Moses Goold Beal
Moses Goold Beal was born on November 11, 1821 in Durham, Maine. He was the son of Charlotte Coombes (Goold) and Stephen Beal. Moses' middle name comes from his mother, Charlotte's father's last name, Moses Goold.
Moses first married Rachel Cushing on December 11, 1842. Rachel was born on September 7, 1821 in Lisbon, Maine. She died shortly afterwards on November 19, 1843. They had no children. Rachel is buried at the Sanborn Cemetery in Sabattus, Maine. She is buried with other Cushing family members.
Rachel's upright headstone reads:
Mrs. RACHEL.
Wife of
Moses G. Beal.
DIED
Nov. 19, 1843.
Æt. 22.
Moses next married Sarah Ames on April 20, 1845 in (?) Webster, Maine. Sarah was the daughter of Mary or Sarah (Dingley) and Daniel Ames. Sarah was born on July 2, 1825/1826 in Greene, Maine. They had the following children (all born in Maine):
i Jarvis Thayer, b November 25, 1845 in Lewiston, Maine
ii Arvilla Jennie, b May 23, 1847
iii Georgianna, b April 6, 1850
iv Herbert Moses, b January 28, 1855
v Francisco G., b March 12, 1856
vi Stephen S., b September 18, 1857
vii Ella L., b January 9, 1859
Sarah died on August 13, 1861 in Greene, Maine. Next he married Lovina Pickens on December 12, 1861 at Lewiston, Maine. Lovina was born on April 23, 1840. Lovina's name can also be found spelled as Lavina. They were living in Leeds, Maine after their marriage. They had the following children (all born in Maine):
i Fred, b November 27, 1862
ii Georgia A., b October 13, 1864
iii Ortez, b September 1, 1867
iv Nettie, b September 1, 1869
v Lilla M., b February 15, 1871
vi Moses Evans, b October 5, 1873 in Webster, Maine
On September 8, 1862, the Town of Greene, Maine voted to pay each volunteer to enlist into the Civil War a $150.00 bonus. Moses (nearly 41 years of age) enlisted along with his oldest son, Jarvis, and his brother, William, as privates in Company G, Twenty-Third Maine Infantry on September 10, 1862 in Greene, Maine. They volunteered for a nine month duty. They were mustered into the United States service on September 29, 1862. According to records, their Company did not fight in any battles against the Confederate Army. The Twenty-Third Maine Infantry performed guard duty and picket duty for the Union Army along the Potomac fords; Seneca, Maryland; Washington D.C.; Alexandria, Virginia. In December, 1862 Moses contracted rheumatism while in the line of duty while at Offutt's Cross Roads, Maryland. This affected his shoulders and arms till he died. On June 27, 1863, the Twenty-Third Maine Infantry was ordered back to Portland, Maine. They were mustered out of the Federal service at Portland, Maine on July 15, 1863. Moses received an honorable discharge for his military service in the Civil War. The Twenty-Third Maine Infantry was a highly respected unit, leaving behind a very good reputation among the persons with which it had contact. They were known for good order, quiet, sobriety, and thorough knowledge and performance of their duties.
Moses was a farmer and carpenter. About 1869, he help build the Free Baptist Church on West Main and Sedgley Road in Greene, Maine. The church burned down in the 1970's. He lived in Greene at the corner of Hatch Hill and Ray Corner Road. He became a deacon in the Free Baptist Church in 1869. He held that position until he moved in 1886. He also lived in Leeds, Maine just beyond Keen's Corner. He was living in Lewiston, Maine in 1850, and in Greene, Maine in 1860.
Moses was issued a government pension for his duty during the Civil War. His claim for pension by certificate was . At the time of his death, he was collecting $8.00 a month. After Moses died, Lovina was issued widow's pension . After Moses' death she was collecting $12.00 a month till her death.
At age 65, Moses was 5 feet 6 inches, dark complexion with gray hair (at age 40 his hair was black) and blue eyes. Moses died from heart disease on February 15, 1890 in Leeds, Maine. Lovina died on March 25, 1913 in Leeds, Maine.
There are six Beal family members buried at the Greenwood Cemetery (along route 202) in Greene, Maine. A G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) five pointed star marker (that holds an American flag) is nearby, showing that Moses was a veteran of the Civil War.
The front of the monument with a high pointed top reads:
MOSES G BEAL.
1821-1890
SARAH.
WIFE OF
MOSES G BEAL.
1826-1861
LOVINA PICKENS
HIS WIFE
1840-1913
BEAL.
The side of the monument reads:
GEORGIANNA BEAL.
1850-1850
ORTEZ BEAL.
1867-1867
FRED BEAL .
1862-1882
About 1901, a newspaper article appeared in a local newspaper from the Auburn/Lewiston, Maine area. The article told of a man who found some (no less than 13) diplomas or testimonials issued by General Joshua L. Chamberlain when he was Governor of Maine to soldiers who had particularly distinguished themselves in battle during the Civil War. These diplomas are very similar to those issued by Congress to soldiers for meritorious actions. These diplomas or testimonials were found in an old desk. The testimonials were issued by order of the legislature and signed by Joshua L. Chamberlain as governor, and John C. Caldwell, adjutant general of the State at the time. The article mentions a few of the names to which these were issued, one name being Moses G. Beal. It is unknown at this time where this testimonial is today and why Moses received one.
