91st PA: Amos Godfrey

Amos Godfrey

Before the war

He was born in 1833/34 (4 (27 in 1861), 7 [30 in 1860]). He was born in Abershrice [or Abershrill??] France (4, 7 [Baden]). He was born to Joseph and Apoline Godfrey (11).

In 1860, he was living in the 19th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7). He was a laborer, and owned $300 in personal property (7). He was living with his (presumed) wife Ann and (presumed) daughter Catharine (7).

His brother Stephen Godfrey also served in the 91st; their sister Phillipine, married William Knapp (9).

When he enlisted, he was a cab[inet] maker (4).

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and light hair (4).

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 August 1861 (1, 4). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr (4). He was a private in company A (1, 12).

He was killed on 13 December 1862, at Fredericksburg, Virginia (1, 3, 4, 11). He was a private in company A (1, 3, 12).

After the war

On 20 March 1863, his widow, Anna Godfrey, applied successfully for a pension (5, 6).

In 1870, his widow [?] Anna Godfrey was living in the 18th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). She was keeping house, and owned $500 in personal property (8). She was living with her presumed children Kate and Joseph, and two other people (probable boarders or lodgers) (8).

On 13 [illegible] 1873, his minor dependent, Mary A Habey [?], applied successfully for a pension (5, 6).

Sources

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) (Amos Godfrey)

2 Thomas Walter, 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier', Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail volume 3, number 38, page 2.

3 company A register of deaths (Amos Godfrey)

4 company A descriptive roll, entry 24 (Amos Godfrey)

5 pension index, by regiment (Amos Godfrey)

6 pension index, by name (Amos Godfrey)

7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 28 = 28 handwritten (Amos Godfrey)

8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward, microfilm series M593, film 1403, page 428 = 205 handwritten (Anna Godfrey)

9 e-mail, Sue Chiaverini, 16 January 2007

10 widow's pension certificate file, cross-reference (available at Footnote (viewed January 2009)) (Amos Godfrey)

11 death notice, Public Ledger 13 January 1863 page 2 (Amos Godfrey)

12 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Amos Godfrey)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

1890 US census, veterans schedules
Ancestry index (accessed October 2005)

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 28 = 28 handwritten]
[The next page starts with a new family]
line383940
Dwelling number203  
Family number227  
NameAmos GodfreyAnn "Catharine "
Age30265
Sexmff
Color   
OccupationLaborer  
Value of real estate owned   
Value of personal estate300  
Place of birthBadenPhila"
Married within year   
Attended school within year   
Cannot read & write   
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.   

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward, microfilm series M593, film 1403, page 428 = 205 handwritten]
line2021222324
Dwelling-house number1489    
Family number1721    
NameGodfrey Anna- Kate- JosephWright ChristianHugart Margret
Age3215137241
SexFFMMF
ColorWWWWW
OccupationKeeping houseHuckster L ShoemakerHuckster
Real estate value     
Personal estate value500600  600
BirthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPenna
Father foreign born     
Mother foreign born     
Birth month if born within year     
Marriage month if married within year     
Attended school past year  1  
Can't read1    
Can't write1    
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.     
Male US citizen at least 21 years old   1 
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...     

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 25 Apr 2014, from Fold3]


Godfrey, Amos
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

death notice

[death notice, Public Ledger 13 January 1863 page 2, Amos Godfrey]
[see poems in death notices]

GODFREY--Killed, at the battle of Fredericksburg, on the 13th day of December 1863, AMOS GODFREY, Co. A, 91st Regiment P.V., the son of Apoline and the late Joseph Godfrey, in the 28th year of his age.

No wife stood beside him to soothe the death fear.
Or wipe the cold dew from his brow;
He fell at his post, with his tried armor on,
In a moment of triumph and pride--
And, though from the scene of conflict he's gone,
Yet in honor and glory he died.

Sleep, noble warrior, sleep!
The tomb is now thy bed;
Cold in its bosom thou dost rest,
In silence with the dead.

He was a man as brave and true
As ever drew the breath of life;
We pity, from our hearts, we do,
His orphan children and his wife.

But God advised that it should be
His fate to fall in battle slain--
A bullet pierced his head, and he
Died where he fell and knew no pain.

He was a beloved husband and a kind father, a dutiful son and affectionate brother, and was beloved by all who knew hiim.

If his remains should be recovered, due notice will be given of the funeral.

widow's pension certificate file, cross-reference

[available at Footnote (viewed January 2009)]
3--070.
Do not remove this slip.
Attach nothing to it.
Orig. No. [blank]
Cert. No. 4089
Army Widow Class
Amos Godfrey
CONSOLIDATED WITH
Orig. No. [blank]
Cert. No. 162.030
Minors Class
Amos Godfrey

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revised 21 Feb 10
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