Husband Joseph Shaw 1 2
Born: 10 Aug 1837 - Chartiers Twp, Washington Co, PA 1
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Father: John Shaw (1804-1879) 2 3
Mother: Sarah Harsha ( -1869) 2 3
Marriage: 5 Dec 1865 4
Wife Helen Jane McBurney 2 5
Born: - Canton Twp, Washington Co, PA
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Father: Ebenezer McBurney (1814-1889) 5 6
Mother: Mary Maxwell ( -Abt 1888) 4 7
Children
1 M Dr. John H. Shaw 4
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2 M Harry McBurney Shaw 4
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3 F Mary Shaw 4
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4 F Florence Shaw 4
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5 F Margaret E. Shaw 4
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General Notes: Husband - Joseph Shaw
He was born on the home farm in Chartiers township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was educated in District No. 2, that township. On September 13, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-fifth Regiment P. V. I., for a term of three years, or during the war, and was assigned to the army of the Potomac under Gen. MacClellan. The army of the Potomac then lay encamped from Fortress Monroe to Newport News, and commenced movement on May 4, 1862. The enemy evacuated his position at Yorktown the night before, and upon discovering this the Union army began a hot pursuit, overtaking them at Williamsburg, where a terrible fight ensued, lasting till night, when the Confederates retreated. The regiment then followed, taking part in a few skirmishes, and finally halted at Fair Oaks. From here, after a fierce battle, they were forced to retreat to Harrison's Landing, the retreat including what is termed the Seven Days Fight. The army soon afterward evacuated Harrison's Landing, proceeding to Fortress Monroe and Hampton Roads. At this juncture, Companies A and F were detailed to guard the hospital at Point Lookout for three months. Companies A and F received orders to join the regiment at Suffolk, Virginia, and while there had a skirmish with the enemy at Blackwater. In the latter part of January, 1863, they were sent to St. Helen's Island, on a fleet comprising about fifty wooden and iron-clad vessels. They landed February 8, 1863, and saw the engagement which took place at Charleston Harbor, many vessels being engaged, also the bombardment of Ft. Sumter by Dupont. The Union troops were then in possession of Folly Island. A battery was there ambushed which enabled them to take Morris Island, and then
followed the siege with Forts Wagner and Gregg, which were protecting Charleston. Joseph Shaw assisted in building the "Swamp Angel," after the siege. The regiment was then transferred to Hilton Head, where it remained until April 23, 1864. An expedition was then sent to Bermuda Hundred, being the first regiment to land under Gen. Ben. Butler, and afterward took part in the bloody battles near Petersburg. Leaving there they went to Turkey Bend, thence to the Gap, where a heavy fight ensued on Chapman's Farm, at Deep Bottom. In this engagement the Eighty-fifth Regiment captured two stands of colors, but nearly half of those heroic men fell martyrs to the Union cause that fearful day, and Mr. Shaw received a flesh wound. From there they went to Norfolk on duty, and on November 22, 1864, he received an honorable discharge at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he immediately returned to Washington county.
He and his wife passed the first years of their married life on the place known as the Samuel Morgan farm, which he sold, and in 1881 he purchased a farm of over 127 acres in Chartiers township. He gave special attention to raising English Shropshire sheep. He and his wife and family were members of the United Presbyterian Church at Houstonville, and resided in that village. Politically Mr. Shaw voted with the Repub-lican party.