Pelham Genealogy - Charles Holles Pelham and Peter Pelham
[Editor's Note: At this time, it is all we know about two of John Pelham's uncles.]
Charles Holles Pelham was born in 1790 in Maysville, Kentucky. He moved to Arkansas and in the Mexican War served as Captain of Gray's Battalion, Arkansas Infantry, from July 19, 1846 to April 15, 1847. He served as Assistant Quartermaster from March 3, 1847. He was honorably discharged October 15, 1848. He died in 1880.
Heitman's book also lists Charles' older brother Peter. He was born in 1785
in Caswell County, North Carolina. In the War of 1812, he was appointed as
a Second Lieutenant from Massachusetts in the 21st Infantry on March 12, 1812.
He was promoted to First Lieutenant, April 16, 1813; to Captain, February
28, 1814. He transferred to the 5th Infantry, May 17, 1815, and was honorably
discharged, June 1, 1821. Peter married Martha Coffin, a Quaker, in 1824 and their only child, Marianna, was born the following year. Peter died July 10,1826. Both Martha Coffin Pelham, who married as her second husband David Wright, and Marianna carried on correspondance with several of their Pelham relatives. Martha became a well-known abolitionist and advocate for women's rights. A biography of her, entitled "A Very Dangerous Women", was published in 2004.
Part of this article first appeared in Volume 2, No. 5 of The Cannoneer.
Sources:
Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the U.S. Army,
1789-1903, Vol. 1 (University of Illinois Press, 1965), p. 781.
Peggy Vogtsberger provides additional information from the Pelham family tree,
provided by Katy Pelham of Los Lunas, New Mexico.
