Biography
Francois Capino Family

Created February 2002 Last updated 13-Feb-03

Francois de Sale Capino - father
Mary Josephte (Portneuf) Capino - mother
Thomas Capino - son
Other Children of Francois & Mary

François De Sale Capino

He was born 21-May-1821 son of Joseph Thomas Capino & Mary Anne Otondosonne, Abenaki of the St. Francis (Odanak) Reserve in Quebec. He is of Durham Quebec at the time of his marriage on 3-Dec-1839. In the 1840's he farmed land in Durham originally granted to his grandfather in 1805. He is still found on the Odanak tribal census in 1852, but probably moved his family away from Durham about 1850. A son is born in VT about 1851 and three children are born in Skowhegan ME 1854 to 1858. By 1863 they are residents of Greenville ME, where the family remained.

On 25-Aug-1863, at age 42, Francois was drafted into Co. F., 3rd Maine Infantry. He died of disease on 9-Jan-1864 at Brandy Station VA. According to the regimental history, his regiment saw action on 27-Sep-1863 at an unnamed location and again on 9-Nov-1863 at Kelly's Ford VA. We do not know if he participated in either of these actions.

Francis Capino Family

Mary Josephte (Portneuf) Capino

An Abenaki born about 1817 in Quebec. Her name is given as Mary Pournass of Melbourne in the published marriage record. In the baptism record of son Louis, she is identified as Marie Josephte Portneuf. Information concerning her parents has not yet been located, but Portneuf is an Odanak Abenaki family name. She gave birth to 10 children of which 7 have been identified, but an 8th one is almost certain.

She first filed for a widow's pension 10-Mar-1864 and again on 1-Jul-1867. There is no indication in the pension record that she ever received a pension and no notice of her death. She appears with her son Abram in the 1870 Census at Greenville ME, but has not been found after that date.

In her first pension application on 10-Mar-1864, she states "... said husband and two sons in service who have given their lives to the country". This statement tells us a couple of things of interest. First, there are two sons that served before Mar-1864. Therefore, Daniel Capino of Skowhegan (the 3rd and last Capino found in civil war records), is undoubtedly one of her children. The second thing of interest is that she believes her son Thomas is dead - something which we have discovered is not true. We have to wonder if she was ever properly notified of his status - was she perhaps playing dumb to protect him from discovery, or was she simply embellishing a bit on her plight as a poor woman who deserves the assistance of the U.S. government.

We assume that if the government discovered the family was Abenaki, the pension would be denied. As Indians, they would already be entitled to government support. We all know that no government has ever been accused of giving an Indian more than absolutely necessary! But this brings a question to my mind - which government would they be getting assistance from as Indians? The older members of the family were enrolled in the St.Francis Tribe of Abenaki in Quebec. But how long after moving to the U.S. would the Canadian Government continue to provide assistance? In the 1880's a person was removed from tribal rolls if they resided in the U.S. for more than 5 years. The Capino family did not belong to either of the recognized tribes in Maine, but Maine was their residence of choice, the place of birth of the 3 fatherless minor children, and the state that benefited from the Canadian born family member's military service. However, I doubt the State of Maine would have supported the family without a fight. So, did the U.S. Government provide Mary with her widow's pension or did it snub it's nose at her plight and tell her to go back to Canada - we don't need you anymore? I for one, hope that my country did right by this woman and her minor children.

Francis Capino Family

Thomas Capino

Thomas was born about 1845 in Durham PQ. He enlisted at the age of 18 as a Private in Company K, 7th Maine Infantry. His military record describes him as 5'8" with black hair, dark eyes and dark complexion. His regiment saw it's first action of 1863 at Liberty Hall, VA on the 15th of February. No further action is reported until May.

On 04-May-1863 Thomas was horribly wounded in the head at the battle of Fredericksburg VA and taken prisoner. He was paroled a couple weeks later on May 16. After his parole, he was sent to the Corps Hospital at Aqua Creek Va, than on 13-Jun-1863 he was moved to Ulisses [sic] Hospital in Washington DC. Here he remained about a week than was moved to Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia. According to his pension application he remained there until October 1863. According to the government's record, he was officially transferred to the Invalid Corp on 24-August-1863 (but an actual location is not stated), received his pay on 31-Aug-1863 [this was probably the first pay he had received since enlisting -NL], and is reported AWOL shortly after.

His wound is described as follows;

"a gun shot wound under the right ear which emerged under the left eye. The ball carried away the palate and back parts of the upper jaw; that he is deaf in right ear has chronic catarrak with frequent ulcers and neurologic conditions of the same; that he is blind in left eye; that the left side of face is swollen and affected."

He filed for a pension on 27-Oct-1876 while living at Rudds Mill, Town of Lincoln, Monroe Co., Wisconsin. His pension was denied and during the process of researching the application the government formally issued "Dishonorable Discharge" papers on 26-Apr-1877 backed dated to 31-Aug-1863.

We do not know if he ever contacted his family after going AWOL. In 1864, his mother states that he is dead. We have located him in the 1870 Census in Lafayette, Wisconsin, age 24 with no occupation. He is in the household of William Williams. We are currently trying to locate additional information about Thomas in Wisconsin and to locate his gravesite.

Francis Capino Family

Other Children of Francois & Mary

Louis Capino b. 7-Nov-1840 in Quebec. Odanak census indicate he probably survived to adulthood, but nothing more is known of him at this time.
Abraham Capino b. 11-May-1843 in Quebec became the head of household at Greenville after the death of his father and brother. He was a trapper, hunter, and sporting guide at Moosehead. While on an extended trip in the dead of winter, he froze both hands and feet. In spite of this severe handicap he was able to pole a canoe, use an axe and set his traps. He apparently never married.
Daniel Capino b. abt. 1844 probably at Durham Quebec. He was living in Skowhegan when he enlisted in Co. K, 8th Maine Infantry on 18-Oct-1862 at the age of 18. He died on 6-Dec-1862, cause unknown. Regimental history shows no action during the very short time that Daniel was a soldier, so it is assumed that he died of disease.
Thomas Capino b.abt. 1845 at Durham PQ
Simon Capino b. abt. 1851 in Vermont. He apparently never married. He lived with brother Abraham at Greenville and worked as a guide.
Catherine Capino b. 14-Jul-1854 Skowhegan, ME. She apparently never married. She lived with her brother Abraham in Greenville. In 1908 she is found as a boarder on Ash St. in Lewiston, presumably working in one of the nearby mills. In 1910 she is back in Greenville with her siblings.
Ester Capino b. 17-Jul-1856 Skowhegan, ME. She married Newell Miles, an Abenaki b. abt. 1862 in Canada. Newell was a logger and river driver. In 1910 Ester & Newell are with her siblings in Greenville.
Frank Capino b. 1-May-1858 Skowhegan, ME. "A skillful and popular guide who died young." He is living with brother Abraham in 1910.

Biography Francois Capino Family

François De Sale Capino

Mary Josephte (Portneuf) Capino

Thomas Capino

Other Children of Francois & Mary

Biography
Francois Capino Family