91st PA: Thomas P Aitken

Thomas P Aitken

Name

His middle name is probably 'Pearson', from his mother's birth family name. [source: 11]

Before the war

He was born about 1806, in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, to Robert Aitken Junior and Nancy Ann Pearson. [sources: date: 11; 5 (42 in 1861), 9 (40 in 1850), 10 (49 in 1860), 11 (55 (?) at death in 1862). place: 5, 9, 10, 11. parents: 11, 17]

On 20 May 1827, he married Catherine Woolverton. Their marriage was recorded in the records of the First German Reformed Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was born in 1805/15, in Pennsylvania. They had four known children (all alive when Thomas died):

[source: 11, 18, 22 (Catherine 56 in 1863)]

His three sons also served in the Civil War. [source: 11 (citing letters from them to their mother)]

In 1840, he was a tailor, at St Thomas Street below Beaver, Kensington. [source: 11 (citing Philadelphia city directory)]

In 1847, he was listed at Otter below Germantown Road. [source: 11 (citing Philadelphia city directory)]

In 1850, he was living in the 2nd ward of Kensington, Philadelphia, County, Pennsylvania. He was a tailor. He was living with Catherine (presumably his wife), and Joseph, William, and Emma (presumably his children). [source: 9]

In 1853, he was listed at near 73 Germantown Road. [source: 11 (citing Philadelphia city directory)]

In 1855, he was a tailor, at William about Otter streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 11 (citing Philadelphia city directory)]

In 1860, he was living in the 16th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a tailor, and owned $200 in personal property. He was living with Sarah [sic] (presumably his wife), and Charles, Joseph, William, and Emma (presumably his or her children). The city directory lists him as a cutter (clothes). [sources: 10, 11 (citing Philadelphia city directory)]

In 1861, he was a cutter, at 423 Market Street, living at O'Neill and Girard. The city directory does not list him after 1861. [source: 11 (citing Philadelphia city directory)]

When he enlisted, he was a tailor. [source: 5]

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, hazel eyes, and light hair. [source: 5]

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service on 28 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Dye. On 2 December 1861, he was mustered in, as a private, in company G. He was a private in company G. [sources: 1, 5, 19, 20, 21, 22]

He was transferred to company A on 4 December 1861. He was promoted to corporal in company A effective 9 November 1861. [sources: 1, 4, 6, 7 (by regimental order 18 Nov), 19, 20, 21]

He died of exposure, or of apoplexy, in Alexandria, Virginia, on 1 June 1862. He was found, dead, on the deck of the schooner Trifle. He apparently had gone on board the previous night, sitting on the "trunk" of the Trifle. He had a crab in his pocket, and part of another in his hand. He was then a corporal, in company A. [sources: 1, 3 (1 June), 4 (no date), 5 (10 June), 11 (11 Jun 62, citing Philadelphia Daily Ledger and Poulsen's Daily Advertiser death notice), 13 (11 June), 14, 19, 20, 21, 22 (apoplexy)]

He was buried on 14 June 1862, at Greenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The funeral was held from his late residence, O'Neal Street, below Girard Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 11, 13, 17]

After the war

His widow, Catharine Aitken, unsuccessfully applied for a pension on 28 January 1863, under the * Act of 14 July 1862. She was living at O'Neill Street below Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her attorney was John H Feich (?). Charles C Aitken (12 Girard Avenue) and Edward R Aitken (1214 N. 8th St) were her witnesses. [sources: 2, 8, 12, 22]

She obviously died before the pension was approved, but the pension documents file does not explain the delay in approving her pension. It does contain two reports from the Adjutant General's Office, dated 19 February 1863 and 9 December 1865. Why the Pension Office requested the second report isn't explained in the pension documents file; it has the same information as the first does. [source: 22]

On 31 October 1865, his widow, Catharine Aitken, died. She died of pulmonary consumption. She had experienced 'a long and severe illness, which she bore with Christian fortitude'. She had been living at 1144 O'Neil Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 3 November 1865, she was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 15, 16, 18]

Sources

1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Aitken (co A) and Aitkins (co G))

2 pension index, by unit (Thomas P Aitken)

3 company A register of deaths (Thomas P Aitkins)

4 register of non-commissioned officers, co.A (Thomas P Aitkins)

5 company A descriptive roll, entry 69 (Thomas P Aitkin)

6 company G, register of men transferred (Thomas P Aitkins)

7 company G, descriptive roll, entry 22 (Thomas P Aitkin)

8 pension index, by name (Thomas P Aitken)

9 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Kensington, 2nd ward, page 83 (Thomas P Aitkin)

10 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, 16th Ward, page 202 stamped (Thos Aitken)

11 "From the Gentry-Eckel Ancestral File", a GEDCOM available on RootsWeb WorldConnect, updated 16 May 2001 (searched January 2006) (Thomas P Aitken)

12 pension index, by unit, 91st PA Infantry, company G (widow of Thomas P Aitken)

13 death notice, Public Ledger 13 June 1862 page 2 (Thomas P Aikten)

14 'Local', Alexandria Gazette 11 June 1862 page 3; transcribed 26 March 2011, from GenealogyBank (Thomas J Aitken)

15 death notice, Public Ledger, 1 November 1865, page 2 (Catharine Aitken)

16 Find a grave, memorial 46553254, created by Margaret Orthodox, added 11 Jan 2010, accessed 16 March 2012 (Catherine Aitken)

17 Find a grave, memorial 45305502, created by Pat Callahan, maintained by margaret orthodox, 10 Dec 2009, accessed 16 March 2012 (Thomas Pearson Aitken)

18 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 31 October 1865 (Catharine Aitken)

19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Thomas P Aitken)

20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Thomas P Aitkin)

21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Thomas P Atkins)

22 pension documents file, pension application 11,478 (Catherine widow of Thomas P Aitken)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

1870 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 16 March 2012)
1880 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 16 March 2012)
1890 US census, veterans' schedules
Ancestry index (accessed Oct 2005)
1900 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 16 March 2012)
1910 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 16 March 2012)
1920 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 16 March 2012)
1930 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed 16 March 2012)
records of headstones of deceased Union veterans, 1879-1903
FamilySearch index (accessed 11 Mar 12)
applications for headstones for military veterans, 1925-1941
FamilySearch index (accessed 11 Mar 12)
Pennsylvania veterans' burial cards
Ancestry index (accessed 13 Mar 12)
Philadelphia Pennsylvania death certificates
searched Thomas Aitken, Thos Aitken, Aitken, and Thomas born Philadelphia 1800-1820, in the FamilySearch index (accessed 16 March 2012)

Display


Thomas P Aitken in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect

Thomas P Aitken in the 91st PA database

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Kensington, 2nd ward, page 83]
[identification is probable, given (1) his apparent spouse's name (see source #8), and (2) his occupation (see source #5)]
line1516171819
Dwellings visited402    
Families visited459    
NameThomas P AitkinCatherine "Joseph "William "Emma "
Age40351592
SexMFMMF
Color     
Occupation of males over 15 yearsTailor in A Store  
Real estate owned     
BirthplacePaPaPaPaPa
Married within year     
Attended school within year   1 
Over 20 & can't read/write     
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.     

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, 16th Ward, page 202 stamped = page 204 [?] handwritten (NARA series M653 roll 1166 page 202)]
[identification is probable; see the note on the 1860 census entry transcribed above]
line131415161718
Dwelling number1366     
Family number1574     
NameThos AitkenSarah "Chas "Jos "Wm "Emma
Age494827221914
SexMFMMMF
Color      
OccupationTailor JewellerBrick makerMirror maker 
Value of real estate owned      
Value of personal estate200     
Place of birth" [sc. Penna]"""""
Married within year      
Attended school within year     1
Cannot read & write      
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.      

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 5 Mar 2014, from Fold3]


Aitken, Thomas P.
Co. G A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Aitkin, Thomas P.

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

[second card, transcribed 6 March 2014]

Aitkin, Thomas P.
Co. G A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[third card, transcribed 7 March 2014]

Atkins, Thomas P.
Co. G A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf
Pvt. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Aitkin, Thomas P.

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

abstract of pension documents file

[pension documents file, pension application 11,478, Catherine widow of Thomas P Aitken] [abstracted 19 July 2014 from 14 images received from the National Archives and Records Administration]
20 May 1827
Thomas P Aitken married Catherine Woolverton (images 7 (see the second occurrence of her family name), 9)
found in the records of the First German Reformed Church of Philadelphia (image 7)
'1827 May 20 Thomas P Aitken, Cath. Woolverton' (image 7)
28 September 1861
Thomas P Aitken enrolled at Philadelphia PA in co. G, 91st PA, for 3 years (images 2, 5)
2 December 1861
Thomas P Aitken mustered in as private in co. G, 91st PA (images 2, 5)
11 June 1862
reported corporal and 'Died of Apoplexy June 11. 1862 at Alexandria Va' (on May-June company muster roll for co. A) (images 2, 5, 8)
28 Jan 1863
Catharine Aitken, resident of Philadelphia, O'Neill Street below Girard avenue, 56 years old, applied for a pension under the act of 14 July 1862 (images 8-12)
when Thomas P Aitken died, his family was his wife Catharine and four children, three over 16, and Emma M Aitken, born on 1 March 1847 (images 8-9)
dated 20 January 1863 (image 8)
application 11,478 (image 3)
attorney John H Feich [??] (images 9, 12)
witnesses Charles C Aitken (resident of 12 Girard Avenue) and Edward R Aitken (1214 N. 8th St) (images 10-11)
19 February 1863 [sic]
the Adjutant General's office sent the Pension Office the above-summarized information (image 5)
1 December 1865 [sic]
the Pension Office asked the Adjutant General's office for information about Thomas P Aitken (corp, co. A) (image 3)
9 December 1865 [sic]
the Adjutant General sent the above-summarized information to the Pension Office (image 2)

death notice

[death notice, Public Ledger 13 June 1862 page 2, Thomas P Aikten]

AITKEN--At Alexandria, Va., on the 11th inst., Corporal THOMAS P. AITKEN, of Col Gregory's 91st Regiment, P.V. in the 55th [? the first '5' is clear] of his age.

The relatives and friends are particular invited to attend his funeral, from his late residence, O'Neal st., below Girard avenue, on Saturday, the 11th inst., at 4 o'clock

death notice, spouse

[death notice, Public Ledger, 1 November 1865, page 2, Catharine Aitken]
[transcribed 16 March 2012, from GenealogyBank]

AITKEN--On the 31st ult, after a long and severe illness, which she bore with Christian fortitude, CATHARINE, wife of the late Thos. P. Aitken, in the 60th year of her age

"Farewell, dear mother."

The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, from her late residence, 1144 O'Neil street on Friday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. Interment in Glenwood Cemetery.

death certificate, spouse

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 31 October 1865, Catharine Aitken]
[transcribed 16 March 2012, from FamilySearch]

RETURN OF A DEATH
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
1. Name of Deceased, Catharine Aitken
2. Colour, W.
3. Sex, f
4. Age, 59 yrs.
5. widow
6. Date of Death, Oct 31, 1865
7. Cause of Death, Pulmonary consumption
Henry W. Rihl, M.D.
Residence, 806 N. Front
UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE, IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation, -
9. Place of Birth, Philadelphia
10. When a Minor, [blank]
11. Ward, 17
12. Street and Number, 1144 ONiel St
13. Date of Burial, 11 mo 3rd 1865
14. Place of Burial, Glenwood
Brook Watson Undertaker.
Residence, 530 Marshall St

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revised 19 Jul 14
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