91st PA: Thomas Jay

Thomas Jay

Before the war

He was born in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13). He was born in October 1840 (9; 6 (77 on 10 Oct 1918, 3 [24 in 1864], 7 [30 in 1870], 8 [40 in 1880], 9 [59 in 1900], 10 [69 in 1910], 12 [10 in 1850], 13 [19 in 1860]).

In 1850, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (12). He was living with Samuel and Mary Jay (presumably his parents), along with various presumed siblings (12). He had attended school within the year (12).

In 1860, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (13). He was living with Samuel Jay (presumably his father), along with various presumed siblings (13). He was a farm laborer (13).

When he enlisted, he was a farmer (3).

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a florid complexion, hazel eyes, and sandy hair (3).

During the war

He also served in company I of the 171st Pennsylvania Infantry (4, 5 [191], 14). He was enlisted on 18 October 1862 (4). He was discharged on 8 August 1863 (4).

In 1863/64, he married Amy Smith (6, 9, 10). In 1900 and 1910, she reported having had 10 children, 9 of whom were alive then (9, 10).

He was drafted from the sixteenth congressional district (1, 3). He was enlisted and mustered into service on 21 September 1864 (1, 3, 4, 14). He was enlisted for one year, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (3). He was a private in company F (1, 16).

He was discharged near Washington DC by general order on 1 June 1865 (2; 1 [2 Oct 65], 4 [2 Oct 65], 14 [2 Oct 65]). He was a private, in company F (16).

After the war

In 1870, he was living in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (7). He was a farmer, and owned $1,000 in real estate, and $300 in personal property (7). He was living with Emma (presumably his wife, later called Amy?), and his children McClellan, Sheridan, and Eliza (7).

In 1880, he was living in Mann Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his wife Amy, and children McClellan, Sheridan, Eliza, Mary, Simon, and Russell (8). He was a farmer (8).

On 18 August 1881, he successfully applied for a pension from Pennsylvania (5, 14).

In 1890, he was living in Piney Creek, Mann Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (4). He was not able to work (4). He had rheumatism and heart disease (4).

In 1900, he was living in Mann Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with his wife Amy, and children Sheridan, Russell, Angeline, Scott, and Sherman (9). He was a farmer (9).

In 1910, he was living in Mann Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (10). He was living with his wife Amy and children Sheridan and Sherman (10). He was a farmer, on a general farm (10).

He died on 29 January 1918, at Piney Creek, Pennsylvania, from a tumor (6, 14). He was living in Piney Creek, Mann Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (6). He was a "staunch Democrat all his life" (6). He was the Mann Township school director for several terms (6). He was a member of the Christian Church (6). His death notice describes him as "a progressive, thrifty farmer" (6). Reverend W C Garland conducted the funeral services (6). According to his death notice, he was buried in the cemetery next to the Pine Grove church (6, 15).

On 11 February 1918, his widow, Amy Jay, successfully applied for a pension from Pennsylvania (5, 14).

In 1920, his widow, Amy Jay, was living in Mann Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (11). She was living with her son Sheridan (11).

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) (Thomas Jay)

2 company F, register of men discharged (Thomas Jay)

3 company F, second descriptive roll, #36 (Thomas Jay)

4 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 74, page 1 (Thomas Jay)

5 pension index, by name (Thomas Jay)

6 'Thomas Jay'. Bedford Gazette, Friday 1 February 1918, page 1 (Thomas Jay)

7 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (post office Chaneysville), microfilm series M593, film 1304, page 637 = 40 handwritten] (Thomas Jay)

8 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann [?] Township, supervisor's district 8, enumeration district 228, microfilm series T9, film 1098, page 216 = 4 D handwritten (Thomas Jay)

9 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 23, microfilm series T623, film 1376, page 86 = 9 B handwritten (Thomas Jay)

10 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 16, enumeration district 22, microfilm series T624, film 1312, page 227 = 5 A handwritten (Thomas Jay)

11 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 20, enumeration district 24, microfilm series T625, film 1533, page 20 = 8 A handwritten (Amy Jay)

12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford, Southampton Township, microfilm series M432, film 751, page 144 (Thomas Jay)

13 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (post office Robisonville), microfilm series M653, film 1072, pages 556-557 = 16-17 handwritten (Thomas Jay)

14 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (Thomas Jay)

15 e-mail, Dennis Clowney to Harry A Ide, 12 August 2009 (Thomas Jay)

16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Thomas Jay)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

1930 US census
Ancestry index (accessed January 2008)

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford, Southampton Township, microfilm series M432, film 751, page 144]
[note: the next entry includes Thomas Jay (74), Elizabeth Jay (52), Catharine Jay (24), and Mary Jay (21)]
line456789101112
Dwellings visited16        
Families visited16        
NameSamuel JayMary "Nancy "John "Eliza "Thomas "Mary "David "James "
Age383419 [?]141110752
Sexmffmfmfmm
Color         
Occupation of males over 15 yearsFarmer        
Real estate owned250        
Birthplace" [sc. Penna]""""""""
Married within year         
Attended school within year  1111   
Over 20 & can't read/write         
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.         

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (post office Robisonville), microfilm series M653, film 1072, pages 556-557 = 16-17 handwritten]
line3637383940123
Dwelling number605       
Family number578       
NameSamuel JayMargaret "Thomas "Mary "David "James JayAmanda "Martha "
Age4822191714451/12
Sexmfmfmmff
Color        
OccupationFarmer Farm labServing    
Value of real estate owned500       
Value of personal estate200       
Place of birth" [sc. Penna]""""Penna""
Married within year        
Attended school within year    1   
Cannot read & write 1      
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.        

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Southampton Township (post office Chaneysville), microfilm series M593, film 1304, page 637 = 40 handwritten]
line89101112
Dwelling-house number292    
Family number294    
NameJay Thomas- Emma- McClelan- Sheridan- Eliza
Age3021431
SexMFMMF
ColorWWWWW
OccupationFarmerKeeping HouseAt HomeAt HomeAt Home
Real estate value1000    
Personal estate value300    
BirthplacePaPaPaPaPa
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 old1    
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...     

1880 census

[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann [?] Township, supervisor's district 8, enumeration district 228, microfilm series T9, film 1098, page 216 = 4 D handwritten]
line3940414243444546
street name        
house number        
dwelling visit #36       
family visit #37       
nameJay Thomas- Amy- McCllan [sic]- Sherdan [sic]- Eliza J- Mary A- Simon- Russell
colorWWWWWWWW
sexMFMMFFMM
age40341413111061
month born if born in year        
relationship WifeSonSonDaughterDaughterSonSon
single  111111
married11      
widowed/divorced        
married during year        
occupationFarmingKeeping houseWorks on farmWorks on farmAt homeAt home  
months unemployed        
currently ill?        
blind        
deaf/dumb        
idiotic        
insane        
disabled        
school this year  11111 
can't read        
can't write        
birthplacePaPaPaPaPaPaPaPa
father's birthplacePaPaPaPaPaPaPaPa
mother's birthplacePaPaPaPaPaPaPaPa

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 74, page 1]
[line] 11
[house] 38
[family] 38
[name] Thomas Jay
[rank] Private
[company] I
[unit] 171 Pa Inf
[enlistment date] 18 Oct 1862
[discharge date] 8 Aug 1863
[length of service] [blank] years, 9 months, 22 days
[post office address] Piney Creek
[disability incurred] Rheumatism + Heart Disease
[remarks] Served Two terms

[line] 12
[house] 38
[family] 38
[name] Thomas Jay
[rank] Private
[company] F
[unit] 91 Pa Inf
[enlistment date] 21 Sept 1864
[discharge date] 2 Oct 1865
[length of service] 1 years, [blank] months, 11 days
[post office address] Piney Creek
[disability incurred] [blank]
[remarks] Not Able to Work

1900 census

[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 23, microfilm series T623, film 1376, page 86 = 9 B handwritten]
line62636465666768
street       
house number       
dwelling number146      
family number149      
nameJay Thomas- Amy- Shirden [sic]- Russell- Angeline- Scott- Sherman
relationshipHeadWifeSonSonDaughtSonSon
colorWWWWWWW
sexMFMMFMM
birth dateOct 1840May 1846Aug 1867Aug 1878June 1882April 1887Feb 1891
age5954322117139
married?MMM [??]SSSS
# years married3636     
mother of how many children? 10     
# of children living 9     
birthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPenna
father's birthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPenna
mother's birthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPenna
immigration year       
# years in USA       
naturalized citizen?       
occupationfarm farm    
# months not employed       
# months in school     47
can readyesnoyesyesyesyesyes
can writeyesnoyesyesyesyesno
speaks Englishyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
owned/rentedO      
free or mortgagedF      
farm/houseF      
# of farm schedule141      

1910 census

[1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 16, enumeration district 22, microfilm series T624, film 1312, page 227 = 5 A handwritten]
line2021 2223
street    
house nr    
dwelling nr69   
family nr74   
nameJay Thomas- Amy- Sheridan- Sherman
relationshipHeadWifeSonSon
sexMFMM
colorWWWW
age69634119
marital statusM1M1M1S
#years present marriage464615 
mother of # children 10  
mother of # living children 9  
birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
immigrated    
naturalized/alien    
speaks EnglishEnglishEnglishEnglishEnglish
occupationFarmerNoneFarmerFarmer
nature of industry etc.General farm General farmHome farm
employer etc.Emp WOA
out of work 15 Apr 1910?  No 
# weeks out of work 1909  0 
can readYesNoYesYes
can writeYesNoYesYes
school since 1 Sep 09   No
owned/rentedO   
owned free or mortagagedF   
farm/houseF   
nr on farm schedule68   
civil war vetUA   
blind    
deaf & dumb    

1920 census

[1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 20, enumeration district 24, microfilm series T625, film 1533, page 20 = 8 A handwritten]
line1617
streetFm 
house number112 
dwelling visit number116 
family visit number  
nameJay Amy- Sheridan D
relationshipHeadSon
own/rentR 
free/mortgaged (if owned)  
sexFM
raceWW
age at last birthday7252
marital statusWdM
year of immigration  
naturalized/alien  
year of naturalization  
attended school since Sept 1919  
can readnoyes
can writenoyes
birth placePennsylvaniaPennsylvania
native language  
father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's native language  
mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's native language  
can speak EnglishYesYes
occupationFarmerFarmer
industry, businessGeneral FarmGeneral Farm
employment statusOAW
number of farm schedule112 

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 17 June 2014, from Fold3]


Jay, Thomas
Co. F, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt.
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

death notice

[Bedford Gazette, Friday 1 February 1918, page 1]
THOMAS JAY
Mann Township

Mr Thomas Jay, of Piney Creek, Mann township, died Tuesday afternoon at 1 o'clock from the effects of a tumor. He was 77 years old, the tenth of last October. He was born in Southampton township on the William Northcraft place and was married during the Civil War to Amy Smith, still living, and to which union there were several children:

McClellan Jay, of Inglesmith, Sheridan, at home. Mrs. James Robison, Piney Creek; Mrs. Oliver Fisher, Maria, Pa., Morrison's Cove; Simon Jay, Chapman's Run, Russell Jay, of Clearfield; Scott Jay, of Ford, Kansas; Sherman Jay, of Rock Island, Illinois, and Mrs. John Smith of Inglesmith. He has also surviving Samuel Jay, a brother, of Cumberland, Md., and a half-brother, Barton Jay, Chapman's Run, and the following sisters: Mrs. James Dicken, Litonia, O.; Mrs. Jacob Knee, Cumberland Valley, Pa., Mrs. William M. Morgan, Everett, Mrs. Edward Hast, Cumberland, Md.; Mrs. Clarence Dicken, Clearville, Rt. 1; Mrs. Joseph Howsare, Piney Creek, Pa.

The funeral will be conducted by Rev. W. C. Garland, of Cumberland, Md., today (Friday) at Pine Grove church and burial will be made in the cemetery adjoining. Mr. Jay was a staunch Democrat all his life and served as school director of Mann township several terms. He was a member of the Christian Church for upwards of 50 years and a progressive, thrifty farmer.


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revised 17 Jun 14
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