John William Baisley was born 1 July 1844 in the village of Greenpoint, Long Island, Brooklyn, New York, the son of Sarah Rabbeson and James Baisley, who was also born in Brooklyn. His parents never married. His mother stayed with him for nine weeks following his birth, at which time she placed him in the care of an A.E. Egbert. John remained under Mr. Egbert's guardianship until he was eleven years old, at which time he "struck out" on his own. John never saw his mother following his birth, and his father only once, at his wedding in 1870. John carried the surname Rabbeson until his discharge from the Navy in 1865, at which time he returned to his paternal name, Baisley.
On 9 January 1864, John enlisted in the United States Navy at New York City. Prior to his enlistment he was living on Staten Island and working at whatever job he could find, his last being work in a coal yard. He served on the USS North Carolina from 9 January 1864 to 16 April 1864, at which time he transferred to the USS Clyde, serving from 30 June 1864 to 15 August 1865. He was honorably discharged from military service on 16 August 1865 at the Philadelphia Naval Yard in Pennsylvania.
John returned to New York City following his discharge and was married to Sarah Ann Fisher on February 13, 1870, in the Church of Immaculate Conception on Manhattan Island in New York City. Their first two children, John William and George Henry, were born in New York City.
By 1875, John and Sarah had moved with their family to Branford, Connecticut, where their remaining ten children were born: Emogene F. (Sissy) on December 15th, 1875; Silas S. on October 30th, 1877; Thomas Atwood on December 15th, 1879; James Andrew on October 22nd, 1881; Estelle on October 12th, 1883; Lauretta on February 7th, 1886; Sadie Louise on July 30th, 1888; Joseph Vernon on January 19th, 1890; Violet E. on September 27th, 1892; and Raymond Francis, on February 22nd, 1895.
John worked as a laborer in a variety of jobs until 1880, when he began work as an iron-moulder at the Malleable Iron Fittings Company in Branford. He was employed in that position for the next thirty years. In 1903, at the age of 50, his faithful and beloved wife, Sarah, died. John followed her in 1917, dying at the age of 72 years in the household of his son, Joseph Vernon.
Although no picture of John was saved through the years, a physical description of him at the time of his enlistment in the Navy in 1864 can be found in his Civil War Pension File: John was of medium build, 5'4" tall, of light complexion, hazel eyes and auburn hair...
On 9 January 1864, John enlisted in the United States Navy at New York City. Prior to his enlistment he was living on Staten Island and working at whatever job he could find, his last being work in a coal yard. He served on the USS North Carolina from 9 January 1864 to 16 April 1864, at which time he transferred to the USS Clyde, serving from 30 June 1864 to 15 August 1865. He was honorably discharged from military service on 16 August 1865 at the Philadelphia Naval Yard in Pennsylvania.
John returned to New York City following his discharge and was married to Sarah Ann Fisher on February 13, 1870, in the Church of Immaculate Conception on Manhattan Island in New York City. Their first two children, John William and George Henry, were born in New York City.
By 1875, John and Sarah had moved with their family to Branford, Connecticut, where their remaining ten children were born: Emogene F. (Sissy) on December 15th, 1875; Silas S. on October 30th, 1877; Thomas Atwood on December 15th, 1879; James Andrew on October 22nd, 1881; Estelle on October 12th, 1883; Lauretta on February 7th, 1886; Sadie Louise on July 30th, 1888; Joseph Vernon on January 19th, 1890; Violet E. on September 27th, 1892; and Raymond Francis, on February 22nd, 1895.
John worked as a laborer in a variety of jobs until 1880, when he began work as an iron-moulder at the Malleable Iron Fittings Company in Branford. He was employed in that position for the next thirty years. In 1903, at the age of 50, his faithful and beloved wife, Sarah, died. John followed her in 1917, dying at the age of 72 years in the household of his son, Joseph Vernon.
Although no picture of John was saved through the years, a physical description of him at the time of his enlistment in the Navy in 1864 can be found in his Civil War Pension File: John was of medium build, 5'4" tall, of light complexion, hazel eyes and auburn hair...
John William Baisley was born 1 July 1844 in the village of Greenpoint, Long Island, Brooklyn, New York, the son of Sarah Rabbeson and James Baisley, who was also born in Brooklyn. His parents never married. His mother stayed with him for nine weeks following his birth, at which time she placed him in the care of an A.E. Egbert. John remained under Mr. Egbert's guardianship until he was eleven years old, at which time he "struck out" on his own. John never saw his mother following his birth, and his father only once, at his wedding in 1870. John carried the surname Rabbeson until his discharge from the Navy in 1865, at which time he returned to his paternal name, Baisley.
On 9 January 1864, John enlisted in the United States Navy at New York City. Prior to his enlistment he was living on Staten Island and working at whatever job he could find, his last being work in a coal yard. He served on the USS North Carolina from 9 January 1864 to 16 April 1864, at which time he transferred to the USS Clyde, serving from 30 June 1864 to 15 August 1865. He was honorably discharged from military service on 16 August 1865 at the Philadelphia Naval Yard in Pennsylvania.
John returned to New York City following his discharge and was married to Sarah Ann Fisher on February 13, 1870, in the Church of Immaculate Conception on Manhattan Island in New York City. Their first two children, John William and George Henry, were born in New York City.
By 1875, John and Sarah had moved with their family to Branford, Connecticut, where their remaining ten children were born: Emogene F. (Sissy) on December 15th, 1875; Silas S. on October 30th, 1877; Thomas Atwood on December 15th, 1879; James Andrew on October 22nd, 1881; Estelle on October 12th, 1883; Lauretta on February 7th, 1886; Sadie Louise on July 30th, 1888; Joseph Vernon on January 19th, 1890; Violet E. on September 27th, 1892; and Raymond Francis, on February 22nd, 1895.
John worked as a laborer in a variety of jobs until 1880, when he began work as an iron-moulder at the Malleable Iron Fittings Company in Branford. He was employed in that position for the next thirty years. In 1903, at the age of 50, his faithful and beloved wife, Sarah, died. John followed her in 1917, dying at the age of 72 years in the household of his son, Joseph Vernon.
Although no picture of John was saved through the years, a physical description of him at the time of his enlistment in the Navy in 1864 can be found in his Civil War Pension File: John was of medium build, 5'4" tall, of light complexion, hazel eyes and auburn hair...
On 9 January 1864, John enlisted in the United States Navy at New York City. Prior to his enlistment he was living on Staten Island and working at whatever job he could find, his last being work in a coal yard. He served on the USS North Carolina from 9 January 1864 to 16 April 1864, at which time he transferred to the USS Clyde, serving from 30 June 1864 to 15 August 1865. He was honorably discharged from military service on 16 August 1865 at the Philadelphia Naval Yard in Pennsylvania.
John returned to New York City following his discharge and was married to Sarah Ann Fisher on February 13, 1870, in the Church of Immaculate Conception on Manhattan Island in New York City. Their first two children, John William and George Henry, were born in New York City.
By 1875, John and Sarah had moved with their family to Branford, Connecticut, where their remaining ten children were born: Emogene F. (Sissy) on December 15th, 1875; Silas S. on October 30th, 1877; Thomas Atwood on December 15th, 1879; James Andrew on October 22nd, 1881; Estelle on October 12th, 1883; Lauretta on February 7th, 1886; Sadie Louise on July 30th, 1888; Joseph Vernon on January 19th, 1890; Violet E. on September 27th, 1892; and Raymond Francis, on February 22nd, 1895.
John worked as a laborer in a variety of jobs until 1880, when he began work as an iron-moulder at the Malleable Iron Fittings Company in Branford. He was employed in that position for the next thirty years. In 1903, at the age of 50, his faithful and beloved wife, Sarah, died. John followed her in 1917, dying at the age of 72 years in the household of his son, Joseph Vernon.
Although no picture of John was saved through the years, a physical description of him at the time of his enlistment in the Navy in 1864 can be found in his Civil War Pension File: John was of medium build, 5'4" tall, of light complexion, hazel eyes and auburn hair...
