Sylvester J. Costigan of Summerseat

Photograph

St. Mary's County Historical Society, Leonardtown, MD

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

1995.001.0813

Description

This is an enlargement of a photograph of Sylvester J. Costigan. He appears to be reading something held in his lap. Mr. Costigan had a full head of light hair and a full beard and shaggy eyebrows. His eyes were deep set and he had prominent lines from the corners of his nose to the corners of his straight mouth. He did not have on glasses. He had on a white shirt with dark studs and was wearing a vest with lapels and and a coat with lapels and possibly an overcoat over that. A dark ribbon trailed from one shoulder across his shirt and vest--for a pince-nez? It is not possible to tell. ************************************** Mr. Fenwick's notes on verso in purple ink: "Mr. Costigan--Sumerseat Sylvester J. Costigan, died, in Wash. City 12 Aug. 1875 of apoplexy. The embalmed body brought to Leonardtown by the 'Pilot Boy', Col. Suit and Mr. May accompanied the body as a guard of honor. As the boat reached the wharf after dark, the body was deposited in St. Aloysius Church for the night. At 9 A.M. the next morning (Sunday) the cortage [sic] took up its march for the once happy and widely famed homestead of the deceased, now a mase [sic] of shapeless ruins. He was laid to rest in the ancient graveyard at 'Summerseat' and next to his gallant son. St. Mary's Beacon 8-19-1875 Christopher Ireland Dorsey Costigan, only son of Sylvster J. Costigan and wife, Susan Reeder Dorsey, born 5 Sept. 1840 at 'Sumerseat' St. M. Co., a student of Georgetown College. On May 27th 1861 he left 'Sumerseat' and on May 29th 1861, he with a number of comrades crossed the Potomac and arrived at Aquia Creek, Va. Enrolled in 1st Md. regiment at Richmond, becoming a member of Capt. Wm. H. Murray's co. in 1862, on disbandment of the 1st Md. regt. He joined light horse Arty [artillery] commanded by Pelham attached to Stuart's cavalry. At Philomount, he received death wound being struck on knee by fragment of shell and died from effects of amputation. St. Mary's Beacon 11-30-1893 (no death date but some Costigan and Reeder genealogy) Chas E. Fenwick" We have the glass negative of this photo. It is located in the Negatives Box 3 of the Fenwick Collection. It is labeled with the same accession number as this photo.

Collection

Charles E. Fenwick Collection

Made/Created

Date made

1840 - 1875

Dimensions

Dimension Notes

Print Size: 11" x 14"

Location

Container

Charles E. Fenwick Collection, Photo Box 6

Shelf

Rack 08, Shelf 4

Rack

Rack 08

Wall

West wall

Room

Archives 1

Building

Tudor Hall

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Costigan, Sylvester J.

Person or Organization

Costigan, Christopher Ireland Dorsey

Person or Organization

Costigan, Susan Reeder Dorsey