1st Lt. John York enlisted in the 1st Tennessee Infantry (Union) and was 62 years of age according to his CMSR's. John, according to some fast research was the great-grandfather of the famous Sergeant Alvin C. York of World War I fame. It would appear that John was captured and then paroled in Kentucky and offered his resignation in 1862 and it was accepted by Major General Buell. In 1863 one of John's sons Uriah York enlisted in the same regiment in 1863 and was listed as being 33 years of age. Uriah was the grandfather of Sgt. Alvin York. Uriah was listed as a deserter because of failing to report back to his unit after furlough. Uriah's doctor swore that Uriah had severe chroic diarrhea and had sick at home. Special Order # 35 made Uriah a member of the unit again with no punishment or lack of pay. During 1863 Uriah had a son named William Uriah York who would be Sgt. York's father. Like many WBTS's families the York's were well represented with the 1st Tennessee Infantry (Union) Some of the York's would not make it through the War.

This is where the WBTS and Sgt. York tie together. The Medthodist church during the War in the York community had widely supported the WBTS. The War had caused such suffering and death especially in the northern counties of Tennessee where it was common to fight neighbor against neighbor. After the War many people (speculation) probably the majority of them women would break away from the Methodist Church because of their doctrine toward war. Although their new church had no doctrine of pacificism the members were against violence and war. In this atmosphere we find Alvin C. York who while drinking on Saturdays would be singing hymms on Sunday.

In my opinion it was because of the WBTS and because of the support of the War by the Medthodist Church that would cause Alvin C. York to declare that he was a conscientious objector.

Former 1st Lt. John York would live to be 100 years old and would die in 1880 and is buried in Coryell county Texas. Uriah York would die near the end of the War or shortly there after. The York genealogy is tricky so if I have made an error please understand.