Reunion at Theodore Wellington’s, Norwood—Another Brother, Also a Veteran, Dead.

FIVE WELLINGTON BROTHERS.
Back Row, Left to Right—George Fred Wellington, Theodore F. Wellington, James Lowell Wellington.
Front Row—William Sumner Wellington, John Maynard Wellington.

May 15, 1911 — A remarkable and deeply moving reunion took place last week at the Norwood home of Theodore F. Wellington, drawing widespread interest throughout the region. The gathering brought together five Wellington brothers, all of whom had served in the Civil War and all of whom were members of the Grand Army of the Republic. Their reunion, captured in a photograph taken at the event, stands as a rare testament to both family devotion and military service.

There had been six Wellington brothers who served in the war; one, Willis Wellington, died in 1869. The survival and continued good health of the remaining five—nearly half a century after the war’s end—was noted as an extraordinary occurrence.

The reunion was held on Wednesday evening in conjunction with a reception hosted by the Sons of Veterans and the Grand Army of the Republic in honor of Division Commander James T. Wellington, son of Theodore F. Wellington and head of the Massachusetts Division, Sons of Veterans.

The Wellington Brothers and Their Service

Three of the brothers reside in Waltham and are members of Post 29:

  • William Sumner Wellington — Enlisted August 1862 in Company A, 44th Massachusetts.
  • John Maynard Wellington — Enlisted at the same time and in the same company as William.
  • James Lowell Wellington — Enlisted April 1861 in the Concord company of the 5th Massachusetts for three months; reenlisted in the 32nd Massachusetts for three years; reenlisted again in the 32nd when his term expired.

Another brother, George Fred Wellington, of Dorchester, is a member of Abraham Lincoln Post 11 of Charlestown. He enlisted in Company A, 44th Massachusetts in August 1862, alongside two of his brothers.

The host, Theodore F. Wellington of Norwood, enlisted July 28, 1862, in Company C, 35th Massachusetts. A member of George K. Bird Post 169 of Norwood, he is well known locally for his stirring recitations of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which he delivers from memory each Memorial Day.

The sixth brother, Willis Wellington, also enlisted in the 35th Massachusetts, but passed away in 1869, just a few years after the war.

A Rare Family Legacy

Few families in the nation could claim six sons who served in the Civil War, and fewer still could gather five of them—decades later—in good health and high spirits. Their reunion was not only a family celebration but a living reminder of the sacrifices made by thousands of Massachusetts men during the conflict.

The presence of their descendants, including Division Commander James T. Wellington, underscored the continuing legacy of service carried forward by the Sons of Veterans.

A Night of Honor and Remembrance

The reception held by the Sons of Veterans and the Grand Army was marked by pride, camaraderie, and reflection. The Wellington brothers, representing multiple regiments and years of service, stood as symbols of the Commonwealth’s contribution to the Union cause.

Their gathering in Norwood—nearly fifty years after Appomattox—offered the town a rare glimpse into living Civil War history, embodied not in statues or memorials but in the men who had borne the hardships themselves.

15 May 1911, Mon The Boston Globe

Text and images may have been created, edited, colorized, or digitally restored using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini. All content is reviewed for accuracy and historical integrity before publication by the Norwood Historical Society

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