He was born in 1843/44 (3 (20 in 1864), 6 [27 in ?1876], 7 [22 in 1870], 8 [31 in 1880]). He was born in Pennsylvania (3, 6, 7, 8).
When he enlisted, he was a student (3).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 4-3/8 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair (3).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 25 January 1864 (1) or 20 January 1864 (3). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Stretch (3). He was a private in company A (1, 9, 10).
He was wounded on 18 June 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia (1).
He was discharged on 8 April 1865 on surgeon's certificate of disability, by JB Pethesbudge [?] Surgeon, US Volunteers (1, 3). He served for fifteen months (6). He was a private, in company A (9, 10).
He also served in co.C of the 41st United States Infantry (2).
He applied successfully for a pension on 24 April 1865 (2, 4).
In 1870, he was living in Buena Vista Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey (7). He was living in the house before Henry, Julie, and Hiram Graves, and Francis A Brittain, who was presumably his wife (7). He was a theological student, who owned $750 in real estate and $300 in personal property (7).
On 13 January 1876, he was admitted to the National Soldiers Home (6). He had lost his left arm, and was receiving a pension of $18 per month (6).
He was discharged from the Central Branch of the National Soldiers Home on 31 May 1876 (6).
On 21 July 1876, the House Committee on Invalid Pensions reported favorably on his request for an increased pension (5). The Committee agreed that he should receive the same pension as someone whose arm had been amputated above the elbow, although his left arm had been amputated below the elbow, because it was in worse shape than if it had been amputated above the elbow (5).
In 1880, he was living in Berry District, Montgomery County, Maryland (8). He was living with his wife Frances and son Milton (8). He was a government clerk (8).
He died on 10 February 1890 (2).
On 30 July 1890, his widow, Francis A Brittain, applied successfully from Washington, DC, for a pension (2, 4).
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) (John H Brittain)
2 pension index, by regiment (John H Brittain)
3 company A descriptive roll, entry 126 (John H Brittain)
4 pension index, by name (John H Brittain)
5 'John H. Brittain'. House report 774. Serial Set volume 1712, session volume 5, 44th Congress, 1st Session. (John H Brittain)
6 Annual report of the Board of Managers of the National Soldiers Home, 30 December 1882 [for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1882]. Serial Set volume 2115, session volume 1, 47th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 13, page 378 (John H Brittain)
7 1870 US census, New Jersey, Atlantic County, Buena Vista Township, post office May's Landing, microfilm series M593, film 851, page 18 = 4 handwritten (John H Brittain)
8 1880 US census, Maryland, Montgomery County, Berry District, district 5, supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 115, microfilm series T9, film 512, page 380 = 19 A - 20 B handwritten (John H Brittain)
9 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John H Brittain)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John H Brittian)
| line | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Dwelling-house number | 36 | 37 | |||
| Family number | 29 | 30 | |||
| Name | Brittain John H | Graves Henry P | - Julie A | - Hiram J | Brittain Francis A |
| Age | 22 | 51 | 45 | 22 | 17 |
| Sex | m | m | f | m | f |
| Color | " [sc. W] | " | " | " | " |
| Occupation | Theological Student | Farmer | Keeping house | [illegible] Farm | At Home |
| Real estate value | 750 | 1,200 | 200 | ||
| Personal estate value | 300 | 500 | 300 | ||
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania | New York | " " | " " | " " |
| 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 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 49 | 50 | 1 |
| street name | |||
| house number | |||
| dwelling visit # | 180 | 180 | |
| family visit # | 184 | 184 | |
| name | Brittain, John H | - Frances [??] A | Brittian [sic] Milton |
| ['Frances' is mostly covered by tape] | |||
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M |
| age | 31 | 26 | 9 |
| month born if born in year | |||
| relationship | Wife | Son | |
| single | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |
| widowed/divorced | |||
| married during year | |||
| occupation | Govt Clerk | Keeping house | |
| months unemployed | |||
| currently ill? | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf/dumb | |||
| idiotic | |||
| insane | |||
| disabled | |||
| school this year | 1 | ||
| can't read | |||
| can't write | |||
| birthplace | Pa | New York | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penn | NY | Penn |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Vt [?] | NY |
Mr. RICE, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, submitted the following REPORT: [To accompany bill H. R. 3930.]
The Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of John H. Brittain, late private Company A, Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, asking an increase of pension, after a careful examination, would report:
That claimaint was a good and faithful soldier in the war of 1861. That during said war, while in the service and in line of duty, he lost his left arm, which is amputated at less than one-half inch below and involving the elbow; that he is now receiving a pension at the rate of $18 per month. Claimant asks that a special act be passed giving him the benefit of the law of June 18, 1874, granting $24 per month to all pensioners having lost an arm above the elbow or a leg below the knee.
Claimant's arm is amputated but one-half inch or less below the elbow. His elbow-joint is of no use to him; the nerves and muscles about the amputation have contracted and attached themselves to the bone above the elbow, forming an adherent scar, dangerous and painful, so that the condition of his arm is far worse than though the amputation had been made above the elbow. His arm, too, is in such a state that he is unable to wear an artificial adjustment.
Under the state of facts your committee think the case a worthy one, and would therefore report favorably, and recommend the passage of the accompanying bill granting him a pension from and after the date of the passage of the same, at the rate of $24 per month.