He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1802/1804, to John S Bancker and Maria Ortenberger. [sources: date: 4 (50 in 1861), 5 (48 in 1850), 6 (65 in 1869), 10 (ca 1802), 11 (33 in 1840). place: 6, 10, 11 (Brunswick NJ). parents: 10]
On 6 October 1825, he married Elizabeth Grubb, in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. She was born about 1805, in Pennsylvania. They had ten known children:
[sources: 10, 12 (Elizabeth 68 in 1875), 13]
On 15 December 1840, he enlisted in the Dragoons, at Carlisle Pennsylvania. He enlisted for a five-year term, but was discharged on 14 May 1842, apparently having found a substitute (Michael Curran) to serve for him. [source: 11]
In 1850, he may have been living in ward 1 of Southwark, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He was a tailor. Living with him were Elizabeth (presumably his wife), and William, Mary, John, Maryann, Lueza, Hiram, Josiah, Vanialt [?], Mary, Marienus [?], and William Banker (presumably their children). [source: 5]
Probably in fall 1859, he was a tailor, at 724 Espy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 9]
His son, Meriners Bancker, also served in the 91st.
In 1840, he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, and had blue eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion. [source: 11]
He enlisted on 11 September 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was mustered into service as Drum Major on 4 December 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a principle musician. [sources: 1, 2 ("DM" sc. drum major), 3, 4, 16, 17 (drum major), 18 (drum major)]
He is listed on the 2 August to 31 October 1861, and 2 August to 31 December 1861, muster rolls, but whether he was present or absent isn't recorded. [source: 18]
He was listed as present on the January/February, March/April, May/June, and July/August 1862 muster rolls, as well as a special muster roll for 18 August 1862.[source: 18]
On 9 October 1862, he was discharged by general order of the Secretary of War (presumably because Congress had disbanded all regimental bands). He was then principle musician. He had last been paid to 30 June 1862. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 16, 17 (prin mus'n), 18, 19]
On 3 April 1864, he led the drum corps during a ceremony presenting a new set of flags to the regiment. The Philadelphia Press praised him for the drummers' proficiency. [source: 8]
Probably in fall 1862, he was a tailor, at 938 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 9]
Probably in fall 1865 to Fall 1866, he was a tailor, living at 1318 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 9]
Probably in fall 1868, he was living at 1916 Pemberton Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 9]
He died at 1 PM, on 12 November 1869, of phthisis. He was a tailor. He died at, or was buried from, 1916 Pemberton Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was buried on 14 November 1869, at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 6, 10, 14]
Probably from fall 1869 to fall 1873, his widow Elizabeth was living at 1916 Pemberton, with her children John and Merienes. [source: 9]
In 1870, his widow Elizabeth may have been living in ward 26, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The census does not have her living with her son John, despite the evidence in the city directories.) [source: 15]
His widow, Elizabeth Bancker, applied successfully for a pension on 3 April 1871. [sources: 2, 7]
His widow, Elizabeth Bancker, died on 1 March 1875, in New York. She died of cirrhosis of liver. On 4 March 1875, she was buried, in Mount Moriah Cemetery. [sources: 12, 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) (Abraham Banker)
2 pension index by regiment (Abraham V Bancker)
3 regimental descriptive book (Abram V Bancker)
4 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (Abraham V Banker; some records have Abram V Bancker)
5 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Southwark, ward 1, microfilm series M432, film 821, page 34 recto = [67] handwritten (Abraham V Banker)
6 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, #13318, 12 November 1869 (Abraham V. Bancker)
7 pension index, by name (Abraham V Bancker)
8 'Presentation of flags' (Philadelphia Press 4 February 1864, page 2) (Major [sic] Bancker)
9 Philadelphia city directories
10 'John McGrath tree', on Ancestry (accessed 10 Aug 12) (Abraham Van Ranst Bancker)
11 Register of enlistments in the US Army, 1798-1914, National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm series M233, 1840 June - 1846, A-Z, 22 (Abraham V R Bancker)
12 death register, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1875, page 75 (Elizabeth Bancker)
13 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 March 1875, page 5 (Elizabeth Bancker)
14 death notice, Public Ledger 13 November 1869, page 2 (A V Bancker)
15 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 26, district 87, microfilm series M593, film 1414, page 478 recto = 97 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elizabeth Bancker)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Abram V Bancker)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Abram V Banker)
18 compiled service record, (Abram V Banker)
19 section 3, Act of 17 July 1862, 'An act to define the pay and emoluments of certain officers of the army, and for other purposes.' 37th Congress, session 2, Chapter 200, Statutes at large volume 12 pp.594-597
| line | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Dwellings visited | 348 | ||||||||||||
| Families visited | 572 | ||||||||||||
| Name | Abraham V. Banker | Elizabeth " | William " | Mary " | John " | Maryann " | Lueza " | Hiram " | Josiah " | Varianlt [?] " | Mary " | Marienus [sic] " | William " |
| Age | 48 | 45 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | F | F | M | M | M | F | F | M |
| Color | |||||||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Tailor | Tobacconist | Segar Maker | Musician | |||||||||
| Real estate owned | |||||||||||||
| Birthplace | N. Jersey | Pennsylvania | " | " | " | N. York | Pennsylvania | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Attended school within year | |||||||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 10 |
| Dwelling-house number | [604 |
| Family number | [812] |
| Name | Bancker Elizabeth |
| Age | 62 |
| Sex | F |
| Color | W |
| Occupation | Keeping House |
| Real estate value | |
| Personal estate value | |
| Birthplace | Penna |
| 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 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| NO. | 7 | |||
| NAMES. | Bancker Abraham V. R. | |||
| [the Ancestry index has 'Abraham V K Bancker'; while that's possible, the top of the second initial looks closed to me, and not open] | ||||
| Age. Years. | 33 | |||
| Eyes. | blue | |||
| Hair. | " [sc. brown] | |||
| Complexion. | " [sc. fair] | |||
| [Height] | 5 feet 5 inches | |||
| WHERE BORN. | N. J. New Brunswick | |||
| Trade or Occupation. | Tailor | |||
| ENLISTED. When. | [1840 Decr] 15 | |||
| Where. | Carlisle | |||
| By whom. | " [sc. Lt] West | |||
| For what Period. Years. | 5 | |||
| Regiment and Company. | Drag | |||
| DISCHARGE. Date of | 14 May '42. Substituted by Michael Curran | |||
| Cause of | [blank] | |||
| Died. | [blank] | |||
| Deserted. | [blank] | |||
| Apprehended. | [blank] | |||
| Enlistment. | [blank] | |||
| REMARKS. | At Carlisle Pa. P.O. [sc. paid off?] Decr 23 /51 [???--the year is very light] | |||
| DATE of Registration | " " [sc. March 8] |
| NAME OF DECEASED | Elizabeth Bancker |
| COLOR | " [sc. WHITE] |
| SEX | " [sc. FEMALE] |
| AGE | 68 y |
| Condition | [blank] |
| Date of Death | Mch 1 |
| CAUSE OF DEATH | Cirrhosis of Liver |
| ATTENDING PHYSICIAN. | E Harris |
| OCCUPATION OF DECEASED | [blank] |
| Where Born | Penna |
| When a Minor, Name of Father and Mother | [blank] |
| WARD | " [sc. 26] |
| STREET AND No. | N.Y. |
| DATE of BURIAL | " [sc. Mch] 4 |
| PLACE OF BURIAL | " [sc. Mount Moriah] |
BANCKER.--On the 1st of March, ELIZABETH BANCKER, of New York city, widow of the late A. V. Bancker, in the 64th year of her age.
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, this Thursday, the 4th inst., at 12 1/2 o'clock, from the residence of her son, J. H. Bancker, no. 1916 Pemberton street, below Bainbridge. To proceed to Mount Moriah.
BANCKER--On the 12th instant A V. BANCKER, in the [illegible] year of his age
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from his late residence 1916 Pemberton street above Fitzwater on Sunday afternoon, the 14th inst at 1 o'clock.