Son of Simon and Elizabeth (Crossman) May.
James married first Mary Ann Porter. She was the mother of all but his last child and died some time about 1870. (Her burial place is as yet unknown. June 2020)
On 12 Jul 1861 James, a wood turner, mustered into service with Company B of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a 1st Sergeant, being credited to the quota of Fitchburg, MA. He was 32 years, 5 months and 25 days old.
On 5 Jun 1871 he married second Addie M. Sibley, daughter of Daniel and Abigail Sibley, at Fitchburg, MA.
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, 28 June 1880.
Death of Col. James May
"Col. James May, formerly commander of the 10th Regiment, M. V. M., and one of the most gallant officers who honored Fitchburg in the field during the late war, died about 2 l'clock, Sunday morning, at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street. He had been sick a little more than three weeks from paralysis of the brain which caused severe suffering although he was in a semi-unconscious state a considerable part of the time during his illness.
Col. May was born at Roxbury, Jan. 13, 1828. In the early part of his life he resided successively at Canton, Taunton, Easton in this state, Providence, R. I., and at Brooklyn, N.Y. He removed to Fitchburg some 30 years ago and worked at wood turning till the breaking out of the rebellion. Previous to the war he was for four or five years a member of the old fusiliers, then Co. B, 9th regiment, M. V. M. The company was mustered into the United States service for three years on the 12th of July, 1861, as Co. B, 15th regiment, May being at that time second sergeant.
His conspicuous bravery in the field, with his other soldierly qualities, won for him rapid promotion. He was made first sergeant of the company early in 1862, promoted to second-lieutenant Oct. 28, '62, commissioned first-lieutenant, March 30, '63, and captain Nov. 22, '63. He was transferred to Company H, 20th regiment, July 28, 1864, and was mustered out of service March 11, 1865.
During his long term of service Col. May participated in 32 engagements. He was injured by the concussion of a fragment of a shell in one battle and in an engagement before Petersburg he was taken prisoner and was the victim of rebel cruelty for about 10 months. With other prisoners he was placed at Charleston, S. C., under the fire of the federal batteries, the rebels hoping in this way to stop the bombardment of the city, then in progress from Gen. Gilmore's batteries.
After the war his fondness for military life led him to accept positions in the volunteer militia. He was for a time second lieutenant of the Washington Guards. On the formation of the Third Brigade in 1867 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 10th regiment, and in 1869 when Colonel Chamberlain was made Brigadier-General, Col. May was promoted to colonel of the regiment, a position which he held till 1875. Since the war he has resided at Miller's Falls, Cambridgeport and at Newburyport. He has made some valuable improvements in lathes and probably overtaxed his brain, though the injury received on the battlefield may have caused a diseased condition of the organ. For several years he has suffered intensely at times from neuralgia in his head.
Col. May was twice married and his second wife survives him. He also leaves seven children, five sons and two daughters. The funeral will be attended at the residence of Mrs. Francis on Tuesday at 2 p.m."
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Wednesday, 30 June 1880
Funeral of Col. James May
"The funeral of Col. James May was attended at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street, Tuesday afternoon, Rev. R. S. Kellerman conducting the services. The members of E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., showed their respect for their late comrade by attending the funeral in a body and the two military companies with the Fitchburg Band performed the duty of escort.
The services at the house commenced with singing "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," by a quartette consisting of J. Warren White, Mrs. H. S. Derby, Miss Minnie J. Kingsbury and George W. Luke. Rev. R. S. Kellerman read a part of the 9th chapter of John and addressed consoling words to the mourning friends, speaking especially of the hope of immortality, and offered prayer. The services at the house closed with singing, "Abide with me."
The body was enclosed in a black walnut casket and a wreath rested on the casket. The pall bearers were Gen. John W. Kimball, Sergt. Henry A. Spooner, Corporals George T. Daniels and Henry L. Sheldon, and Privates Charles K. Griswold and C. C. Litch. All the pall bearers were members of the old Fusiliers with the deceased before the war, and the first five left Fitchberg with him, 19 years ago last Monday for the scenes of the camp and field. The procession moved in the following order, the military marching with arms reversed and the band playing dirges:
Fitchburg Band, 21 pieces, W. S. Russell, leader
Washington Guards, 26 men, Capt. John H. Kirby, commanding.
Fitchburg Fusiliers, 37 men, Capt George E. Goodrich, commanding
E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., 31 men, John F. Bruce commanding
Hearse.
Family friends in carriages.
The coffin was covered with the American flag. The procession moved from Oak street, through Holt, Summer, Main, Pre?? and Laurel streets to the tomb. The impressive burial service of the Gand Army was conducted by Chaplain Oliver, after which the remains were temporarily deposited in the tomb. The military then fired three vollys over the tomb which completed the funeral services."
James married first Mary Ann Porter. She was the mother of all but his last child and died some time about 1870. (Her burial place is as yet unknown. June 2020)
On 12 Jul 1861 James, a wood turner, mustered into service with Company B of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a 1st Sergeant, being credited to the quota of Fitchburg, MA. He was 32 years, 5 months and 25 days old.
On 5 Jun 1871 he married second Addie M. Sibley, daughter of Daniel and Abigail Sibley, at Fitchburg, MA.
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, 28 June 1880.
Death of Col. James May
"Col. James May, formerly commander of the 10th Regiment, M. V. M., and one of the most gallant officers who honored Fitchburg in the field during the late war, died about 2 l'clock, Sunday morning, at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street. He had been sick a little more than three weeks from paralysis of the brain which caused severe suffering although he was in a semi-unconscious state a considerable part of the time during his illness.
Col. May was born at Roxbury, Jan. 13, 1828. In the early part of his life he resided successively at Canton, Taunton, Easton in this state, Providence, R. I., and at Brooklyn, N.Y. He removed to Fitchburg some 30 years ago and worked at wood turning till the breaking out of the rebellion. Previous to the war he was for four or five years a member of the old fusiliers, then Co. B, 9th regiment, M. V. M. The company was mustered into the United States service for three years on the 12th of July, 1861, as Co. B, 15th regiment, May being at that time second sergeant.
His conspicuous bravery in the field, with his other soldierly qualities, won for him rapid promotion. He was made first sergeant of the company early in 1862, promoted to second-lieutenant Oct. 28, '62, commissioned first-lieutenant, March 30, '63, and captain Nov. 22, '63. He was transferred to Company H, 20th regiment, July 28, 1864, and was mustered out of service March 11, 1865.
During his long term of service Col. May participated in 32 engagements. He was injured by the concussion of a fragment of a shell in one battle and in an engagement before Petersburg he was taken prisoner and was the victim of rebel cruelty for about 10 months. With other prisoners he was placed at Charleston, S. C., under the fire of the federal batteries, the rebels hoping in this way to stop the bombardment of the city, then in progress from Gen. Gilmore's batteries.
After the war his fondness for military life led him to accept positions in the volunteer militia. He was for a time second lieutenant of the Washington Guards. On the formation of the Third Brigade in 1867 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 10th regiment, and in 1869 when Colonel Chamberlain was made Brigadier-General, Col. May was promoted to colonel of the regiment, a position which he held till 1875. Since the war he has resided at Miller's Falls, Cambridgeport and at Newburyport. He has made some valuable improvements in lathes and probably overtaxed his brain, though the injury received on the battlefield may have caused a diseased condition of the organ. For several years he has suffered intensely at times from neuralgia in his head.
Col. May was twice married and his second wife survives him. He also leaves seven children, five sons and two daughters. The funeral will be attended at the residence of Mrs. Francis on Tuesday at 2 p.m."
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Wednesday, 30 June 1880
Funeral of Col. James May
"The funeral of Col. James May was attended at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street, Tuesday afternoon, Rev. R. S. Kellerman conducting the services. The members of E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., showed their respect for their late comrade by attending the funeral in a body and the two military companies with the Fitchburg Band performed the duty of escort.
The services at the house commenced with singing "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," by a quartette consisting of J. Warren White, Mrs. H. S. Derby, Miss Minnie J. Kingsbury and George W. Luke. Rev. R. S. Kellerman read a part of the 9th chapter of John and addressed consoling words to the mourning friends, speaking especially of the hope of immortality, and offered prayer. The services at the house closed with singing, "Abide with me."
The body was enclosed in a black walnut casket and a wreath rested on the casket. The pall bearers were Gen. John W. Kimball, Sergt. Henry A. Spooner, Corporals George T. Daniels and Henry L. Sheldon, and Privates Charles K. Griswold and C. C. Litch. All the pall bearers were members of the old Fusiliers with the deceased before the war, and the first five left Fitchberg with him, 19 years ago last Monday for the scenes of the camp and field. The procession moved in the following order, the military marching with arms reversed and the band playing dirges:
Fitchburg Band, 21 pieces, W. S. Russell, leader
Washington Guards, 26 men, Capt. John H. Kirby, commanding.
Fitchburg Fusiliers, 37 men, Capt George E. Goodrich, commanding
E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., 31 men, John F. Bruce commanding
Hearse.
Family friends in carriages.
The coffin was covered with the American flag. The procession moved from Oak street, through Holt, Summer, Main, Pre?? and Laurel streets to the tomb. The impressive burial service of the Gand Army was conducted by Chaplain Oliver, after which the remains were temporarily deposited in the tomb. The military then fired three vollys over the tomb which completed the funeral services."
Son of Simon and Elizabeth (Crossman) May.
James married first Mary Ann Porter. She was the mother of all but his last child and died some time about 1870. (Her burial place is as yet unknown. June 2020)
On 12 Jul 1861 James, a wood turner, mustered into service with Company B of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a 1st Sergeant, being credited to the quota of Fitchburg, MA. He was 32 years, 5 months and 25 days old.
On 5 Jun 1871 he married second Addie M. Sibley, daughter of Daniel and Abigail Sibley, at Fitchburg, MA.
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, 28 June 1880.
Death of Col. James May
"Col. James May, formerly commander of the 10th Regiment, M. V. M., and one of the most gallant officers who honored Fitchburg in the field during the late war, died about 2 l'clock, Sunday morning, at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street. He had been sick a little more than three weeks from paralysis of the brain which caused severe suffering although he was in a semi-unconscious state a considerable part of the time during his illness.
Col. May was born at Roxbury, Jan. 13, 1828. In the early part of his life he resided successively at Canton, Taunton, Easton in this state, Providence, R. I., and at Brooklyn, N.Y. He removed to Fitchburg some 30 years ago and worked at wood turning till the breaking out of the rebellion. Previous to the war he was for four or five years a member of the old fusiliers, then Co. B, 9th regiment, M. V. M. The company was mustered into the United States service for three years on the 12th of July, 1861, as Co. B, 15th regiment, May being at that time second sergeant.
His conspicuous bravery in the field, with his other soldierly qualities, won for him rapid promotion. He was made first sergeant of the company early in 1862, promoted to second-lieutenant Oct. 28, '62, commissioned first-lieutenant, March 30, '63, and captain Nov. 22, '63. He was transferred to Company H, 20th regiment, July 28, 1864, and was mustered out of service March 11, 1865.
During his long term of service Col. May participated in 32 engagements. He was injured by the concussion of a fragment of a shell in one battle and in an engagement before Petersburg he was taken prisoner and was the victim of rebel cruelty for about 10 months. With other prisoners he was placed at Charleston, S. C., under the fire of the federal batteries, the rebels hoping in this way to stop the bombardment of the city, then in progress from Gen. Gilmore's batteries.
After the war his fondness for military life led him to accept positions in the volunteer militia. He was for a time second lieutenant of the Washington Guards. On the formation of the Third Brigade in 1867 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 10th regiment, and in 1869 when Colonel Chamberlain was made Brigadier-General, Col. May was promoted to colonel of the regiment, a position which he held till 1875. Since the war he has resided at Miller's Falls, Cambridgeport and at Newburyport. He has made some valuable improvements in lathes and probably overtaxed his brain, though the injury received on the battlefield may have caused a diseased condition of the organ. For several years he has suffered intensely at times from neuralgia in his head.
Col. May was twice married and his second wife survives him. He also leaves seven children, five sons and two daughters. The funeral will be attended at the residence of Mrs. Francis on Tuesday at 2 p.m."
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Wednesday, 30 June 1880
Funeral of Col. James May
"The funeral of Col. James May was attended at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street, Tuesday afternoon, Rev. R. S. Kellerman conducting the services. The members of E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., showed their respect for their late comrade by attending the funeral in a body and the two military companies with the Fitchburg Band performed the duty of escort.
The services at the house commenced with singing "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," by a quartette consisting of J. Warren White, Mrs. H. S. Derby, Miss Minnie J. Kingsbury and George W. Luke. Rev. R. S. Kellerman read a part of the 9th chapter of John and addressed consoling words to the mourning friends, speaking especially of the hope of immortality, and offered prayer. The services at the house closed with singing, "Abide with me."
The body was enclosed in a black walnut casket and a wreath rested on the casket. The pall bearers were Gen. John W. Kimball, Sergt. Henry A. Spooner, Corporals George T. Daniels and Henry L. Sheldon, and Privates Charles K. Griswold and C. C. Litch. All the pall bearers were members of the old Fusiliers with the deceased before the war, and the first five left Fitchberg with him, 19 years ago last Monday for the scenes of the camp and field. The procession moved in the following order, the military marching with arms reversed and the band playing dirges:
Fitchburg Band, 21 pieces, W. S. Russell, leader
Washington Guards, 26 men, Capt. John H. Kirby, commanding.
Fitchburg Fusiliers, 37 men, Capt George E. Goodrich, commanding
E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., 31 men, John F. Bruce commanding
Hearse.
Family friends in carriages.
The coffin was covered with the American flag. The procession moved from Oak street, through Holt, Summer, Main, Pre?? and Laurel streets to the tomb. The impressive burial service of the Gand Army was conducted by Chaplain Oliver, after which the remains were temporarily deposited in the tomb. The military then fired three vollys over the tomb which completed the funeral services."
James married first Mary Ann Porter. She was the mother of all but his last child and died some time about 1870. (Her burial place is as yet unknown. June 2020)
On 12 Jul 1861 James, a wood turner, mustered into service with Company B of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a 1st Sergeant, being credited to the quota of Fitchburg, MA. He was 32 years, 5 months and 25 days old.
On 5 Jun 1871 he married second Addie M. Sibley, daughter of Daniel and Abigail Sibley, at Fitchburg, MA.
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Monday, 28 June 1880.
Death of Col. James May
"Col. James May, formerly commander of the 10th Regiment, M. V. M., and one of the most gallant officers who honored Fitchburg in the field during the late war, died about 2 l'clock, Sunday morning, at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street. He had been sick a little more than three weeks from paralysis of the brain which caused severe suffering although he was in a semi-unconscious state a considerable part of the time during his illness.
Col. May was born at Roxbury, Jan. 13, 1828. In the early part of his life he resided successively at Canton, Taunton, Easton in this state, Providence, R. I., and at Brooklyn, N.Y. He removed to Fitchburg some 30 years ago and worked at wood turning till the breaking out of the rebellion. Previous to the war he was for four or five years a member of the old fusiliers, then Co. B, 9th regiment, M. V. M. The company was mustered into the United States service for three years on the 12th of July, 1861, as Co. B, 15th regiment, May being at that time second sergeant.
His conspicuous bravery in the field, with his other soldierly qualities, won for him rapid promotion. He was made first sergeant of the company early in 1862, promoted to second-lieutenant Oct. 28, '62, commissioned first-lieutenant, March 30, '63, and captain Nov. 22, '63. He was transferred to Company H, 20th regiment, July 28, 1864, and was mustered out of service March 11, 1865.
During his long term of service Col. May participated in 32 engagements. He was injured by the concussion of a fragment of a shell in one battle and in an engagement before Petersburg he was taken prisoner and was the victim of rebel cruelty for about 10 months. With other prisoners he was placed at Charleston, S. C., under the fire of the federal batteries, the rebels hoping in this way to stop the bombardment of the city, then in progress from Gen. Gilmore's batteries.
After the war his fondness for military life led him to accept positions in the volunteer militia. He was for a time second lieutenant of the Washington Guards. On the formation of the Third Brigade in 1867 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 10th regiment, and in 1869 when Colonel Chamberlain was made Brigadier-General, Col. May was promoted to colonel of the regiment, a position which he held till 1875. Since the war he has resided at Miller's Falls, Cambridgeport and at Newburyport. He has made some valuable improvements in lathes and probably overtaxed his brain, though the injury received on the battlefield may have caused a diseased condition of the organ. For several years he has suffered intensely at times from neuralgia in his head.
Col. May was twice married and his second wife survives him. He also leaves seven children, five sons and two daughters. The funeral will be attended at the residence of Mrs. Francis on Tuesday at 2 p.m."
From The Fitchburg Sentinel, Wednesday, 30 June 1880
Funeral of Col. James May
"The funeral of Col. James May was attended at the residence of Mrs. William Francis on Oak street, Tuesday afternoon, Rev. R. S. Kellerman conducting the services. The members of E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., showed their respect for their late comrade by attending the funeral in a body and the two military companies with the Fitchburg Band performed the duty of escort.
The services at the house commenced with singing "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," by a quartette consisting of J. Warren White, Mrs. H. S. Derby, Miss Minnie J. Kingsbury and George W. Luke. Rev. R. S. Kellerman read a part of the 9th chapter of John and addressed consoling words to the mourning friends, speaking especially of the hope of immortality, and offered prayer. The services at the house closed with singing, "Abide with me."
The body was enclosed in a black walnut casket and a wreath rested on the casket. The pall bearers were Gen. John W. Kimball, Sergt. Henry A. Spooner, Corporals George T. Daniels and Henry L. Sheldon, and Privates Charles K. Griswold and C. C. Litch. All the pall bearers were members of the old Fusiliers with the deceased before the war, and the first five left Fitchberg with him, 19 years ago last Monday for the scenes of the camp and field. The procession moved in the following order, the military marching with arms reversed and the band playing dirges:
Fitchburg Band, 21 pieces, W. S. Russell, leader
Washington Guards, 26 men, Capt. John H. Kirby, commanding.
Fitchburg Fusiliers, 37 men, Capt George E. Goodrich, commanding
E. V. Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., 31 men, John F. Bruce commanding
Hearse.
Family friends in carriages.
The coffin was covered with the American flag. The procession moved from Oak street, through Holt, Summer, Main, Pre?? and Laurel streets to the tomb. The impressive burial service of the Gand Army was conducted by Chaplain Oliver, after which the remains were temporarily deposited in the tomb. The military then fired three vollys over the tomb which completed the funeral services."
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