Huldah Musselwhite, her genealogy and short life.

Huldah Musselwhite, her genealogy and short life.

Huldah was born on July 19, 1842 in Saltville, VA.  She was the daughter of William Alexander Musselwhite and Catherine Montgomery.  She had the misfortune of having a name the seemed to be spelled differently on a regular basis.  There are many variations of the name Musselwhite.  Maybe that's the reason branches of this family dropped the Mussel and just went with White. 

In 1860 Huldah lived in Russell, Virginia, just before the start of the Civil War.  This area was important to the confederates because of the salt mines in Saltville.  In 1864 it was the scene of one of the bloodiest battles called the Saltville Massacre.

On June 22, 1864 she married a soldier Daniel L. Rogers who was born in Hebron, CT.  So was he a Union soldier or Confederate?  No record has been found of this marriage to date.  How did a northern man marry a southern lady the same year the Union took over Saltville?  

Her son Miles Benton Rogers was born on September 27, 1866 in Russell County VA, no record has been found. 

Her son David Louis Rogers was born on March 9, 1870 in Virginia, no record has been found

Her son Daniel Wiley Rogers was born on February 15, 1873, in Salem VA, no record has been found.

Much of the information has been passed down and there is a family story that they had to flee Virginia and left their dinner plates on the table and they headed to Connecticut.  Why did they have to flee?  

Town Selectmen Letters

Things seems to take a downturn, on June 21 1875 her husband Daniel was looking for help from the town:

The town replied that Daniel had not been a resident there.  Huldah must have been pregnant with their only daughter.  

Her daugher was born and died in Coventry Connecticut on August 3, 1875.  She was stillborn.

Her son Edward Thomas was born on December 18,1876 in Windham Connecticut. 

Again Mar 14th, 1877 Daniel seeks help from the town:

This letter always makes me sad, here they are a family, having lost their only daughter.  And within a short time, the 3 oldest sons will be all that is left.  

Huldah died on March 26, 1877 of consumption, at the young age of 34.  She left a husband, and infant and 3 young sons.  

The Genealogy and Tragic Life of Daniel L Rogers (1837 to 1877-1880)

Daniel L Rogers was supposed to have been born in Hebron, CT in 1837.  Hebron has no record of his birth.

He supposedly lived in Hebron for the first seven years of his life.

In 1850, this could be him living in Massachusetts > Hampden > Westfield

I find it interesting that Benton Loomis (on this census) is a few years older, he later named a child with the middle name of Benton. Was he a friend or a relative?  If this is the right Daniel, the people he is living with would assumedly be his father Daniel J and a second wife Hannah C as she is too young to be Daniel's mother and too old to be Daniel's sister.  

He was very good at dodging the census takers, because this is the only one that has been found that could be him.  

Now for the interesting part.  He was a soldier in the civil war.  Did he fight for the union or the confederates?  This is unclear because he married a southern girl named Hulda(h) Musselwhite in Saltville Virginia the year the Union overtook Saltville from the Confederates.  The date of the marriage from what has been handed down is June 22, 1864 but no records have been found that can verify the marriage.  

His son Miles Benton Rogers was born on September 27, 1866 in Russell County VA, no record has been found. 

His son David Louis Rogers was born on March 9, 1870 in Virginia, no record has been found

His son Daniel Wiley Rogers was born on February 15, 1873, in Salem VA, no record has been found.

Much of the information has been passed down and there is a family story that they had to flee Virginia and left their dinner plates on the table and they headed to Connecticut.  Why'd they have to flee?  

Town Selectmen Letters

Things seems to take a downturn, on June 21 1875 Daniel was looking for help from the town:

The town replied that Daniel had not been a resident there.  His wife must have been pregnant with their only daughter.  

His daugher was born and died in Coventry Connecticut on August 3, 1875.  She was stillborn.

His son Edward Thomas was born on December 18,1876 in Windham Connecticut. 

Finding his birth certificate was the first time I'd been able to see Daniel L Rogers in any record, the birth is recorded in Windham Town Hall, Windham CT.  His birthplace listed as Hebron, CT, his occupation listed as shoemaker. 

Again Mar 14th, 1877 Daniel seeks help from the town:

Again Hebron didn't acknowledge him.  This is the saddest part of the tragic story, they had just lost their only daughter and within a short period of time only the three of the children will be left on this earth alone.  

Death of his wife Huldah Musselwhite Rogers on March 26, 1877 in Willimantic, CT at the age of 34, she died of Consumption. Recorded in the Windham Town Hall, Windham, CT

His infant son Edward Thomas died Aug 26, 1877 no record has been found of his death.  

So at this point Daniel has lost his wife, two children and he decides to head to New York.  He then meets a tragic end.

We know this only from a newspaper article in the New York Times about his son Miles, but it mentions his father's death.  

New York Times

Published: September 15, 1892

Copyright © The New York Times

No record of his death was ever found.  Where is is buried is still unknown.  If we could find that out, he is still obligated a civil war headstone by the Federal government, but we would need to have a death record and a burial location.  

So far what we have learned about Daniel is not from your normal genealogy methods.  Information for the most part have not come from records and census, but from obscure information gathered.  

The boys have been well researched and because of the ages when they were orphaned, they gave varying information on census forms, and vital records about their parents.  

Daniel, you have tried to elude us for years!  You have many descendants that what to know more about you!