Jesse Marion Sink was born on November 3, 1840 in Franklin County, Virginia. He was the fourth of sixteen children born to Stephen and Lydia (Dillon) Sink.

"On March 10, 1862 he enlisted at Gogginsville as a Private in Company B, 24th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia, CSA. He was listed as a prisoner of war (POW), at Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, but was paroled on May 6, 1862. He was also listed as being, 'On detached service as Provost Guard, (a detachment of soldiers assigned to police duties under the Provost Marshall), from September 1863 until October 1864.'" 1

The men of Franklin County were most often mustered into Company B. At the time of his enlistment, the 24th was Colonel Jubal Early's Regiment and in General Longstreet's Corps. Present for the surrender at Appomattox, Sink is listed among 23 enlisted soldiers in the roster of paroles of the 24th Infantry division, Army of Northern Virginia. Concluding the roster is the certification:

"I certify that this is a correct list of the men present on the 9th April, 1865." This roster was signed by "G. E. Pickett, Maj-Gen'l Com'd'g." 2

On January 25, 1866 Jesse Sink married Sarah Bousman, the daughter of Abraham Bousman and Frances Lumsden Bousman. They lived in Franklin County, Virginia, near Gills Creek; He stated that his residence was at Taylor's Store.


The 1910 census shows that they had had fourteen children, eleven living at that time. Nathaniel Thomas Sink, whose gravesite is unknown, was born September 13, 1887 and died in 1888.

A state of Virginia application form for a disability pension filled out by a notary in 1903 documents Jesse Sink's service in Pickett's Division. The justification is rheumatism and infirmatives of age based on exposure.

Sources:

1 Windows of Time, Franklin County Historical Society, June 2016, p. 163.

2 Southern Society Historical Papers, Vol. XV, Paroles of the Army of Northern Virginia, Richmond Virginia, Published by the Society, 1887, p.88. Note: This publication lists Jesse M. Sink as in Company G.

3 24th Virginia Infantry (The Virginia Regimental Histories) by Ralph White Gunn