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Civil War Genealogy Database

38th Massachusetts Infantry


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	Billings Merritt was born in Scituate Massachusettts in 1830. He was a direct descendent of Henry Merritt who was one of the town's original settlers in the 1630's. Before the war Billings was a carpenter by trade and had a successful partnership with his cousin Henry Merritt. In 1852 Billings married Emily Gordak and between 1853 to 1861 they would have six children with five surviving. With a growing family Billings built a home on property owned and occupied by extended kin. The home and other ancestral dwellings still stand today. On August 20, 1862 in the neighboring town of Hingham, Billings enlisted in Co.D of the 38th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. After training at Camp Stanton the regiment boarded ship for Baltimore and thence to Louisiana where they participated in the Port Hudson Campaign. It was while the regiment was in North Carolina that Sgt Merritt was first listed as suffering from chronic diarrhea and general fatigue. Despite his suffering he continued to serve with his regiment throughout the remainder of the war including the 1864 Virginia Campaign and was present at the Battle of Cedar Creek in October. He was discharged with his regiment in June of 1865 and returned home to Scituate where his family sadly embraced a much changed man. Chronically ill Billings was unable to return to his carpentry business yet had the responsibilty of supporting five children and a wife. Able only to perform light farm chores, extended family may have assisted in the care and well being of Billing's children. In July of 1866 Billings applied for an invalid pension with neighbors Charles Clapp and Henry Brown swearing on oath that Mr. Merritt had been physically robust and hard working before he enlisted in 1862. They also attested that since he returned from the war he was physically much reduced and could no longer work his trade. In December 1866 Billings Merritt died at home from his lingering condition. He was buried among his ancestors and next to their one year old daughter Emily they lost in 1853. In the small family cemetery just a short walk from the home he built is the stone erected by his family reminding family and visitors alike that 'He died for his country'.
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