He was born in 1830/33, in Antrim, Ireland. [sources: place: 6 (Enteem), 7 (Entrim), 14 (Ireland). date: 6 (28 in 1861), 7 (28 in 1861), 8 (28 in 1861), 14 (30 in 1860)]
On 8 August 1850, he married Jane Stewart. She was born in Ireland, in 1826/30. They were married by Alderman Carr [?], in his office in Philadelphia. They had three children who were less than sixteen years old in 1864: [sources: 13, 14, 15]
In 1860, he was living in the 4th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Jane and their children Margaret, James, and John. He was a laborer. [source: 14]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 6, 7, 8]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8-1/2 inches tall, and had a florid complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. [sources: 6, 7, 8 (5'8")]
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 5 November 1861. He was enlisted for three years, by Captain Sinex. He was mustered in service as a private in company H, by Captain Sinex. [sources: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16-19]
He was transferred to company D on 4 December 1861. [sources: 1, 8, 9]
On 20 August 1862, his wife, Jane McKinney, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of natural causes. She died at, or was buried from, 1236 Ellsworth Street. She was buried in the Reformed Methodist Union Cemetery. [sources: 13, 15]
On 25 August 1863, he returned to his company from hospital. [source: 3]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863. He was reenlisted at Bealton, Virginia, on 24 December 1863. [sources: 1, 8, 13]
He was promoted to corporal on 28 April 1864 or 1 March 1865. [sources: 2 (28 Apr), 5 (1 Mar), 7 (1 Mar)]
He was wounded on 18 or 21 June 1864. [sources: 1 (21 Jun), 4 (18 Jun), 7 (18 Jun), 8 (21 Jun), 13 (18 June)]
He died on board a transport, on 22 or 26 June 1864, of those wounds. The transport was going to David's Island, New York Harbor, New York. And he was buried on David's Island, New York. He was in company D. [sources: 1 (22 Jun; burial record has 26 Jun), 4 (26 Jun), 5 (26 Jun), 7 (26 Jun), 8 (22 Jun), 10 (reported 12 Jul), 13 (26 June 1864), 16-19 (pvt)]
On 16 December 1864, the Philadelphia Orphans' Court appointed Margaret McKinney guardian of his minor children Margaret, James, and John, after requiring her to post $300 as security. [source: 13]
On 4 May 1865, Margaret McKinney (residence 525 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) successfully applied for a pension on behalf of his minor children. Her application was accepted on 16 January 1866, retroactive to 26 June 1864, and ending on 19 December 1873. The pension certificate, for $8 per month, was issued on 22 January 1866. [sources: 11, 12, 13]
On 28 December 1866, Margaret McKinney (46 years old, residing at 2007 Naudain Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) applied for an increase in pension. Her application was accepted on 23 July 1867, retroactive to 26 June 1864, and ending on 18 December 1873. The certificate was issued on 6 August 1867. She received the base $8 per month, and an additional $2 per month for each child, retroactive to 25 July 1866. [source 13]
On 9 January 1888, Mrs Maggie Wharton applied for a pension. She was the daughter of James and Jane McKinney, and was living in Beaver Falls, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Her application was rejected because she had received a pension, and was not owed any money. [source: 13]
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 special order 39, HQ 91st PA, 28 April 1864
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 25 August 1863 (Private McKinney)
4 company D, register of deaths (James McKinney)
5 company D, list of non-commissioned officers (James McKinney)
6 company D, descriptive roll, entry 18 (James McKinney)
7 company D, [second] descriptive roll, entry 99 (James McKinney)
8 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 6 August 2004 (James McKinney)
9 company H, register of men transferred (James McKenney)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 12 July 1864 (James McKenney)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (James McKenny)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (James McKinney)
13 children's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, certificate WC 62,828, Margaret McKinney child of James McKinney
14 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 4th ward, western division, microfilm series M653, film 1154, page 860 = 54 handwritten (Jas McKenny)
15 Philadelphia death certificates, Jane McKinney, 20 August 1862
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James McKinney)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James McKenney)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James McKinney)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James McKenny)
| line | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Dwelling number | [327] | ||||
| Family number | 392 | ||||
| Name | Jas McKenny | Jane " | Margaret " | Jas " | Jno " |
| Age | 30 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Sex | M | F | " | M | " |
| Color | |||||
| Occupation | Lab. Man | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||
| Value of personal estate | |||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Ireland] | " | Penna | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||
| Cannot read & write | 1 | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |