U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865
Name: William Haskell
Residence: Lancaster, New York
Class: 2
Congressional District: 30th
Age on 1 July 1863: 38
Race: White
Place of Birth: England
Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963
Enlisted August 15, 1862
Discharged June 6, 1865
26th Iowa Infantry
The only person called David registered as born in Sherborne Dorset in the March Q 1844 was David BENCH.On the 7 April 1844, David Bench and Samuel Bench, twin sons of Samuel Bench, Keeper, and his wife Maria were baptized at Haydon,Dorset,England. Numerous other children were baptized at either Haydon in Dorset or nearby in Tollard Royal in Wilshire. Samuel Bench had married a Maria Haskell in 1829 at Tollard Royal.
On the 1871 England census, naval ships were included, even if stationed overseas.
Hence, the Royal Navy ship, 'Racoon' which was docked in Halifax, NS, was enumerated.
David Bench aged 26, single, b Sherborne was listed as being on the ship's books but "not on board" of the night of 2nd April 1871. It is possible that David Bench deserted ship in Nova Scotia, married Mary Jane Hillier there and returned to England then emigrated to the USA.