William McQuade (abt. 1829)

Born about 1829 in Ireland

Biography

William McQuade served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Sep 17, 1864
Mustered out: May 29, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company H 16th New York Cavalry

William was born about 1829 in Ireland. ^[1] In 1864 he enlisted in the 16th New York Cavalry for one year and was mustered into Company H as a Private on Sep 17th at Tarrytown, New York.

The 16th Cavalry spent most of their time patrolling the Virginia countryside until the night when the President was shot. On that memorable night of April 14, 1865, when John Wilkes Booth fired the shot which killed President Lincoln, and, leaping to the stage of Ford's theatre, escaped, William was a member of one of the army detachments which were sent in pursuit and which took the assassin from the burning barn in Fredericksburg, after he had refused to surrender. The 26 volunteers from the 16th New York Cavalry became known as Lincoln’s Avengers.

On the 29 May 1865 in Washington, D.C. he gave his deposition on the capture of John Wilkes Booth. ^[2]

On 9 Aug 1866 he received $1,653.84 reward money for his part in the capture of Booth and Herold. ^[3]

His Muster Roll abstract reads that his occupation was carpenter, he had blue eyes, grey hair with a fair complexion. He was 5 foot 6 and 1/4 inches tall in stature.

He mustered out in Washington, D.C. on 29 May 1865.

Sources

1. ↑ New York, U.S., Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900—PAID SUBSCRIPTION NEEDED
2. ↑ Deposition of William McQuade
3. ↑ RG 217, Misc. Treasury Accounts, Entry 347 - Account No. 156952 - Check paid to Private William McQuade-$1653.84 for the capture of Booth and Herold, in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln

• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSD2-JM4 : 25 August 2021), William McQuade, 1861-1865.
• Rosters Of The New York Cavalry Regiments During The Civil War—16th New York Cavalry
• List of those who applied for the reward money for the capture of the assassins.
• List of those who applied for the reward money for the capture of the assassins.