HESLEP, GEORGE WASHINGTON RAYBURN: Sgt., Co. E/42nd Va. Born 2/19/38 in Lafayette, Montgomery County according to his 1907 pension application. Living, age 12, Montgomery County, 1850. 1860 cen., age 22, postmaster, Lafayette P.O., Montgomery County. Enl., Pvt., 6/4/61, Salem, Roanoke County. Present in unit 8/31/61 and 10/1/61, when appointed Color Cpl. Present in unit 10/31/61, 12/31/61, 2/28/62. Promoted 4th Sgt. 5/3/62. Absent from unit, on leave, by 8/7/62. Present in unit 10/31/62 and 12/31/62. Pvt., detailed, “guarding bridges in Montgomery and Roanoke Counties,” 6/1/63 through 11/30/63. During that period was at Dublin Depot, Pulaski County, 7/3/63, 9/3/63, 10/2/63, 11/3/63 and 12/2/63 when paid for his detailed duty. AWOL from unit 12/1/63 through 10/31/64 when reported as having joined 14th Va. Cav. During this period his name was among those on a list of E/42nd Va. NCOs not expected to return to duty that was submitted “some days” prior to 1/28/64 to 42nd Va. regimental commander. He enlisted in G/14th Va. Cav. on 9/25/64 in Montgomery County, was paid on 11/3/64 at Dublin Depot, Pulaski County, as Pvt., E/42nd Va., for service in that unit 9/1/63 through 10/31/63; and captured near Front Royal 11/12/64. Exchanged 3/16/65 at Boulware’s Wharf. No further record. Postwar farm laborer and farmer, Montgomery County, 1870-1910. Applied for pension, age 67, in Montgomery County 4/8/1907, citing four years of service in 42nd Va. and G/14th Va. Cav.; ended service when paroled from prison 3/65. Described as “an easy going, cultured man.” Died, 4/26/1910, Montgomery County. Buried there in Lafayette Cem.
Heslep, George Washington Rayburn E/42Va
838/02/19 Born Fairfield, Rockbridge Co. [42Va: 288] Son of James and Nancy
860/00/00 Cen George W. Heslep, age 22, postmaster, Lafayette P.O., Montgomery Co. Father: James, 45; Mother: Nancy. [42Va: 10g] Note: 1860 Cen. also lists George W. Heslip, 21, laborer, Lafayette P.O., Montgomery Co. Father: George, 49. [42Va: 10g]
863/06/01=863/06/30 George Heslep detailed, unspecified duty [42Va: 377, Geprge Heslep]
863/07/03 George Heslep paid at Dublin Depot for 6/63 detail [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/08/01=863/08/31 George Heslep detailed, unspecified duty [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/09/03 George Heslep paid at Dublin Depot for 8/63 detail [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/09/01=863/09/30 George Heslep, pvt., detailed, “guarding bridges.” [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/10/02 George Heslep, pvt, paid at Dublin Depot for 9/63 detail [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/10/01=863/10/31 George Heslep, pvt., detailed, “guarding R.R. bridges in Montgomery and Roanoke Counties, Va .” [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/11/04 George Heslep, pvt, paid at Dublin Depot for 10/63 detail [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/11/01=863/11/30 George Heslep, pvt., detailed, “guarding R.R. bridges in Montgomery and Roanoke Counties, Va .” [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
863/12/02 George Heslep, pvt, paid at Dublin Depot for 11/63 detail [42Va: 377, George Heslep]
864/01/28 BTD his name was among those on list of E/42Va NCOs not expected to return to duty that was submitted “some days ago” to Lt. Col. Withers, 42Va, by James P. Houtz, E/42Va. [42Va: 90, 864/01/28]
864/09/25 Enl, in G/14Va. Cav. in Montgomery Co.
864/11/03 Paid at unspecificed location by T.L. Brown, $34 for service from 863/09/01 thru 863/10/31. [42Va: 4, GWR Heslep]. Location was probably Dublin Depot, Pulaski Co., by Maj. Thomas L. Brown, who was QM there from 3/62 through 10/16/64. [42Va: 353]
870/00/00 Cen George W.R. Heslip, 30, farm worker, Alleghany Twnship, Lafayette P.O., Montgomery Co. Father: James, 60. Note: 1870 Census also lists George Heslip, age 30, farm worker, Alleghany Twnshp., Lafayette P.O., Montgomery Co. Father: George W., 68 [42Va: 342]
880/00/00 Cen George W.R. Heslop, 40, farmer, Alleghany District, Montgomery Co. Wife: Margaret L., 30. Children: Frank and Thomas J. [42Va: 343]. Note: 1880 Cen, also lists George W. Heslop, 39, farmer, Alleghany District, Montgomery Co. Wife: Mary A., 25. Children: Bertha, 1. Father: George Sr., 76.
900/00/00 Cen George Heslip, 62, farmer, Alleghany District, Montgomery Co. Born Va. 2/38. Wife: Margaret, 48. Married: 26 years. Children: Frank,Thomas, Inez, Mabel. 5 children, 4 living. Note: 1900 Cen. also lists George W. Heslip, 63, farmer, Alleghany District, Montgomery Co. Born Va. 7/37. Wife: Mary Ann, 45. Married 24 years. 3 children. [42Va: 344].
907/04/08 George W. R. Heslep applied for pension, age 69, in Montgomery Co. Born Lafayette, Montgomery Co. Enl. Salem 861/04. Served four years in E/42Va and G/14Va Cav. Paroled from prison 865/03/10 [42Va: 9c14]
910/00/00 Cen George W. R. Heslip, 72, farmer. Wife: Margaret, 69. Married 34 years. 4 children, 4 living. Census enumerated 910/05/19, reflecting status as of 910/04/15. [42Va: 341]. Note: 1910 Census, Alleghany District, Montgomery Co. also lists George W. Hesly [Heslep], 73, farmer, Alleghany District, Montgomery Co. Wife: Mary A., 53. Married 35 years. 3 children. [42Va: 341]
927/07/05 Widow of George W. Heslep, G/14Va. Cav, Mary A. Heslep, applied for pension age 72, in Montgomery Co. Married 877/04 in Lafayette, Montgomery Co. He died, heart dropsy, 917/11/24 in Elliston, Montgomery Co. [42Va: 9c14]
999/99/95 National Archives CSR for 14Va Cav has files for two men named Heslip in G/14Va with first name George:
• George W. Heslep who enlisted 863/01/28 in Montgomery Co., who served through 864/12/31, when he was present in unit.
• George W. R. Heslep who enlisted 864/09/25 in Montgomery Co.; was captured 864/11/12; and was a POW to 865/03/18
999/99/95 Source [42Va: 170] lists two men in G/14Va. Cav. by name of George W. R. Heslip.
* Pvt., born Lafayette, Montgomery Co., 838/02/19; 860Cen: postmaster, age 22, Blacksburg [actually Lafayette P.O., son of James Heslep]; served in E/42Va 861/04/06<862/12/31; served in G/14Va Cav 863/01/28 and was present 863/04 and 863/10/31-86412/31; NFR; died Montgomery Co. 910/04/26.
* Pvt., born ca. 1839; 860Cen laborer, age 21, Blacksburg [actually Lafayette P.O., son of George Heslep]; joined G/14Va Cav, Montgomery Co., 864/09/25; captured Cedarville 864/11/12; POW Pt. Lookout to 865/03/16 when exchanged; NFR; 870Cen, age 30, farmhand, Lafayette P.O., Montgomery Co; died Elliston, Montgomery Co., 917/11/24.
999/99/95 1st ed. 42nd Va. did not distinguish between the two men. In the 1860 through 1910 Census for Montgomery Co., only one man is identified as George W. R. Heslep and he is the son of James and husband of Margaret. There is a G.W. Heslep, son of George and husband of Mary A. who is also listed in the 1860-1870 census. Based on the evidence, the man who served in both E/42Va and G/14th Cav would appear to be G.W. R. Heslep, son of James, who appled for the pension in 1907 and whose service in G/14Va Cav (contrary to that reported in Source [42Va: 170] as a combination of some CSR elements for G.W. Heslep and GWR Heslep) was that reported in the CSR for G.W.R. Heslep. The 1927 pension applicaton of Mary A. Heslep is believed to pertain to the G.W. Heslep, son of George, who did not serve in the 42nd Va.
999/99/95 900/06 postwar company roster indicated he was promoted to 3Sgt in 1862 [42Va: 32]
999/99/95 George Washington Rayburn Heslep born 838/02/19, Fairfield, Rockbridge Co.; died 910/04/26, Montgomery Co. [42Va: 288] Was son of James and Nancy Heslip [42Va: 365u]. Described as “an easy going, cultured man.” [42Va: 365v]