He was born on 24 October 1845, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, probably to George M D Beale and Elizabeth Beale. [sources: date: 11, 12, 14 (19 in 1861), 19 (Oct 1844), 23 (65 in 1910), 28 (67 in 1912), 29 (67 in 1912), 32 (1845). place: 14, 23, 28, 29. parents: 12]
He probably had three younger brothers: Ed, John, and Harry A Beale. [source: 12]
Two family stories have been handed down about him. According to the first, he was playing pool in the pool hall next to the theater when Lincoln was shot. According to the second, he made all his money in the Louisiana Lottery. [source: 12]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair. He had a scar over his right eye. [source: 14]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 2 December 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Parsons. He was a private in company K. [sources: 1, 14, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34]
He was transferred on 24 December 1861 to company C. [sources: 1, 17, 25, 28, 29]
On 7 May 1863, he was reported missing in action. On 11 May 1863, he was again reported missing in action, but was "reported absent wounded". On 29 or 30 May 1863, he was reported regained from missing in action. [sources: 5, 6, 8, 26 (wounded, supposed prisoner), 27 (wounded and missing)]
On 6 October 1863, he was reported regained from missing in action. [source: 9]
On 30 December 1863, Sinex reported that he was one of 38 men who had less than fifteen months to serve who were unwilling to reenlist. On 2 January 1864, he was transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry, while those eligible were on veterans' leave. [sources: 2, 10, 24, 25, 31]
He returned to duty from Brigade Headquarters on 2 May 1864. [source: 16]
On 4 July 1864, he was detailed by Colonel Gregory for duty in the provost guard at brigade headquarters. He was still there in September (?) 1864. [sources: 3, 4, 7]
He mustered out near Petersburg, Virginia, on 2 December 1864 when his term expired. He had served for thirty six months. He was a private, in company C. [sources: 1, 13, 14, 21, 24, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34]
He lived in North Philadelphia, first at 3427 Sydenham Street, and then at 3427 North 17th Street. Both were large homes. [source: 12]
He owned a race horse, named 'Corn'. [source: 12]
He married Hannah Margaret Boyce, in 1875/76. She was born in January 1853, in Pennsylvania. They had six children:
[sources: 12, 19 (7 children, 5 alive in 1900)]
In 1880, he was living on Lamb Tavern Road, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Margaret, sons Howard and James, and uncle William Beale. He was a corn [?] dealer. [source: 18]
In 1890, he may have been living at 1626 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 22]
In 1900, he was living at 3427 North 17th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Hannah M, and his children Howard, James, Emma, William, and Harry. He was a horse [?] dealer. [source: 19]
He applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 5 December 1903 and 18 February 1907. He received a pension: $25 per month from 1914, and $30 per month starting 24 October 1919. [sources: 11, 24, 25, 31]
In 1910, he was living at 1842 Taney Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his sons Howard and Harry, and Howard's family. He was apparently not working. [source: 23]
On 9 September 1912, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. In 1913, he was present, at the Southern Branch. He was receiving a pension of $19 per month. [sources: 28, 29]
On 13 December 1918, he was discharged from the Mountain Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He was receiving a pension of $25 per month. [source: 29]
In 1920, he was living at 2539 Napa Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his daughter Emma Larkin. He was widowed, and had no occupation. [source: 20]
He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 11.30 AM on 8 April 1927. He is buried at Northwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The first person buried in his ten double plots there was his mother Elizabeth, in 1898.) [sources: 11, 12, 24 (26 March 1927), 25 (26 Mar), 30 (26 Mar), 32 (26 Mar)]
Contact Marianne Kranz at tomarianne@yahoo.com about William Beale.
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.) (William Beal)
2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 30 December 1863 (W K Beal)
3 letter, Sellers to Bennett, 4 July 1864
4 special order 61, HQ 91st PA, 4 July 1864 (Wm Beal)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Private Beale)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 11 May 1863 (Wm Beele)
7 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (William H Beale)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 29 or 30 May 1863 (Private Beals [?])
9 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 6 October 1863 (Pri Beale)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 January 1864 (Beal)
11 e-mail, Marianne Kranz, 19 March 2004
12 e-mail, Marianne Kranz, 22 March 2004 (William Henry Harrison Beale)
13 company C, register of men discharged, number 23 (Wm Beal)
14 company C, descriptive roll, entry 101 (Wm Beale)
15 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 15 (Wm Beale)
16 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 2 May 1864 (Pri Beal)
17 company K, list of men transferred, #2 (William Beal)
18 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 595, microfilm series T9, film 1187, page 379 B = 26 handwritten (Wm H Beal)
19 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 38, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 973, microfilm series T623, film 1479, page 243 A = 11 handwritten (Wm H Beale)
20 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 28th ward, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 932, microfilm series T625, film 1632, page 176 B = 12 handwritten (William Beale)
21 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 3 December 1864 (Privt Beale)
22 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 424 [note uncertain ID] (William H Beal)
23 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 32, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 769, microfilm series T624, film 1404, page 55 = 13 B handwritten (William H Beal)
24 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (William Beal)
25 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (William Beal)
26 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Wm Beale)
27 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (William Beale)
28 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1913. Serial Set volume 6737, Session volume 140, 63rd Congress, 2nd Session, House Document 459. Page 268 (Wm Beal)
29 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1919. December 1, 1919. Serial Set volume 7755, session volume 84, 66th congress, 2nd session, House Document 365. Page 204 (William Beal)
30 Pennsylvania death indices, 1927 ('Beale,William;--23113;Phila;Mar.26.')
31 pension index, by name (transcribed 29 Apr 13 from Ancestry, image 3585 of 4393) (William Beal)
32 Pennsylvania, veterans burial cards, Philadelphia County (William Beal)
33 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Beale)
34 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William H Beal)
| line | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| street name | Lamb Tavern Road | ||||
| house number | |||||
| dwelling visit # | 211 | ||||
| family visit # | 259 | ||||
| name | Beale Wm H | - Margaret | - Howard | - James | Beale William |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M |
| age | 35 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 73 |
| month born if born in year | |||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Son | Uncle | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | |||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | Corn [?] Dealer | Keeping house | no occupation | ||
| months unemployed | |||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | |||||
| can't read | |||||
| can't write | |||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Germany |
| father's birthplace | Penn | Penna | Penna | Penna | Germany |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Penna | Penna | Penna | Germany |
| line | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| street | Nth 17th St | ||||||
| house number | 3427 | ||||||
| dwelling number | 202 | ||||||
| family number | 205 | ||||||
| name | Beale Wm H | - Hannah M | - E Howard | - James O | - Emma | - Wm H Jr | - Harry |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Daughter | Son | Son |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | F | M | M |
| birth date | Oct 1844 | Jan 1853 | Mar 1877 | Jan [?] 1880 | Nov 1881 | May 1884 | Oct 1889 |
| age | 55 | 47 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 10 |
| married? | M | M | S | S | S | S | S |
| # years married | 24 | 24 | |||||
| mother of how many children? | 7 | ||||||
| # of children living | 5 | ||||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | |||||||
| # years in USA | |||||||
| naturalized citizen? | |||||||
| occupation | Horse [?] Dealer | Bookkeeper | At school | At school | |||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | |||||
| # months in school | 10 | 10 | |||||
| can read | yes | [illegible] | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | O | ||||||
| free or mortgaged | F | ||||||
| farm/house | H | ||||||
| # of farm schedule | |||||||
| line | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 |
| street | Taney Street | |||||
| house nr | 1842 | |||||
| dwelling nr | 44 | |||||
| family nr | 45 | |||||
| name | Beal Howard E | - Catharine A | - Helen M | - Marion E | - William H | - Harry W |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Daughter | Father | Brother |
| sex | M | F | F | F | M | M |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 33 | 30 | 5 | 1 8/12 | 65 | 20 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S | S | S |
| #years present marriage | 6 | 6 | ||||
| mother of # children | 2 | |||||
| mother of # living children | 2 | |||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | New Jersey | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | New Jersey | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | New Jersey | New Jersey | New Jersey | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English | ||
| occupation | Collector | none | none | none | none | Commercial Traveler |
| nature of industry etc. | Installment [illegible; perhaps 'House'?] | Moulder [?] | ||||
| employer etc. | W | W | ||||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | ||||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||||||
| owned/rented | R | |||||
| owned free or mortagaged | ||||||
| farm/house | H | |||||
| nr on farm schedule | ||||||
| civil war vet | UA | |||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf & dumb | ||||||
| line | 57 | 58 |
| street | Napa St | |
| house number | 2539 | |
| dwelling visit number | 272 | |
| family visit number | 286 | |
| name | Larkin Emma | Beale William |
| relationship | Head | Father |
| own/rent | R | |
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | ||
| sex | F | M |
| race | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 39 | 75 |
| marital status | M | Wd |
| year of immigration | ||
| naturalized/alien | ||
| year of naturalization | ||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||
| can read | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| native language | ||
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's native language | ||
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's native language | ||
| can speak English | Yes | Yes |
| occupation | Saleslady | None |
| industry, business | Department Store | |
| employment status | W | |
| number of farm schedule | ||