THOMAS W. BOAS -- 96th INFANTRYONE OF THE LAST CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS IN MOOERS FORKS - Thomas W. Boas, sonof Irish immigrants, Thomas Boas and Mary Hewitt enlisted in the 96thInfantry for a period of three years starting on March 24, 1864 inPlattsburgh. For enlisting, he received a town bounty of \$300 and acounty bounty of \$200. He was mustered into the regiment a couple ofweeks later with about 60 other men from the Clinton County area. Theregiment needed an influx of new recruits to help them with the futureassaults on Petersburg and Richmond.He was in the field for a couple of months and then in the hospital atMcDougall Army General Hospital on Fort Schuyler in the on July 14,1864. In December Thomas was transferred to Fort Wood on Bedloe\'sIsland in New York Harbor. The remains of Fort Wood form the base of theStatue of Liberty.After rejoining his regiment, appointed to corporal in June 1865. Theregiment remained in Virginia performing regular military and guardduties until they were mustered out of service on February 6, 1866 atCity Point, Virginia.Thomas came home, married Alvira Wade and farmed for the rest of hislife in the Mooers Forks area.The 1890 Veterans Schedules indicate he probably had was in anotherregiment prior to the 96th. He joined the Grand Army of the Republic,Angell Post 411 in Mooers and was one of the last surviving members whenhe died. Alvira died in 1904 and was buried in the Union Cemetery.Thomas' obituary can be found in the Plattsburgh Sentinel - On Friday,January 10, 1919, occurred the death of one of the oldest and mostesteemed residents of Mooers Forks, Thomas Boas, at the age of 77 years.He had been in failing health for some time, but the end camepeacefully. He, knowing the journey of life would soon be over, askedRev. E. E. Elliott to deliver his funeral sermon from the words found,in Job 14; 14, \"If a man die shall he live again?\" saying he was notafraid to die, but would be glad when he got there. The funeral Serviceswere held at his late home conducted by Rev. Elliott, pastor of the W.M. Church. Three very comforting duets were rendered by two of theBeulah Singers, The Sisters Stevenson. He, being a soldier of the CivilWar N. Y. Vol\'s, his remains were conveyed to their last resting place,the Union Cemetery, by Sons of Veterans as there are not enough of theOld Boys to perform the last rites of a fallen comrade. He leaves tomourn his loss, one daughter, Coral Boas.His daughter, Coral, died of heart problems in 1959 and was buried withher parents.
