His middle name is probably 'Pearson', from his mother's birth family name. [source: 11]
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]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, hazel eyes, and light hair. [source: 5]
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]
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]
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)
line | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
Dwellings visited | 402 | ||||
Families visited | 459 | ||||
Name | Thomas P Aitkin | Catherine " | Joseph " | William " | Emma " |
Age | 40 | 35 | 15 | 9 | 2 |
Sex | M | F | M | M | F |
Color | |||||
Occupation of males over 15 years | Tailor | in A Store | |||
Real estate owned | |||||
Birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
Married within year | |||||
Attended school within year | 1 | ||||
Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
Dwelling number | 1366 | |||||
Family number | 1574 | |||||
Name | Thos Aitken | Sarah " | Chas " | Jos " | Wm " | Emma |
Age | 49 | 48 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 14 |
Sex | M | F | M | M | M | F |
Color | ||||||
Occupation | Tailor | Jeweller | Brick maker | Mirror maker | ||
Value of real estate owned | ||||||
Value of personal estate | 200 | |||||
Place of birth | " [sc. Penna] | " | " | " | " | " |
Married within year | ||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | |||||
Cannot read & write | ||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
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
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.