Maurice Birdsall

1826 - 1891  (65 years)

• Name	Maurice Birdsall
  Birth	1826	Norwich, Chenango, New York, United States   [1]
  Gender	Male
  FSID	Civil War-Union
  Special	Civil War-Union
  FSID	LZV8-ZDF
  Death	19 Dec 1891	Grayling, Crawford, Michigan, United States   [2, 3, 4]
  Person ID	I1798	footsteps
  Last Modified	27 Nov 2025

  
  

  Father	James Birdsall,   b. 1783, Pawling, Dutchess, New York, United States d. 20 Jul 1856, Genesee, Michigan, United States (Age 73 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Elizabeth Rizpah Steere,   b. 24 Jan 1792, Gloucester, Providence, Rhode Island, United States d. 10 May 1869, Genesee, Michigan, United States (Age 77 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	1811
  Age at Marriage	James was ~ 28 years - Elizabeth was ~ 18 years and 11 months.
  Family ID	F1868	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Jane Birdsall,   b. 9 Nov 1834, Peekskill, Westchester, New York, United States d. 25 Sep 1882, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (Age 47 years)
  Marriage	1855	Norwich, Chenango, New York, United States
  Age at Marriage	Maurice was ~ 29 years - Mary was ~ 20 years and 1 month.
  Children	+ 1. Rizpah Virginia Birdsall,   b. 1856, Fentonville, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. Yes, date unknown  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] > 2. Adelaide Birdsall,   b. 1861, Fentonville, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. 1922 (Age 61 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] + 3. Susan Birdsall,   b. 1 Apr 1869, Fentonville, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. 23 May 1945, Alameda, California, United States (Age 76 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. Katherine Birdsall,   b. 1870, Fentonville, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. 18 Oct 1951, Alameda, California, United States (Age 81 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   5. Marty Birdsall,   b. 1874, Fentonville, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. Yes, date unknown  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   6. Grace Birdsall,   b. 27 Aug 1873, Fentonville, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. 1 Jun 1956, Sonoma, Sonoma, California, United States (Age 82 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   7. Sarah Birdsall,   b. 1858, Fentonville, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. Yes, date unknown  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] + 8. Elizabeth Birdsall,   b. 25 Jun 1864, Genesee, Michigan, United States d. 26 Aug 1925, San Francisco, California, United States (Age 61 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F784	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Nov 2025

  
  

• Notes

  By 1860, Maurice was living in Fenton with his wife Mary and two children. Birdsall enlisted in the Union Army on Aug. 8, 1861 as a private in Company F, 7th Regiment Infantry. The unit saw action at Ball's Bluff on Oct. 21, 1861 and Oct. 22 near Edward's Ferry. On Dec. 4, the unit was moved to Muddy Branch. Maurice was mustered out on Dec. 12, 1861 with a disability discharge. After living in Fenton, Birdsall settled in the Grayling area in 1881 to work the land. He was found dead at the age of 65 on the East Branch of the Au Sable River near his home in Maple Forest Township. Suspicious foul play is considered to have been a factor in his death. By 1860, Maurice was living in Fenton with his wife Mary and two children. Birdsall enlisted in the Union Army on Aug. 8, 1861 as a private in Company F, 7th Regiment Infantry. The unit saw action at Ball's Bluff on Oct. 21, 1861 and Oct. 22 nea r Edward's Ferry. On Dec. 4, the unit was moved to Muddy Branch. Maurice was mustered out on Dec. 12, 1861 with a disability discharge. After living in Fenton, Birdsall settled in the Grayling area in 1881 to work the land. He was found dead at the age of 65 on the East Branch of the Au Sable River near his home in Maple Forest Township. Suspicious foul play is considered to hav e been a factor in his death.

  
  

• Photos		CivilWar_Union
  		Civil War_Union

  
  

• Sources

  [S95] 1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Fenton, Genesee, Michigan; Roll: M593_671;Page: 92B; Image: 261; Family History Library Film: 552170. [S374] Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1879-1903. [S374] Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1879-1903, Database online. Record for Maurice Birdsall [S374] Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1879-1903, Database online.