The search for the father of Silas Eneman has been difficult. The only mention of his father thus far is on his birth record. The birth record states that the father was named Thomas Murray and that he was a soldier by occupation. The following evidence supports my identification of Thomas Murray. This evidence is ENTIRELY circumstantial.

Silas was born 1887JUL23. Margaret married John Eneman 1888APR21. On 1888JAN28, a 28 year old US Marine named Thomas Murray died in Boston (Chelsea) of pneumonia.

If Thomas and Margaret were really married, then Margaret could not have remarried unless she was divorced or widowed after the conception of Silas and before her marriage to Eneman. Thomas Murray should be a common name, but the time frame of death (first assumption) is pretty tight. I initially found two candidate soldiers, but they died in the far West. Of course, he could have been in the Canadian Army or the Irish Army. But when I came across this Thomas, I liked the fit a lot. What follows simply documents the nice aspects of that fit.

On 1885FEB07, Thomas Murray enlisted in the U S Marines at Brooklyn, NY. On 1885FEB10 he arrived on station at the Boston Naval Yard.


On 1885NOV24 he was transferred to the U S Receiving Ship Wabash, anchored in the harbor.



Ancestry.com has all the monthly muster rolls for Boston and the Wabash indexed for Thomas, except JUL 1887. Thomas Murray is accounted for during the entire period from his enlistment in 1885FEB07 to his death on 1888JAN. There are notes regarding duty assignments and transfers to hospital, but nothing suggesting marriage or family. I found the image for JUL 1887, and he IS accounted for that month, as well.

It would appear that the Boston winters did not agree with Thomas Murray. In Dec 1885 he was transferred to hospital for tonsilitus. (A report follows.) In Mar of 1886 he was briefly sent to hospital for unspecified reasons.


Then, in DEC 1887 he was sent to hospital with a concussion, developed pneumonia, and died.

The following are some hospital notes that I found:

Tonsilitis: 1885 DEC 22 to 1886 JAN 05

1887 DEC 23: admitted hospital after falling over backwards in a chair and hitting head.

1887 DEC 29 to 1887 JAN 07: re-admitted hospital with symptoms of pneumonia.

1888 JAN 07 to 1888 JAN 28: apparently transferred to another hospital location, with pneumonia. Died of pneumonia JAN 28 in hospital.