Pvt William Giddy
| Giddy, William (also spelled Gidy, Geddy, Gaddey, Gady, and Geddes) Born: c. 1840, Charles County, Maryland Died: May 21, 1904, Hartford, Connecticut Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Windsor, Connecticut Occupation: Farmer Enlisted: July 6, 1864, Hartford, Connecticut Unit: 30th Connecticut Colored Infantry (later 31st U.S. Colored Troops) Company: G Rank: Private --------------------------- In April of 1864, the 31st United States Colored Troops began organizing at Hart’s Island, New York. Of the less than 100 enlistees, one of those was a 24 year old Black man named William Giddy. Born around 1840 in Charles County, Maryland, William enlisted on July 6, 1864, in Buffalo, New York. His service was credited to Buffalo, New York, which may have been where he was living prior to enlisting. In January 1864, Connecticut Governor William Buckingam approved the organization of the 30th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment. This was an overflow regiment organized once the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment filled its ten Companies. The 29th was sent off to war in March 1864, but the 30th continued to attempt to fill its ranks. In June of 1864, with around 400 men, which was only enough to fill 4 Companies, the Union need was so great that the 30th Connecticut was sent to Virginia where they were consolidated with the 31st United States Colored Troops. On October 2, 1864, William Giddy was part of a picket line, which is when soldiers are stationed a certain distance apparently keeping watch for the enemy establishing and protected a military boundary. William Giddy’s records indicate he was accused of abandoning his post, not returning to the picket line until the evening of October 4, 1864. He was formally charged with cowardice and desertion. While these charges had a potential punishment of death, William Giddy’s later muster rolls indicate he only suffered a financial penalty. His pay was deducted from January 1865 through November 1865 for his lost equipment that occurred during the abandonment. William Giddy served until the wars end, mustering out with the regiment on November 7, 1865. After the war, William appears in the 1870 census in Windsor, CT, married to Mary Ann Percy. Mary Ann is the daughter of Sylvester Percy who is potentially the child of Ozias Pettibone of Granby, CT and his enslaved woman Rose. Ozias was a Revolutionary War veteran and a wealthy white landowner who owned about 1,000 acres of land. According to the late Granby archivist, Carol Laun, Ozias fathered many children with Rose. Ozias lived in the White mansion that still stands at 4 East Granby Road. With Rose being enslaved to Ozias, she likely had no choice but to continue to have his children. Mary Ann Percy had been married twice prior to marrying William Giddy. She was first married to Lyman Caesar, then to Henry Oliver, having children with both. Lyman Caesar died sometime prior to 1855, and Henry Oliver (Timothy F. Oliver’s brother) died sometime prior to 1860. Mary Ann died on July 4, 1884, after which William remarried a woman named Harriet in 1891. Although William married twice and had many stepchildren, he doesn’t appear to have ever had any children of his own. William Giddy died in Hartford, CT on May 21, 1904. According to the coroner’s report: “Mr. Giddy was sitting on the Railroad Track of the New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad at North Street Crossing where an engine approached, the men pulled him up, but he lurched away from them and fell against the cowcatcher and was thrown some distance. He was taken to St. Francis Hospital on May 8th, [1904], where it was found he had a fracture of the 7th, 8th & 9th ribs. Later, pneumonia developed and he died May 21, [1904] as the result.” William Giddy was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Windsor, Connecticut |