Gilbert A. Lyman - Carpenter's Mate
Gilbert A. Lyman was born circa 1837 in Michigan and enlisted on 9 February 1864 at the New York Naval Rendezvous as a seaman for a one year enlistment term [1].
Per his rendezvous index card, Lyman first served on the U.S.S. Glaucus from the date of his enlistment until 22 April 1864 when he was ordered to the U.S.S Tecumseh as a petty officer with the rating of carpenter's mate.
Lyman was admitted to Naval Hospital Portsmouth on 22 June 1864 with "diarrhoea chronica" [3]. Per an affidavit written in 1893 by one of his shipmates, Peter Parker, for Alfred Holland's disability pension, Parker stated: "I think the water we drank had a good deal to do with the men getting sick with dysentery and diarrhea, as it was horrid water to drink.[4]"
Lyman was discharged to duty 19 August 1864 to the U.S.S. Calypso where he was rated as captain of the forecastle. He was discharged from the Navy on 9 February 1865.[5]
Lyman not aboard the Tecumseh during the Battle of Mobile Bay.
After the war, Lyman worked aboard civilian merchant vessels. In 1877, he was second mate aboard the schooner N. A. Farwell. On 5 October 1877, he fell from aloft from the foremast and was severely injured. On 8 October 1877, the N. A. Farwell sank while sailing between Bull River, GA, and Woods Hole, MA,[6] and Lyman due to his injury, was not able to escape the sinking vessel and went down with her[5].
Interment
Dependents
Wife: Hannah Lyman (married 1860)Awards & Memorials
Alternate Spellings of Name
References and Sources
[1] Return of the United States Naval Rendezvous, New York, New York, for the week ending February 15, 1864[2] NARA T1099. An index to rendezvous reports during the Civil War, 1861-1865.
[3] Hospital Tickets and Case Papers, compiled 1825-1889. ARC ID: 2694723. Department of the Navy, Records of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Record Group 52. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
[4] M1469, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans, 1861-1910 ("Navy Survivors' Certificates"), National Archives at Washington, D.C.
[5] Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans ("Navy Widows' Certificates"), 1861-1910
[6] "Marine Disasters in October, 1877" The Sailor's Magazine and Seaman's Friend December 1877.
