EDWARD FRENCH PERRIGODIED OF QUICK CONSUMPTION - The first ancestors of Edward French Perrigoto come to North America were Robert Perigo and his wife, Sara Smart whocame from Hastings, England to settle in Connecticut. Gradually thefamily migrated westward until his parents, James Drake Perrigo andSarah French, settled in Ellenburg.On November 20, 1861, Edward enlisted in the 96th Infantry there andwas mustered into Captain Addis Woodhull's Company D about ten dayslater. The regiment, known as the Plattsburg Regiment, was recruitedmainly in Clinton County, and was mustered into the U. S. service forthree years. They left for Washington on March 11, 1862 and by April17th were at the Siege of Yorktown or the next month.The 96th continued up the Virginia Peninsula with their first majorbattle, First Fair Oaks, taking place at the end of May. The Seven Days'Battles followed in late June and early July. When they reached theoutskirts of Richmond with General McClellan, the general decided tomarch down to Harrison's Landing on the James River about 30 miles tothe south.While at Harrison's Landing, Edward had a flare up of his tuberculosisand was sent to the regimental hospital. According to the Ellenburg TownClerk's Records of 1865, he died of "quick consumption" on July 31,1862.In March 1867, his mother, Sarah, started receiving a pension based onher son's service. She continued receiving it until sometime after 1883,when her husband died in Ellenburg.
