The Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Collection 1546, Box 1, Folder 2, Confederate States of America, has a document from the State of Florida dated 18 January 1861 and signed by the Governor, which states: Joseph Finnegan elected as Captain of a volunteer company styled the Fernandina Volunteers ... County of Nassau. Accompanying the document is a letter from Charles McSha--- [illegible] indicating that the document was found in Finnegan's home in the occupation of the place by the 97th Pennsylvania Volunteers.