Brass stencil is in excellent condition. It meas. approx. 4.00 inches long by 1.50 inches wide. The surface has a nice dark patina and some minor creases. There are no breaks or cracks.

Stencil reads “JOHN T. AIKINS / Co. C 1 MASS. H. A.” in two lines.

Nineteen year old John T. Aikins was living in Lynn when he enlisted as a Private in Company C, 14^th Massachusetts Infantry, which later became the 1^st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, on July 5, 1861. At some point during his service he was promoted to Corporal.

The regiment served in the defenses of Washington and the Middle Department until May of 1864 when they were assigned to the 2^nd Corps of the Army of the Potomac as infantry. They were engaged at Spotsylvania, North Anna River, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.

Records show that Corporal Aikins was captured on June 22, 1864 and that he suffered a wound to his right hand. He was held at Andersonville and later paroled. He was mustered out at Washington, D.C. on August 16, 1865.

Aikins applied for a pension in July of 1866 and in 1878 at age 40 he entered the Disabled Soldiers Home in Togus, Maine where he remained until December of 1880. He eventually married and died in Wakefield, Massachusetts on August 16, 1905.  [AD]

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