He was born in 1816/17 (3 (44 in 1861), 4, 6 [75 in 1867?], 7 [60 in ? 1867], 8 [78 in 1880]). He was born in Tyrone, Ireland (3, 4, 6, 7, 8).
When he enlisted, he was a hatter (4).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (3, 4).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 18 October 1861 (1, 3, 5, 10). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Sinex (3). He was mustered in service by Captain Sinex (3). He was a private in company H (1, 15).
He was transferred on 4 December 1861 to company D (1, 5).
He was wounded in the hip on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1, 9, 11 [wounded in thigh], 13 [thigh]).
On 26 September 1863, he was reported returned from hospital for duty (2).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863 (1, 4). He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan (4).
He was mustered by Lieutenant Swan on 26 December 1864 (4).
In January 1865, he was tried by court martial (12). He was sentenced by a general court martial to forfeit ten dollars each month for three months, and to make good all time lost (4, 12).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 10). He served for forty-five months (7). He was a private, in company D (15).
He successfully applied for a pension on 13 July 1865 (10, 14).
On 26 July 1867, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (6, 7). He had wounds in his left leg (6, 7). He received a pension of $2 per month (6, 7 [no pension]).
In 1880, he was living at the Central Branch of the National Soldiers Home, in Montgomery County, Ohio (8). He was widowed or divorced (8). He was a hatter, but had been out of work for twelve months in the previous year (8).
In 1882, he was present at the Central Branch of the National Soldiers Home (7).
On 13 August 1882, he died at the Central Branch (Dayton, Ohio) of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (6).
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 Collins)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 26 September 1863 (Priv Collins)
3 company D, descriptive roll, privates, entry 2 (John Collins)
4 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 21 (John Collins)
5 company H, register of men transferred (John Collins)
6 National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Report of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the said board for the year ending June 30, 1884. January 5, 1885. Serial Set volume 2310, session volume 1, 48th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 11, page 216 (John Collins)
7 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 Collins)
8 1880 US census, National Military Home, Ohio, Montgomery County, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 169, microfilm series T9, film 1052, page 586 C = 3 handwritten (John Collins)
9 'The Battles of Fredericksburg: further list of wounded', Philadelphia Inquirer 12 May 1863, page 4 (John Collins)
10 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (John Collin)
11 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (John Collins)
12 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (John Collins)
13 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (John Collins)
14 pension index, by name (John Collins)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Collins)
| line | 11 |
| street name | New York Avenue |
| house number | [2] |
| dwelling visit # | [2] |
| family visit # | [2] |
| name | Collins John |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| age | 78 |
| month born if born in year | |
| relationship | Disabled Soldier, Beneficiary Natl Mil Home for D.V.S. |
| single | |
| married | |
| widowed/divorced | 1 |
| married during year | |
| occupation | Hatter |
| months unemployed | 12 |
| currently ill? | |
| blind | |
| deaf/dumb | |
| idiotic | |
| insane | |
| disabled | 1 |
| school this year | |
| can't read | |
| can't write | |
| birthplace | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland |