Early, William James

Item

Title: Early, William James
Alias: Early, William; Early, William J.; Early, Pap; Gaines, William
Gender: Male
Biography: William Gaines, whose chosen name was William Early, was born to Guy and Clara early in 1843. He had been enslaved by Richard Gaines in Boone County (Ky.). Military records reflected the surname of this slave holder upon his enlistment for the civil war in 1864. According to a recent article from the Dearborn County Register, William Early was injured during the war while transporting explosive materials, and remained in the hospital until a year after the war. In 1878 he married Alice Willis in Boone County (Ky.) and they had a daughter named Mary Hamilton, with whom he lived into old age according to census records. He is buried in the Greendale cemetery's soldier circle located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. In census, marriage, and death records he is listed as William Early. Military records and his tombstone reflect the surname of Gaines.
Member: Early family; Gaines family
Birth date: 18 Sep 1843
Place of birth: Boone County (Ky.)
Father: Early, Guy
Mother: Early, Clara
Life event(s): Marriage: 31 Aug 1878; Boone County (Ky.); Boone County (Ky.)
Spouse(s): Willis, Alice
Child(ren): Hamilton, Mary
Death date: 22 Mar 1934
Place of death: Lawrenceburg (Ind.)
Military service: Co. E, 117th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry; 117th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry; Lawrenceburg Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Huff Post No. 89
Allegiance: United States of America
Place of enlistment: Covington (Ky.)
Service began: 22 Aug 1864
Service ended: 23 Jan 1866; Discharged for disability (Tuberculosis)
Relationship: Slaveholder(s): Gaines, Richard; Gaines, Richard
Bibliographic citation(s): Findagrave.com, memorial #223521141; "Pap Early, Served in Civil War, Interred in Greendale," Dearborn County Register, Lawrenceburg, IN, 1 Apr 2021, accessed via findagrave.com
Source(s): U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865; Kentucky, Marriage Records, 1852-1914; Tenth Census of the United States, 1880; Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900; Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910; Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920; Find A Grave.com; Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011

Item sets: AA--Enslaved--Kentucky--Boone County--G; Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans--Kentucky--Boone County--A-K

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Items with "Relationship: Early, William James"
Title	Class
Gaines, Richard	Person