He was born in 1847/48 (2 (16 in 1864), 4 [19], 6 [38 in 1891 when he died], 9 [23 in 1870], 10 [43 at death in 1891]). (He was 16 years old when he enlisted.) He was born in Tyrone, Ireland (4, 9, 10).
When he enlisted, he was a butcher (4).
When he was enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and dark hair (4).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 27 February 1864 (1, 5). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Gregory (4). He was a private in company D (1, 4, 5, 12, 13).
His descriptive list was sent to the surgeon in charge of Carver Hospital, in Washington, DC (4).
He was discharged on 24 June 1865 by general order (1, 5). He was a private, in company D (12, 13).
In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). He was a butcher (9). He was living with his wife Mary, presumed children Francis and Mary, and Thomas, Susan, and Margaret Still (9).
In 1890, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5).
On 7 July 1890, he applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 11).
He was killed in the line of duty as a fireman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 16 October 1891 (2, 10). He died of injuried accidentally received (10). He was thrown from fire engine #11 at Eleventh and Spruce Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died the same day in Pennsylvania Hospital (6, 8). (He was a driver (7).) He was living at 1049 OR 1040 Dorrance Street, Philadelphia (6, 8, 10). He left behind his wife and nine children--five less than 16 years old (7). He was a member of the Fireman's Pension Fund, which was going to have trouble meeting their obligation to the family of $37.50 per month.
His funeral was held on 20 October 1891, and was attended by firefighters, including all the members of Engine 11, the insurance patrol, post 46 of the GAR, and survivors of the 91st Pennsylvania (8, 10). The services were held at St Charles' Church, at 12th and Christian Streets (8). He was buried at Cathedral Cemetery (10).
On 28 October 1891, his widow, Mary Forsythe, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 11).
If you're interested in James Forsythe, contact Paul Graham at [email protected]. Another researcher is James Forsythe at [email protected], but I've been told that this address is no longer working. (Jim--please send me a current address!)
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 e-mail, from Jim Forsythe, 1 January 2001
4 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 30 (James Forsythe)
5 1890 United States census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 713, page 2 (image 2291 on <www.ancestry.com>) (James Forsythe)
6 'Forsythe's Death Accidental'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 20 October 1891, page 5 (James Forsythe)
7 'Forsythe's dependent family'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 October 1891, page 7 (James Forsythe)
8 'Driver Forsythe buried'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 October 1891, page 7 (James Forsythe)
9 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M593, film 1414, page 345 = 8 handwritten (James Forsyth)
10 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 October 1891, number 7866 (James Forsythe)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (James Forsyth)
12 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Forsyth)
13 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Foresyth)
| line | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Dwelling-house number | 59 | ||||||
| Family number | 60 | ||||||
| Name | Forsyth James | Mary | Francis | Mary | Still [?] Thomas | Susan | Margret |
| Age | 23 | 21 | 3 | 9/12 | 59 | 68 | 80 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Butcher | Keeping house | Salesman | Keeping house | |||
| Real estate value | |||||||
| Personal estate value | |||||||
| Birthplace | Ireland | Pen | " | " | Ireland | " | " |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Birth month if born within year | Sep | ||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||||
| Attended school past year | |||||||
| Can't read | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Can't write | 1 | 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 ... |
A verdict of accidental death was rendered by the Coroner's jury yesterday in the case of James Forsythe, aged 38 years, of 1049 [sic] Dorrance street, who died in the Pennsylvania Hospital on Friday last from injuries received the same day by being thrown from a fire engine at Eleventh and Spruce streets..
A wife and nine children, five of whom are under 16 years of age, survive Driver James Forsythe, of Engine Company No. 11, who received fatal injuries while going to a fire on Friday. Forsythe was a member of the Fireman's Pension Fund which will be called upon to pay $37.50 each month for the maintenance of the family until the children are old enough to support themselves. The endowment fund of the association only amounts to about $13,000, and the payment of the monthly allowance will be quite a strain.
In speaking of the matter yesterday Director Beitler said the Fireman's Association was not as thriving as that of the police, while the number of deaths in proportion to the membership was much greater. The public, he thought, had not given the same substantial aid to the firemen as it had given to the police.
James Forsythe, who was killed by being thrown from engine No. 11, of the Fire Department, was buried yesterday from his late residence, 1040 [sic] Dorrance street. The funeral was attended by delegates from the different companies, the insurance patrol, Post 46, G. A. R., and survivors of the Ninety-first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. All the members of Engine No. 11 were present.
The body was incased in a black cloth-covered casket, with silver handles and mountings. Among the floral offerings was a large design of white and yellow roses, with a fireman's hat at the base, inscribed "112, 11, P.F.D." A maltese cross surmounted the base, on which was the dead fireman's official number "112." Services were held at St. Charles', Twentieth and Christian.