Looking for Decedents of Edward D. Varney he was my G,G Grand Father I also have a photo of him.

In the small town of Bowdoin, Maine just north of Brunswick,. the 1850 census shows young Edward age 7, living with his father Hicks S. Varney a Ships Carpenter and mother Adeline (Campbell) Varney . Sometime between 1850 and 1861 the Varney's move to the busy fishing port of Gloucester, Massachusetts, were Ship Carpenters are very much needed and undoubtabley the weather is much better. 18 year old Edward, 5ft. 5" tall dark hair and complexion with black eyes, a Baker by trade still living in Gloucester , enlists in the War of the Rebellion as a Private on November 2, 1861 in the 32 Reg. Co. C Massachusetts Infantry. During his service he contracted Typhoid fever and Malaria and was wounded on the 3rd day of June 1864 at Cold Harbor Virgina, shot in the upper thigh. Edward came home to Gloucester, Massachusetts and married Elizabeth Pettingill on June 13, 1865, and discharged from the Army as a Sargent on June 29, 1865 . The 1870 census of Gloucester, shows Edward as a fisherman and married to Lizzie E. both age 26 with two children Martha A. age 3, and George E. age 9 months. The Gloucester Directory of 1870/71 has them living on Water St. with his occupation of Tugboat engineer. September 26, 1871 their third child Ernest R. Varney was born. On September 8, 1875 Edward and Lizzie are divorced and Edward marries Rachel Curtis on December 16, 1875 and resides in Bowdoinham, Maine. In the census of 1880 in Bowdoinham, Edward with his new wife Rachel , son George E., and new daughter Bertha M.,are living at the home of his father in-law George Curtis. That same year Edward files for pension for his Faithful service in the War of the Rebellion. Almost 10 years of frustration have passed with many letters and affidavit's written still no pension. In a letter dated August 13, 1889 to the Honorable James Tanner, Commissioner of Pensions Washington DC. Edward writes.

" Dear Sir
I filed my claim for pension in 1880, and have got all the proof I could up to this time. That I was Disabled in the Service. I enlisted the 12th of November 1861 and served my Country Faithfully until the 29th of June 1865. I was away from my Co and Regiment about four months, in the Hospitals at City Point Va, and the Lincoln Hospital at Washington DC. The records of Lincoln Hospital will show, I was admitted with Malarial Fever also records of City Point Hospital ought to show I was treated for the same there, and sent from there to
Lincoln Hospital. With the statement of Dr. Garland " of Gloucester Mass" Who treated me for Chills and Rheumatism while on a furlough from Lincoln Hospital, ought to show that I had these Diseases while in the Service. Also the Statement of Dr. Cheney of Bowdoinham Me " who has since Died " Who treated " me from 1875 to 1888 " that am still suffering from the same. I would gladly get more proof if I could but it looks almost impossible to get any one who has personal Knowledge after all these years. " As those who best acquainted with Was Killed and have past away. " " When I enlisted in the Army I was in perfect Health " and the length of service and the hardships that one would have to endure. While in the Army of the Potomac ought to show that a man could not pass through this and come out a well man, that he must be Diseased more or less. While others who enlisted and never left the state are receiving Pension for Diseases contracted while in the service " is this just between the two men " Is it not common sence that a man would be more likely to be disabled and unfit for manual labor who served 3 to 4 years in Actual service then the one who served 3 to 6 months and was discharged for Diseases Contracted in the same service ' and today receives a pension " when he was no use to the United States. He is today a better man then the one who served his 4 years at the front " and why. " Because he has a Hospital record, and the one at the front has none. Was it this man who helped save Country or was it the man who was at his post and facing the danger of Act in Service there is something about this pension Law that is unjust to some it is not helping the man who did his Duty, but the one who never see a Rebel. Now I am unable to do manual labor and I ask the Government to do something for me in return for what I lost in helping her. As I stated in the first of my letter I have been 10 years trying for my Pension, something to help myself and Family and it has been all up hill work with me thus far. But I trust you as an old soldier and one who is a friend to the soldier as far as you can with justice to the Government will now do what you can and what you think right toward me. Will your Honor please consider this four letter in behalf of my Wife and Children and at your earliest pleasure give my claim your attention.
I will forward names of officers and soldiers but I don't think they can swear to having personal knowledge of my diseases. Address of
Col. James A Cummingham Com. of Soldier Home Chelsea Mass." late Col 32 Regt Mass Vol. "
Dr. Samuel W Fletcher Pepperell Mass Late of 32 Regt Mass Vol In.
Wm F Porter Dorchester Mass Late Sargent Co C. 32 Mass Vol
Wm H Wormstead ( evidence enclosed ) 1009 Prospect Ave Kansas City Mo Late of Co C. 32 Regt Mass Vol and was with me when wounded of the battle of Cold Harbor Va.
yours Resp. E D Varney Bowdoinham Maine "

From the Pension files of Edward Varney a letter from fellow soldier William H Wormstead (listed above) originally from Marblehead, Massachusetts reads.

" Kansas City Oct. 28th 1889
Sir _
I was with E. D. Varney of Co. C. 32nd Mass Regiment when, on the 3rd day of June, 1864 he received his wound. We were behind a light breastwork of rails,earth. I heard the bullet strike the rails and saw the splinters from the same with dust as Varney fell and was in great pain. I asked him where he was wounded and he told me he was helpless and I took him as far to the rear as I was allowed to go,giving him into charge of the ambulance corp. I did not see the wound.
Respectfully
William H Wormstead
1009, Prospect Ave.
Kansas City, Mo."

" 32nd Regiment Infantry Organized as a Battalion of 6 Companies for garrison duty at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, November 25, 1861. Duty at Fort Warren until May, 1862. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 26-28. Attached to Military district of Washington to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to October, 1864.
SERVICE.--At Capital Hill, Defenses of Washington, until June 24, 1862. Moved to Harrison's Landing, Va., June 25-July 3. (1 Co. Join at Harrison's Landing July 23, and 3 Cos. at Minor's Hill, Va., September 4, 1862.) At Harrison's Landing until August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 15-28. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 28-September 2. Battle of Bull Run August 30. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Blackford's Ford September 19. At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 30. Reconnaissance to Smithfield, W. Va., October 16-17. Movement to Falmouth October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Expedition to Richards' and Ellis Fords December 29-30. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-4. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. At Warrenton and Beverly Ford until September 17. At Culpeper until October 11. Bristoe Campaign October 11-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Bealeton, Va., until May, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Mills May 23. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864 (Reserve). Six-Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Lewis Farm, near Gravelly Run, March 29. White Oak Road March 31. Five Forks April 1. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Washington, D.C., May 1-12. Grand Review May 23. Duty at Washington until June 29. Mustered out June 29, and discharged July 11, 1865. Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 139 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 143 Enlisted men by disease. Total 289."
Edward did finally receive his pension with adjustments over the years of his life from $2.00 a month in 1890 to $ 90.00 a month in 1934.
In tracing his footsteps from 1900 to his death in 1934, we see the 1900 census of Bowdoinham, Maine, Rachel, his second wife living on Post Road #169 with her three son's, Edward is not listed (?). In his pension files a document shows him in Bowdoinham Maine until 1902, Rumford, Falls, Maine to 1909, Hopkington, Massachusetts to 1911, and in 1912 at North Shatford, New Hampshire. Why he moved around so much is a question not answered at this point in our research. We can only speculate that his wife has died, and he is living with his various children, and / or care givers. Brunswick, Maine 1926, Edward now 83 and suffering from many infirmities of old age, living with George and Ina Bean of 22 Jordon Avenue. Ina is his personal aid and has him on a very strict diet. 1933 Edward has moved once again and resides in Pittsburg New Hampshire with his son Arthur Varney who served in WW1 at Camp Devens for eleven months during the years 1918-1919. Edwards life comes to an end on April 9, 1934 in Brunswick Maine at the Herricks residence. His obituary in the Brunswick Record the Newspaper of Brunswick Maine dated April 19, 1934 reads.
" Edward D. Varney, 91, a Civil War veteran died April 9th, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs Warren Herrick, 13 Stanwood street, Brunswick, where he had made his home for the last five years.
He is survived by four sons and one daughter, living in New Hampshire.
Funeral services were held at the home of Mr. and Mrs Herrick Wednesday, April 11th, with Rev. Sheldon Christian officiating. The bearers were his four sons, Arthur, George, Leslie and Harold Varney.
Interment was at Bowdoinham Cemetery."

Author's note: February 22, 2004, I can only imagine my great great Grandfather's pride, heartache, and frustration during the later years of his life. He fought for his military pension while looking back at his service in the Civil War. From the blood baths of Gettysburg, to the Mine Explosion at Petersburg, to the day he was wounded at Cold Harbor,and the suffering on both sides. I can also imagine the relief on the day he was finally awarded his pension. Truly a better man.
Author Russell Hobbs