He was born in 1839/40, in New Haven, Connecticut, perhaps to George and Maria Dyson. [sources: date: 7 (22 in 1862), 8 (11 in 1850), 9 (20 in 1860). place: 7, 8 (PA), 9 (PA). parents: 8, 9]
In 1850, perhaps he is the James Dyson living in Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. If so, he was living with George and Maria Dyson (presumably his parents), and with John, Eli, Joseph, George, Sarah, and Ann Dyson (presumably siblings). He had not attended school within the year. [source: 8]
In 1860, perhaps he is the James Dyson living in Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. If so, he was living with George and Maria Dyson (presumably his parents), and with Joseph, George, Sarah, Ann, Martha, Mary, Amos, and Leah Dyson (presumably siblings). He was a farm laborer. [source: 9]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer. [source: 7]
When he enlisted, he was 6 feet 0 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and dark hair. [source: 7]
He enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 18 September 1862. He was enlisted by Lieutenant Justus A Gregory, of the 91st Pennsylvania. He was a private, in company A. [sources: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7]
He is listed on a Muster and Descriptive Roll of a Detachment of US Volunteers forwarded for the 91st Regiment Pennsylvania infantry dated 20 September 1862, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had been paid $25 in bounty, and a $4 premium. [source: 7]
On the September-October 1862 company muster roll, he is reported absent with leave of surgeon. He was due pay from his enlistment. [source: 7]
On the November-December 1862, January-February 1863, 28 February to 10 May 1863, May-June, July-August, September-October, and November-December 1863 company muster rolls, and on the 10 April 1863 special muster roll, he is listed as absent, sick in hospital in Philadelphia. [source: 7]
On 8 September 1863, Sinex reported that he was in Philadelphia and able to rejoin the regiment, and requested his return. [source: 2]
According to the company muster-out roll, he deserted at Sharpsburg, [Virginia]. However, on 9 December 1863, Surgeon George Rex certified that he was unfit for duty because of phthisis pulmonalis, and had been unfit for duty sixty days of the last two months. And he was discharged for disability, on 15 December 1863, at the US General Hospital, Chester, Pennsylvania. He was a private, in company A. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
He asked to be addressed at Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. [source: 7]
His name is on the March-April 1864 through May-June 1865 company muster rolls, but he is not marked present or absent. [source: 7]
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, 8 September 1863
3 company A descriptive roll, entry 103 (James Dyson)
4 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (James Dyson)
5 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Dyson)
6 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Dayson)
7 compiled service record (James Dyson)
8 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Springfield, microfilm series M43, film 776, page 162 verso = 324 handwritten (FamilySearch) (James Dyson)
9 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Springfield Township, microfilm series M653, film 1105, pages 658 = 19 handwritten to 659 = 20 handwritten (FamilySearch) (James Dyson)
| line | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Dwellings visited | 118 | ||||||||
| Families visited | 118 | ||||||||
| Name | George Dyson | Maria " | John " | Eli " | James " | Joseph " | George " | Sarah " | Ann " |
| Age | 38 | 25 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3/12 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | M | M | F | F |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Factory man | " " | |||||||
| Real estate owned | |||||||||
| Birthplace | England | " | New York | " | Penna | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Dwelling number | 130 | |||||||||||
| Family number | 140 | |||||||||||
| Name | George Dyson | Maria " | Eli Dyson | James " | Joseph " | George " | Sarah " | Ann " | Martha " | Mary " | Amos " | Leah " |
| Age | 49 | 35 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | m | m | f | f | f | f | m | f |
| Color | ||||||||||||
| Occupation | Wool Sorter | Farm laborer | Do | App. machinist | Farm laborer | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 100 | |||||||||||
| Place of birth | England | Do | England | Penna | Do | Do | Do | Do | Do | Do | Do | Do |
| Married within year | ||||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | Convict Rape |
I, James Dyson born in Newhaven in the State of Connecticutt [sic] aged Twenty Two years, and by occupation a Laborer DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this Eighteenth day of September 1862, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I, James Dyson do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
James DysonI CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have carefully examined the above named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that in my opinion he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would, in any way, disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.
J K Mason [?] Act. Ast. Surg. U.S.A.I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, James Dyson, previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgment and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service. This soldier has Hazel eyes, Dark hair, Dark complexion, is 6 feet [blank] inches high.
I, James Dyson desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of THREE YEARS, Do declare, That I am Twenty Two years and - months of age; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentence of a court-martial, or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for three years.
GIVEN at Philadelphia