March 23, 2008 - Silas's File - Just Arrived!!!

It was delivered just as we sat down for dinner tonight. It is 65 pages and yes, he was severely wounded on the face. Will scan tomorrow and send to you the pages of the documents. Will send a synopsis as soon as I go thru it quickly. Just numbered the pages so I don't mix them up as I did the James Shay ones.

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Wow,When reading about the head injury from a gunshot...it was exactly how my great-grandfather George Heath mentioned it to his children and grandchildren. He always talked about having 3 family members that served in the War. He knew the one that suffered from the gunshot to the head. My uncle Lynn couldn't remember how that member fit into the family. George Heath would have been 15 years old when Silas Shay died. I am pretty sure that Silas Shay was a brother to James Shay and uncle to Jane & Nancy. This is all starting to tie together.

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Here's a quick synopsis of the documents (excuse the typos)

Delila R. Shay - Widow of Silas L. Shay

Silas died 4/18/1902

People present at marriage are all dead except claimant Delila R. Shay

She was married before and former husband died about the year 1883
First husband was B. F. Roberts married 1862

Married to Shay for about 22 years

He was never married before

Lived together as man and wife until his death Silas L. Shay

At time of his death - he 119 acres of land in Sweden Township
5 Cows, 1 horse and farming implements

1 legal heir - daughter who married William Manley

Died Intestate - Widow only receive 1/3 of his property
Left no life insurance or other means of support for his wife Delila Shay

Own right owned 94 acres of land in Sweden Township
Married 3 July 1884 in Sweden to Silas
She married B. F. Roberts June 1, 1862 and he died April 18, 1882

William Manley husband of Shay’s daughter and heir occupies the farm and has charge of all the property left by Silas Shay

Also charge of farm belonging to Delila R. Shay
No leases of any kind
He works the farm
Delila makes her home with said Wm Manley

Certificate of Disability for Discharge Silas L. Shay - Enlisted 3 Nov 1861 to serve 3 years
Discharged 10/6/1862
Born in Alleghany Co. in NY S 22 years of age5’ 7” high, light complexion, blue eyes, dark hair

Occupation: Farmer
Station: Camp Convalescent, Ft. Elsworth, VA10/2/1862 Anchylosis (the fusion of a joint, often in an abnormal position, usually resulting from destruction of articular cartilage and subchondral bone, ) the jaw from a wound probably of the ______process Gun shot wound of head -

Delila R. Shay entitled to $20 per month commencing 9/8/1916 … Act of July 14, 1862 - No. 176368

Silas L. Shay - Wellsville, Allegany Cty, NY Received: 7/15/1872 Received arrears of $8 per month from 10/7/1862 go 7/14/1872 $8 fro 7/15/1872 to 8/27/1884$12 per month /13/1890 to death

Deed - dated 12/14/1883 - for $4,200 - piece of land Miles T. Chase & Wife to Silas L Shay-

And Johnson Chase & Wife to Delila R. Roberts 4/28/1873 for $1500.00

Delilah R Chase - married Silas 7/3/1884 Sweden Potter PA by Rev Carr had child Bessie Lila Shay 28 July 1885

Gun Shot Wound of head received at Battle of Cedar Mountain VA Aug 9 1862 - ball entered about ½ inch forward of lower part of left ear passing through the head and coming out about one inch forward of the center of right ear injuring the jaw bone. Impaired hearing in both ears found on examination - reference to the medical reference for action Wounded face - severely - Aug 9, 1862 near Culpener Court House, VA Cedar Mtn treated 8/13 to 8/30 1862 - Vulnus sclopeticum; 8/30 to 9/18, 1862 Vul. Sclopt. 9/18 to 9/24 Debilitas, ret’d to duty .. ball entered on the left side half an inch in front of lobe of ear passed through and came out two inches in front lobe of right ear. Incomplete ankylossi of inferior maxillary hastication very imperfect (nearly impossible)/ Voice much changed and nearly suppressed/ He has a vigorous organization and could be take sufficient nourishment might have great power of endurance. … unnatural articulation -- vocal sound impossible … now almost complete anchylosis of two joints separates jaws about 3/8 inch - disability total - cicatrices sound, some adhesion of skin to underlying structures. Near left eye, there is a constant muces-purelent discharge - there is obstruction of lachrynnal duct.

Clothing account : 12/3/1861 - $15.69 2/28/1862 - $5.673/29/1862 $10.796/12/1862 $1.94

Said Silas was wounded at the battled of Cedar Mountain on 9 Aug 1862 and lost his knapsack haversack and canteen.

Enlisted 22 years of age - in Warren Cty PA

Received $938.13 for arrears 10/7/1862 to 7/15/1872 -

Feb 28 1872 affidavit of Silas Shay - resident of Alma in Allegany Cty - Discharged in Alexander VA in 10/1862 Currently 32 yrs. Battle Cedar Mountain Aug 9 1862 received gunshot wound - the ball entering the had about one half inch forward of the lower part of the left ear passing through the head and coming out about 1 inch forward of the center of the right ear that his jaw bone is .. injured so much so that he can open his mouth only about one-half inch is painful when eating and taking much time in eating and preparing the food suitable to insert into his mouth.

The injury effects his head and his hearing and produces a dissiness in the head and in attempting to work in the sun he is majorally affected that he unable to do but .. labour by reason of the wound.

By occupation is a farmer that he was treated in hospital in Alexandria Anapolas MD was sent back to Alexandra from Alexander Hospital to convalensant camp. He has resided since he left the service in ____ PA and in Allegany C NY. That he hereby appoints Lewis Foster of Wellsville as his attorney to prosecute his claim.