William Straw

   Cause of his death was Debility/Chronic diarrhea.

   Another name for William was William Niles.

  General Notes:

for consideration - NEHGS
Dover Gazette & Strafford Advertiser (Dover, NH) Tuesday, September 03, 1833; Issue 40; col E
On the evening of the 20th ult. two men, one named John alias William Jordan, and the other William Straw took lodgings at the invern of Mr. Independence Gile, in Hooksett, and during the night arose and broke into his bar and stole therefrom about $50 (News) Boston Statesman.

New-Hampshire Statesman and State Journal , (Concord, NH) Saturday, September 14, 1833; Issue 18; col A
The Court of Common Pleas
"...Straw was sentenced to hard labor in the State Prison for the term of three years..."

On 24 March 1843 this family changed their surname from STRAW to NILES; this name change was filed in Essex, MA and family was said to be of Georgetown, MA Research of Jeanette Theilacker ( t0@quancon.com )

List of Persons Whose Names Have Been Changed in Massachusetts. 1780-1892
By Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State
Wright & Potter Printing Company, State Printers, 1893 - Massachusetts ; pg 98
"William Straw may take the name of William Niles ; his wife, Hannah Straw, may take the name of Hannah Niles ; Hannah Maria Straw may take the name of Hannah Maria Niles ; Charles Otis Kimball Straw may take the name of Charles Niles ; William Eustis Straw may take the name of William Eustis Niles ; John Calvin Straw may take the name of John Niles ; George Dighton Straw may take the name of George Niles ;
Cynthia Sophila Straw may take the name of Sophila Niles ; Orestus Herbert Straw may take the name of Orestus Niles ; all of Georgetown...."

1830 Rowley, Essex county, MA Wm Straw [HOH] 1 male 1825-1830 [Charles O - b. 1829] 1 male 1820-1825 [William E- b1825] 1 male 1800-1810 [William- b. 1803] 1 female 1825-1830 [Hannah M. born 1827] 1 female 1800-1810 [wife Hannah born 1805]

1840 Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts Wm STRAW HOH 3 males 5-10 [Wm, John and George ...Charles probably out of HH] 1 male 30-40 [Wm HOH] 1 female under 5 [Cynthia his dau] 1 female 30-40 [wife Hannah Cheney]

1850 Georgetown, Essex County, MA Wm NILES 1803 Hannah C. 1805 William E. 1831 John 1833 George 1835 Cynthia 1838 Orestes H. 1841 Also their married son Wm E and his bride Ann M.

1855 Georgetown, MA Wm Niles age 52 born NH; shoemaker

1860 Georgetown, Essex County, MA Wm NILES 1803 NH Hannah C. 1805 MA Lois Cheney/Cheeney c1782 MA [ mother of Hannah]

Civil War Soldiers: Name: William Niles Residence: Georgetown, Massachusetts Occupation: Farmer Enlistment Date: 31 Jul 1862 Side Served: Union State Served: Massachusetts Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 31 July 1862 at the age of 41. Enlisted in Company H, 32nd Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 31 Jul 1862. Died of disease Company H, 32nd Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 14 Nov 1862.

NEHGS MA VR -14 Nov 1862 died ae 59y 8m 2d in Georgetown, MA; s/o William Straw and Martha Sargent; William was born in Sandwich, NH as were his parents.Cause of death: phthisis (a general wasting away of the body) Record indicates he died in PA [could he have died in Civil War???] but most probably died in Georgetown since that is where his death is registered.

cemetery records: Niles, William (photo) http://www.nilesfamily.com/nilescemetery/massachusetts3.html March, 1803 November 14, 1862 AKA: William Straw. Son of William Straw and Martha Sargent.

www.familysearch.com - pilot search -died 6 Nov 1862 in Philadelphia, PA

www.gravematter.com -cemetery headstone reads: William NILES DIED Nov. 14, 1862 Aged 59 yrs. & 8 mos. A member of Co. H 32 Reg. Mass. Volunteers

www.fold3.com
Widow's pension papers
Mrs Hanna M. Niles, widow of Wm Niles a Private in CO H 32 Regt MA VOLS; PO of applicant: Georgetown, MA; Wm Nile died at Philadelphia, PA; shoemaker by trade; she was lawfully married to him whose name was Wm Straw at that time; she has remained a widow since the death of her husband and her maiden name was Hannah Cheney.has no child under 16 now living with her. She was dropped in aug 1896 due to her death.
Wm Niles enrolled 31 July 1862 to serve 3 yrs; mustered in at Camp Taunton [His physical description gives his age as "41"]
Salem June 27 '64
..."that about 5 days ago before the Battle of Antietam we were orded from"Uptons HIll in Virginia through Washington towards Frederick, MD in persuit of the enemy. This march continued until he (Niles) took his position upon the banks of the Antietam Creek. It was a long rapid and distressing march. My men suffered much. Among those who "fell out" was the said William Niles. He afterwards came up to the front and was encamped with my company in Sharpsburg after the Battle of Antietam. He never was well after the hardship and exposure of this march. About three weeks after the Battle of Antietam he was sent to some hospital, the name of whcih I can not recall. I never saw him after this. A few weeks after he was sent away I resigned my Commission in the army. I have since learned of his death and have no doubt that it was in consequence of the hardship and exposure of the above mentioned campaign.
[signed by Henry W. Moulton Commissioner fo the Board of Enrollment of the 5th Mass. District.]
Admitted to Summit House hospital in Philadelphia, PA Nov 10, 1862; died 14 Nov 1862 of chronic diarrhea and debility.

William married Hannah Cheney, daughter of Abner Moors Cheney and Lois Hanneford, on 8 Aug 1824 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts. (Hannah Cheney was born on 22 Jan 1805 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts, died on 8 Jun 1896 in Georgetown, Essex County, Massachusetts and was buried in Union Cemetery In Georgetown, Massachusetts.)