He was born in 1810/11 (3 (40 in 1861), 7 [51 at death in 1862], 9 (43 in 1861)). He was born in Ireland (7).
On 19 June 1840, he married Mary Stewart, in Ireland (6).
He enlisted and was mustered into service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 4 October 1861 (1, 3, 6 [12 Nov 61], 8 and 10 (12 November 1861)). He was a private, in company B (8, 10, 11, 12).
He was apparently transferred to company D, in which he was a private (1, 10).
He was wounded in action at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 13 December 1862 (1, 2).
He died of trismus, in Catharine Street USA Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 26 December 1862 (5, 6, 7) or 14 March 1863 of those wounds (1, 2, 3). He was a private, in company D (10, 11, 12; 8 and 9 have him not on company B's muster-out roll). He was married (7). He was a laborer (7). He was buried from 1833 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7). He was buried on 28 December 1862 at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1 [27 Dec 62, burial record], 7).
On 7 March 1863, his widow, Mary Grier, applied successfully for a pension under the Act of 14 July 1862 (4, 5, 6). She was living at 1833 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6). She had no children under 16 (6). However, she had had at least one son--one witness was a grocer who reported that he had employed her son for four years (6). She was an invalid, apparently beginning in 1850 (6). Her application was approved on 4 December 1863, retroactive to 26 December 1862, at a rate of $8.00 per month (6).
Apparently, someone reported to the Pension Agency that she had remarried (and perhaps that she was working as a servant) (6). She was therefore dropped from the pension rolls in March 1870 (6). However, after providing evidence that she had not remarried, she was restored, in December 1870 (6).
Mary Grier was dropped from the pension rolls in July 1888, after having not claimed her pension since 4 December 1884 (6). She was still receiving $8 per month (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) (Samuel Grier)
2 company D, register of deaths (Samuel Greer)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 9 August 2004 (Samuel Grier)
4 pension index, by name (Samuel Grier)
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Samuel Grier)
6 widow's pension certificate file, Mary Grier, widow of Samuel Grier, certificate 10,070, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 15, available on Footnote (accessed 23 June 2009) (Samuel Grier)
7 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 26 December 1862 (Samuel Greer)
8 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) (Samuel Greer)
9 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 28 June 2004 (Samuel Greer)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Samuel Greer)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Samuel Grier)
12 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Samuel Greeir)
Of marriage, that it took place in Ireland, the original certificate, and the affidavit of credible and disinterested witnesses, who make oath that the parties were legally married of their own personal knowledge.
Of no child.
Of Power to J H Wheeler
Admitted Dec. 4th, 1863, to a pension of $8 00/100 per month, commencing Dec. 26th, 1862.
J. H. WheelerOn this twenty eighth day of July A.D. 1863, personally appeared before me Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia Mary (or Margaret) Grier a resident of the City of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress approved July 14. 1862: That she is the widow of Samuel Grier, who was a private in Company D, commanded by Lieutenant Howell [sic] W. Shipley, in the 91st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1861, who died on the twenty sixth day of December A.D. 1862, in the Catharine Street Hospital in the City of Philadelphia from the effects of wounds received at Fredericksburg. She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel Grier on the nineteenth day of June A.D. 1840, in Ireland in the Kingdom of Great Britain; that her husband, the aforesaid Samuel Grier died on the day above mentioned and that she has remained a widow ever since that period; she further declares that she had no child or children under sixteen years of age at the time of her said husband's death; she further declares that her marriage having taken place abroad, she produces the hereto annexed certificate of her said marriage as the only record evidence of
Also personally appeared Margaret Rodgers and Isabella Stewart residents of the City of Philadelphia, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Margaret Grier make her mark to the foregoing declaration, and they further swear, that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person that she represents herself to be and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
Margret RodgersSworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of September A.D. 1863, and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
Fred G WolbertI have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 14210, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that Samuel Grier was enrolled on the 12th day of Nov., 1861, at Philadelphia in Co. D, 91st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a No evidence on the of muster in day of on file 186[blank], at [blank], in Co. [blank], Regiment of [blank] Volunteers, to serve [blank] years, or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co. [blank] of that Regiment, for the months of Jan'y + Feb'y 1863, he is reported "Died from wounds received in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 26, 1862."
I am, Sir, very respectfully,I hereby report that the name of Mary Grier, who was a pensioner on the rolls of the Agency under Certificate No. 10070, and who was last paid at $8 to Decr 4, 1884, has been dropped because of failure to claim
Very respectfully,On this third day of March A. D. 1863 personally appeared before me, an Alderman and ex officio Justice of the Peace of the City and County of Philadelphia, Mary Grier a resident of the said City and State, aged Fifty years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress approved July 14. 1862: That she is the widow of Samuel Grier, who was a Private in Company D, commanded by Lieutenant Howard W. Shipley in the Ninety first regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1861, who died on the twenty sixth day of December 1862, at the Catharine Street Hospital, Philadelphia, from the effects of a wound received at Fredericksburg. She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel Grier on the nineteenth day of June 1840, that her husband the aforesaid Samuel Grier, died on the day above mentioned, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She also declares that she has not in any manner been engaged in, or aided or abetted, the rebellion in the United States, and that she has no children under 16.
XAlso personally appeared James Patton and Thomas Rodgers residents of the said City of Philadelphia, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Mary Grier make her mark to the foregoing declaration, and they further swear that they know of their own knowledge that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, that she was legally married to the said Samuel Grier, who died on 26th December 1862, and she is still a widow; they further swear that the said Mary Grier has no children under sixteen years of age; and that they these deponents have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
James PattonSworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of March A.D. 1863 and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim, and the said Mary Grier also acknowledged the annexed Power of Attorney to be her act and deed. Witness my hand and seal.
H. Tuniforn [?]Know all men by these presents That I Mary Grier have and hereby do make constitute and appoint I. H. Wheeler my true and lawful attorney for the purpose of applying for and obtaining for me the pension to which I am entitled as the widow of Samuel Grier, giving him my full and whole power and authority for that purpose.
In witness whereof I the said Mary Grier have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of March A.D. 1863.
Mary GrierI, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia do hereby certify that Henry Tunison before whom the aforegoing affidavits of Mary Grier and James Patton and Thomas Rodgers were made and taken is an Alderman and ex officio Justice of the Peace for the said City and County duly commissioned and qualified and as such all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit and that his signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the fourth day of March A.D. 1863.In the matter of claim for Pension of Mary Grier, widow of Samuel Grier, of Company D, 91 Regiment Penna Infty Vols:
Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State William Glenn a citizen of the County of Philadelphia, State of Penna, reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid claim, as follows:
that he resides at No 2034 Fitzwater St in the City of Philadelphia, County and State aforesaid; that he has been intimately acquainted with Mary Grier, widow of Samuel Grier, late of Co "D" 91st Reg't Pa Vols, since the year 1842; that the said Mary Grier has not remarried but continues the widow of the said Samuel Grier; that the said Mary Grier has not been a servant, or been employed as such since deponent knew her in 1842; that she is upwards of 60 years of age; that she has some little property, which with her pension, supports her; that he has read to him [sic] the letter of the Pension Office dated Decr 5, 1870, and is satisfied that it must refer to some other person of the same name, or that the Department has been imposed upon; that he is not related to claimant, andhe further declares that he has no interest in said claim, and is not concerned in its prosecution.
William GlennSWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME, this day by the above named affiant, and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant, and acquainted him with its contents before he executed the same. I further certify that I am in no wise interested in said claim, nor am I concerned in its prosecution.
Witness my hand and official seal this 8 day of December 1870.
ADD SEAL HERE.In the matter of claim for pension of Mary Grier, widow of Samuel Grier of Company "D", 91 Regiment Pa Infty Vols:
Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for aforesaid County and State John A. Anderson a citizen of the County of Philadelphia, State of Penna, reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declare [sic] in relation to aforesaid claim, as follows:
that he is a grocery merchant; that his place of business is No. 1846 Lombard St. in the City of Philadelphia, County and State aforesaid; that he has been intimately acquainted with Mary Grier, widow of Samuel Grier, late of "D" 91 Pa Vols for twenty two years; that he was well acquainted with Samuel Grier; that their son was employed by him for four years; that the said Mary Grier has been for twenty years a confirmed invalid; that she has not been out of her house for a year.He further makes oath and declares that during his knowledge of the said Mary Grier of twenty two years the said Mary Grier has always resided at home: that she has never lived out as a servant or been employed as such; that he has read the letter of the Commissioner of Pensions dated Decr 5, 1870, and is satisfied that there must be some error either as to the person or that the Department has been imposed upon; that deponent is satisfied that the said Mary Grier has not remarried but continues the widow of the said Samuel Grier; that had she married such is his intimacy with her he certainly would have known it.
He further declares that he is [sic] no interest in said claim, and is not concerned in its prosecution, and that he is in way [sic, presumably sc 'in no way'] related to claimant.
John A. AndersonSWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME this day by the above named affiant; and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant, and acquainted him with its contents before he executed the same. I further certify that I am in no wise interested in said claim, nor am I concerned in its prosecution.
Witness my hand and official seal this 8 day of Dec 1870.
Sign here C H GarriguesIn the matter of claim for Pension of Mary Grier, widow of Samuel Grier of Company "D", 91 Regiment Penna Infty Vols:
Personally came before me, a [sic] Alderman in and for aforesaid County and State Mary Grier a resident citizen of the County of Philadelphia, State of Penna, reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declare [sic] in relation to aforesaid claim, as follows:
that she is the identical Mary Grier, widow of Samuel Grier, late of Co "D" 91st Reg't Pa Vols, who was pensioned on the roll of the Philadelphia Pa Agency by Cert. No 10,070, that she has had read to her the letter of the Comms of Pensions dated Decr 5, 1870; that there must be some error; that she has not remarried but continues the widow of the above named Samuel Grier; that she is aged 60 years; that she has never lived out as a servant, and that she asks that the error of the Department be corrected that she may draw her pension.SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME this day by the above named affiants; and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiants, and acquainted them with its contents before they executed the same. I further certify that I am in no wise interested in said claim, nor am I concerned in its prosecution.
Witness my hand and official seal this 9" day of December 1870
Sign here Thos DallasI, James Rob [?] Snowden, Prothonotary of Superme Court in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, do certify that Thomas Dallas Esq., who hath signed his name to foregoing affidavit, was at the time of so doing an alderman in and for the City and County of Philadelphia, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine. [I did not include words that were or should have been deleted from the printed form]
Witness my hand and seal of office, this 12 day of December 1870.
James Rob [?] Snowden