Information kindly submitted by Joan Meyer Bradley (no contact information found on prior Google Classic site)

GEORGE S ANNEAR (1822-1864)

George S. Annear was born in Peru (Clinton Co.), New York in 1820-22. This county is in the extreme northeast corner of New York State -- only about 35 miles south of Montreal, Canada -- and is tucked between the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. Peru, NY was settled in 1772 and was formed from parts of two towns -- Plattsburgh and Willsboro. Plattsburgh is now the county seat, but Willsboro is now in Essex County to the south.

Nothing has yet been learned about George Annear's birth family, except that he had an older brother named William who joined the army at the same time George did in 1838. Since the boys joined up in Lowell, it is possible the family had moved to Massachusetts by that time. Their father may be Joseph Annier who appears in the 1840 Cobleskill (Schoharie County), New York, but this is not proven.

In 1832 George and his older brother, William Annear, joined the U. S. Army in Lowell (Middlesex Co.), Massachusetts. George claimed to be 18, but later census records imply he was probably 16 and lied about his age to get into the military. They were enlisted by a Lt. Dis on 5 January 1838 for 3 years, their service to expire on 5 January 1841. Both were in 3 Infantry, Company G. The enlistment record indicates both boys were born in Peru, NY, that William was a carpenter and George a laborer; we know that later in life George also was a carpenter. Both had dark eyes, hair, and complexion. William was 5' 9" and George was 5' 5-1/2" tall.

Apparently the two young men became disenchanted or homesick and wanted to visit home, because the record also indicates they deserted the Army on 8 December 1838 and were apprehended 16 December 1838. Each was a private and served at Fort No. 4 in East Florida, probably to engage in the Seminole wars; this is likely how George became acquainted with Florida and he remained there to live. There is also a note on William's record "P. O. Aug 17, 1852" and on George's "P. O. Feby 14, 1852."  It is not clear what the abbreviation "P.O." stands for, but it may be "Pensioned Out", indicating they had served the necessary 20 years to qualify for their pensions.

George Annear was living in the Florida Territory before Florida achieved statehood. He married a widow in 1844 in Florida and is found in the November 1850 Jefferson County, Florida census with his wife, their two children, and several Stephens stepchildren. A Jefferson County marriage record confirms that he married Margaret Stephens on 2 April 1844.

Margaret Stephens was born in 1809 in South Carolina but moved to Florida with her husband, Thomas Stephens, and one or two children between 1828 and 1834, probably to acquire land and raise cotton crops. Mr. Stephens fought and eventually died in the Indian Wars in Florida; his death occurred on May 11, 1841 in Pilatka. His estate was probably divided among his wife and older children, as the next census shows each family member, including the older children, as slaveholders. The 1850 Jefferson Co., FL Slave Schedule lists as slave-owners Margaret, Civil, Samuel and Elizabeth.

Margaret brought four children into her marriage to George S. Annear -- Civil S. Stephens (b. 1828 SC), Samuel Stephens (b. 1834 FL),
Catharine Stephens (b. 1842 FL; d. 1850 FL) and Elizabeth Stephens (b. 1835 FL).

George S. and Margaret (Stephens) Annear had two children together in Florida --  Eliza Annear, born 1845, and a son George C. Annear, born 1848. The son, George C., is not found in the 1860 census with the family, and it is assumed he died between 1850 and 1860.

In 1850 Catharine Stephens died at age 9 of croup in Florida. Between 1853 and 1854, her mother, Margaret Stephens Annear, also either died or was separated/divorced from George; a land record implies she was still living in 1856. Whatever happened to Margaret, her second husband, George S. Annear, took up with Margaret's daughter, Civil S. Stephens, about 1855. It is not known where their marriage took place, but George and Civil had twins, William and June, in Alabama in 1855. They returned to Florida by 1857 and had another daughter, Meary A. A second set of twins, Samuel and Laura, was born in Florida in 1859. The family is found there in this 1860 census:

June 1860 Jefferson Co., FL (Waukunah post office)

Annear, George S. - 39 NY, carpenter, assets $150
Annear, Civil - 33 SC
Annear, Eliza - 15 FL
Annear, William - 5 AL
Annear, June - 5 AL
Annear, Meary A. - 3 FL
Annear, Samuel - 1 FL
Annear, Laura - 1 FL

Civil Stephens Annear probably died soon after the November 1860 census, as a third marriage record for George S. Annear shows him marrying Rachel Penny Ann Carter on August 10, 1861 in Jefferson County, Florida. No more is known about George’s third wife or her Carter family except that they probably had been slaveholders.  There were black Carters in Jefferson County, Florida, but no “Carter“ slaveowners listed in 1850 and 1860 censuses. At the time of this last marriage, George Annear would have had five children under the age of 6, unless some of them had died.

George's stepdaughter, Elizabeth (Stephens) Freeman, sister of his wife, Civil S. Stephens Annear, remarried to Joseph Beashot/Byshot
between 1861 and 1866. George Annear was serving in the Civil War, and Civil had apparently died, leaving her sister Elizabeth to care for her Annear children; then Elizabeth too died, leaving the Annear children with her husband, Joseph, who was not related to them, but this good man continued to care for them. Census records in 1870 show three of George and Civil Annear's children -- William Anner, Mattie Anner, and Albert Anner -- as "stepchildren" in the household of an Italian man named Joseph Beashot/Byshot/ Buyshot (originally Beazotti) and his wife Martha Abbott. In 1880 the three children were recorded under their stepfather's name, Byshot, not Annear, but are still in Joseph Beashot's household. In 1880 there was also a nephew in the household, James Abbott, age 3, the son of William W. & Catherine Abbott; William was apparently the brother of Martha Abbott Byshot. Joseph and Martha Abbott were married in 1867 and remained together for the rest of their lives.

When the Civil War erupted, Florida settlers rallied to the Confederate cause, including George S. Annear, who mustered in on
January 10, 1862 in Monticello, Florida as a private in the 5th Florida Infantry, Company A.  He was later promoted to full sergeant.
This infantry unit was organized at Tallahassee, Florida, during the spring of 1862.

The Compiled Military Record of George S. Annear has been acquired from the National Archives.  It reveals he was promoted to full
sergeant in November 1862 and received “Distinguished Service” recognition. This regiment engaged in dozens of battles in Virginia,
Maryland, and Pennsylvania between 1862 and 1865, including in chronological order Fair Oaks VA, Manassas VA, Frederick MD,
Hagerstown, MD, Sharpsburg, MD, South Mountain MD, Sharpsburg, MD, Antietam, MD, Amosville VA, Winchester VA, Fredericksburg VA, Murfreesboro TN, Chancellorsville VA, Gettysburg PA (where they lost 2/3 of their men), Culpepper Court House VA, Brandy Station VA, Mine Ru VA, Wilderness VA, Spotsylvania Court House VA, and many other locations in Virginia plus a few in Georgia.

In June 1863, George S. Annear either suffered a wound or became ill as he is found in a hospital muster roll dated July 17, 1863. Nothing is said about the reason for his hospitalization.

Unfortunately, George S. Annear did not survive the Civil War. He died at Wilderness, VA on 6 May 1864. A week later his son-in-law, Joseph Louisiana, who was in the same company and regiment, was taken prisoner of war on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House VA.  Joseph was later paroled from Elmira, NY prison after swearing allegiance to the Union in 1865.  When he returned home to Florida, his young wife, Eliza Annear Louisiana, was not there, having apparently assumed both her father and husband were dead and had left the state.  Eliza remarried to Richard Wilmot, another soldier, in 1867, probably in Baton Rouge, LA. Joseph Louisiana eventually remarried too 7 years after his release from prison and had a large family in Florida.  It is not known what happened to the other children of George Annear and Civil Stephens.

Florida, like many “confederate” states, eventually passed a law granting pensions to Civil War veterans.  however, no application for
a Civil War pension based on the service of George S. Annear has been found, meaning neither his daughter, Eliza, nor his widow, Rachel Carter Annear, ever applied for his pension. Eliza probably died (1892) before the law was passed; what happened to Rachel Carter Annear is not known.



Sources:
1. 1840 Cobleskill (Schoharie County), NY census: Joseph Annier (60-70), wife (60-70), 3 males (20-30), 1 female (10-15), 1 female
(15-20), 1 female (60-70 -- probably sister of Joseph or his wife). No slaves. All males engaged in agriculture. There were three Annear men in the Civil War from Florida -- possible the three listed here as 20-30 years old. (In 1840 men aged 20-30 would have been born between 1810 and 1820; the two boys we know as "ours" were born in 1817 & 1820/1822. William Annear was born 1817 and George in either 1820 or 1822.)

2. 1850 Jefferson County, FL census: George S. Annear, wife Margaret Stephens Annear, her 4 children, and their 2 children, Eliza Annear and George C. Annear

3. 1860 Jefferson County, FL census: George S. Annear, wife Civil (Stephens) Annear, their five children born between 1855 and 1860, including two sets of twins.

4. Civil War Solders Record: George S. Annear mustered into Company A, 5th Florida Infantry, on 10 January 1862 and died at Wilderness, VA on 6 May 1864, having earned "Distinguished Service" recognition.

5. 1845 Voters List, Jefferson County, FL: George Annier

6. Jefferson County Marriage Records: George Anniers and Margaret Stevens, 2 April 1844; George Annear and Rachel Pennny Ann Carter on 10 Aug 1861.

7. Compiled Military Service File: George S. Annear (Annier) - acquired from National Archives September 2006 by Joan Wyatt Bradley.

Master file card: Annear George S., Co. A, 5 Florida Infantry (Confederate). Private (in) - Sergeant (out). 13 file card numbers:
4519- 3645, 3728, 3825, 3933, 4016, 4101, 4181,4284, 4311, 4364, 4413, 4459, 4539. Number of medical cards herein: 0. Number of personal papers herein: 0.

Copies of 14 Company Muster Roll reports were included. All indicate George S. Annear was enlisted on June 10, 1862 in Monticello, Florida by Captain Bailey for the duration of the war. The first few cards in 1862 have his name spelled "Annier".

(1) George S. Annier, Pvt, Capt Bailey's Independent Co. (Military Light Infantry), Florida Vols.* (*This company subsequently became Company A, 5th Regiment Florida Infantry.) Company Muster Roll for Dec. 11, 1861 to Feb. 28, 1862. Enlisted Jan. 10, 1862, Monticello, by Capt. Bailey, for period of war. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist.

(2) George S. Annier, Pvt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Feb. 28 to June 30, 1862. Last paid by Maj. I. Anson to Feb. 28, 1862. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist.

(3) George S. Annier, Pvt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Mch. & Apr. 1862. Last paid by Maj. I. Anson to Feb. 28, 1862. Not stated whether present or absent. Remarks: Bounty money due. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist.

(3) George S. Annear, Pvt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for June 30 to Oct. 31, 1862. Last paid by Maj. Teasdale to June 30, 1862. Present. -- E. L. thornton, Copyist.

(4) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Nov. & Dec. 1862. Last paid by Capt. Baker to Oct. 31, 1862. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist.

(5) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Jan. & Feb. 1863. Last paid by Capt. Baker to Dec 31, 1862. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist

(6) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt, Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Mch & Apr, 1863, Last paid by: Capt. Baker to Feb. 1863. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist

(7) George S. Annear, 4 Sgt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida, appears on HOSPITAL MUSTER ROLL of patients of Florida Hospital, or General Hospital No. 11, Richmond, VA, for June 30, 1863. Last paid by Capt. Baker to Apl. 30, 1863. -- W. H. Callings, Copyist

(8) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt, Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for May & June, 1863. Last paid by: Capt. Mason to June 30, 1863. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist

(9) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt, Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for July & Aug, 1863. Last paid by: Capt. Mason to June 30, 1863. Present. -- E. L. thornton, copyist

(10) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt., Co. A., 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster roll for Sept. & Oct., 1863. Last paid by Capt. Baker
to August 31, 1863. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist

(11) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Nov & Dec, 1863. Last paid by Capt. Baker to
Oct. 31, 1863. Present. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist

(12) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Jan. & Feb., 1864. Last paid by Capt. Baker to
Dec. 31, 1863. Present. Remarks: Detailed as Sergt. Guard in Commissary Dept. 1 shoulder belt lost. -- E. L. Thornton, Copyist

(13) George S. Annear, 5 Sgt., Co. A, 5 Reg't Florida Infantry. Company Muster Roll for Feb. 29 to June 30, 1864. Remarks: Killed
Battle Wilderness, May 6th, 1864.

(14) Source Information for 1838 enlistment of William & George Annear (details are in the narrative above):

Ancestry.com. U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Original data: Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls.  This database contains a register of enlistments in the U.S. Army from 1798-1914. Information listed on these records includes name of
enlistee, age at time of enlistment, birthplace, and , Virginia, in the Civil War on 6 May 1864.

Joan Meyer Bradley