Civil War Pension Records

James CLAFFEY - Company L, 8th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Cavalry. Widow's App: 360122
    Enrolled Feb. 21st, 1861 in Philadelphia, PA. Deserted May 28, 1864, and again on March 24, 1865, after which he never returned.
    James was married to Annie on January 11th, 1881 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Oakland, California by the Rev. Benjamin Ackley. They only had one child, Francis Joseph Claffey, born January 11, 1883.
    James died on April 18th, 1886 at 1372 10th Street, Oakland, California. At the time of the widow's application for pension dated Aug. 18th, 1887, Annie lived in Oakland and stated her age as 37.
    A rough family tree reconstruction:

01 James Claffey
02 +Annie
03 :   Francis Joseph Claffey

James CLAFFY - New York Artillery, Company I, 5th Regiment

John CLAFFEE - H23, Connecticut Infantry. Enrolled August 20, 1862. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863 on a disability of rheumatism. After discharge, lived in Noroton Heights (Fitch's Home For The Soldiers) and New haven, CT. Never married. Still alive in June 1898. Born 1841/42.

John CLAFFEY - E2, E33 & D33 Massachusetts Infantry

John CLAFFEY - F12 & H39 Massachusetts Infantry

John CLAFFY - Private, Connecticut Infantry, Company F, 5th Regiment

John CLAFFY - Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company D, 16th Regiment
    Born in Ireland. Enlisted at age 18 on July 12, 1861. After Honorable Discharge on July 17, 1864, lived at Soldier's Home, Los Angeles, CA. Applied for invalid pension in 1896 at age 52 in Santa Cruz, CA. Died Jan. 25, 1905.

John CLAFFY - Michigan Infantry, Company B, 13th Regiment

John CLAFFY - Corporal, New York Volunteer Infantry, Company H, 148th Regiment

Joseph CLAFFEY - Joseph CLAFFEY - Private, Co. I, 158th Reg., NY Volunteer Infantry
    Joseph enlisted on September 8th, 1862, and was discharged on May 25th, 1865.
    On Oct. 7, 1896, he was granted an invalid pension increase, due to the gunshot wound of his left hand, rhematism, and disease of the heart and nervous system. His height was 5 feet 7 inches, and his weight was 150 pounds.
    During the medical examinations held between 1891 and 1897, his inconsistent stated ages meant that he was born between 1830 and 1834.
    He was living at the Soldier's Home in Elizabeth City, Virginia on June 23rd, 1897. He died Jan. 23rd, 1908, Southern Branch, Home for Disabled Veteran Soldiers, with his next of kin being listed as John Claffey, Co. A, 5th US Infantry.
    A letter of Dec. 10th, 1911 from his grandaughter Lillian V. Claffey was included in the files stating that she hadn't heard from him in a number of years, having written to the Soldier's Home at Hampton Roads.
    On a questionaire filled out by Joseph on April 14th, 1898, he reported that he was a widower, having been married to Elizabeth Nolan in 1858 in Brooklyn, New York by father O'Neill, and that he had not previously been married. He had two children living - John who was born in 1861, and Norah, who was born in 1867.
    A rough family tree reconstruction:

01 Joseph Claffey
02 +Elizabeth Nolan
03 :   John Claffey
04 :   +name unknown
05 :   :   Lillian V. Claffey
06 :   Norah Claffey

Joseph CLAFFY - Private, New York Volunteers, Company H, 22nd Regimen. Invalid App. 545950; Cert. 329593.
    Prior to entering service, Joseph was a laborer. He enrolled on May 15th, 1861 in Albany, New York and was discharged as "Joseph Caffy" on June 19th, 1863 due to sunstroke, where he then resided in Fortsville, Saratoga Co., NY.   
    On the declaration for invalid pension dated July 27th, 1885, the physical examination at West Fort Ann, Washington Co., New York on July 27th, 1885 has the following: Age 43, height 5' 6 and 1/2 ", light complexion, light hair, blue eyes.
    At or near Fredericksburg, VA on August 9th, 1862, suffered sunstroke while on march from Falmouth to Cedar Mountain, VA, resulting in heart disease. Sent to Culpepper Court House Hospital, VA for one day, then sent to Alexandria, VA Convalescent Camp Hospital for 2 weeks, then to Bedloe Island Hospital, Fort Wood, NY Harbor for 7 weeks, then back to Convalescent Camp Alexandria for 6 weeks, rejoined the regiment, then around May 5th, 1863 sent to 7th Street W.D.C. Convalescent Camp until discharge.
    An affidavit from the foreman of the Ore Mines in West Fort Ann, New York where Joseph worked in 1859 and 1860: "Very able-bodied man. No man employed there could do any more labor than said Claffy, who was especially noted for his ability to perform a remarkable heavy amount of labor each day."
    An examination at Fortsville, Saratoga Co., New York on Sept. 2nd, 1885 listed him as 114 lbs, 5' 6 and 1/2", and 44 years old.
    A pension was granted for disease of the heart from diarrhea and debility.

Keeran CLAFFY - B4 & B&K Illinois Cavalry

Martin Edward CLAFFEY - Private, US Marine Corps
    Martin enlisted March 13th, 1906 in Duluth, Minnesota. Prior to enlisting, he was a fireman. He was discharged on March 12th, 1910. After leaving the service, he was employed as a clerk in Chicago, Illinois.
    Four separate birthdates are listed: November 2, 1883 in St. Paul, Minnesota; Oct. 2nd, 1885 (from hospital records at death); Oct. 2nd, 1883 during a medical exam; and Oct. 7th, 1883 listed twice in the invalid pension, once by his own hand.
    His medical records stated that he had blue eyes, black hair and a medium complexion. He was 5 feet, 8 and one half inches tall and weighed 134 pounds.
    Edward died of TB on April 19th, 1931 at the Baptist Sanatorium in El Paso, Texas, and was buried the next day in St. Paul where his parents lived.
    A rough family tree reconstruction:

01 J.G. Claffey
02 +Catherine
03 :   Martin Edward Claffey

Martin CLAFFY - Private, New York Volunteer Infantry, Company C, 142nd and 169th Regiments

Michael C. CLAFFEY - Enlisted as Michael C. Claffey in Syracuse, NY in Oct. 1862. Married as Michael DOLAN on Feb. 9, 1856 to Bridget DURFER in Syracuse, NY. Michael had been previously married, and she died about 1854 without children. Died April 17, 1876, leaving 3 children: Michael Henry Dolan, born Mar. 18, 1863; Clarissa, born Mar. 11, 1866, Mary May Dolan, born May 3, 1874.

Michael CLAFFY - New York State Militia Volunteers, Company A, 69th Regiment. Mother app: 193608
    Michael enrolled April 20th, 1861 in New York City. After discharge, lived in Brooklyn, Rochester, Harlan, West (unreadable), and Norwich, CT.
    Michael died in Rochester, New York on March 23, 1870. His obituary read: Yesterday, interred at family burial place at the Pinnacle Cemetery the remains of Micahel Claffey. Deceased was a native of this city, son of the late Daniel Claffy".
    In his mother's application for the pension: Her name was Elizabeth Claffy and was a resident of Rochester, Monroe Co., New York. She was the widow of Daniel Claffy, who she married in Rochester on Nov. 16th, 1835. The marriage was performed by the Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, a Catholic priest. Her maiden name was Delany. Her husband died on Jan. 11th, 1864 or 1865 in Rochester and the house devised to her by her husband's will. Her son never married and didn't have any children. The application was witnessed by Bridget Claffy, age 20, a resident of Rochester. Based on this, Bridget would have been born in 1849 or 1850. Also included was an affadavit by Hugh Claffy of Brooklyn, New York stating that he was Michael's brother.
    A rough family tree reconstruction:

01 Daniel Claffy
02 +Elizabeth Delany
03 :   Michael Claffy
04 :   Hugh Claffy
05 :   Bridget Claffy