Joseph Stillman JEFFREY

1838 - 1863  (25 years)

• Name	Joseph Stillman JEFFREY
  Born	6 May 1838	Virginia (now West Virginia)   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1850, 1860	Doddridge Co, (W)VA
  Military	ENLISTED 5/2/1863  [4]
  	Sgt, 180th Militia (Capt J. H. Bee, Co A), Civil War
  	Although Doddridge County did not see any full-blown battles during the Civil War, there was a noteworthy "skirmish" that occurred in West Union on May 6, 1863. By that time in the Civil War, Confederate officers realized that the best way to cut off Union supplies and communications was to disable the B&O railroad. Under the command of Generals William E. Jones and John D, Imboden, Confederate forces were sent out to destroy bridges and tunnels all along the railroad that was referred to as "Lincoln’s lifeline" because of its importance in conveying troops and supplies. One local soldier who encountered the Jones-Imboden raid here in West Union was Joseph Stillman Jeffrey. Joseph was born May 6, 1838 in Doddridge County, the son of Joseph Jeffrey, Jr. and Tacy Davis. He enlisted on May 2, 1863 in Company A of Captain Josiah H. Bee’s 180th Militia Home Guard. He survived the Jones-Imboden Raid at West Union (on his 25th birthday), only to be accidentally shot with a musket on May 14, 1863. We do not know the circumstances surrounding the accident, only that he died from this wound the next day. Flavius Josephus Ashburn wrote about Joseph’s death in his diary. "On Thursday the 14th Stillman Jeffrey was accidentally shot through with a musket. After enduring excessive agony, until sometime in the night he expired." This is the only documentation we have for the circumstances of Joseph Stillman Jeffrey’s death. If not for that diary, Joseph’s story would have been lost in history. Although his headstone can no longer be located, we know from earlier cemetery readings that he is buried in the Seventh Day Baptist section of the Blockhouse Hill Cemetery in West Union. SOURCE: Researched and written by Jennifer Wilt. Originally printed in "The Doddridge Independent," May 20 2016.
  Died	15 May 1863	Doddridge Co, (W)VA   [2, 5]
  	Cause: accidental gunshot wound
  Buried	Blockhouse Hill Cemetery (old SDB section), West Union, Doddridge Co, WV   [6]
  	A readable marker for him can no longer be found. Earlier readings of this cemetery placed his grave beside his mother's and in line with his father and other family members.
  Person ID	I98144	Doddridge County Roots
  Last Modified	5 May 2016

  
  

  Father	Joseph JEFFREY, Jr.,   b. 8 Jun 1794, New Jersey ,   d. 23 Apr 1874, West Union, Doddridge Co, WV  (Age 79 years)
  Mother	Tacy DAVIS,   b. 25 Jun 1801, Virginia (now West Virginia) ,   d. 9 Feb 1872, West Union, Doddridge Co, WV  (Age 70 years)
  Family ID	F14887	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Buried - - Blockhouse Hill Cemetery (old SDB section), West Union, Doddridge Co, WV  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos		98144_JEFFREY_JosephStillman_1838-1863_BlockhouseHillCem--OldSDB_WestUnion_DoddridgeCoWV.jpg
  		98144_JEFFREY_JosephStillman_OnLeft_Next-to-Mother_ThenFather_BlockhouseHillCem--OldSDB_WestUnionWV.jpg

  
  

• Sources

  [S1838] Headstone - Date calculated from age at death. [S83] Davis - The Settlers of Salem, West Virginia, Susie Davis Nicholson, (Gordon Printing Co, Strasburg OH, 1979 (Revised & Enlarged) < www.wvgenweb.org/harrison/books.htm >), p. 35. [S941] 1850 Census, Doddridge County, (W)VA. [S2582] West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database, (http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/wvvetmem.html). [S5] Headstone. [S1793] West Union WV Cemeteries (Doddridge County), (Wes Cochran, 2515 10th Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26101 (July 1990)).