Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
From Wm. E. Dwyer Gaithersburg, Md. Oct. 8 1913
Pension Certificate 80,798. Civil War Veteran of Company A and Company I First Md. Vol Inftry. Term of service – Four years, three months and two days.
My Father’s name was Thomas Dwyer. My Mother’s maiden name was Elisabeth Duvall, before her marriage to my Father. My Father was a Mexican war Soldier, and was killed in Mexico. I lived with my widowed Mother, until her death in May 1852. We were living at that time on Cross Street, Baltimore, Md. The last words I heard my mother say were to Nicholas Vansant, superintendent of the Manual Labor School in Baltimore County, and was going to take me to the school. He asked how old is William, she said He will be 9 years on the 22 day of July. He took me away and she died four days after. I lived at the Manual Labor School from May 1852 until April 1855 when I ran away and went to my uncle Wm. R. Duvall at Simpsonville, Howard County, Md. I lived with him until June, 1859. I then went with my cousin John W. Dwyer at Brighton until August 1850 and worked for Henry Stabler a merchant and farmer at Brighton, Md. Until May 9, 1861 when I left and enlisted.
I do not know of any public record or church record of my birth, nor do I know of any Bible record of any of our births, but suppose that there was one. There was four of us, and I was the youngest one. The oldest a sister is dead. She at the time Mother died was about 18 years old. My oldest brother is dead. He at Mother’s death was 15. The next one a brother Edward A Dwyer and who enlisted in Company A 1st Md Vol Inftry was at Mother’s death about 12 years old at the time. He enlisted May 10, 1961.
Proof I can furnish as to my age – My discharge ought to be proof.
p.s. Dear Sir, I have concluded that I will not swear to the above statement not because it is not true but because it costs 25¢ and does not count anything for my claim, as you refer to my sworn statement as – You allege you are 70 years old.
Respectfully,
Wm. E. Dwyer