Peel, Charles ^{1 2 3}

   Events:

• he emigrated Aboard the Ship Bengal of Boston on 13 Jun 1842 from Liverpool, England.

The Ship Bengal of Boston with Captain J. Gorham departed Liverpool, England and arrived in Boston on June 13, 1842, with William Peel and family.

The following is a list of the Peel Family on board:

William Peel, age: 29
Elizabeth Peel, age: 24
John Peel, age: 12
Mary Peel, age: 10
Thomas Peel, age: 7
Charles Peel, age: 4
Francis Peel, age: 18 months

Thanks, and Congratulations go to Ted M. Cutler, who located this information at the Boston Public Library.

• he served in the military Civil War - 1St Engineers, Company H.

Physical Description:Five feet Six inches high, Light complexion, Hazel eyes, Brown hair.

• 20 Mar 1863 Carters Creek letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Headquarters Detachment of Co H 2 Batalion March 20, 1863 Camp on Carters Crick on Tenn and Alabama R.R.

Dear Wife youre letter came to hand this morning of corse I must take my pen in hand to answer it this is the first mail that we have had since we left Nashville and that is just one week ago today the mail has been a round to Bridgport and back to Nashville and back well I was glad to hear from you and glad to hear that you was well Dear Lucy I was very sory to hear so much bad news I dident supose that Little John William was such a simpliton as to fool with the government it hant best for a man to trifol with the military laws if he does it he had apt to get his fingers bernt the best way is if a man makes up his mind to inlest why he had better make up his mind to behave his self and serve his time out at the best of his ability if a man inlests he inlests for three years or sooner discharged and if he gets discharged before then it his good luck well Lucy you speak a bout going home next fall and where we should meet well to tell the truth a bout it I havent thought eny thing a bout it it is so fer ahead that I havent made any calculations where we should meet and I dont know as I care where as long as we get together you know a year and one half is a good while to look ahead specily in this armey well Lucy Dear I have got sum sad news to write to you it is nothing more than frequent ocurancay our wagon train was a going to bridport on the Cars and the gurilas thru the train off the track and shot two of the boys and burnt the train and robed the afenery and robed all of the boys they thru the train off the track the same place that we got thrown off last fall I heard to night that our caverly was after them and had cought thirty of them and have shot them I hope they have they are nothing more than highaway roboers and murders We are know on the Tenn and Alabama RR we are a living prity good times we have plenty of fresh meat the Co divided up in at five *- - - - how long stay oh Lucy you dont know how I should like to see our little boy it seems a long time well Lucy I must close for this time for it is a getting late and I must go to bed yes and how I wish you was in my arms can it be possible that we shall ever sleep in each others arms again I was confident we should I should rest contented well let that be as it may we hope we shall and trust to providence that we may
well good by Dear give Father and Mother my love

• 15 Jul 1863 Elk River letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Elk River July the 15th 1863

Dear Wife it is with the greatest of pleasure that I set down this afternoon to scriple of a few lines to you for I am never tired of writing to you all though this is the forth letter that I have riten to you and have had no answer from yet I like to write to you and I like to get letters from you to well dear wife I can thank the god of heaven and earth the instructer off al things that I am as well as I am I have been a working in the river and I feel stiff and sore I am well other ways and I hope that you be and our darling baby is to Lucy twelve months will soon be past since we parted and no more sines off returning than they were when I went a way as I can sae only is my time is so much nearer out well have patiance if I am well I dont care we are a building a bridg heare now that is five hunderade and fify feet long and fifty feet high I have been a black brying to day we have plenty off green apples heare now and once in awhile a sheep and a hog we shant starve we have had some dreadful wet wether for a month past I got a letter from Susey and faney the other day they were well then Will Carter launched his boat on the 4 of July and Susey went a riding on it she said that they had a good time they sent thare respects to you and the baby Well I had a differant fish to fry on the 4 of July I was a guarding sum rebel prisners I received a letter from Jo Blaine the other day and he ask me very politely for to have me ask you to write to him yes I havent answered his letter yet Jo is a good boy but what a foolish question I got Georges letter dated the 7 of July than Mary Jane has got a little girl she must have lots to do now and up thare amongst such neighbors as them I should think that she would sell out and leave the hol race did you go to the Rapids on the 4 george a said you was a going have you found out whare Frank Grander is a living now I havent been paid since the 1st off January I dont know when we shall get pay again Well I cant say eny more this time only that I wish I could get your letters. so good By
I send my Respects to Father and Mother and the Children Yours Truly Charley Peel
direct your letters as before and writ soon

• 25 Oct 1863 Elk River letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Camp Elk River
Oct the 25th 1863

Dear Wife
I set my self down this morning to answer the letter that I received from you yesterday I was very glad to hear from you and more so to hear that you was all well again Millard the poor little I expect havn't as fleshly as he was Oh how I should like to see you both once more it seems an awful while since I seen you and it is a good while and it will be a good while longer I fear I had conciderable hopes of getting home in a short time but I cant see it now but if I live till next fall I shall come and a happy day it will be and there I can say that I am as good as good as my fellow man and if I want to go iny whare I can go without getting a pass this is to much like slavery for me Lucy I have had a pretty hard time for a few days back I have been on the train all last week for guardes the first trip we went to a place in Alabama and there they were two or three cars all stov to pieces and only two men killed well it rained all night and a part of the next day and not a blanket to cover us then last thursday we went on the train again and suposed that we should get back that night for supper and only took our dinner with us and we didn t get back till yesterday and nothing to eat well we started back and got within four miles of heare and was atacted with the gurillas they had torn the track up a crost a little brig and that thru the train of the track and then thay fired in the train the worst smash up that I ever seen thay wasnt eney one killed but three badly hirt thay was one man shot in the head it was one of guards the other was Captain Sly Co H the man of our Regiment the man that enlisted me and the other was the sargent of Co F thay was in the Engeon house Cap Sly got both of his legs smashed up to his nees and the sargent got hirt on the head I a wasnt on that train but was on the one Clost behind it we was thare so as to save the train from being bernt thay was fighting when we come up but we was to much for them it was dark as tar and we couldnot see a man till we got clost on him
well we got through that all right then we had fun thay was a lot of settler guds on the ls train and no one to guard them well then maby we didnt get what we wanted and I dont think we done rong either do you thay make anuf out of the solgers the old Chap came up after a while and said that he would rather that we should have them then the rebs Lucy did you get my picture that I sent a bout six weeks ago I havent hear a word from it I had a letter from home I got it the same day that I got youers thay was all well then it was roat the 25th of Sept
Well Lucy I will close for this time So write soon
I am yours ever
Charley Peel

I send my love to all of our folks

• 14 Aug 1864 Cartersville, Georgia letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Headquarters Cartersville G.A.
Aug the 14th 1864

Dear Wife
I received a letter the other day from you stating that you was at work a gain you may believe that I was glad of that for I felt afraid that the next letter would bring the tidings that you was wors or ded I feel very much releived to hear the good tidings but I think that you are very foolish to go at work as soon I think you had beter wait untill you get stout again for you may get taken down a gain and then it would be wors for you and to get up at night is the worst thing you can do I hope you will get along with out being sick eney more whilest I am away
well Lucy I havent been very well for a day or too I have had an awful pain in my bowals we have had considerable fruit for a few weeks past I lay it to that
I have done my duty all along but it has been all I could do if I had been at home I think I should have gone to be and with all the rest I have had a gathering in my hand in the first place it was a blister but it gather down on the bone but it is better again so I thin I can go to chopping a gain in the morning we are a chopping railroad wood we get a dollar and twenty cts for chopping it
I dont know wether we shall get eney pay for it or not we have sum very hot wether out heare although we have plenty of rain the southerners say this is a very cool summer but it is hot enough for me and if they will tek me back I wont trouble them eney more
I have got aknough of the south I was out in the countrey yesterday I got sum Corn and sum peaches we have all the fruit that we want
I cant see that the fruit is eney earlier in the south then it is in the North and I am shure they hant eney better for they never Cultivaate thare trees a bit they grow wild gust as they come up from the seit and there Children are the same the white childeran and the black ones all run together
thay are a queare specimen of human nature thay dont know hardley eney thing thay is a few that has sum learing them that is rich eknough to send their Childern off to school why thay get an Education but them that hant thay have to get thare learing the best way they can it is hog as hog can inthis Country and them that hogs the most is the best man thayeer is a man lives in the grove heare in our Camping ground that is worth sum two hunderade thousand dollars and then thare is sum of his neighbors that hant worth one tenney and he wouldnt employ him if he new it woul save his life
well Lucy I must close for this time so good by
I am your husband truly
Charles Peel
I give my love to all of our folks
Lucy have you received the money that I sent you that is the last ten dollars

• 28 Aug 1864 Cartersville, Georgia letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Cartersville G.A.
Aug the 28th 1864

Dear Wife I am well as usual today I am on gard to day again
I finaly have got time to answer youre letter that I received last Wendesday that is the longest letter that I have had from you unamswered I have not had time to write since I got it
I wrote to you last Sunday a week ago we have to work every day we comence at day light and wor till 11 O clock and comence at 2 and work work till sundown
so ;you see I dont have much time to write I dont feel lik writing at noon it is so dreadfull hot
I try to write once a week I dont know wether you get all of them for there is sum things that I ask you say enetrhing
in reply well we must expect sum to fail in going so far Lucy I am so tired of this way talking that I dont know what to do it seems as though the time will never come when we can coraspond in more convenient way three years is a good wile to write in one stretch if I ever get home again I never will bind my self out as long under no concideration
Dear-Lucy I will never leave you as long a gain what is life with out enjoyment while I am a way from you I am dicontented although i try to gard against it as much as possable but if I live the time will work out non to soon
Lucy I am glad that you have got so that you can work a gain I hope you will keep your health if something why it will turn good I believe in are well and if they are sick they cant and are not expected to thare are them in the North that think because they hurt and are in pain a that they to work they will lay around and spend thare money till it is all gone and then they have to resort to sum other coarse for a living
well Lucy I have eat my dinner I eate a prity harty dinner we had corn and beans and sweet cake and prity good at times it is just as we can get it the rations that we draw of the Goverment is all caned food and I am a getting tired of it
I shall be thankful when I can set down at the table with you and the little boy and have sumething that is nice and have a variaty of sorts
Lucy I wish you would send me a pocket hankerchief and a housewife for I got nothing to put my thread and buttons and pinns and needles in make me a nice one get a piece of mernnnao (merino) for a back I persume you have seen plenty of them
I thought I would get along with out one but I dont see as I can you can lap them up snug and mail them through they will come with about four stams on
Lucy is George exempt from the draft I suppose it will call a good meney of the men out
I supose the Copperheads will make a fus but I hope they wont for men we want and must have this rebellion must be put down
Lucy have you lernt my boy how to read yet he is getting old enuf to lern how I should think
Well I must close for this time so good by I am yours truly I sent my love to our folks you must write soon
Charley Peel

• 21 Sep 1864 Cartersville, Georgia letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Cartersville Georgia
Sept the 21st (1864)

Dear Lucy I tak my pen in hand this morning t let you know how I am a getting along and to answer the letter that I received night before last I am happy to inform you that I still remain well and was glad to hear that you enjoyed the same happpyness
it is a rather dissagreeable morning for me seeing that I am on duty it comenced to rain early in the morning and it has not stopped yet
I am sory that you feel so sad I wish I was there to cheer you up I know how to saympot hise with youre sadness for I have felt so very often but what can we do why we must let all such feelings pass over all though know I am a getting ricansiled to my present situation
I can see that you have conciderable faith yet in my commin home this fall but you might as well give it up As for coming home before my time is out is plade out you can tell the old lady that her frofesy is disputed by sum all though I hope she is right
well lucy we are a going to leave this place I expect we shall march in about two days we are a going to atlanta I expect I hate to leave this place for we have such a pleasant Camping ground we shall to march
it is forty eight miles it will come prity hard for us to march seeing we havent marched in a long time
we have had sum more recruits and amonst them is honery Chamberlin and George Coats and Old Miller that fleshy man Miller said that he seen Father when he was at the Rapids and Cathan and mory Jane
they Enlisted for one year ondly they will get out a few days before I do and they are a getting four times the money that I did I dont think that is hardly fair they for Comeing in one year get enough for to buy a farm
I understand that moved to the rapids and then Mary Jane had to follow him I under stand that they have been a good deal of desterbance in James on acount of M.Jane what we understand by it well I should be ashamed if I was in her place know we all know that it costs more to live in a City than it does in the Country and for educating her family
that cant be her object for thayer is a schoolhouse there close by
Well I have nothing to say a bout it for I dont care eney thing about it
I dont want you to say eney thing off what I have said will I will close for this time
I dont understand why our folks dont want to write to me they needent it is one thing shure that I shant write if they dont I am not very hard up for coraspondence yet
well good by yours truly Charley

• Between 16 Oct 1864 and 4 Nov 1864 Atlanta, Georgia log or Diary from the Civil War

Head quarters Atlanta G.A. 1864 (1)

S. Oct the 16th lay in camp all day write letter to L.A. Peel weather pleasant

M. Oct the 17th Trimed timber for the part of the Co tried to raise it but failed
Capt Grant got his Commission and Luiet Coffinbery got his comission and Luiet Coffinbery got his
comission as Capt of H Co we are ordered to do no more work on the bridge the B Engineers ordered it wether plesant

T. Oct the 18th I lay in Camp till noon and then had orderes to go to work on the bridg a gain I framed timber with -

W. Oct the 19th I am on guard tday the Co is at work on the bridg the team went a foraging in a three
day trip we was guarded by the 102nd Reg yesterday thay was 850 men captured by the rebels
within three miles of heare a very pleasant day.

T. Oct the 20th lay in camp all day the Co worked on the bridg the rebels fired on the train and burnt it
winthin three miles of heare wether plesant

F. Oct the 22nd framed timber wether cold and windy

S. Oct the 23rd lay in Camp in the afternoon and in the forenoon I went up peach tree Creek with the Luiet and men to see if the plank was sawes for the bridg a very plesant day

M. Oct the 24th I am on guard the teames went out a foraging on a four days trip guarded by the 102nd
C Reg Adelbert Parsals is promted to Ordaly Sgt

T. Oct the 25th lay in Camp all day the Co worked on the bridg Majer Grant was at atlanta wether plesant

W. Oct the 26th drawed timber on the bridg the old boys are releived from duty and are ordered to turn thare guns and over the forage train got in thay was fired into by the rebels they went out 30 miles

Th Oct the 27th it rained so day we lay in Camp we had swet potatoes and squash for breakfast the old boys went to atlanta to get mustered out we worked on the bridg in the afternoon the Co comanded by Luiet Hubert of CO g

F. Oct the 28th worked on the bridg got the bridg half done wehter plesant I got a letter from Lucy

S. Oct the 29th worked on the bridg got a detail of Inft to help us the pontinears comenced on the other end of the bridg drawed rations

Su Oct the 30th lay in Camp all day sined an order for our pay. wether plesant but cloudy

M Oct 31st worked on the bridg the wind blowed freely

T. Nov the 1st worked on the bridg and got all the bents up the teams got in from the Country they fetched in plenty of forage over 300 hogs besides chickens and other stuf we are under marching orders wether plesant

W. Nov the 2nd it rained all day we lay in Camp in the forenoon and finished the bridg in the afternoon ordered to march but worked to finish the bridg first we had squash and sweet potatoes for supper

Th Nov 3rd ordered to march struck Camp at 6 O clock and marched at 7 O clock got in atlanta 10 O clock pitched our tent at the right oc Co it rained all day and is cold the old boys started for home we got our pay and drawed Clothing I drawed one pair of shoes and - shirts and one Sgt hat

F. Nov the 4th I and sum of the boys got a pass and went down town we packed all of extry clothing to send to chattanooga

• 6 Nov 1864 Atlanta, Georgia letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Head quarters Atlanta Ga.
Nov the 6th (1864)

Well Lucy we have had Enspection today and our clothing has been reduced down to almost nothing
we are allowd only what we have on our back we cant have a change of shirts or drawers or eney thing
our portfoulies or writing paper or ink eney thing of that kind so I thought that I wuld pick up our little papers and send to you whilist I have a chance
I wish you would keep all till I get home all I write after this will be wrote with a led pencil and not very meney at that we are a haveing a fine time know a tairing up all of our old stuff and burning up all of our old letters Walrey smith is a tairing up his letters and papers and envelops
where we are a going I could not say I shall tair up my port foulio in a few minits well let her rip and I go with the crowd
I sent my money this morning I sent it to Grand Rapids so you will have to go thair after it
well I must close for this time
yours truly
Sargt. Peel

• 21 Dec 1864 Savanah, Georgia letter to Lucy During the Civil War

Camp before Savanah G.A.
Dec 21st 1864

Dear Wife
that this is the first time sines we started towrite I must embrace the oppertunity of writin to you for I know that you must want to heare from me as bad as I want
we got in to this vicinity about a week ago but couldant send eney mail unacount of the rebels they were betwend us and the fleet so they had to be conciderable fighting before we could obtain possesion of the landing but we have the landing know and also the town we took the city last night so I heare the news came into camp this morning and we received it joyfully
I have not heard the perticulars about it yet thay was one Division went in the town about Oclock this morning we hant very near the city today we have been a disstroyed all of the railroad betwend heare and Atlanta and also nearly all of the towns we distroyed Millageville the Capital of Georgia we have made a desolute looking place of it we had but little oppostion til we got within 10 miles of savanah and then thay were nothing but skermishing the 10th of de we had a man killed out of our Co a cannon ball cut him nearly in to I have been very lucky so far and I havent forgot to be thankful for it I have been well most of the way I hurt myself before left Atlanta I sprant my stomache by lifting I was a helping twist sum railroad iron and hirt myself prity bad but I got over it and am all right again we had a very hard march we have worked eather a -------------- hing or atairing up the railroad and marched night and day til we hot heare we have been 36 days out we have lived on rations and one quarter rations and sometimes we havent had eney thing We havent had eney thing but beans till last night in 3 days sweet potatoes has been our cheif living last night we drawed for hardtaek and I think we shall have pleanty know that is I hope so I think that this raid will be a great thing in putting down this rebellion I hope it will
Our regament is at work on the railroad today and our Co is on guard today so I have a little time day yesterday we marched 15 miles and today we have gone back atairing up the last road in G.A.
Well dear Lucy the time passes slow the time will come if I live when I can big good by to all of this marching and when I want I can rest when I am tired eat when I am hungery and when night comes have a bed t sleep on and thank the Lord for well Lucy I must close for this time you must excuse my scribling I have wrote with a led pencil seeing that is all I have to write with I should like to be with you you must kiss the little boy for me I hope you and he is well I dont expect to heare from you in a good while for I understand and hope to heare from them Lucy

• Appeared on the 1870 US Census 5 Aug 1870 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Page: 1.

Name: Peal, Charles
Age: 32
Sex: M
Color: W
Occupation: Farmer
Value - Real Estate: On R. R.
Value - Personal Property: 260
Birth Place: England
Father Foreign Born: Y
Mother Foreign Born: Y
Month Born in Census Year:
Month Married in Census Year:
Attended School in Census Year:
Can Not Read:
Can Not Write:
Deaf and Dumb, Blind, Insane, or Idiot:
Eligible to Vote: Yes
Date of Enumeration:

• Appeared on the 1880 US census 7 Jun 1880 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Page: 4.

Name: Peel, Charles
Color: W
Sex: M
Age Prior to June 1: 42
Month of Birth in Census Year:
Relationship: :Head of Household
Single: N
Married: Y
Widowed: N
Divorced: N
Married in Census Year: N
Occupation: Farmer
Other Information:
Can't Read or Write: N
Place of Birth: England
Place of Birth Father: England
Place of Birth Mother: England

• his Biography was published in the Portrait and Biographical Album of Osceola County in 1884 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA. ⁵

Charles Peel, farmer, section 23, Hartwick Township, was born Oct 12, 1838, in Leicestershire, England. His father, William Peel, emigrated from his native country with his wife and children in 1842, locating in Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio. Mr. Peel was three years of age when his parents became residents of the Buckeye State, where he remained during the years of his minority and obtained his education in the common schools. On attaining his majority he came to Michigan, making his first location at Jamestown, Ottawa County, where he engaged in farming on 40 acres of land, of which he became the proprietor by purchase. In the second year of the War of the Rebellion he enlisted at Grand Rapids in the First Regiment, Mechanics and Engineers, enrolling in Co. H, Capt. W.P. Ennis. His command joined the Army of the Cumberland and Mr. Peel was a participant in the battles of Perryville, Lavergne and Bentonville, besides being in various minor affairs. He escaped without wound or capture, and was honorably discharged June 19, 1865, after a military service of more than two years. He was made Corporal, and in August 1864, was promoted to Second Sergeant. He returned on leaving the army to Oakfield, Kent Co., Mich.. where he engaged as assistant in a saw and shingle mill, spending three years in that employment. In 1867 he purchased 40 acres of land in that township, on which he operated two years, going thence to Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich. Some months later he sold his interests there, and in the same year, 1868 he purchased 40 acres which has since been his home. He is now the owner of 120 acres, and 80 acres of the tract are under improvements and Cultivation. He is an exceptionally good farmer.

Mr. Peel was formerly a Republican, but is now a supporter of the principles of the Prohibition element. He has officiated in his township as Treasurer and School Assessor.

He was married Jan 1, 1860 in Paris, Kent County, to Lucy A. Leman, and they have had seven children; William A., Albert W., Elnora, Percy J., Harvey F., Howard E. and Frank E. Mrs. Peel was born July 6, 1840 in Newfane, Niagara Co., N.Y., and was 12 years of age when she came with her parents to Paris, where she was reared and educated. She is a member of the Baptist Church.

• Appeared on the 1900 US Census 1 Jun 1900 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Page: 9B.

Name: Peel, Charles
Relation: Head
Color: W
Sex: M
Month of Birth: Oct
Year of Birth: 1838
Age: 61
Marital Status: M
Number of Years Married: 40
Mother of How Many Children:
Number of Children Living:
Place of Birth: England
Place of Birth Father: England
Place of Birth Mother: England
Year Immigrated: 1842
Years in U.S.: 58
Naturalization:
Occupation: Farming
Number of Months Not Employed:
Number of Months Attended School:
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Home Owned or Rented: O
Home Owned Free or Mortgaged: F
Farm or House: F
Number of Farm Holder: 144

• Avondale, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Cherry Valley Cemetery

Click here for a larger view

• Avondale, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Cherry Valley Cemetery

Click here for a larger view

Charles married Luceille Ann Leeman, daughter of Walter Leeman and Sally Ann McKinley, on 1 Jan 1861 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA. (Luceille Ann Leeman was born on 6 Jul 1844 in Newfane, Niagara County, New York, USA, died on 13 Jul 1920 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA and was buried in Avondale, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Cherry Valley Cemetery ⁶.)

   Marriage Notes:

PEEL, Charles (w) 22, Jamestown, and L. Ann SEEMAN (w) 17, Paris.
1 Jan 1861 at Grand Rapids by A. Beach, Min. Rev. A. WHEELER,
Kelloggsville, and Walter SEEMAN, Paris, witnesses. 3:315