Pvt. (USA) William Parker Siggins

William P. Siggins, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Forest county, died suddenly at his home in West Hickory at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon, Oct. 15, 1917, of heart disease, aged 77 years and 5 months. Mr. Siggins was born on May 15, 1840, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Siggins, and has been a life-long resident of this county. On Aug. 6, 1861, he enlisted in the United States service and was discharged at the expiration of his term on Sept. 20, 1864, after three years of gallant and noble service.

Following is the war record of Mr. Siggins:

He enlisted August 6, 1861, from Forest County, Pa., and was mustered into the United States service at Harrisburg as a private to serve for three years in Company G, 83rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captains D. S. Knox, Geo. Stowe, and M.G. Corey; Colonels John W. McClane, S. Vincent, and S. Woodard.

He participated in the following engagements:

Reconnaissance to Big Bethel, Va. (Mar. 30, 1862); Warwick Road (Apr. 5, 1862); Siege of Yorktown (Apr. 5-May 1, 1862); Hanover Court House (May 26, 1862); wounded in chest at the Seven Days Battle (Jun. 25-Jul. 1, 1862); Battle of Mechanicsville (Jun. 26, 1862); Gainesville (Jun. 27, 1862); Savage Station (Jun. 29, 1862); Malvern Cliff (Jun. 30, 1862); Malvern Hill (Jul. 1, 1862); Bull Run (Aug. 30, 1862); Antietam (Sept. 17, 1862); Shepherdstown Ford (Sept. 19, 1862); Fredericksburg (Dec. 13, 1862); Mud March (Jan. 20-24, 1863); Chancellorsville (May 1-4, 1863); Gettysburg (Jul. 1-3, 1863); Rappahannock Station (Nov. 7, 1863); Mine Run (Nov. 26-28, 1863); The Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864); Laurel Hill (May 8, 1864); Spotsylvania (May 8-21, 1864); Assault on the Bloody Angle (May 12, 1864); North Anna River (May 23-26, 1864); Totopotomy (May 28-31, 1864); Bethesda Church (May 30-Jun. 6, 1864); Cold Harbor (Jun. 1-12, 1864); Petersburg (Jun. 15-18, 1864); Weldon Railroad (Jun. 20-23, 1864); Mine Explosion at Petersburg (Jul. 30, 1864); and Weldon Railroad (Aug. 18-21, 1864).

He was honorably discharged on Sept. 20, 1864, at Harrisburg, Pa., at expiration of term of service. He was promoted to corporal. He never missed a roll call; was slightly wounded twice but able after each battle to report and stack arms.

At the close of the war Mr. Siggins returned to farm life and later engaged as a producer when oil was discovered in this section. On November 9, 1864, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Walters, of East Hickory, and by this union nine children were born, all of whom survive, with the exception of William, who died in 1912. Until the time of his death Mr. Siggins was unusually active for one of his years attending personally to all his affairs. On Sunday before his death he, with his wife and grandson, visited his sister, Mrs. Jane Barnes, of Ripley, N.Y., making the trip by automobile. On Monday he was visited by his brother, Dr. J.B. Siggins, of Oil City, who invited him to walk over to an oil lease in that vicinity. Mr. Siggins declined, not because of his physical condition, but because he desired to make some repairs to his motor car. He died a few hours later. Business was suspended and schools closed throughout the afternoon and hundreds of persons from the surrounding towns visited the home to pay their last tribute to a very dear friend. Among those from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Perry Smith of Ridgway. Services were conducted at the grave by members of the G.A.R., of whom only nine remain. Interment was in the Siggins Family Cemetery.

Enlistment Date: 28 Aug. 1861; Side Served: Union; Unit: Company G; Regiment: 83rd Infantry Regiment, Pennsylvania; Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 28 August 1861; Mustered Out on 20 Sept. 1864.

Pension Application: Siggins, William P.: Name of Descendent: Siggins, Elizabeth A.; Service: Co. G, 83rd Pa. Inf.; Date of Filing: 1891 April 7 (Invalid); Application No.: 1017311; Certification No.: 797904; State: Pa.; Date of Filing: 1917 Nov. 3 (Widow); Application No.: 1109871; Certification No.: 838292; State: Pa.

Penn. State Archives: Siggins, William P. Co. G-83rd-I; Enrolled: 8-6-61; At: Tionesta, Pa.; M.I. 8-26-61; As: Pvt. At: Erie, Pa; M.O.: 9-20-64; Age at enrollment: 21.

Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999: Siggins, William Parker: Birth 5-15-1840; Death 10-15-1917; dates of service 8-6-61 - 9-20-64; Organization Co. G. 83rd Pa. Vol. Inf; Rank: Private: Cemetery West Hickory; Location West Hickory, Forest Co. Pa. Location: Row 2; Headstone: New Granite.

• William, was living in Tionesta Twp., Venango Co., Pa., per the 1840 census with his family.
• William, was living in Tionesta Twp. Venango Co. at age 11 1850 census.
• William, living in Venango Co. Harmony Twp. per 1860 census age 20 with parents.
• William, was living in Forest Co. Harmony Twp. per the 1870 census and was 30 years old and a Farm hand. Living with Isaac Siggins on the his farm (40)
• William, was living in Forest Co. Hickory Twp. per the 1880 census at age 40 on the old farm with his wife, children and Isaac. Siggins (40)
• William, was living in Forest Co. Harmony Twp. per the 1900 census at age 60 occupation listed as a merchant.
• William, was living in Forest Co. Harmony Twp. per the 1910 census at age 69 occupation listed as a Farmer. He had been married for 46 years at this time

.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 18 2020, 4:41:32 UTC

• Siggins, William P.
• BATTLE UNIT NAME: 83rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry
• SIDE: Union
• COMPANY: G
• SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Private
• SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Private
• ALTERNATE NAME: William Patterson/Siggans
• FILM NUMBER:
• M554 ROLL 112
• PLAQUE NUMBER:
• NOTES:
• General Note - Original filed under William Patterson/Siggans