George N. Rathbone was a resident of Mansfield on December 18, 1861 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. G of the 1st Regiment Rhode Island Volunteer Light Artillery; he was discharged on December 17, 1864.

He was not a resident of Mansfield in the 1860 U.S. census. Nathan and Urana (_____) Rathbone may be his parents. In the 1850 U.S. census in Blackstone, Massachusetts, George N. Rathbone is a 28 year old sailor in their household. John Rathbone, a 30 year old farmer, is also in that household and is a probable brother. Both were born in Connecticut and a John Rathbone also enlisted in Co. G of the 1st Regiment Rhode Island Volunteer Light Artillery.

The date of death and burial place of George N. Rathbone is not known.