Michael's parents were Irish emigrants. His parents left Ireland for Nova Scotia. He was born in 1826-27. He moved to Boston by 1850. Here he would meet and marry Hannah Smith who was born in Ireland and came to America sometime after 1827. They would eventually settle in North Cambridge, MA. The Driscolls would have four children, Elizabeth, Ellen (Nellie), Thomas (Tom Dick) and Hannah.
Michael is listed as a laborer. In North Cambridge this most likely meant he worked in the brick yards. Neither Michael or Hannah were literate so we have nothing in their own words. Young Hannah was born on either Sept. 10 or Oct. 11, 1860. Sadly she would live just over a year. On Sept. 28. 1861 she passed away of Cholera Infantum.
I do not know if it was simply a difference in customs between America and the old country or the fact that the Driscolls were so poor they could not afford to act otherwise but on Oct. 5, 1861 Michael was brought before Judge Ladd of the Cambridge Police Court for violation of the Registration Law. He buried his little Hannah with out going through an undertaker and obtaining a permit from the Cambridge Clerks office. The grave digger on duty at the North Cambridge Catholic Cemetery tried to stop him to no avail. He pleaded guilty and the fine should have been $2.00 - $20.00. No record survives of the sentence, not a small amount at the time.
Just a few weeks later, on Oct. 28, Driscoll enlisted in the 28th, an Irish regiment. I think these two events are related. I have read of other instances were men enlisted out of grief, guilt or some other trauma. Another possibility is money. They were already poor. Now they may have been under the weight of both doctors bills and a court fine. I think the most likely reason is Judge Ladd. Ladd had a history of passing sentences that amounted to pay the fine or enlist.
The 28th was recruited at Camp Cameron and left the state for further training at Ft. Columbus in New York on Jan. 11, 1862. Much of his time was spent in Hospital duty. After suffering a hand wound at the Battle of South Mountain he made an Ambulance driver. While the 28th was chasing Lee toward Gettysburg he fell out of the march and was captured near Dunfries Va. He was paroled and eventually returned to his regiment on Oct. 5, 1863. He re-enlisted after his initial three years and was mustered out at the end of the war.
He returned home to Cambridge. His war wound would never completely. This made it difficult for him to use his right hand for the rest of his life.
In 1884 he purchased what would become 120 Reed Street, just two blocks from "Old Camp Cameron". At the time of the purchase the he could see the property of the camp from his new front porch. Even though he would pass away of stomach cancer the following year his family would live in that house until 1999 and on a portion of the property for several years after that. A sign on the corner of Reed and Dudley Streets remembers their time on the street.
DAN SULLIVAN
Michael is listed as a laborer. In North Cambridge this most likely meant he worked in the brick yards. Neither Michael or Hannah were literate so we have nothing in their own words. Young Hannah was born on either Sept. 10 or Oct. 11, 1860. Sadly she would live just over a year. On Sept. 28. 1861 she passed away of Cholera Infantum.
I do not know if it was simply a difference in customs between America and the old country or the fact that the Driscolls were so poor they could not afford to act otherwise but on Oct. 5, 1861 Michael was brought before Judge Ladd of the Cambridge Police Court for violation of the Registration Law. He buried his little Hannah with out going through an undertaker and obtaining a permit from the Cambridge Clerks office. The grave digger on duty at the North Cambridge Catholic Cemetery tried to stop him to no avail. He pleaded guilty and the fine should have been $2.00 - $20.00. No record survives of the sentence, not a small amount at the time.
Just a few weeks later, on Oct. 28, Driscoll enlisted in the 28th, an Irish regiment. I think these two events are related. I have read of other instances were men enlisted out of grief, guilt or some other trauma. Another possibility is money. They were already poor. Now they may have been under the weight of both doctors bills and a court fine. I think the most likely reason is Judge Ladd. Ladd had a history of passing sentences that amounted to pay the fine or enlist.
The 28th was recruited at Camp Cameron and left the state for further training at Ft. Columbus in New York on Jan. 11, 1862. Much of his time was spent in Hospital duty. After suffering a hand wound at the Battle of South Mountain he made an Ambulance driver. While the 28th was chasing Lee toward Gettysburg he fell out of the march and was captured near Dunfries Va. He was paroled and eventually returned to his regiment on Oct. 5, 1863. He re-enlisted after his initial three years and was mustered out at the end of the war.
He returned home to Cambridge. His war wound would never completely. This made it difficult for him to use his right hand for the rest of his life.
In 1884 he purchased what would become 120 Reed Street, just two blocks from "Old Camp Cameron". At the time of the purchase the he could see the property of the camp from his new front porch. Even though he would pass away of stomach cancer the following year his family would live in that house until 1999 and on a portion of the property for several years after that. A sign on the corner of Reed and Dudley Streets remembers their time on the street.
DAN SULLIVAN
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