James Healey

Most sources list the birth year for James as 1812, and his last name was misspelled Haley on his Medal of Honor citation. His family was from County Cork, Ireland,…

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John Galloway

John was the older brother of George Galloway, another Medal of Honor recipient whose grave is adjacent to his. He was born in December 1842, and prior to his enlistment…

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Moses Orr

Moses was born in Northern Ireland in what was County Tyrone, and came to America May 5, 1851 at age 11. According to his death records, however, his year of…

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Sylvester Hopkins Martin

Sylvester was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania but grew up in Philadelphia, where patriotism was strong as the Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861.He was 19 when he…

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Francis A. Wilson

“Frank,” as he was known, was born in 1837, the youngest of three sons of George and Mary Anas Wilson of Philadelphia. He married Irish-born Elizabeth Jane Dunbar in 1859…

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Thomas George Lyons

The Medal of Honor record for Thomas lists his birth year as 1838 in Salem, Massachusetts, but his military record consistently shows it as April of 1841 in County Cork,…

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George W. Deary

George’s birthday was in January 1845 in Philadelphia, by most accounts. The story of his early years has been muddled by records of a George W Dearry from roughly the…

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George Norton Galloway

George Norton Galloway headstone Sylvester Hopkins Martin headstone

Civilian documents indicate George was born in 1844 but military records rely on his assertion that it was 1841. Like many others, he may have “inflated” his age when he…

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Nicholas Lear

Nicholas Lear headstone at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“A seaman for 35 years” describes Nicholas Lear’s lengthy career, but it accounts for less than half his life. Born in Providence, Rhode Island on March 3, 1825, his first…

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James Martin

James Martin headstone at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

James was born in County Derry, Ireland but his early years, including his date and place of emigration remain a mystery. He felt called to serve his new country at…

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