth record for his daughter Mary in 1847, though by the tine she's married in 1870 she's spelling the name Chollar. Further, his name is transcribed as Coller in later published volumes.

Douglas, Ma. deaths, list John Collar (veteran), widowed, age 73 years, 6 months, 19 days, axe maker, born in Vt., parents unknown, died from "hemorrhages of stomach and bowels caused by injuries received from his army life." Unfortunately, the story of this injury was never accepted by the U.S. Gov't., and despite a lengthy review, neither he nor his widow ever received any compensation.

John Collar enlisted at age 41 as a soldier in the 51st Ma. Volumteers, Co. 1, in the War of the Rebellion. Under the command of Col. ABR Sprague. The unit left Boston Nov. 25, 1862 travelling by steamer to Beaufort, NC, than by rail to New Bern, NC. According to testimony given years later, when applying for medical coverage, it was while boarding the steamer that he received the injury, either by being struck by a wooden box being loaded aboard or by falling down the ship's stairs, or a combination of the two. In any case he never saw action and when his company returned to Ma. he was discharged on Jan. 14, 1863. He is buried in the Chollar Family plot. East Douglas, Ma.

1870 Census gives age as 48, Axe Forger, born in VT. and with real estate valued at $2000 and personal assets of $500. Also listed are wife Ethelinda, 42, with personal assets worth $1000, and son George H., 15