Thomas Brannan
Thomas Brannan served in Company H of the 22nd U.S.C.T. He was born in Shenandoah, Virginia, around 1845 or 1848. He enlisted by Captain Eyster, as a private in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on December 28, 1863. According to his company descriptive book, he was eighteen years old, 5 feet and 7 inches tall, with black hair, eyes, and complexion, and was working as a farmer at the time. He was mustered out on the same date.1 He was mustered out after the end of the war on October 16, 1885, in Brownsville, Texas, and owed the military $0.20 for arms and equipment.2
Not much is known about his life after the Civil War. According to the 1870 Federal Census, he was living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, with his wife Laura and their daughter Mary, and he worked as a laborer. That census also lists a man named Benjamin Branin living with them at the time, who may be his father, although the relationship is not recorded on the census.3 Cumberland County tax records list his employment as a laborer from 1874 to 1877, and from 1877 to 1889, he was working as a clergyman.4
Brannan died on December 22, 1879, and is buried on the grounds of Big Springs Presbyterian Church in Newville, Pennsylvania. His grave is in section F1, and is number 71.5
- Co. H, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Descriptive Book, Dec 28, 1863.
- Co. H, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Muster-out Roll, Oct 16, 1865.
- 1870 United States Federal Census for Thomas Branin, 91B.
- Cumberland County Tax Rate Books, 1874-1875-1876; Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax Rate Books, 1877-1878-1879.
- Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012.
Bibliography:
Thomas Brannan. Cumberland County Tax Rate Books, 1874-1875-1876, Volume 2, Mount Holly Borough.
Thomas Brannan. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax Rate Books, 1877-1878-1879, Volume 2, Mount Holly Borough.
Thomas Brannan. Cumberland County Tax Rate Books, 1874-1875-1876, Volume 1, Newville Borough.
Thomas Brannan. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax Rate Books, 1877, 1878, 1879, Volume 1, Newville Borough, South Ward.
Thomas Brannan. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax Rate Books, 1877, 1878, 1879, Volume 2, West Pennsborough Township.
Thomas Brannan. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865. Ancestry.com. Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA.
Thomas Brannan. Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
1870 United States Federal Census for Thomas Branin. Ancestry.com. 91B. NARA: Washington, 2009.
Thomas Brannan, Co. H, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Descriptive Book, Dec 28, 1863. https://www.fold3.com/image/263163022
Thomas Brannan, Co. H, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Muster and Descriptive Roll of a Detachment of U.S. Vols, Dec 31, 1863. https://fold3.com/image/263163024
Thomas Brannan. Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Brannan, Co. H, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Volunteer Enlistment, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. https://www.fold3.com/image/263163056
Thomas Brannan, Co. H, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Muster-out Roll, Oct 16, 1865. https://www.fold3.com/image/263163049
Thomas Brannan, Co. H, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Declaration of Recruit. https://www.fold3.com/image/263163053