He was born in 1840/44, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to David Cole and Maria Robinet. They had been married on 6 January 1822. [sources: date: 5 (19 in 1861), 8 (16 in 1860), 10 (21 at death in 1864), 12. place: 5, 8, 10, 12. parents: 8, 11, 12]
In 1850, he was living in ward 7, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents David and Maria Cole, and with Robert, Sarah, and Maria (presumably siblings). [source: 12]
In January 1851, his father, David Cole, died, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 11]
In 1860, he was living in the 12th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his mother, Maria Cole. He was an apprentice morocco dresser. [source: 8]
When he enlisted, he was a morocco finisher. [source: 11]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and brown hair. He had a scar on his upper lip. [source: 5]
In 1864, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and brown hair. [source: 11]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 16 September 1861 (co.A) or 18 September 1861 (co.C). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Smith. He initially served as a private in company A. [sources: 1, 5, 11 (mustered 25 Sep), 14 (C)]
On 28 July 1863, he was reported as having been dropped because he was missing in the campaign (probably after 11 June 1863). He had returned by 28 July 1863. [source: 3]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 30 December 1863. He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan. [sources: 1, 6, 11 (enlisted 26 Dec)]
The regiment travelled from Warrenton, Virginia, to Alexandria by railroad, through a severe snowstorm. At least one company was transported on open platform cars. During that trip, Cole contracted typhoid fever, also known as camp fever. When the regiment arrived in Philadelphia on 8 January 1864, near Grays Ferry, Rob M Steedle, who had come to see them, took Cole home, because of his illness. Steedle reported Cole sick on 13 January 1864. At 'that time he was out of his mind [and] remained so until the morning of the 18th on which he died'. [source: 11]
On 15 January 1864, the regiment sent his furlough to his home, by Sergeant John Stewart; it ran from 16 January 1864 to 16 February 1864. [source: 11]
He died of typhoid fever, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 18 January 1864, while he was on furlough. He died at, or was buried from, 3 Kessler Alley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 21 January 1864, he was buried in American Mechanics' Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 1, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13]
He was transfered to company C on 16 February 1864. He may have been mistakenly transferred to company A when he reenlisted (see fact of the week #102). He was a private, in company C, at the end. [sources: 2, 14; but see 3]
On 2 March 1864, his mother, Maria Cole, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension, under the Act of 14 July 1862. Her post office address was 3 Kessler Place, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her application was rejected, apparently because Ed J Maguigan had certified that Cole became ill while on furlough (apparently confusing the date Steedle reported Cole ill with the date Cole became ill); the Pension Office therefore concluded that his mother was not eligible for a pension because he had not died of a disease contracted while on service. After receiving additional evidence correcting his mistake, from F H Gregory, from the physician who treated Cole during his last illness, and from Rob M Steedle, who met Cole on the regiment's return, the Pension Office changed their decision. (I assume Gregory became involved because Cole had been reenlisted in company A, which Gregory was commanding.) Her application was accepted on 26 January 1866, and she received $8 per month, retroactive to 19 January 1864. [sources: 7, 9, 11]
On 19 June 1873, Maria Cole died. She had last been paid her pension through 4 June 1873. She apparently left enough money to pay the expenses of her last illness and burial. [source: 11]
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)
[Bates lists two Francis Cole's, one in co. A (not accounted for), and the other in co.C (died at Philadelphia). His source obviously missed special order 4, HQ 91st PA, 16 Feb 64, which transfers Cole from co.A to co.C.]
2 special order 4, HQ 91st PA, 16 February 1864
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 July 1863 (Private Cole, co.C)
4 company C, register of deaths (Francis C Cole)
5 company C, descriptive roll, entry 25 (Francis C Cole)
6 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 87 (Francis C Cole)
7 pension index, by name (Francis C Cole)
8 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 12th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1162, page 330 = 110 handwritten (Francis Cole)
9 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Francis C Cole)
10 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 18 January 1864 (Francis C Cole )
11 dependent's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate 63,562 (Maria Cole mother of Francis C Cole)
12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Northern Liberties, ward 7, microfilm series M432, film 811, page 538 verso = 184 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Frank Cole)
13 Find a grave, memorial 94,730,695, created by Joyce Collins, added 2 August 2012, accessed 2 Nov 2012 (Francis C Cole)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Francis C Cole)
| line | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| Dwellings visited | 1294 | |||||
| Families visited | 1522 | |||||
| Name | David Cole | Maria " | Robert " | Sarah " | Maria " | Frank " |
| Age | 50 | 50 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | F | M |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Tailor | Farmer | ||||
| Real estate owned | ||||||
| Birthplace | Pena | Pena | Pena | Pena | Pena | Pena |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 12 | 13 |
| Dwelling number | 787 | |
| Family number | 919 | |
| Name | Maria Cole | Francis " |
| Age | 51 | 16 |
| Sex | F | M |
| Color | ||
| Occupation | Ap Morroco Dre [?] [sc. apprentice morocco dresser] | |
| Value of real estate owned | ||
| Value of personal estate | ||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Penna] | " |
| Married within year | ||
| Attended school within year | ||
| Cannot read & write | ||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
The bearer hereof, Francis C Cole, a Private of Lieut Ed. J. Maguigans [sic] Company (C) 91st Regiment, Pennsylvania Vols., aged 21 years; 5 feet, 10 inches high, Dark complexion, Dark eyes, Brown hair, and by profession a morrocco [sic] finisher; born in the State of Pennsylvania and enlisted at Bealton, in the State of Virginia, on the Twenty sixth day of December eighteen hundred and sixty three, to serve for the period of three years is hereby permitted to go to [blank], in the County of [blank], State of [blank] he having received a furlough from the 16th day of January to the 16th day of February 1864, at which period he will report to the Commanding Officer of the General Rendezvous for Veteran Volunteers, at Camp Reynolds, near Harrisburg, Pa., or be considered a deserter.
(This furlough granted in accordance with General Orders, No. 376, Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, D.C., November 21st, 1863.)
Subsistence has been furnished to said [blank] to the [blank] day of [blank] and pay to the [blank] day of [blank] both inclusive.
GIVEN under my hand, at Philadelphia this Fifteenth day of January 1864
C. C. Gilbert