There is great mystery surrounding Henry Franklin Short (my great-grandfather).  He claims that he was an only child born in New York City as the child of Lee and Beatrice Short.  This may be false information since, nobody ever met his parents, he did not name any of his children after them, and there is no physical evidence to support his claim.  There are no records found of his birth in New York City for the year of 1878 or in Albany, NY.  But people were not required to register births before 1914. NYC MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES 1878 RECORD SEARCH; There are also no birth records of him or his parents in Albany, NY for the years 1870 to 1883: ALBANY NY STATE DOH 1870-1883 BIRTH RECORD SEARCH

HENRY FRANKLIN SHORT first appears in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA.  It was there where he enlisted in the Spanish-American War.  He was a medium built man who measured five feet six inches tall and weighed about one hundred and sixty pounds.  He had blonde hair and blue eyes with fair vision.  He served as a private in the Spanish American War of 1898, as a Baker from New York City with no address or guardian mentioned.  

           

The earliest records recovered for Henry Short are his military records from June of 1898.  He served for almost two years (one year and ten months).  He moved to Malden sometime between 1878 & 1898. On June 27 1898 he enlisted in the Spanish American War as Private Henry F. Short, Company L Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, baker, from Malden, MA with no address.

On July 1, 1898 he mustered in from Framingham, MA with the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment.  On July 2 1898 he had acute Diarrhea at Camp Wetherell in Greenville, South Carolina.  He met Mary E. Murphy or got more serious with her by 9 Sept 1898.  We know this because his Army Salary went from self allotment [which was kept in an account for himself] to be sent to Miss Mary E. Murphy at 8 Myrtle St, South Framingham, Mass.[1]  He was sick in his quarters from Sept 28^th until Oct 7^th 1898 (inclusive) from an Ax-bruise (to the left shin) in the Line of duty.  He was at Camp Meade, Pennsylvania on Oct. 4, 1898. Private Henry Short was absent on furlough to Boston, MA from October 10th through October 16^th in 1898.  He was sick Oct. 29 to Oct 31, 1898 (inclusive) with Sore Feet in the Line of Duty.  He was sick Dec. 9, 1898.   From Feb. 2-28, 1899 he was on Special detail at the 2nd Brigade 2nd Division Bakery at Camp Wetherall Greenville, South Carolina.  On Feb 28 1899, he discharged from special detail at Camp Wetherell Greenville, SC (Frank F Cutting, Captain of the 5th Mass. infantry). On March 8 1899 Henry made a request for extra pay. It was about this time that Henry and Mary moved in together as he again changed his allotment to be from 8 Myrtle St, So Framingham, Mass to 19 Eastern Ave., Malden, Mass on 5 May 1899.[2] About May of 1899 his girlfriend, Mary E. Murphy became pregnant.  Nine months later she gave birth to Mary Teresa Short, born out of wedlock, on February 17, 1900 back in Malden, MA. Mary E. Murphy was pregnant again with their second child (William) shortly after her daughter was born.  On April 30, 1900 Henry Short was Honorably Discharged from the military with this record: All sickness in line of duty…Character excellent…Service honest and faithful.  Sum of $25.99 total value of articles issued him by the state.

Co. L. Regt. 5 MA Soldiers with Henry Short:

Cofren               Frank E.             Corpl.

Mann   William A        Corpl.

Holmes              Frank F              Musc.

Quinn  George P.          Musc.

Dyer    George H. Dyer             Art.

Dyer    harvey I; Waggoner

Bacon Walter E. Bacon, Priv.

bakenhus,  Joseph C. Bakenhus         Priv.

Barnes               Ara E. Barnes                Priv.

Bell     John A. Bell    Priv.

Berg    J. Emanuel Berg           Priv.

Bloomer; Anison E. Bloomer             Priv.

Brackett; George S. Brackett         Priv.

Broman             Fred E. Broman            Priv.

Burnham, Frederick W. Burnham  Priv.

blades               John D. Blades              Priv.

booth Robert Jr. Booth        Priv.

Briggs                Alexander M. BriggsPriv.

buckley, Cornelius F. Buckley        Priv.

Carpenter, Albert A. Carpenter    Priv.

Carter               Allen W. Carter          Priv.

carter               Alfred G. Carter        Priv.

Caville             Charles H. Caville   Priv.

crane Clarence P. Crane     Priv.

Carragher, John F. Carragher        Priv.

Dammers, James Dammers   Priv.

dalton, Christopher J. Dalton        Priv.

feldermann, GEORGE D., Priv.

Frost   John E. Frost  Priv.

funk     William H. Funk           Priv.

Fall     Frederick L. Fall       Priv.

Gilmore, John E. Gilmore     Priv.

Grosser, Henry W. Grosser Priv.

Hardenbrook, John F., Priv.

hanna George A. Hanna         Priv.

Hirtle                Wallace W. Hirtle    Priv.

Haverstock, JAMES A.              Priv.

Hewitt               Edward J           Priv.

Hollis                william george          Priv.

Henderson, frederick a        Priv.

Keough              john m                Priv.

Kelley               , Walter E.       Priv.

Kennedy            James A.             Priv.

LaBelle             frank g              Priv.

LaCass                herbert e        Priv.

Looney               edward             Priv.

Loring                frederick M   Priv.

Lutz     willard            Priv.

Lyons  thomas f          Priv.

Macy   Burt H                Priv.

Miller               Christopher E.             Priv.

Murphy             Ralph H.            Priv.

Mahoney          John H.                Priv.

Mixter               Calvin S. Jr.     Priv.

McAllister, Frank A.               Priv.

McKee Frank W             Priv.

McLaughlin, HERMAN              Priv.

McGinniss, EDWARD M.             Priv.

Nichols             Reuben C.          Priv.

Parker               Theodore O     Priv.

Parker               William B        Priv.

Pedlar               William H.       Priv.

Percy  Lawrence L    Priv.

Rand    Edwin W., Jr     Priv.

Riley   Joseph Priv.

Ripley Joseph H.           Priv.

Rockwood, ANDREW D.             Priv.

Reidy   John J. Priv.

Riley   Edward B         Priv.

Roby    Lloyd W.            Priv.

Sallenger, Matthew J., PRIV.

Small Gude    Priv.

Smith  Herbert S.       Priv.

Steele                John     Priv.

Short  Henry F.             Priv.

Smith  Carl W.              Priv.

Strachan, Albert G.                 Priv.

Silva   Joseph A.            Priv.

Thompson, CLIFFORD T.             Priv.

Tolman              James D.             Priv.

Twiss   John H.                Priv.

Taylor               William D.       Priv.

Ulm      Louis P.               Priv.

Vos Burgh, LEONARD L.            Priv.

White  Lawrence A.                   Priv.

Williams, Lewis I. H.  Priv.

Woodberry, ELLIOTT F.            Priv.

White  William J.         Priv.

Wilson               Norman W.       Priv.

           

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[1] : Short, Henry F.,  Co. L 5th Allotment 1898-99.  Commonwealth of Massachusetts Adjutant General Office.  Office of Historical Services, Archives – Museum Branch, Concord, MA.  Henry F. Short, Change of Allotment dated 9 Sept 1898 from self allotment to Miss Mary E. Murphy at 8 Myrtle St, South Framingham, Mass.  7 May 2014: accessed and photographed records, photocopy held by [private  address], Hanover, MA.

[2] Short, Henry F.,  Co. L 5^th Allotment 1898-99.  Commonwealth of Massachusetts Adjutant General Office.  Office of Historical Services, Archives – Museum Branch, Concord, MA.  Henry F. Short, Change of Allotment dated  5 May 1899, address change from 8 Myrtle St, So Framingham, Mass to 19 Eastern Ave., Malden, Mass.  7 May 2014: accessed and photographed records, photocopy held by  [private  address], Hanover, MA.