ELIAS LANDER (alias JOHN SMITH), perhaps born circa 1836 [age 26 in 1862 enlistment], or even ca 1839 [age 24 in '63
reenlistment], was said to be a married man from Nova Scotia according to the 27th ME adjutant reports. I have been unable
to find much on him, due to the fact that he also went by the alias JOHN SMITH, probably the most common name possible. Finding him
in census records, even with a Canadian birth place, has proved unsuccessful. Luckily, he filed for a pension and
both names were indexed, his service in the 27th ME, the 5th NH Infantry, and his Navy service are all mentioned.
Civil War Pension Index mentions his widow, KATIE M SMITH, who filed 2 Aug, 1904 [app #811,262, NO cert
#], not sure if she is same wife he had when first enlisted [muster roll says he was married] in 1862.
Write-up on reenlistment as follows:
JOHN SMITH of New York City, NY, enlisted as private 29 Sept, 1863, age 24, a substitute in Co K, 5th NH
Infantry. Transferred in Navy regiment UN 19 Apr, 1864, was discharged on 11 July, 1865 in Boston, MA
HISTORY OF THE 5TH NH, pg 167:
Bio gives his birthplace as Wicklow, Ireland, residence as New York City, with Gilford,NH credited for his enlistment as
a substitute. Dates same as mentioned above, but ALSO includes names of ships he served on while in the Navy: USS
Matthew Vassar and USS William Bacon
Below are images of the two pension index pages, filed under both of his names. Parts are hard to read,
but looks like he was a boatswain mate, on ships that were part of the Potomac Flotilla.
I will likely send for his pension file in order to decipher all of this and look for descendants [sent for these on
17 Sept]
