91st PA: John Brown

After the war

When he was discharged, 'his system was completely broken down'. [source: 16]

On 13 September 1867, he died of diarrhea, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had had chronic diarrhea since he was discharged, and had grown continually worse. He died at, or was buried from, 413 East Cumberland Street, 19th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 16 September 1867, he was buried in Franklin Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was apparently later reburied in the Philadelphia National Cemetery. [sources: 9, 10, 13 (Philadelphia National Cemetery), 16]

On 14 November 1868, his widow, Jane Brown, successfully applied from Philadelphia for a pension under the Act of 14 July 1862 She lived on Cumberland Street, the first door above Emerald, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her attorney was Joseph E Devitt, of Philadelphia. Her application was accepted on 25 January 1869, retroactive to 13 December 1867. She received $8 per month. [sources: 7, 8, 16]

In 1870, his widow, Jane, was living in ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with Fred Brown (apparently her son), and William Beck. She owned $150 in personal property. [source: 12]

On 15 December 1875, the Pension Bureau told the Pension Agent to suspend payment of Jane Brown's pension. This was undoubtedly because they had discovered that her attorney had not executed documents properly in other cases. [source: 16]

On 25 February 1876, his widow, Jane Brown, died, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died of stomach cancer. On 5 March 1876, she was buried in Franklin Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 14, 16]

In May 1876, Special Agents from the Pension Bureau investigated whether Jane Brown's attorney, Joseph E Devitt, had correctly executed the documents in her pension application. They concluded that her case appeared 'meritorious'. On 20 May 1876, the Pension Bureau told the Pension Agent to remove the suspension of her pension. [source: 16]

On 3 June 1879, John Brown, Jane's son, applied for appears under the Act of 25 January 1879. His post office address was 2312 Tulip Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 25 October 1879, the Pension Bureau paid arrears under the Acts of 25 January 1879 and 3 March 1879. [source: 16 (4 Mar 79)]

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) (John Brown)

2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 21 March 1863 (Corpl Brown)

3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (John Brown)

4 company H, list of non-commissioned officers (John Brown)

5 company H, register of men discharged, #32 (John Brown)

6 company H, descriptive roll, #1 (John Brown)

7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (John Brown)

8 pension index, by name (John Brown)

9 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 13 September 1867 (John Brown)

10 death notice, Public Ledger 16 September 1867, page 2 (John Brown)

11 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 1170, page 722 = 252 handwritten (John Brown)

12 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, division 60, microfilm series M593, film 1405, page 399 recto = 187 handwritten (Jane Brown)

13 Find a grave, memorial 2539508, imported 3 Mar 2000 from US Veteran's Affairs, accessed 24 Jun 2012 (John Brown)

14 death certificate,28 February 1876, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (Jane Brown)

15 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Kensington, ward 8, microfilm series M432, film 807, page 551 verso = 1105 handwritten = 18 handwritten (John Brown)

16 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate 124,259 (Jane Payton widow of John Brown)

17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Brown)

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Kensington, ward 8, microfilm series M432, film 807, page 551 verso = 1105 handwritten = 18 handwritten]
[identification is confirmed; see the note on the 1860 census entry transcribed below]

line	3	4	5	6	7	8
Dwellings visited	122
Families visited	128
Name	Jno Brown	Jane "	John "	James "	Henry "	Fredrick "
Age	36	39	8	11	5	2
Sex	M	F	M	M	M	M
Color
Occupation of males over 15 years	Weaver
Real estate owned
Birthplace	England	"	"	"	"	Pennsylvania
Married within year
Attended school within year			1	1
Over 20 & can't read/write
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 1170, page 722 = 252 handwritten]
[transcribed 24 June 2012]
[identification is confirmed by (1) his occupation's matching his occupation at enlistment (according to his discharge certificate in the widow's pension certificate file), (2) his apparent wife's and children's names matching the names in the pension file, and (3) the following supporing evidence:]
[(a) the only other John Brown born in England I have found living with a Jane is 50 and born in Ireland (see ward 7 Philadelphia, microfilm series M653, film 1157, page 363 = 363 handwritten: John Brown 50 laborer born Ireland, with Jane 25 b. England and Samuel 1 born Pennsylvania); since he is alive in 1880 (see 1880 census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, s.d.1 e.d. 457 microfilm series T9 film 1181 page 521 = 18 B), and Jane applied for a pension in 1868, that John Brown is not the John who served in the 91st]
[(b) the John Brown in this census entry is pretty clearly the John Brown who died in 1867 (see the death certificate [note the ward number!] and 1870 census entry transcribed below), consistent with Jane's having applied for a pension in 1868]
[(c) the FamilySearch index to the Philadelphia death certificates doesn't include another John Brown born in England died 1863-1868]

line	1	2	3	4	5
Dwelling number	1833
Family number	2055
Name	John Brown	Jane "	John "	Henry "	Frederick [?] "
Age	48	49	20	16	12
Sex	M	F	M	M	M
Color
Occupation	Weaver		Furrier	Weaver
Value of real estate owned
Value of personal estate
Place of birth	England	"	"	"	Phil
Married within year
Attended school within year
Cannot read & write
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, division 60, microfilm series M593, film 1405, page 399 recto = 187 handwritten]
[identification is confirmed; see the note on identification for the 1860 census entry transcribed above]

line	33	34	35
Dwelling-house number	1339
Family number	1446
Name	Brown Fred	Jane	Beck William
Age	22	60	22
Sex	M	F	M
Color	W	W	W
Occupation	Carpet Weaver	House Keeper	Carpet Weaver
Real estate value
Personal estate value		150
Birthplace	England	England	England
Father foreign born	1	1	1
Mother foreign born	1	1	1
Birth month if born within year
Marriage month if married within year
Attended school past year
Can't read
Can't write		1
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.
Male US citizen at least 21 years old	1		1
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 12 Mar 2014, from Fold3]

Brown, John
Co. H, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Corpl.
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

widow's pension certificate file

[widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate 124,259, Jane Payton widow of John Brown]
[abstracted from 27 pages on Fold3, 1 September 2013]

1817/18: born in Manchester County, England (p.17); 45 years old in 1863 (p.17)
6 March 1837: John Brown married Jane Payton in Ribbesford Parish, Worcester County, England (pp.4, 11, 12); married by Rev Joseph Crane, a protestant episcopal minister (pp.11, 12); they raised three children, all more than 16 when Jane applied for a pension in 1868 (p.4):; John Brown (28 years old), Henry Brown (24 years old), and Frederick Brown (21 years old) (p.4)
10 Sep 1861: John Brown enlisted at Philadelphia by Capt C S Brown and mustered in at Philadlephia, as private, co H (pp.8, 17)
20 March 1863: John Brown discharged for disability at camp near Falmouth VA, by order of Gen Meade (pp.4, 8, 17 [the discharge certificate]); he was then a corporal (pp.8, 17); 45 years old, 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, light complexion, grey eyes, sandy hair, weaver when enlisted (p.17); unfit for duty 60 days in last two months (p.17); Captain Charles Henry: 'He cannot get his wind as he terms it on a march or in any active camp duty'; 'always behind and from personal knowledge I believe he suffers very much'; 'I have seen him with a very little exertion completely prostrated so much so I have feared he would not get another breath' (p.17); Sittler [?] asst surgeon in charge 91st PA reported he had chronic bronchitis contracted since his enlistment in the service; under medical care for three months; also has angina pectoris (p.17); Capt J D Lentz was then commanding the 91st (p.17)
13 September 1867: John Brown died of chronic diarrhea, at Philadelphia PA, which he had had since discharge (pp.4, 10); his chronic diarrhea was not due to intemperate habits (p.10); chronic diarrhea was contracted in the line of duty from hardships etc. after Antietam
1 Oct 1868: Jane Brown gave the above-summarized information about her marriage (p.11); William Guest and Thomas Lamb testified about John Brown and Jane Payton's marriage (p.12); (Lamb, Guest, and Brown all lived in the same parish in England, and in the same neighborhood in Philadelphia; Lamb immigrated in 1848 and Guest in 1857) (p.12)
6 Oct 1868: Charles Henry testified that he knew John Brown for about two years before he enlisted, knew that he was healthy then, 'and of correct and proper habits', that after Antietam while in the line of duty with his regiment he contracted chronic diarrhea and a palpitation of the heart (symptoms of heart disease), that Dr Knight (the Division Doctor) treated him at various times from sept 1862 until he was discharged, that Dr Knight is now dead, that this was dcaused by exposure in the actual line of duty, and that he was severely afflicted with it from September 1862 until March 1863, he grew weaker and weaker, and when he was discharged 'his system was completely broken down'; 'he was a good soldier a quiet man always correct and prompt in the performance of his duties and a man in whom perfect confidence could be placed' (p.25)
13 Nov 1868: C P Bethel MD testified about Smith's death, and that he had been in good health for the ten years before enlistment that Bethel knew him (p.8)
14 Nov 1868: Jane Brown, 56 [?] years old, widow of John Brown (H) applied for a pension under the act of 14 July 1862 (p.4); she lived in Philadelphia, post office Address Cumberland St, 1st door above Emerald (p.4); dated 1 Oct 1868 (p.4); attorney Jos E Devitt Philadelphia (p.4); witnesses William Guest [?] and Thomas Lamb (both residents of Philadelphia) (p.5); application number 167,796 (pp.6, 13); admitted 25 Jan 1869, retroactive to 13 Dec 1867, at $8 per month (pp.3, 15); certificate 124,259, dated 4 Feb 1869 (pp.3, 13, 15); Chas T Cotton examining clerk (p.3)
4 Dec 1868: the Adjutant General's Office sent the above-summarized information to the Pension Bureau (p.8; see p.13 for the request)
18 Dec 1868: the Pension Bureau sent circular 16 to the Adjutant General's Office, requesting information about Capt Henry's service from Sept 1862 to Mar 1863 (p.14; see p.19 for the circular 16); 15 Jan 1869--the Adjutant General's Office reported that Charles Henry enlisted as capt H 91st PA 12 May 1862, for Sept 1862 and Mar 1863 reported Capt present with company, honorably discharged on surgeon's certificate 27 Apr 1863, by special order 99 5th Corps (dated 27 Apr 63) (p.20)
15 Dec 1875: the Pension Bureau told the Pension Agent to suspend payment (p.16)
29 Feb 1876: Jane Brown died (p.21); last paid to 4 December 1875 (p.21)
11 May 1876: John Brown testified before special agent Wm H Webster that he was 35 years old, lived at 2312 Tulip St, Philadelphia, that he is the late Jane Brown's son, that she died on 29 Feb 1876, that he executed vouchers for the expenses of her last sickness and burial, that Wm Guest and Dr CP Bethel are dead, that Thomas Lamb is sick and can't well appear before the Board of Special Agents, and he doesn't know where Capt Charles Henry is, and doesn't know where any of the papers in his late mother's pension application were executed (p.27)
13 May 1876: Wm H Webster testified before special agent Wm H Webster that he was 61 years old, lived at 2113 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, that he knew the late Jane Brown well, that he was a witness for her pension application, and thinks that he, Jane Brown, and Wm Guest swore to their statements at an office--not the office of Joseph E Devitt--but he doesn't remember where; that his declaration is true except that he does not remember the date of the marriage or by whom they were married (p.26)
17 May 1876: the Pension Bureau received the report of the special commissioner (p.16); son had an account for last expenses (p.21); Devitt + Co filed the application, which purported to have been made before the Orphans Court; one witness thinks it was, the other is dead (p.21); marriage was proved by affidavits of two witnesses; one substantially reaffirmed the testimony, the other is dead (p.21); origin of disease was proved by the Captain's testimony; he can't be found; the attending physician is dead (p.21); one witness reported that the pensioner left no property; this witness can't be found (p.21); 'the case appear meritorious' (p.21); the report is signed by four (!) men: Wm H Webester [?], P D Yeager, J S Hooke, and A F Kingsley [signatures very hard to read] (p.22)
20 May 1876: the Pension Bureau instructued the Pension Agent 'to remove sus[pension]' (p.16)
23 May 1876: the pension bureau did something about $32 of bills [I can't read too many of the words: 'Second [illegible] voucher for [illegible] Bills $32 - [illegible] $22.93'] (p.16)
3 June 1879: John Brown, son of Jane Brown, applied for arrears under the act of 25 January 1879 (p.23); his post office address was 2312 Tulip St, Philadelphia (p.23)
13 June 1879: the Pension Bureau sent the certificate of discharge to Hon A C Harmer [?] (p.16)
27 Oct 1879: the Pension Bureau paid arrears under the acts of 25 Jan and 4 Mar 1879 (p.16)

death notice

[death notice, John Brown, Public Ledger 16 September 1867, page 2]
[transcribed 24 June 2012, from GenealogyBank]
[the digitized version is hard to read]

BROWN--On the 13th [?] inst, JOHN BROWN, in the 54th [?] year of his age

The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from his late residence no 413 [?] Cumberland street, this [illegible words] on the 16th [?] inst, at 3 oclock

death certificate

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 13 September 1867, John Brown]
[transcribed 24 June 2012, from FamilySearch]
[identification is confirmed by the widow's pension certificate file]
RETURN OF A DEATH
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE
1. Name of Deceased, John Brown
2. Colour, White
3. Sex, Male
4. Age, 55 years
5. Married
6. Date of Death, Sept 13th 1867
7. Cause of Death, Diarroeha [?]
C P Bethell M.D.
Residence, 702 North 6th
UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation, Weaver
9. Place of Birth, England
10. When a Minor, [blank]
11. Ward, 19th
12. Street and Number, 413 E. Cumberland st.
13. Date of Burial, Sep 16th
14. Place of Burial, Franklin Cem
Arthur C Hookey Undertaker.
Residence, 2252 Frankford Rd

spouse's death certificate

[death register, Jane Brown, 28 February 1876, Philadelphia Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 24 June 2012, from FamilySearch]

DATE of Registration	[1876] " [sc. March] " [sc. 1]
NAME OF DECEASED	Jane Brown
Color	' [sc. White]
Sex	' [sc. Female]
Age	65 " [sc. years]
Condition	' [sc. Married]
Date of Death	" [sc. Feby] 25
CAUSE OF DEATH	Carcinoma Stomach
[illegible] PHYSICIAN	Samuel P Haynes
OCCUPATION OF DECEASED
Where Born	England
When a Minor, Name of Father and Mother
WARD	31
STREET AND No.	Elizabeth
DATE OF BURIAL	" [sc. Mch] 5
PLACE OF BURIAL	" [sc. Franklin]

John Brown

Before the war

Description

During the war