He was born in 1832/1833, in Belfast, Ireland, to Barney Drew and Ellen [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 6 (28 in 1861), 14 (18 in 1850), 17 (26 in 1860). place: 6, 14, 17. parents: 9, 14]
Given his apparent siblings' birthplaces, he may have immigrated to the US between 1838 and 1846. [source: 14]
In 1850, he was living in Richmond District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with Barney and Ellen Drew (presumably his parents), and with Mary, Sarah, Thomas, and John Drew (presumably his siblings). He was a laborer. [source: 14; see also 11]
From about 1852 until he entered the army in 1861, he was a glassblower, and earned about $15 per week. He regularly gave his mother money to support her. [source: 15]
In 1860, he seems to have been living in ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with Rebecca Johnson and others. He was a glassblower. (His parents seem to have been living in the Alms House.) [source: 17]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. He had scars on his chin, over his left eye, and over the bridge of his nose. [source: 6]
He enlisted on 23 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Keyser. On 25 September 1861, he was mustered in, as a private. He was a private in company C. [sources: 1, 6, 7, 15, 19]
On 8 October 1862, he deserted, at Washington, DC. He returned. [source: 5]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 10]
On 30 December 1863, Sinex reported that he was one of 38 men who had less than fifteen months to serve who were unwilling to reenlist. On 2 January 1864, he was transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry, while those eligible were on veterans' leave. [sources: 2, 3]
He died, of wounds received in action at North Anna, on 20 May 1864 (1) or 23 May 1864. (According to the company descriptive book, he was killed in action.) He was wounded either in the right heart, or in the lower abdomen. The Surgeon General's records reported him as being in hospital from 20 to 25 May 1864, for treatment of a severe right heart wound. He was a private, in company C. He was buried at Port Royal. [sources: 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 19]
On 5 November 1865, his father, Bernard Drew, died, at Blockley Almshouse, ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died of invagination of bowel (or of rheumatism). He was a laborer, but had been disabled from labor for five years before his death. On 7 November 1865, he was buried, in St Ann's Cemetery, Richmond, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 15, 16]
On 8 March 1867, his mother, Ellen Drew, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension, under the Act of 14 July 1862. Her post office address was 256 Queen Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. William McAnally [sc. William McNally (C)] and E J Maguigan supported her application, providing evidence that Drew died of wounds received in battle. Her application was accepted on 14 December 1868, retroactive to 27 May 1864. She received $8 per month. [sources: 9, 13, 15]
On 11 December 1875, the Pension Bureau instruction the Pension Agent to suspend payment of Ellen Drew's pension. On 19 January 1876, they instructed the Agent to resume payment. [source: 15]
On 7 October 1877, his mother, Ellen Drew, died, at the Alms House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died of nervous debility. On 8 October 1877, she was buried, at the Alms House. [source: 18]
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 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 30 December 1863
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 January 1864 (Drew)
4 company C, register of deaths (Michael Drew)
5 company C, register of deserters, number 18 (Michael Drew)
6 company C, descriptive roll, entry 79 (Michael Drew)
7 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 90 (Michael Drew)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 9 June 1864 (Pri Drew)
9 pension index, by name (Michael Drew)
10 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Michael Drew)
11 'Our Armies in Virginia', Philadelphia Inquirer 2 June 1864 page 2 (Michael Drew)
12 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (Michael Drew)
13 pension index, by name (Michael Drew)
14 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Ritchmond District, microfilm series M432, film 820, page 230 (Michel [sic] Drew)
15 abstract of mother's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate WC 122,557 (Ellen Drew mother of Michael Drew)
16 [not transcribed] death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 5 November 1865, Bernard Drew (FamilySearch)
17 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 259 = 259 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Michael Drew)
18 [not transcribed] death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 7 October 1877, Ellen Drew (FamilySearch) (Ellen Drew)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Michael Drew)
| line | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Dwellings visited | 735 | ||||||
| Families visited | 779 | ||||||
| Name | Barney Drew | Ellin [sic] " | Michel [sic] " | Mary " | Sarah " | Thomas " | John " |
| Age | 40 | 34 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 4 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | F | M | M |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | do [sc Laiberer [sic]] | do | |||||
| Real estate owned | |||||||
| Birthplace | Irland [sic] | " | " | " | " | " | Pa |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 31 |
| Dwelling number | [1853] |
| Family number | [2090] |
| Name | Michl Drew |
| Age | 26 |
| Sex | m |
| Color | |
| Occupation | Glass Blower |
| Value of real estate owned | |
| Value of personal estate | |
| Place of birth | Ireland |
| Married within year | |
| Attended school within year | |
| Cannot read & write | |
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
Below I sent you a list of soldiers buried at Port Royal. They are all buried in one spot, and their graves are numbered in the order that I have numbered the names below.
6. Michael Drew, Co. C, 91st Penn. Vols., of Richmond, Penn., died May 26.
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