Benjamin Beals (Beales)
great-grandfather of Judith Corrigan
great-grandfather of Marilyn Dietz
Private Co. D 67th NY Infantry
Dates of Service: 16 Sep 1862 - 13 Sep 1863
The first appearance of Benjamin B. Beals is in the US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, in which he is shown as having enlisted as a private and mustered into the 67th NY Infantry from Scio, New York, on Sept. 16th, 1862, at the age of 33, to serve for three years. He died of "chronic diarrhea" almost exactly one year later on Sept. 13th 1863 at Warrenton, VA. From
New York in the War of the Rebellion, (3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912), and The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers (Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II.) we learn that the "67th Inf. was mustered into the U.S. service at Brooklyn, June 20th 1861, and left in August for Washington where it was posted nearby during the winter of 1861-62. It joined the general advance under McClellan to the Peninsula in March; took part in the siege of Yorktown; was present at Williamsburg and at Fair Oaks. During the Seven Days' battles the division was employed in guarding trains until the battle of Malvern hill, when it was in the thick of the fight. In the battle of Antietam the regiment was not in an exposed position." [This was where Benjamin Beals joined up with the regiment.] Following Antietam, "[the regiment] was active at Fredericksburg, with slight loss, went into winter quarters near Falmouth, was engaged at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and continued south with the Army of the Potomac to Brandy Station." On Sept. 13th, 1863, Benjamin died in the regimental hospital at Warrenton, Fauquier Co., Virginia.
From the Pension Index card showing Benjamin's widow Elizabeth filed May 5th, 1865, we know he was married. However, no record of Benjamin Beals prior to his muster roll has been found. His wife Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Stanhope Longcore; the elder Longcores had lived in Amity, Allegeny Co., NY, as early as 1830 and as late as 1855, when their 16-year-old daughter Elizabeth was enumerated with them. But no record for the Longcare family nor the Beals family has been found in the 1860 Federal Census. The 1865 Census lists Elizabeth Beales, aged 25, widow, with three children, Delilah aged 7, Halsey aged 5, and William aged 3, living in Hinsdale, Cattaraugus, New York, as were her parents and many of her siblings. In April 1867, Elizabeth married William Bellfield, a native of Baden (Austria) in Kent Co., Michigan. On Oct. 31st, 1867, Elizabeth filed in Muskegon County Probate Court for a guardianship for her three minor children, stating they were entitled to a pension and needed their interests protected. Naturally, the judge approved and appointed the guardianship. Elizabeth and William Bellfield had a daughter Anna in 1867, and in 1870 another daughter Clara. The combined Bellfield family, including Elizabeth's three children by Benjamin, were all residing in Casnovia, Muskegon, Michigan, in June 1870 where William was farming. All the children were enumerated under the name "Bellfield."
Sometime between 1865 and 1870, Elizabeth's parents John and Elizabeth Longcore with several of their children and grandchildren moved to Tyrone, Kent Co., Michigan, where the elder Longcores lived out the remainder of their lives. Elizabeth Longcore Beals Bellfield died Nov. 14, 1872, in Tyrone, Kent Co., Michigan, and was buried in Pinewood Cemetery, Kent City, Michigan, as are her parents, a daughter and many of her siblings.
Benjamin Beal's final resting place is unknown.
GRAVESITE: Unknown
Written by Dorotha Piechocki, March 2020