He was born on 29 July 1843, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to George W Bowman and Harriet [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 11 (19 July 1843), 12 (29 Jul 1846); 2 (18 in 1861), 6 (18 in 1861), 11 (40 in 1884; 18 in 1861), 13 (25 in 1870), 14 (25 in 1870), 15 (38 in 1870), 16 (July 1848), 17 (64 in 1910), 18 (76 in 1920), 19 (83 in 1930). place: 2, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. parents: 12]
When he enlisted, he was a clerk. [sources: 2, 11 (clerk; certificate of discharge has 'schoolboy' as occupation)]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair. [sources: 2, 11 (5' 5-1/4"; certificate of discharge has 5' 5-1/2", light complexion, grey eyes, light sandy hair)]
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private in company E on 28 August 1861 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was enlisted by Captain Lentz, and mustered into service by Colonel Reiff. [sources: 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 11 (28 Aug, but a later record claims 27 Aug)]
On 13 December 1862, he was chilled through and contracted chronic rheumatism, from lying out all night in water in cold weather. [source: 11]
From 15 February 1863 to 9 March 1863 he was treated for rheumatism. He continued to be treated for rheumatism after that (but perhaps at a different hospital?). [source: 11]
On 12 March 1863, he was sent to the division hospital. [source: 4]
From 15 June 1863 through 28 June 1863 he was treated for chronic rheumatism. [source: 11]
On 30 June 1863, Surgeon Francis G Smith certified that George W Bowman was disabled, by 'spinal irritation, contracted by exposure at an immature age + causing feebleness + loss of power in his lower extremities'. [source: 11]
He was discharged on 25 July 1863, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was a private in company E. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11]
On 2 January 1870, he married Henrietta Coombs Smith. They were married by Reverend John F Chaplin, of Salem Methodist Episopal Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had four children:
[sources: 11, 12, 16 (5 children, 4 living in 1900), 17 (4 children, 4 living in 1910), 20]
In 1870, he was living at 1815 North Street, ward 15, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Henrietta, and their child Edward. He was a retail grocer. [sources: 13, 14]
In 1880, he was living in Mispillion, Kent County, Delaware. He was living with his wife Henrette [?], and their children Edward, Florance, and Henrietta. he was a farmer. [source: 15]
On 10 June 1884, he successfully applied for a pension. He was living at 816 Kinder [?] Street, Camden, Camden County, New Jersey. [sources: 7, 8, 11]
In 1900, he was living in Cecil County, Maryland. He was living with his wife Henrietta, daughter H Bertrude, and an employee. He was a minister. [source: 16]
According to his death certificate, he last worked as a minister in September 1905; this is not consistent with the census evidence. [source: 12]
He again applied for a pension on 15 February 1907, under the Act of 6 February 1907. He received $12 per month, effective 15 February 1907; the certificate was dated 25 March 1907. [sources: 8, 9]
In 1910, he was living at 5123 Ludlow Street, ward 46, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Henrietta S. He was a minister. [source: 17]
His pension was reissued, and he received $16 per month effective 20 May 1912, under the Act of 11 May 1912; the certificate was dated 5 October 1912. [source: 9]
His pension was increased to $21.50 per month, effective 29 July 1913; the certificate was dated 2 December 1913. [source: 9]
His pension was increased to $27 per month, effective 29 July 1916. [source: 9]
His pension was increased to $38 per month, effective 10 June 1918. [source: 9]
In 1920, he was living on Market Street, in Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware. he was living with his wife Henrietta S. He was a retired minister. [source: 18]
On 24 April 1930, he applied for a pension, under the Act of 1 May 1920. He required a attendant, because of 'infirmities of old age and a paralytic stroke', which made him 'almost helpless'. His pension was increased to $50 per month, effective 1 May 1920. [sources: 9, 11]
In 1930, he was living on West 6th Street, Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware. He was widowed. He was living with his daughter, H Bertrude Lewis. He owned the house, which was worth $4,000. He was not working. [source: 19]
On 9 December 1935, he died, in Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware. He died of senile debility; contributing to his death was a fall, which fractured two ribs and caused other injuries, and shock. He was a retired minister. On 12 December 1935, he was buried, in Odd Fellows Cemetery--presumably the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware. [source: 12]
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.)
2 descriptive roll, company E, entry 22 (George W Bowman)
3 company E, register of men discharged, number 36 (George W Bowman)
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 12 March 1863 (Private Bowman)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 31 December 1863 (George Bowman)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (George W Bowman)
7 pension index, by name (George W Bowman)
8 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (George W Bowman)
9 Veterans administration, pension payment cards, 1907-1933 (George W Bowman)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (George W Bowman)
11 pension documents packet (George W Bowman)
12 Delaware death certificates, 1855-1961 (FamilySearch) (George W Bowman)
13 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 15, district 44, page 511 recto = 165 handwritten (FamilySearch) (G W Bowman)
14 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 15, district 44, second enumeration, microfilm series M593, film 1428, page 391 verso = 12 handwritten (G W Bowman)
15 1880 US census, Delaware, Kent County, Mispillion, enumeration district 39, microfilm series T9, film 117, page 230 = 81 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (George W Bowman)
16 1900 US census, Maryland, Cecil County, enumeration district 21, microfilm series T623, film 620, page 169 = 7 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (Geo W Bowman)
17 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 46, enumeration district 1164, microfilm series T624, film 1413, pages 91 = 5 B handwritten to 92 = 6 A handwritten (George W Bowman)
18 1920 US census, Delaware, Sussex County, Laurel, enumeration district 189, microfilm series T625, film 201, page 5 = 5 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (George W Bowman)
19 1930 US census, Delaware, Sussex County, Laurel, enumeration district 3-19, microfilm series T626, film 291, page 210 = 15 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (George W Bowman)
20 'Smith/Long family tree', on Ancestry (accessed 25 May 2014)
| line | 33 | 34 |
| Dwelling-house number | [1089] | |
| Family number | [1031] | |
| Name | Bowman G W | " Henrietta |
| Age | 25 | 24 |
| Sex | M | F |
| Color | " [sc. W] | " |
| Occupation | Grocer R. | |
| Real estate value | ||
| Personal estate value | ||
| Birthplace | Penna | Penna |
| Father foreign born | ||
| Mother foreign born | ||
| Birth month if born within year | ||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||
| Attended school past year | ||
| Can't read | ||
| Can't write | ||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Dwelling-house number | [1815] | ||
| Family number | |||
| Name | Bowman G. W. | - Henrietta | - Edward |
| Age | 25 | 24 | 1/12 |
| Sex | M | F | M |
| Color | |||
| Occupation | |||
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | |||
| Birthplace | |||
| Father foreign born | |||
| Mother foreign born | |||
| Birth month if born within year | |||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||
| Attended school past year | |||
| Can't read | |||
| Can't write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| street name | |||||
| house number | |||||
| dwelling visit # | 710 | ||||
| family visit # | 427 | ||||
| name | Bowman George W | " Henrette [?] | " Edward | " Florance | " Henrietta |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F | F |
| age | 38 | 35 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| month born if born in year | |||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Daughter | Daughter | |
| single | |||||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | |||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | Farmer | Keeping House | |||
| months unemployed | |||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | |||
| can't read | |||||
| can't write | |||||
| birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| father's birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| line | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| street | ||||
| house number | ||||
| dwelling number | 141 | |||
| family number | 145 | |||
| name | Bowman, Geo W. | -, Henrietta C. | - H. Bertrude | Arch, Jenny |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Employee |
| color | W | W | W | In [?] |
| sex | M | F | F | F |
| birth date | July 1848 | Mar 1848 | Jan 1879 | May 1886 |
| age | 51 | 52 | 21 | 14 |
| married? | M | M | S | S |
| # years married | 30 | 30 | ||
| mother of how many children? | 5 | |||
| # of children living | 4 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Tennessee |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Tennessee |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Delaware | Pennsylvania | Tennessee |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Minister | Servant | ||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | ||
| # months in school | ||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| owned/rented | R | |||
| free or mortgaged | ||||
| farm/house | H | |||
| # of farm schedule |
| line | 100 | 1 |
| street | Ludlow street | Ludlow street |
| house nr | 5123 | |
| dwelling nr | 146 | |
| family nr | 135 | |
| name | Bowman George W | - Henrietta S |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| sex | M | F |
| color | W | W |
| age | 64 | 54 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 |
| #years present marriage | 40 | 40 |
| mother of # children | 4 | |
| mother of # living children | 4 | |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||
| naturalized/alien | ||
| speaks English | English | English |
| occupation | Minister | None |
| nature of industry etc. | Church | |
| employer etc. | W | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | |
| can read | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||
| owned/rented | R | |
| owned free or mortagaged | ||
| farm/house | H | |
| nr on farm schedule | ||
| civil war vet | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf & dumb |
| line | 52 | 53 |
| street | Market St | |
| house number | X | |
| dwelling visit number | 137 | |
| family visit number | 142 | |
| name | Bowman, George W. | - Henrietta S. |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| own/rent | R | |
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | ||
| sex | M | F |
| race | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 76 | 75 |
| marital status | M | M |
| year of immigration | ||
| naturalized/alien | ||
| year of naturalization | ||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| native language | ||
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's native language | ||
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylavnia |
| mother's native language | ||
| can speak English | yes | yes |
| occupation | Retired Minister | None |
| industry, business | ||
| employment status | ||
| number of farm schedule | ||
| line | 73 | 74 |
| street | West Sixth Street | |
| house number | ||
| dwelling visit # | 405 | |
| family visit # | 443 | |
| name | Bowman George W. | Lewis, H Bertrude |
| relation | Head | Daughter |
| owned/rented | O | |
| value or rent | 4000 | |
| radio | R | |
| farm | No | |
| sex | M | F |
| color | W | W |
| age | 83 | 51 |
| married? | Wd | Wd |
| age 1st marriage | ||
| school/college since 9/29 | No | No |
| can read & write | Yes | Yes |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsyvlania |
| native language | ||
| immigration year | ||
| naturalization | ||
| can speak English | Yes | Yes |
| occupation | None | Writing Teacher |
| industry | State Board | |
| worker class | W | |
| at work yesterday | Yes | |
| unemployment schedule # | ||
| veteran? | Yes | |
| war | Civ | |
| farm schedule # | ||
On this 9th [?] day of June, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty four personally appeared before me deputy Prthy of the CC Pleas the same being a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid, George W. Bowman aged 40 years, a resident of Camden, County of Camden State of New Jersey, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is - married; that his wife's name was --, to whom he was married at - on the - day of -,
that he is the identical George W Bowman who enlisted in the military service of the United States at Philada Pa on the 28th of August, 1861 as a private of Co. E, 91st Regiment of Pa. Vols.
and was honorably discharged at Philada Pa, on the 25th of July 1863,
that his personal description is as follows:--Age 40 years, height 5 feet 5 1/4 inches; complexion, light; hair, light; eyes, blue;
that while in the service aforesaid, and in the line of his duty, he received the following disability, to wit:
on or about December 13th 1862 at Fredericksburg Va from exposure lying out all night in the water the weather being very cold, he was chilled through and contracted chronic rheumatism, which has disabled him ever since.
That he was treated for his said disability for some time in the Regimental hospital and was then sent to hospital at Aquia Creek Va, and afterward to McKin's [?] hospital at Baltimore Md + treated up to about time of discharge (dates of treatment at each place not remembered)
That he has not been in either the military or Naval Service otherwise than as above stated
that since leaving the said service this applicant has resided in Philada Pa + Camden, N.J. mostly, and his occupation has been clerk
that prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound physical health, being, when enrolled, a clerk,
that now he is partly disabled from obtaining his subsistence from manual labor in consequence of his above-named injuries received in the service of the United States;
that he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States by reason of the disabilities above stated;
that he hereby appoints Francis Register, of Philadelphia, Pa., his attorney to prosecute his claim;
that he has never received nor applied for a pension;
that his post office is at Camden, county of Camden, State of N.J.
that his domicile or place of abode is No. 816 Kinder [?] St. Camden. N.J.
George W Bowman
(Claimant's signature.)
[image 3]
SWORN to and subscribed before me, this 9th day of June, A.D. 1884, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &c., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words "13th" + "December" persons whom +c, erased, and the words "25th" + "July", added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
SIR: Please answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below. The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your widow or children. Use the inclosed envelope, which requires no stamp.
Very respectfully,In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below.
Very respectfully,I CERTIFY, that I have carefully examined the said George W. Bowman of Captain M Hall's Company, and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of spinal irritation, contracted by exposure at an immature age + causing feebleness + loss of power in his lower extremities + preventing him, in his present condition, from securing a living.
Francis G. Smith I" [?]Respectfully referred to Military secretary of War Departmet requesting in full military and medical history of the soldier
2 enclosuresOn this 24th day of April 1930, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid George W Bowman, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 86 years of age, and a resident of Laurel county of Sussex, State of Delaware; and that he is the identical person who was ENROLLED at Philadelphia Pa, under the name of George W Bowman, on the 28th day of August 1861 as a Private, in Co. E 91st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the service of the United States, in the Civil war, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Philadelphia Pa on the 25th of July 1863.
That he also served NoneThat he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of May 1, 1920.
| ISSUES. | |||
| CLASS. | RATE. | DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. | DATE OF CERTIFICATE. |
| REISSUE | 12 | FEB 15, 1907 | MAR 25 1907 |
| REISSUE | 16 | MAY 20 1912 | OCT 5 1912 |
| INCREASE | 21 50 | 29 July 1913 | DEC 2 1913 |
| 27 | 29 July 1916 | ||
| 38 | JUN 10 1918 | ||
| Inc. | 50 | May 1, 1920 | |