John Kingshott

 

The rather healthy collection of Kingshotts in Michigan are almost exclusively the descendants of a chap called - surprise, surprise - John Kingshott who was born at Lurgashall, Sussex, England on 20th July 1828. It is interesting to note that my dad is a university professor working in, of all places, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is surrounded by other Kingshott family members. This would not have happened had he accepted a job almost anywhere else. Weird.

 

Anyway, John Kingshott was the only son of Joseph Kingshott and his wife Elizabeth, who went to the United States, via Canada, as part of the Petworth Emigration Scheme.

 

John was the only son of Joseph Kingshott, who had died in 1832, shortly after arriving in North America. After Joseph's death it seems that his wife, Elizabeth, continued on the journey from Canada down to Michigan arriving sometime around 1833.

 

Not much is known about John's early life, but he married a lady called Amelia La France and had his first son, Joseph, in 1852. Nine other children were born to them between 1852 and 1870. Details of these children and their descendants are found on this page.

 

 

Civil War

On the 3rd September 1864 John became involved in the American Civil War after joining B Company of the 5th Regiment of the Michigan Infantry. He enlisted under the name of William Brown (as confirmed in the 1890 US Census of Veterans), though why he used this name I don't know.

 

At the time the regiment was involved in fighting around Petersburg which continued until April the following year. The Regiment was usually in the advanced line of works or participating in the sharp engagements at Boydton Plank Road and Hatcher's Run, making numerous charges upon the Confederate works and strongholds. When Petersburg fell, on 3rd April 1865, the Fifth was one of the first Regiments to plant its colors on the Confederate breastworks.

 

After the capture of Petersburg the Fifth followed the retreating Confederates, being heavily engaged at Saylers Creek, and was on the firing line at Appomattox Court House, the morning that General Lee surrendered the army of Northern Virginia to General Grant.

 

On 1st May the Regiment started for Washington where it participated in the Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac on the 23rd. On the 10th June the Regiment started for Louisville, Kentucky where it crossed the river to Jeffersonville, Indiana, where it was mustered out of U.S. service. It arrived at Detroit the 8th and was paid, then disbanded on the 17th of June 1865. John Kingshott remained with them until the end.

 

John was entitled to the Civil War Medal.