Friday, December 07, 2007

Joseph Brandmore - updated 2/28/08

Joseph Brandmore, also known “Brandamore,” “Brandsmore” and as “Brandmorse”, was born 1841 in New York.

Both of Joseph’s parents were born in New York. Sometime before the war broke out Joseph left New York and eventually settled in western Michigan. By 1860 he was a farm laborer working for and/or living with Joseph Wheeler in Alpine, Kent County.

Joseph was 20 years old and probably still living in Kent County when he enlisted in Company B on May 13, 1861. Apparently Joseph shot himself accidentally in the foot on April 21, 1862. In any case, he was reported sick in the hospital from July of 1862 through August, and allegedly deserted on September 21 at Upton’s Hill, Virginia, although he was probably in fact hospitalized. Indeed, he was eventually listed as having “returned from desertion” on December 18, 1863, at Providence, Rhode Island, where he was transferred to the Veterans’ Reserve Corps on December 18, 1863 or January 15, 1864.

There is no further record, although he did survive the war.

It is not known if Joseph ever returned to Michigan, and in fact, it appears that after he the war he remained in Providence, Rhode Island, probably for the rest of his life.

He was possibly married to Samantha P. Harris on June 14, 1864, presumably in Providence, Rhode Island.

In any case, he was eventually married to Rhode Island native Frances J. Phinney 1835-1914), on December 24, 1873, probably in Providence, Rhode Island.

In the 1882 City Directory for Providence Joseph is reported as a painter living at 326 Chalkstone avenue in Providence; and in the 1889 City Directory he was listed as a driver for the Adams Express Company as well as a painter and was living (and working out of his home) at 326 Chalkstone and possible also 326 Prairie avenue, in Providence. In 1890 Joseph was working as a painter and living at 326 Chalkstone avenue in Providence, Rhode Island, when he applied for and received a pension (no. 1092873). (Although Joseph’s name does not appear in the veterans’ census for 1890.)

Joseph was still living at 326 Chalkstone in 1891, and in the 1895 and 1896 City Directories for Providence he is reported as working as a painter and living at no. 612 Chalkstone avenue; in the 1896 Directory next door at no. 616 is one John Phinney, jeweler. In 1900 Joseph was working as a house painter and living with his wife Frances in Providence’s Tenth Ward, Providence County, Rhode Island. In 1910 he was probably living in Providence’s Fourth Ward, Rhode Island. In 1920 he was living in Providence’s Fourth Ward, with his daughter and her husband and their family.

Joseph died on November 11, 1922, in Providence, Rhode island, and, according to his obituary the funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. at the Second United Presbyterian Church, corner of Chalkstone and Young avenues in Providence. He was presumably buried in North Providence.

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