Barton A. Colvin, a soldier during the Civil War, was born in 1841 in an area near Blackstone, Massachusetts.  His parents were Zacheus, a machinist, and Mary Colvin and he came from a large family that consisted of seven children, Caleb, Sara, Mary, Barton, Maria, Edward and Albert. Even though he never lived in Franklin, his Mother died in Franklin on November 7, 1867 at the age of 63. There are also records of his brother Caleb, along with Caleb’s wife Mary, living in Franklin.

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          During the Civil War, Barton Colvin was enlisted as a private in the 45th regiment Company C. This was the cadet regiment. His company was detached to Morehead City, North Carolina from November 29, 1862 until January 3, 1863. The 45th regiment as a whole suffered around 51 casualties as a result of war and battles such as Kinston and Whitehall (which Company ‘C’ was not a part of). This regiment was also stationed at Newbern for a while, and was involved in a Battle at Newbern.  There they were defending the coast as part of a blockade. Blockading the coast was part of the Anaconda Plan, in which the Union planned to blockade the coast and take over the Confederate capital.

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          On July 8, 1863, after the completion of their obligation to serve one year, the 45th regiment was disbanded. After the war, according to the 1870 census, Barton A. Colvin lived in Providence, Rhode Island and was working a jewelry store. He lived there along with his wife Nancy, who was from Indiana, and his four children, George F., Anna M., Mary E., and Edward. The later two of his children were born in Connecticut while the older two were born in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, there was no published record of his death.