Josiah Gardner Abbott (1814-1891) was born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, was graduated at Harvard in 1832, was admitted to the bar in 1835, and received an LL.D. from Williams College in 1862. Abbott served in the Massachusetts legislature as state senator, was a delegate-at-large to every national Democratic convention, and was a judge of the superior court of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He also served as a representative to the U.S. Congress and was an overseer of Harvard University from 1859-1865. Abbott married Caroline Livermore (ca.1816-1887) of Boston and together they had eleven children. The Abbotts were a wealthy and politically minded family, first of Lowell Massachusetts, and in 1861 of Boston.
- Edward Gardner Abbott (1840-1862) received an AB from Harvard College in
1860 and was an officer with the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was killed at
the Battle of Cedar Mountain on Aug 9, 1862.
- Fletcher Morton Abbott
(b.1843) was an officer with the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was later
appointed aide-de-camp to Brig. Gen. William Dwight of the Nineteenth Army Corps., then
stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was discharged from duty due to ill health on
Dec. 23, 1863.
- Henry Livermore Abbott (1842-1864) received an AB from
Harvard College in 1860 and was an officer with the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry (also known as the Harvard Regiment). He was killed in the Battle of the
Wilderness on May 6, 1864.
- Caroline Mary Livermore
Abbott (b. ca. 1839).
- William Stackpole Abbott (1844-1846).
- Samuel Appleton Browne Abbott (Harvard College AB 1866).
- Sarah
Livermore Abbott (b. ca.1850).
- Franklin Pierce Abbott (Harvard Law LLB
1876).
- Arthur St. Loe Abbott (b.1856) (Harvard College AB 1877).
- Grafton St. Loe Abbott (b. ca. 1857).
- Holker Welch Abbott (b.
ca. 1858).
From the guide to the Abbott family Civil War letters, 1856-1864., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)
