Time for a memorial honoring Boston Corbett?

[Steve]

Just a little extra note, I can't find any record of Boston Corbett before the 1855 New York census record link I posted above and the copy of his 1855 naturalization certificate held by the Kansas Historical Society:



I can't find him in the 1850 US census or any London baptism record of a Thomas H. Corbett born around 1832. I'm assuming the record of Corbett's marriage to his wife Susan is held by some local church if it still exists which I can't easily access online. But it's strange that I can't find anything else earlier than 1855 or any mention of Corbett's family (mother, father, siblings) in the U.S. if he immigrated as a child like his biography suggests.

[Jim Garrett]

While Thomas Corbett is a truly one of the most interesting, bizarre, and unfortunate characters in the story of the Lincoln Assassination, those qualities, nor the circumstances of his actions, support his elevation to the subject of any more of a memorial than he already has.

[L Verge]

(11-27-2017 07:06 PM)Steve Wrote:  Just a little extra note, I can't find any record of Boston Corbett before the 1855 New York census record link I posted above and the copy of his 1855 naturalization certificate held by the Kansas Historical Society:



I can't find him in the 1850 US census or any London baptism record of a Thomas H. Corbett born around 1832. I'm assuming the record of Corbett's marriage to his wife Susan is held by some local church if it still exists which I can't easily access online. But it's strange that I can't find anything else earlier than 1855 or any mention of Corbett's family (mother, father, siblings) in the U.S. if he immigrated as a child like his biography suggests.

The most extensive research that I know anyone has done has come through Steve Miller. Unfortunately, we have lost contact with each other.

[Wild Bill]

Steve's point is a good one originally made by Col. Juian E Raymond, a WW II combat vet, and discussed in Robert A Fowler, "Album of the Lincoln Murder," Civil War Times Illustrated, 4 (No. 4,July 1965), 49. Most of the criticisms mentioned in many of the posts above are discussed in Richter and Smith, The Last Shot (Tucson: Wheatmark, 2016), 124ff.

The conclusion was that Booth was shot with a .44 cal. bullet, a pistol round from a Colt's Army revolver which Booth possessed, rather than the 52. cal. bullet of the standard cavalry carbine, the Spencer. I realize that this goes against the "standard" story of Garrett's Farm shooting, but I am willing to stand by my work, and I think Rick is, too, but I will let him speak for himself.

[Rick Smith]

Thanks, Roger, for referring to Bill's and my article, and for posting the link.

The point of the article, for those who have not read it, or for those who did not read the entire text, was to show that Wilkes Booth most certainly could have manipulated his weapon in such a way as to have inflicted the wound he died from. We did not say that he did kill himself, only that it was absolutely possible, had he wanted to do so. If he had attempted to shoot himself in the way that Dr. Lattimer described, by pulling the trigger with his thumb, he most certainly would not have been able to inflict the wound which killed him. But, as Steve observed in a previous post, Booth did seem determined not to be taken alive.

[DKEast]

There is no idea of when, where or how he died?

[RJNorton]

(07-08-2018 07:12 PM)DKEast Wrote:  There is no idea of when, where or how he died?

Doug, as far as I know Boston Corbett's final demise remains a mystery. There have been a few theories, but I don't think there is 100% certainty on how, when, or where he passed away.

[LincolnMan]

I also would not be in favor of the monument for all of the reasons stated. Anyone on the Forum thinking it would be a good thing? All opinions welcome!