2nd g-grandfather of Nancy Soper

2nd g-grandfather of Laura Coffman

Pvt    Co. L   8th Michigan Cavalry

Dates of service:  25 Aug 1864 - 10 Sep 1865 

The ancestry of our Wolcott line has been traced back to John Wolcott born c 1144 and they were living in Walcott, Norfolk, England. Our line descends through the eldest son of the Wolcott's while they were in England. 

Josiah Wolcott, our 2nd G-Grandfather, was born on October 21, 1844 in Monterey, Berkshire, Massachusetts. His parents were James Wolcott, a physician, and Azuba W. Bassett. James and Azuba had seven children that I know of, Anna, James, Belden, Josiah and his twin Joseph, May and Sarah. 

Azuba (Bassett) Wolcott was born c. 1813 and died on March 4, 1852 in Lee, Berkshire, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Joseph Bassett and Ruby Beeman. When Azuba died she left behind her husband and little children. James took his children and moved to Michigan.

Josiah and his brother, James, enlisted in company L, Eighth Cavalry on August 25, 1864 at Jackson, MI for 1 year. Mustered on August 25, 1864. They joined the Regiment at Lexington, Ky on September 20, 1864. Josiah was discharged at Pulaski, TN on June 10, 1865. Josiah's brother, James, was discharged at Lexington, KY on May 18, 1865. 

When Josiah returned home in 1865, he married Cordelia (Adelia) Taylor, daughter of Josiah B. Taylor and Emily J. McGregor. They lived in Dansville, Ingham, Michigan and had 5 children named Birt J. (our Great-Grandfather and unnamed baby boy, Lemuel Frederick and twin girls. On January 10th, 1876, Adelia gave birth to twin girls, Amelia and Adelia. Adelia (Taylor) Wolcott died five days later on January 15, 1876. After their mother died, Birt, went to live with his Grandfather, Josiah B. Taylor, Lemuel was kept home living with his father and the twin girls were given to Josiah Wolcott's 1st cousin, Martha (Wolcott) Koch. Martha changed their names to Cora and Nora. 

On July 21, 1878, Josiah married for a second time to Addie Bell Dennis. They had sons, Ernest J., Gay Dustin, Frederick Eugene and Veron Joseph Wolcott.