I have taken some time tonight to search NY Civil War records on the Web. Hard! Everything is so incomplete--and what there is is not necessarily the full story. Many volunteers in regimental companies remain phantoms to this day... If John C. Crossen of Basom, NY served in the Civil War, there may be a record, there may not be. However, looking at Co. K of the 12th Infantry NY Volunteers (principally recruited in Batavia), I see a William Thompson listed! :) Could he be a relative of my grandmother, Ada Thompson Crossen? If so, what info out there might you folks have? The 12th Infantry Rgt left the State on May 29, 1861. Others joined, or were combined with other companies in 1862. Battle casualties included 44 enlisted men KIA, and 22 who died of wounds. Some 167 enlisted died of disease! John C. Crossen, my g-g-grandfather, died in 1865 at age 33. His mother Mary Abernethy (b. Ireland) was later buried beside him in 1868. His widow Mary Martin went on, dying in 1874 (if I recall correctly). She is not buried in the same cemetery. My father does not know how he died. Neither did my Grandma Ada. His cemetery stone is simple, unembellished. If he was a Civil War casualty the marker does not say so. I'd like to know him better. He was born in Comber, County Down, Ireland in 1832--he came over with James Crossen Sr. and family (9 kids in toto) in 1842. Like his father, he became a farmer in Batavia, settling the lands around Basom. His young age at death underlines a lot of mystery about him. Clearly, Mary, his mother, never got over his passing--and requested that she be laid next to him. Who was he to inspire such grief? And after James Sr. had reunited mother and son, he moved out of State and on to Minnesota, where he died. Was his grief so intense that it compelled him to move away? John was clearly loved. Perhaps no facts that folks may have will bring he and I closer. Still, to know how and why he died might give me a thread to weave his story... something to tell my own heart. Thanks to all those on this list who have extended assistance, and offers of future help. LMK what you do discover. I'll be here. Best, John F. Crossen ===== "One more shot for the honour of Down!" -Rollicking Rollo (1766-1814) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com