Son of John Wier and Mary Gibb, husband of Ruth Ann Bartow and father of Robert Luther, Florence May, Irwin, Ruth A. and William Elmer Weir.
In 1841, David Weir, aged 2, was living at Kilmarnock Robertson Place No 80, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, in the home of his mother, Mary Weir, aged 40, with siblings, Margret Weir, aged 5, Robert Weir, aged 4, Andrew Weir, aged 3, and Mary Weir, aged 1. Also living in the household were Adam McGervie, aged 35, Sarah McGervie, aged 7, and James Campbell, aged 20.
In 1860, David Weir, aged 22, an engineer, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., in the home of his brother, Robert Weir, aged 29, an engineer, and his wife,Gennet "Janet" Weir, aged 27, and their children, David Weir, aged 7, Ellen Weir, aged 5, and Mary Weir, aged 1, and his mother, Mary Weir, aged 64.
BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP - Pvt. David Weir, born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, resided in Branchdale, Schuylkill County. He was one of the two dozen men to have made history by escaping from Andersonville Prison.
He enlisted in the Union Army on September 3, 1861, in Company E of the 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under Captain Horace Bennett of Minersville, who was killed in action bravely leading his men at the battle of Pocotaligo River in May 1862 Most of the men in Company E were from the Minersville, Frailey Township area of Schuylkill County. He took part in many of the engagements that the 55th was involved in from late 1861 until May 10, 1864 when he, along with Pvt. Thomas Conway and Pvt. David Hughes, both friends of his, who grew up in Branchdale with him, were captured in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff. During the battle he received a bullet wound in the thigh. He was taken prisoner and moved into Petersburg Va. Were the confederate surgeons worked on his leg. He was hospitalized for a month and later transferred to Charleston S.C. where he was processed and then sent on to Andersonville. Arriving sometime in July of 1864.
The three men were mess mates in H Squad North Mess. The men usually formed into small messes with comrades from the same regiment or company. In this way they would draw rations and share everything they had with each other and also protected one another from the roving bands of thieves and murderers that existed in the camp. this was one way of trying to survive the horror that was Andersonville.
On October 18, 1864 Wier, Hughes, Conway and another man a Tennessee scout by the name of Thomas Cheshire made their escape. The story has it that Cheshire bribed one of the rebel guards to help them escape. Upon leaving Andersonville the group fled through the swamps Weir, Hughes, Conway and Cheshire continued their flight, hiding in the bushes by day and traveling by night while being pursued by Bloodhounds sent after them by the rebel militia.
In a story written by Wier that was published in the Pottsville Republican on November 16, 1927 Wier relates that Conway weakened by sickness and prison privation was unable to proceed and was caught by the rebel guards and their bloodhounds and sent back to prison along with David Hughes, but Cheshire’s report states that three of them escaped.
During this harrowing flight the remaining three somehow found a sympathetic slave who agreed to help them, the slave at great risk to himself hid the men in his wagon under a load of corn and took them over seventy miles through two Rebel towns and across a ferry. The slave turned the men over to another slave who guided them to some sympathetic white Floridians who were loyal to the Union. These people gave the men a boat that they took out into Ochlocknee Bay near Tallahassee.
Running down the coast was the U.S.S. Mortar Schooner Oliver H. Lee enroute to Key West. The Lee had just put some men in a small boat looking for fresh water, when the trio signaled the men and were rescued. Their journey took them over 200 miles, quite a feat for starving and sick men.
David Wier arrived in New York on Thanksgiving Day 1864. Unbelievably he rejoined his company immediately and participated in the fall of Petersburg April 2nd 1865 and was present at the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederate forces at Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. On May 19, 1865 he was mustered out of Company E 55th P.V.I. In 1925 Pvt. David Wier was one of the last surviving members of the George Lawrence Post 17 in Minersville. After the war he went back to working in the mines where he worked as a breaker hand, he ran the engine in the Otto Colliery. One of those long lost heroes of Schuylkill County.
David Hughes also went back to the regiment and was mustered out December 29, 1864. Thomas Conway survived the ordeal at Andersonville and was also mustered out with the company on August 30, 1865."
In 1870, David Weir, aged 34, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa, with his wife, Ruth Weir, aged 28, and son, Robert Weir, aged 6 months. David was shown to a stationary engineer.
In 1880, David Weir, aged 40, was living in Branchville, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 37, and children, Robert L. Wier, aged 10, Florence M. Weir, aged 8, and Irwin Weir, aged 5. David was shown to be an engineer at a coal mine.
In 1900, David Weir, aged 64, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 56, and children Irwin Weir, aged 25, and William E. Weir, aged 19. David was shown to be a stationery engineer.
On August 11, 1917, his wife, Ruth Ann Barton Weir, the daughter of Levi Barton and Elizabeth Coats, died at Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. and was buried Clousens Cemetery.
In 1920, David Weir, aged 84, widowed, was living on Main Street, Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. in the home of his son-in-law, Henry Weir, aged 48, a retail grocery merchant, and daughter, Florence M. Weir, aged 48, and grandchildren, Jeannette Weir, aged 12, and Clyde Weir, aged 10.
Obituary - Local relatives of the late David Weir, Branchdale, 93 year old Civil War Veteran, who died Monday, attended the funeral today of the Grand Old Man as he was known in his hometown.
The Civil War veteran had a rare military record. He fought in many major battles and escaped from the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Ga., fleeing to Florida, where he was picked up by sailors from a Union gunboat. He later re-enlisted and was at the surrender of General Lee.
Death Certificate - David Weir, aged 93 years, 1 month and 3 days, born November 14, 1835 in Scotland, the son of John Weir and Mary Gibb, both of Scotland, died on December 17, 1928 in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. of senility and chronic myocarditis as certified by F.M. Teunis (?), of Minersville, Pa. and was buried at Llewellyn, Pa. on December 20, 1928 by William E. Munney, Undertaker, of Tremont, Pa. The informant was Florence May Weir, of Branchville, Pa.
Headstone Photo href="https://www.findagrave.com/“https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/624862/person/1134608415/media/dbb2f903-0b95-4c6a-9ee5-856dbc4eea96?_phsrc=ldq1&_phstart=successSource
(Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History; David Wier in the Andersonville Prisoners of War; 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920 US Federal Census; David Weir in the Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012; David Wier in the Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Ruth A Weir, 1917, 088541-091590; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Florence M Weir, 1956, 053101-055800; Mount Carmel Item (Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania), 20 Dec 1928, Thursday, Page 3; BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP)
In 1841, David Weir, aged 2, was living at Kilmarnock Robertson Place No 80, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, in the home of his mother, Mary Weir, aged 40, with siblings, Margret Weir, aged 5, Robert Weir, aged 4, Andrew Weir, aged 3, and Mary Weir, aged 1. Also living in the household were Adam McGervie, aged 35, Sarah McGervie, aged 7, and James Campbell, aged 20.
In 1860, David Weir, aged 22, an engineer, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., in the home of his brother, Robert Weir, aged 29, an engineer, and his wife,Gennet "Janet" Weir, aged 27, and their children, David Weir, aged 7, Ellen Weir, aged 5, and Mary Weir, aged 1, and his mother, Mary Weir, aged 64.
BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP - Pvt. David Weir, born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, resided in Branchdale, Schuylkill County. He was one of the two dozen men to have made history by escaping from Andersonville Prison.
He enlisted in the Union Army on September 3, 1861, in Company E of the 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under Captain Horace Bennett of Minersville, who was killed in action bravely leading his men at the battle of Pocotaligo River in May 1862 Most of the men in Company E were from the Minersville, Frailey Township area of Schuylkill County. He took part in many of the engagements that the 55th was involved in from late 1861 until May 10, 1864 when he, along with Pvt. Thomas Conway and Pvt. David Hughes, both friends of his, who grew up in Branchdale with him, were captured in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff. During the battle he received a bullet wound in the thigh. He was taken prisoner and moved into Petersburg Va. Were the confederate surgeons worked on his leg. He was hospitalized for a month and later transferred to Charleston S.C. where he was processed and then sent on to Andersonville. Arriving sometime in July of 1864.
The three men were mess mates in H Squad North Mess. The men usually formed into small messes with comrades from the same regiment or company. In this way they would draw rations and share everything they had with each other and also protected one another from the roving bands of thieves and murderers that existed in the camp. this was one way of trying to survive the horror that was Andersonville.
On October 18, 1864 Wier, Hughes, Conway and another man a Tennessee scout by the name of Thomas Cheshire made their escape. The story has it that Cheshire bribed one of the rebel guards to help them escape. Upon leaving Andersonville the group fled through the swamps Weir, Hughes, Conway and Cheshire continued their flight, hiding in the bushes by day and traveling by night while being pursued by Bloodhounds sent after them by the rebel militia.
In a story written by Wier that was published in the Pottsville Republican on November 16, 1927 Wier relates that Conway weakened by sickness and prison privation was unable to proceed and was caught by the rebel guards and their bloodhounds and sent back to prison along with David Hughes, but Cheshire’s report states that three of them escaped.
During this harrowing flight the remaining three somehow found a sympathetic slave who agreed to help them, the slave at great risk to himself hid the men in his wagon under a load of corn and took them over seventy miles through two Rebel towns and across a ferry. The slave turned the men over to another slave who guided them to some sympathetic white Floridians who were loyal to the Union. These people gave the men a boat that they took out into Ochlocknee Bay near Tallahassee.
Running down the coast was the U.S.S. Mortar Schooner Oliver H. Lee enroute to Key West. The Lee had just put some men in a small boat looking for fresh water, when the trio signaled the men and were rescued. Their journey took them over 200 miles, quite a feat for starving and sick men.
David Wier arrived in New York on Thanksgiving Day 1864. Unbelievably he rejoined his company immediately and participated in the fall of Petersburg April 2nd 1865 and was present at the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederate forces at Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. On May 19, 1865 he was mustered out of Company E 55th P.V.I. In 1925 Pvt. David Wier was one of the last surviving members of the George Lawrence Post 17 in Minersville. After the war he went back to working in the mines where he worked as a breaker hand, he ran the engine in the Otto Colliery. One of those long lost heroes of Schuylkill County.
David Hughes also went back to the regiment and was mustered out December 29, 1864. Thomas Conway survived the ordeal at Andersonville and was also mustered out with the company on August 30, 1865."
In 1870, David Weir, aged 34, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa, with his wife, Ruth Weir, aged 28, and son, Robert Weir, aged 6 months. David was shown to a stationary engineer.
In 1880, David Weir, aged 40, was living in Branchville, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 37, and children, Robert L. Wier, aged 10, Florence M. Weir, aged 8, and Irwin Weir, aged 5. David was shown to be an engineer at a coal mine.
In 1900, David Weir, aged 64, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 56, and children Irwin Weir, aged 25, and William E. Weir, aged 19. David was shown to be a stationery engineer.
On August 11, 1917, his wife, Ruth Ann Barton Weir, the daughter of Levi Barton and Elizabeth Coats, died at Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. and was buried Clousens Cemetery.
In 1920, David Weir, aged 84, widowed, was living on Main Street, Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. in the home of his son-in-law, Henry Weir, aged 48, a retail grocery merchant, and daughter, Florence M. Weir, aged 48, and grandchildren, Jeannette Weir, aged 12, and Clyde Weir, aged 10.
Obituary - Local relatives of the late David Weir, Branchdale, 93 year old Civil War Veteran, who died Monday, attended the funeral today of the Grand Old Man as he was known in his hometown.
The Civil War veteran had a rare military record. He fought in many major battles and escaped from the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Ga., fleeing to Florida, where he was picked up by sailors from a Union gunboat. He later re-enlisted and was at the surrender of General Lee.
Death Certificate - David Weir, aged 93 years, 1 month and 3 days, born November 14, 1835 in Scotland, the son of John Weir and Mary Gibb, both of Scotland, died on December 17, 1928 in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. of senility and chronic myocarditis as certified by F.M. Teunis (?), of Minersville, Pa. and was buried at Llewellyn, Pa. on December 20, 1928 by William E. Munney, Undertaker, of Tremont, Pa. The informant was Florence May Weir, of Branchville, Pa.
Headstone Photo href="https://www.findagrave.com/“https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/624862/person/1134608415/media/dbb2f903-0b95-4c6a-9ee5-856dbc4eea96?_phsrc=ldq1&_phstart=successSource
(Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History; David Wier in the Andersonville Prisoners of War; 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920 US Federal Census; David Weir in the Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012; David Wier in the Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Ruth A Weir, 1917, 088541-091590; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Florence M Weir, 1956, 053101-055800; Mount Carmel Item (Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania), 20 Dec 1928, Thursday, Page 3; BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP)
Son of John Wier and Mary Gibb, husband of Ruth Ann Bartow and father of Robert Luther, Florence May, Irwin, Ruth A. and William Elmer Weir.
In 1841, David Weir, aged 2, was living at Kilmarnock Robertson Place No 80, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, in the home of his mother, Mary Weir, aged 40, with siblings, Margret Weir, aged 5, Robert Weir, aged 4, Andrew Weir, aged 3, and Mary Weir, aged 1. Also living in the household were Adam McGervie, aged 35, Sarah McGervie, aged 7, and James Campbell, aged 20.
In 1860, David Weir, aged 22, an engineer, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., in the home of his brother, Robert Weir, aged 29, an engineer, and his wife,Gennet "Janet" Weir, aged 27, and their children, David Weir, aged 7, Ellen Weir, aged 5, and Mary Weir, aged 1, and his mother, Mary Weir, aged 64.
BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP - Pvt. David Weir, born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, resided in Branchdale, Schuylkill County. He was one of the two dozen men to have made history by escaping from Andersonville Prison.
He enlisted in the Union Army on September 3, 1861, in Company E of the 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under Captain Horace Bennett of Minersville, who was killed in action bravely leading his men at the battle of Pocotaligo River in May 1862 Most of the men in Company E were from the Minersville, Frailey Township area of Schuylkill County. He took part in many of the engagements that the 55th was involved in from late 1861 until May 10, 1864 when he, along with Pvt. Thomas Conway and Pvt. David Hughes, both friends of his, who grew up in Branchdale with him, were captured in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff. During the battle he received a bullet wound in the thigh. He was taken prisoner and moved into Petersburg Va. Were the confederate surgeons worked on his leg. He was hospitalized for a month and later transferred to Charleston S.C. where he was processed and then sent on to Andersonville. Arriving sometime in July of 1864.
The three men were mess mates in H Squad North Mess. The men usually formed into small messes with comrades from the same regiment or company. In this way they would draw rations and share everything they had with each other and also protected one another from the roving bands of thieves and murderers that existed in the camp. this was one way of trying to survive the horror that was Andersonville.
On October 18, 1864 Wier, Hughes, Conway and another man a Tennessee scout by the name of Thomas Cheshire made their escape. The story has it that Cheshire bribed one of the rebel guards to help them escape. Upon leaving Andersonville the group fled through the swamps Weir, Hughes, Conway and Cheshire continued their flight, hiding in the bushes by day and traveling by night while being pursued by Bloodhounds sent after them by the rebel militia.
In a story written by Wier that was published in the Pottsville Republican on November 16, 1927 Wier relates that Conway weakened by sickness and prison privation was unable to proceed and was caught by the rebel guards and their bloodhounds and sent back to prison along with David Hughes, but Cheshire’s report states that three of them escaped.
During this harrowing flight the remaining three somehow found a sympathetic slave who agreed to help them, the slave at great risk to himself hid the men in his wagon under a load of corn and took them over seventy miles through two Rebel towns and across a ferry. The slave turned the men over to another slave who guided them to some sympathetic white Floridians who were loyal to the Union. These people gave the men a boat that they took out into Ochlocknee Bay near Tallahassee.
Running down the coast was the U.S.S. Mortar Schooner Oliver H. Lee enroute to Key West. The Lee had just put some men in a small boat looking for fresh water, when the trio signaled the men and were rescued. Their journey took them over 200 miles, quite a feat for starving and sick men.
David Wier arrived in New York on Thanksgiving Day 1864. Unbelievably he rejoined his company immediately and participated in the fall of Petersburg April 2nd 1865 and was present at the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederate forces at Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. On May 19, 1865 he was mustered out of Company E 55th P.V.I. In 1925 Pvt. David Wier was one of the last surviving members of the George Lawrence Post 17 in Minersville. After the war he went back to working in the mines where he worked as a breaker hand, he ran the engine in the Otto Colliery. One of those long lost heroes of Schuylkill County.
David Hughes also went back to the regiment and was mustered out December 29, 1864. Thomas Conway survived the ordeal at Andersonville and was also mustered out with the company on August 30, 1865."
In 1870, David Weir, aged 34, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa, with his wife, Ruth Weir, aged 28, and son, Robert Weir, aged 6 months. David was shown to a stationary engineer.
In 1880, David Weir, aged 40, was living in Branchville, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 37, and children, Robert L. Wier, aged 10, Florence M. Weir, aged 8, and Irwin Weir, aged 5. David was shown to be an engineer at a coal mine.
In 1900, David Weir, aged 64, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 56, and children Irwin Weir, aged 25, and William E. Weir, aged 19. David was shown to be a stationery engineer.
On August 11, 1917, his wife, Ruth Ann Barton Weir, the daughter of Levi Barton and Elizabeth Coats, died at Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. and was buried Clousens Cemetery.
In 1920, David Weir, aged 84, widowed, was living on Main Street, Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. in the home of his son-in-law, Henry Weir, aged 48, a retail grocery merchant, and daughter, Florence M. Weir, aged 48, and grandchildren, Jeannette Weir, aged 12, and Clyde Weir, aged 10.
Obituary - Local relatives of the late David Weir, Branchdale, 93 year old Civil War Veteran, who died Monday, attended the funeral today of the Grand Old Man as he was known in his hometown.
The Civil War veteran had a rare military record. He fought in many major battles and escaped from the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Ga., fleeing to Florida, where he was picked up by sailors from a Union gunboat. He later re-enlisted and was at the surrender of General Lee.
Death Certificate - David Weir, aged 93 years, 1 month and 3 days, born November 14, 1835 in Scotland, the son of John Weir and Mary Gibb, both of Scotland, died on December 17, 1928 in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. of senility and chronic myocarditis as certified by F.M. Teunis (?), of Minersville, Pa. and was buried at Llewellyn, Pa. on December 20, 1928 by William E. Munney, Undertaker, of Tremont, Pa. The informant was Florence May Weir, of Branchville, Pa.
Headstone Photo href="https://www.findagrave.com/“https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/624862/person/1134608415/media/dbb2f903-0b95-4c6a-9ee5-856dbc4eea96?_phsrc=ldq1&_phstart=successSource
(Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History; David Wier in the Andersonville Prisoners of War; 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920 US Federal Census; David Weir in the Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012; David Wier in the Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Ruth A Weir, 1917, 088541-091590; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Florence M Weir, 1956, 053101-055800; Mount Carmel Item (Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania), 20 Dec 1928, Thursday, Page 3; BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP)
In 1841, David Weir, aged 2, was living at Kilmarnock Robertson Place No 80, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, in the home of his mother, Mary Weir, aged 40, with siblings, Margret Weir, aged 5, Robert Weir, aged 4, Andrew Weir, aged 3, and Mary Weir, aged 1. Also living in the household were Adam McGervie, aged 35, Sarah McGervie, aged 7, and James Campbell, aged 20.
In 1860, David Weir, aged 22, an engineer, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., in the home of his brother, Robert Weir, aged 29, an engineer, and his wife,Gennet "Janet" Weir, aged 27, and their children, David Weir, aged 7, Ellen Weir, aged 5, and Mary Weir, aged 1, and his mother, Mary Weir, aged 64.
BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP - Pvt. David Weir, born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, resided in Branchdale, Schuylkill County. He was one of the two dozen men to have made history by escaping from Andersonville Prison.
He enlisted in the Union Army on September 3, 1861, in Company E of the 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under Captain Horace Bennett of Minersville, who was killed in action bravely leading his men at the battle of Pocotaligo River in May 1862 Most of the men in Company E were from the Minersville, Frailey Township area of Schuylkill County. He took part in many of the engagements that the 55th was involved in from late 1861 until May 10, 1864 when he, along with Pvt. Thomas Conway and Pvt. David Hughes, both friends of his, who grew up in Branchdale with him, were captured in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff. During the battle he received a bullet wound in the thigh. He was taken prisoner and moved into Petersburg Va. Were the confederate surgeons worked on his leg. He was hospitalized for a month and later transferred to Charleston S.C. where he was processed and then sent on to Andersonville. Arriving sometime in July of 1864.
The three men were mess mates in H Squad North Mess. The men usually formed into small messes with comrades from the same regiment or company. In this way they would draw rations and share everything they had with each other and also protected one another from the roving bands of thieves and murderers that existed in the camp. this was one way of trying to survive the horror that was Andersonville.
On October 18, 1864 Wier, Hughes, Conway and another man a Tennessee scout by the name of Thomas Cheshire made their escape. The story has it that Cheshire bribed one of the rebel guards to help them escape. Upon leaving Andersonville the group fled through the swamps Weir, Hughes, Conway and Cheshire continued their flight, hiding in the bushes by day and traveling by night while being pursued by Bloodhounds sent after them by the rebel militia.
In a story written by Wier that was published in the Pottsville Republican on November 16, 1927 Wier relates that Conway weakened by sickness and prison privation was unable to proceed and was caught by the rebel guards and their bloodhounds and sent back to prison along with David Hughes, but Cheshire’s report states that three of them escaped.
During this harrowing flight the remaining three somehow found a sympathetic slave who agreed to help them, the slave at great risk to himself hid the men in his wagon under a load of corn and took them over seventy miles through two Rebel towns and across a ferry. The slave turned the men over to another slave who guided them to some sympathetic white Floridians who were loyal to the Union. These people gave the men a boat that they took out into Ochlocknee Bay near Tallahassee.
Running down the coast was the U.S.S. Mortar Schooner Oliver H. Lee enroute to Key West. The Lee had just put some men in a small boat looking for fresh water, when the trio signaled the men and were rescued. Their journey took them over 200 miles, quite a feat for starving and sick men.
David Wier arrived in New York on Thanksgiving Day 1864. Unbelievably he rejoined his company immediately and participated in the fall of Petersburg April 2nd 1865 and was present at the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederate forces at Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. On May 19, 1865 he was mustered out of Company E 55th P.V.I. In 1925 Pvt. David Wier was one of the last surviving members of the George Lawrence Post 17 in Minersville. After the war he went back to working in the mines where he worked as a breaker hand, he ran the engine in the Otto Colliery. One of those long lost heroes of Schuylkill County.
David Hughes also went back to the regiment and was mustered out December 29, 1864. Thomas Conway survived the ordeal at Andersonville and was also mustered out with the company on August 30, 1865."
In 1870, David Weir, aged 34, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa, with his wife, Ruth Weir, aged 28, and son, Robert Weir, aged 6 months. David was shown to a stationary engineer.
In 1880, David Weir, aged 40, was living in Branchville, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 37, and children, Robert L. Wier, aged 10, Florence M. Weir, aged 8, and Irwin Weir, aged 5. David was shown to be an engineer at a coal mine.
In 1900, David Weir, aged 64, was living in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa., with his wife, Ruth A. Weir, aged 56, and children Irwin Weir, aged 25, and William E. Weir, aged 19. David was shown to be a stationery engineer.
On August 11, 1917, his wife, Ruth Ann Barton Weir, the daughter of Levi Barton and Elizabeth Coats, died at Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. and was buried Clousens Cemetery.
In 1920, David Weir, aged 84, widowed, was living on Main Street, Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. in the home of his son-in-law, Henry Weir, aged 48, a retail grocery merchant, and daughter, Florence M. Weir, aged 48, and grandchildren, Jeannette Weir, aged 12, and Clyde Weir, aged 10.
Obituary - Local relatives of the late David Weir, Branchdale, 93 year old Civil War Veteran, who died Monday, attended the funeral today of the Grand Old Man as he was known in his hometown.
The Civil War veteran had a rare military record. He fought in many major battles and escaped from the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Ga., fleeing to Florida, where he was picked up by sailors from a Union gunboat. He later re-enlisted and was at the surrender of General Lee.
Death Certificate - David Weir, aged 93 years, 1 month and 3 days, born November 14, 1835 in Scotland, the son of John Weir and Mary Gibb, both of Scotland, died on December 17, 1928 in Reilly, Schuylkill, Pa. of senility and chronic myocarditis as certified by F.M. Teunis (?), of Minersville, Pa. and was buried at Llewellyn, Pa. on December 20, 1928 by William E. Munney, Undertaker, of Tremont, Pa. The informant was Florence May Weir, of Branchville, Pa.
Headstone Photo href="https://www.findagrave.com/“https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/624862/person/1134608415/media/dbb2f903-0b95-4c6a-9ee5-856dbc4eea96?_phsrc=ldq1&_phstart=successSource
(Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History; David Wier in the Andersonville Prisoners of War; 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920 US Federal Census; David Weir in the Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012; David Wier in the Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Ruth A Weir, 1917, 088541-091590; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 for Florence M Weir, 1956, 053101-055800; Mount Carmel Item (Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania), 20 Dec 1928, Thursday, Page 3; BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP)
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