Joseph T. Bluett and a Valued Keepsake (Bluett)

   In honor of Veterans  Day this year I am sharing a letter written by my Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Jane (Hurd) Burrows in 1927.  She wrote it to her grandson, my Grandpa,  Harold Hansen. He was 17 years old at the time.   Along with her letter she enclosed a small bible and a picture of the recipient of the bible.  These items have been passed down to me from my mother, Margaret Hansen Boothby and are now archived with the rest of the family artifacts and history.  

Here is a transcription of the letter....

Berkeley  July 1st 1927

  Dear Harald (she used the Norwegian spelling of his name) 

                     I am sending you my valued keepsake.  The Testament was given to me as a Prize, by the Nevada City M.E. Sunday School in 1860.  I gave it in 1861 to my Uncle Joseph T. Bluett then a young man 17 years old.  He enlisted in the Nevada City Light Guards for 3 years or for as long as the Civil War lasted.  He carried it through the war and returned it to me in the condition it is in now, in 1865 when the war was over.  The Company was sent to New York and divided among other Regiments.  Joseph T. Bluett served in the 2nd Mass. Calvary under Gen. Phill Sheridan.  He died in Philadelphia aged 72 (?) years.  The men were not allowed to use the names of Nevada Light Guards, so they took the letters off of their caps and sewed them on the inside of their pants so if they were killed in action people would know they came from California.  Take good care of both book and picture and pass on for another 60 years is the wish of your

Loving Grand-Mother

Mrs. E. J. Burrows.

1633 Kains Avenue

Berkeley

California

The Bible itself is very small; it is the same size as the picture which is 2 1/2" X 3 3/4".  The Bible is missing its back cover and some pages are missing.  It is now almost 160 years old. 

                                           Identification written on the  back of the picture in E.J.'s handwriting.  

Joseph was born in Tamaqua,  PA as was  his sister Harriet Bluett Hurd, my 3X Greatgrandmother.  Their father, John Bluett passed away in 1852 and various members of the family moved to Nevada City and worked as miners.   They attended the Nevada City Methodist Episcopal Church.  

Information found on Find a Grave gives some further information on Joseph's Civil War record.  It states..."When the Civil War broke out, Joseph heard his call to serve his country.  He returned East, voluntarily fought in the Civil War, and served along with other Californians in the 2nd Regiment of the Massachusetts Calvary for 3 years.  He held the rank of Corporal in Company M.  Service was from 20 May 1863 to 20 July 1865." 

          Joseph was honorably discharged the 20th of July, 1865.  His wife received a pension after his death. 

After the war, Joseph returned to Pennsylvania, married and lived out the rest of his life in Philadelphia where he sold vegetables.  He died of a massive heart attack at the age of 68, and is buried in Philadelphia. 

  So, on this day that celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, I would like to celebrate and remember Joseph Thomas Bluett b. 7 July 1846 Tamaqua Pennsylvania  d. 6 May 1915 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   He fought to preserve our great Union while carrying this little keepsake.