Charles & John Masland, Quebec/USA, d. 1846 Rio Grande
I am not related to the people mentioned below, but thought you might find the following item of some interest. There is no other info attached to this article.
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NEHGS - The New England Historic and Genealogical Society in Boston - publishes a newsletter which features "My Favorite Ancestor" in which members give a brief accounting of a favorite, notable, or even mysterious relative.
One recent article was entitled 'Charles Masland' and was posted by Frank Masland of Carlisle, PA. It reads as follows:
My favorite ancestor is my 3rd great uncle, Charles Masland, born in 1810 in the town of Arnold, Nottinghamshire. He was a framework knitter but the Luddite riots of the early 1800's compelled him to join the British Army in search of a better life. In 1831 he left for Quebec where his brother John was stationed. On April 26, 1833, Charles tried to persuade John to desert for America but John was reluctant.
Charles left Quebec later that evening, sneaking through the back woods of Maine down to New York. Nine months later Charles was approached in New York by a recruiter from the 3rd US Infantry and he enlisted. During the next decade, Charles Masland distinguished himself and was promoted to Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank.
He longed to be reunited with his family and saved up his money to bring his mother and remaining siblings to this country. In 1845 Charles finally got the chance to see his family again. He obtained a furlough and made his way to Princeton, New Jersey where his mother was living. After a tearful reunion, he vowed to leave the army and return to go into the weaving business with his brothers.
He had to first return to his regiment which was about to leave with General Zachary Taylor for Texas and the Mexican border. He marched out of Corpus Christi on March 8, 1846 and arrived at the Rio Grande three weeks later. En route he had a premonition that he would die in battle. On May 9, 1846 he was engaged at Resaca de la Palma. As the battle was turning, Charles was ordered to "squat!"He asked,
"What's the use of squatting when we're right on them?" The next instant his head was shot off.