Pike Genealogy

I've been doing more research on the Pike family, and want to share what I've found. My grandmother is Marie Pike, or Marria Bridget Pike Balmes, as she is recorded in places. Her father is William A. Pike, and his father is Franklin Pike, who served in the Civil War for the Union. Not only did he serve, but he served with the 8th and later the 6th Regiments, Here is a transcript of the information I found about his service, from the website http://www.mosocco.com/newjersey.html.

Frank Pike listed as a veteran in 1890, from Gloucester, Camden, New Jersey.
Corp Franklin W. Pike
Birth: unknown
Death: unknown

Civil War Union Soldier. He was mustered in as a Private in Company H, 4th New Jersey Militia on April 27, 1861. He served through the July 1861 First Bull Run Campaign, and was honorably mustered out on July 31, 1861. He then enlisted in the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, enrolling on August 9, 1861, and being mustered in as a Corporal in Compnay D on August 26, 1861. He re-enlisted on January 4, 1864, and, when the original enlistments of the regiment expired, he was transferred to Company G, 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in October 1864. Reduced in rank to Private due to there being already enough Corporals in Company G, he served through tthe conclusion of the war, and was honorably mustered out on July 17, 1865.

So, Franklin Pike served from the very beginning of the Civil War to the very end, in fact, his regiment was present at the surrender of General Robert E Lee at Appomatox, Virginia. He participated in an amazing number of battles, including Gettysburg. I know it's long, but I'm going to include here the paragraph from the military records for the New Jersey militia.

Siege of Yorktown, Va., April and May, '62; Williamsburg, Va., May 5, '62; Fair Oaks, Va., June 1 and 2, '62; Seven Pines, Va., June 25, '62; Savage Station, Va., June 29, '62; Glendale, Va., June 30, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., August 5, '62; Bristow Station, Va., August 27, '62; Bull Run, Va., August 29 and 30, '62; Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, '62; Centreville, Va., Sept. 2, '62; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 and 14, '62; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3 and 4, '63; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, '63; Wapping Heights, Va.; July 24, '63; McLean's Ford, Va., Oct. 15, '63; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, '63; Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 7, '64; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8 to 11, '64; Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12 to 18, '64; North Anna River, Va., May 23 and 24, '64; Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30 and 31, '64; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 5, '64; Before Petersburg, Va., June 16 to 23, '64; Deep Bottom, Va., July 26 and 27, '64; Mine Explosion, Va., July 30, '64; North Bank of James River, Va., August 14 to 18, '64; Fort Sedgwick, Va., Sept. 10, '64; Poplar Spring Church, Va., Oct. 2, '64; Boydton Plank Road, Va., Oct. 27, '64; Fort Morton, Va., Nov. 5, '64; Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5 to 7, '65; Armstrong House, Va., March 25, '65; Boydton Plank Road, Va., (Capture of Petersburg,) April 2, '65; Amelia Springs, Va., April 6, '65; Farmville, Va., April 6 and 7, '65; Lee's Surrender, (Appomattox, Va.,) April 9, '65.

As I read this incredible list, I was sobered at the amount of warfare that Franklin must have endured. It's easy to recognize that by the end of the war, he was a professional and battle-hardened soldier. He entered a hospital for Veterans in Virginia in 1890, which is probably shortly before he died. He left the hospital after several months, and he is not found on any census afterwards. Although I haven't found an exact death date, he is buried in the Cedar Grove cemetery in Gloucester, New Jersey.