Person:William Gressett (2)

Out of hundreds of Gressett's, a William Gressett is the only one who fought for the Union. He served in the 10th NJ Infantry. I believe this to be the same William who was Cordelia's brother but have no proof. My theory is that William and Cordelia, who's father and step-father had died before the war, went north at the start of the war. The 10th NJ was originally a Federal regiment which would have been a logical unit to join for someone from Virginia. It wasn't until a little later the unit was given to New Jersey and named the 10th. Recruiting was done in Camden, which is very close to where W. W. lived at the time. In the 1880 census, William is living alone in Camden, which is still close to where Cordelia and W. W. were living in Montgomery County, Pa. In that census he says he was born in Maryland and doesn't give birthplace of parents. There was also a William Gressett from Gloucester County, a civilian, who was captured as a prisoner of war and later traded in a prisoner exchange. I think this was one of the Gressett cousins from next door in Gloucester.

1. ↑ MacAvoy and Eckhardt, Our Brother's Gone Before.