He was born in 1819/20, in Northampton, England. [sources: date: 3 (44 in 1864), 15 (33 in 1850), 16 (45 in 1860). place: 3, 15, 16]
On 29 September 1839, he married Eliza Noble. She was born in 1820/21, in New York. They were married by Henry Chase, in the house Samuel Hutchings (James's brother), 60 Cherry Street. They apparently had at least these children:
[sources: 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]
In 1850, he was living in ward 11, New York City, New York County, New York. He was living with his wife Eliza, with Margaret, Charlotte, and George W Hutchings (presumably their children), and with Thomas and Maria Nedhor. He was a basket maker. [source: 15]
In 1860, he was living in ward 21, New York, New York. He was living with his wife Eliza, with Margaret, Charlotte, and George (presumably their children), and with John Ponton. He was a basket manufacturer, and owned $1,000 in personal property. [source: 16]
When he enlisted, he was a basket maker. [source: 3]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. [source: 3]
He was mustered into service, as a recruit, for three years, on 28 January 1864, at Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He was enlisted by Lieutenant Shipley, and was mustered in by Lieutenant Hilderburn. He was a private in company E. [sources: 1, 3, 21]
He was detailed by Colonel Switzer as guard for the brigade commissary sales wagon on 23 June 1864. He was still detailed as a cattle guard in September (?) 1864. [sources: 5, 7]
He died on 2 October 1864, at City Point Hospital, Virginia, of chronic diarrhea (or dysentery). He was buried at City Point National Cemetery, Virginia, section C. He was last paid through 31 August 1864. He was a private, in company E. [sources: 1, 2 (the name of the disease appears to be something like "Cramer's dirative [??]"), 3, 4 (3 Oct), 8 (3 Oct), 10, 12, 19, 20 (3 Oct), 21]
On 26 January 1865, company E published resolutions mourning his death (and fifteen others), and sympathizing with their families. [source: 9]
On 21 December 1864, his widow, Eliza Hutchings, applied successfully from New Jersey for a pension, under the Act of 14 July 1862. She was living in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey (post office address 338 S 5th Street). Her application was accepted on 18 March 1865, and she received a pension of $8 per month, retroactive to 3 October 1864. [sources: 6, 11, 12]
Effective 4 March 1866, Eliza Hutchings' pension was transferred to the Philadelphia Agency (from the Trenton Agency). Because she lost her certificate, a duplicate was issued on 19 August 1868. [source: 12]
In 1870, his widow, Eliza Hutchings, was living in ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with Maggie and George (presumably their children). She was a parasol frame maker. [source: 17]
In 1880, his widow, Eliza Hutching, was living at 1101 Shackamaxon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her son George. [source: 18]
On 31 July 1887, Eliza Hutchings died, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of enteritis. On 3 August 1887, she was buried, from her late residence, 1237 Germantown Avenue. She was buried in Greenmount Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Members of the Champion Degree Council, number 8, D of L, were invited to attend. [sources: 13, 14]
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 list of deaths, company E
3 descriptive roll, company E, entry 125 (James Hutchings)
4 City Point National Cemetery, interment index (searched 26 November 2000)
5 special order, headquarters, 2nd brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, 23 June 1864
6 pension index, by name. Searched 3 February 2001, on <www.ancestry.com>.
7 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (James Hutchings)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 6 October 1864 (Prvt Hutchings)
9 'Headquarters company E', Philadelphia Inquirer 26 January 1865 page 5 (James Hutchings)
10 'Our illustrious dead', Philadelphia Inquirer 20 July 1865 page 2 (James Hutchings)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (James Hutchings)
12 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate number 43,471 (Eliza Noble widow of James Hutchings)
13 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 3 August 1887, page 5 (Eliza Hutchings)
14 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 31 July 1887 (Eliza Hutchings)
15 1850 US census, New York, New York, New York City, ward 11, microfilm series M432, film 546, page 121 verso = 240 [but the previous page is numbered '241' and the next page is numbered '243'] handwritten (FamilySearch) (James Hutchings)
16 1860 US census, New York, New York, ward 21, microfilm series M653, film 819, page 150 handritten (FamilySearch) (James Hutchins)
17 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, division 10, microfilm series M593, film 1387, page 414 verso = 142 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Eliza Hutchings)
18 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 327, microfilm series T9, film 1177, page 51 = 18 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Eliza Hutching)
19 Find a grave, memorial 3073102, imported from US Veteran's Affairs, 4 March 2000, accessed 29 September 2012 (James Hutchings)
20 US National Cemetery interment control cards, 1928-1962 (James Hutchings)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Hutchins)
| line | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Dwellings visited | [289] | ||||||
| Families visited | 2286 | ||||||
| Name | James Hutchings | Eliza - | Margt - | Charlotte | Geo W - | Thos Nedhor | Maria - |
| Age | 33 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 63 | 42 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M | M | F |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Basket Mak | Do | |||||
| Real estate owned | |||||||
| Birthplace | England | N.Y. | " | " | " | England | N.Y. |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Dwelling number | 400 | |||||
| Family number | 1294 | |||||
| Name | James Hutchins | Eliza | Margaret | Charlott [sic] | Georg [sic] | John Ponton |
| Age | 45 | 39 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 30 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M | M |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Baskt Manu | Engineer | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | 1000 | |||||
| Place of birth | England | New York | " | " | " | Scotland |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | |||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Dwelling-house number | 466 | ||
| Family number | 477 | ||
| Name | Hutchings Eliza | - Maggie | - George |
| Age | 47 | 25 | 21 |
| Sex | F | F | M |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Parasol Frame Maker | Parisol Maker | Umbrella Maker |
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | |||
| Birthplace | New York | New York | New York |
| Father foreign born | |||
| Mother foreign born | |||
| Birth month if born within year | |||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||
| Attended school past year | |||
| Can't read | |||
| Can't write | |||
| 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 ... |
| line | 27 | 28 |
| street name | Shackamaxon | |
| house number | " [sc. 1101] | " |
| dwelling visit # | 164 | |
| family visit # | 188 | |
| name | Hutching Eliza | " George |
| color | W | W |
| sex | F | M |
| age | 55 | 33 |
| month born if born in year | ||
| relationship | Son | |
| single | ||
| married | ||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | |
| married during year | ||
| occupation | Umbrella maker | |
| months unemployed | ||
| currently ill? | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf/dumb | ||
| idiotic | ||
| insane | ||
| disabled | ||
| school this year | ||
| can't read | ||
| can't write | ||
| birthplace | New York | New York |
| father's birthplace | New York | England |
| mother's birthplace | New York | New York |
HUTCHINGS.--On the 31st ult., ELIZA, widow of the late James Hutchings, in her 63d year.
The relatives and friends of the family, also Champion Degree Council, No. 8, D. of L., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, this afternoon, at 1.30 o'clock, from her late residence, No. 1237 Germantown avenue.