91st PA: William Beaver

William Beaver

Before the war

He was born on 28 October 1824, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 20, 24, 27; 10 (55 in 1880), 13 (35 in 1861), 14 (35 in 1861), 24 (78 at death in 1902), 29 (1830). place: 10, 13, 20, 29 (Chester County)]

In 1860, William Beaver was living in West Vincent, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was a f[arm?] laborer. He was living with Catharine A Beever (33, born in Pennsylvania, a housemaid, with $175 in personal property), and Deborah Beever (37, born in Pennsylvania, a d[ress?] maker, with $65 in personal property). [source: 15]

When he enlisted, he was a farmer, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 13, 14]

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6-3/4 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair. [sources: 13 (clearly 5'6-3/4"), 14 (5'6-1/4")]

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private on 15 October 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Gilbert. He was a private, in company G. [sources: 1, 13, 14, 18, 27, 30]

He was transferred on 4 December 1861 to company A. [sources: 1, 14, 17]

On 12 June 1863, he was promoted to 1st corporal of company A. [source: 12]

He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 22]

On 23 August 1863, he returned to duty from corps headquarters. On 26 August 1863, Sinex reported that he had been on duty as Provost Guard at Corps Headquarters, and had returned. [sources: 5, 9]

At some point, he was promoted to 4th corporal of company A. [source: 12]

He was promoted from corporal to 4th sergeant, on 1 October 1863. [sources: 6, 11, 14 (4 Dec 61)]

He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 24 December 1863 at Bealton, Virginia. [sources: 1, 14]

On 17 August 1864, he was sick in the division hospital. [source: 19]

He was promoted on 25 May 1865 from sergeant to first lieutenant. [source: 1, 3, 13, 14, 23]

He was present when David Ginther (A) 'was wounded in the foot with an axe clearing the timber before action', and later certified that. [source: 26]

On 1 June 1865, he was assigned to command company A, and ordered to receipt to Lieutenant William Letourneau for all ordnance, ordnance stores, and other property. [source: 7]

On 5 June 1865, he certified that Thomas Simpson (A) was killed in action. [source: 25]

On 13 June 1865, John Bell was assigned to command company A, and ordered to receipt to Beaver for all property. [source: 8]

He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company. He was then a first lieutenant, in company A. [sources: 1, 14, 18, 27, 30]

After the war

On 7 February 1867, he married Catherine Ann DeHaven. She was born on 5 July 1839, in Pennsylvania, to Joseph DeHaven and Margaret Heffelfinger. They apparently had five children, none of whom were alive in 1900, including:

[sources: 16, 20 (5 children, none living in 1900), 21 (5 children, none living in 1910), 24, 29]

In 1870, William Beaver was living in the 154th District, West Pikeland, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He had $225 in personal property. He was a day laborer. He was living with Catharine (30, born in Pennsylvania, keeping house), and Emma L (1, born in Pennsylvania. [source: 16]

In 1880, William Beaver was living in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, with his wife Catherine A Beaver. He was a laborer. [source: 10]

He applied successfully for a pension on 4 August 1883. [sources: 2, 4]

In 1890, he was living in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [source: 18]

In 1900, he was living in West Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was a farm laborer. He was living with his wife Catherine, in a rented house. [source: 20]

He died on 27 June 1902, at Chester Springs, Chester County, Pennsylvania . He was buried in the Vincent Baptist Church burial grounds, West Pikeland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He had been a member of that church for 45 years. [sources: 2, 24, 27]

On 25 July 1902, his widow, Catharine A Beaver, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [source: 2, 4]

In 1910, his widow, Catherine A Beaver, was living with relatives in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [source: 21]

On 12 February 1919, his widow died, in Royersford, [Montgomery] County, Pennsylvania. She was buried in the Vincent Baptist Churchyard, Pikeland, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [source: 24]

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)

2 pension index, by regiment (William Beaver)

3 Official army register

4 pension index, by name (William Beaver) (searched 25 April 2001, on Ancestry)

5 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 26 August 1863

6 special order 99, HQ 91st PA, 1 October 1863

7 special order 32, HQ 91st PA, 1 June 1865

8 special order 34, HQ 91st PA, 13 June 1865

9 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 23 August 1863 (Corpl Beaver)

10 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, Phoenixville, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 87, page 295 = page 25 handwritten (William Beaver)

11 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 1 Oct 1863 (Corpl Beaver)

12 register of non-commissioned officers, co.A (Wm Beaver) [two entries]

13 company A descriptive roll, entry 67 (William Beaver)

14 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (William Beaver)

15 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, West Vincent, page 829, lines 6-8 (William Beever)

16 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, 154th District West Pikeland, page 18, lines 2-4 (William Beaver)

17 company G, register of men transferred (William Beaver)

18 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Chester County, Phoenixville, supervisor's district [blank], enumeration district 107 (image 14 of 21 on Ancestry) (William Beaver)

19 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 August 1864 (Sergt Beaver)

20 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, West Vincent Township, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 132, page 200 = page 6 handwritten (William Beaver)

21 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, Borough of Phoenixville 3rd ward, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 50, page 122 = page 13 handwritten (Catherine Beaver)

22 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (William Beaver)

23 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 27 May 1865 (Sergt Beaver)

24 Find a grave, memorial 32693976, created by Mike O, added 6 Jan 09, accessed 30 Apr 11 (including a transcription of a death notice in the Daily Local News of West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, from 30 June 1902] (William Beaver) [identification is confirmed by reference in the memorial to his service in the 91st]

25 pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, certificate 52,775, Susanna mother of Thomas W Simpson (William Beaver)

26 mother's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 15, certificate WC 57,866, Susan Ginther mother of David Ginther

27 Pennsylvania veterans burial cards, 1777-1999, Chester County, 27 June 1902 (William Beaver)

28 Pennsylvania death indices, 1919 ('Beaver,Catharine A;--24959;Royersford;Feb.12.')

29 'Felix-Helmick-Campbell-Grubbs', an Ancestry family tree, owner amethystangel777, accessed 2 June 2013 (William Beaver)

30 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Beaver)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

1850 census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 2 June 2013)
the candidates aren't the right age and aren't living near enough to Philadelphia:
(1) William Beaver [?], 23, carpenter, with Hannah (23), Simon J (3), William H (1), and with William Kegg (19), in Napier, Bedford, PA (microfilm series M432, film 751, pages 66 verso = 132 handwritten to 67 recto = 133 handwritten, FamilySearch)
(2) William Beaver, 30, blacksmith, with Sabilla [? maybe 'Salilla'] Beaver 26 and Henry Hermony 18, in Beaver, Union County, Pennsylvania (microfilm series M432, film 831, page 92 verso = 30 handwritten, FamilySearch)
(3) William Beaver, 24, farmer, with Sarah Ann Beaver 17 and Elizabeth Walmer 22, in East Hanover, Lebanon County, PA (microfilm series M432, film 7691, page 239 recto = 475 handwritten = 45 handwritten, FamilySearch)
1920 census
FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2013)
1930 census
FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2013)
RootsWeb WorldConnect
searched for William Beaver (metaphone) born 1824; William Beaver married Catharine A; William Beaver died 1902; Emma Beaver born 1868 +/- 2 parents William and Catharine (accessed 29 May 2013)
applications for headstones for military veterans, 1925-1941
FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2013)
records of headstones of deceased Union veterans, 1879-1903
FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2013)

Display


William Beaver in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect

William Beaver in the 91st PA database

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, West Vincent, page 829, handwritten page 75 [?], lines 6-8]
[identification is uncertain]
[This was the only plausible William Beaver I found]
[They were living with George Still, a farmer, et al.]
line678
Dwelling number" [sc. 555]" [sc. 555]" [sc. 555]
Family number" [sc. 555]" [sc. 555]" [sc. 555]
NameWilliam BeeverCatharine A. "Deborah "
Age353337
Sexmff
Color   
OccupationF. LaborerH maidD Maker
Value of real estate owned   
Value of personal estate 17565
Place of birth" [sc. Pa]" [sc. Pa]" [sc. Pa]
Married within year   
Attended school within year   
Cannot read & write   
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.   

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, 154th District West Pikeland, handwritten page 18, lines 2-4]
[identification is likely, since (1) his apparent spouse's name matches his widow's name on the pension index by name cards (entry 4 above) and (2) he is in the same county as in 1880]
[line]234
Dwelling-house number86  
Family number92  
NameBeaver William_ Catharine_ Emma L
Age40301
SexMFF
ColorWWW
OccupationDay LaborerKeeping House 
Real estate value   
Personal estate value225  
BirthplacePennaPennaPenna
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, Chester County, Phoenixville, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 87, page 295 = page 25 handwritten]
[identification is probable, since (1) the location matches the location in the confirmed 1890 veterans schedule, and (2) his spouse's name matches his widow's name on the pension index by name cards (entry 4 above)]
line2021
street nameHall Street
house number  
dwelling visit #221 
family visit #229 
nameBeaver William- Catherine A
colorWW
sexMF
age5540
month born if born in year  
relationship wife
single  
married11
widowed/divorced  
married during year  
occupationLaborerKeeping house
months unemployed  
currently ill?  
blind  
deaf/dumb  
idiotic  
insane  
disabled  
school this year  
can't read  
can't write  
birthplacePennaPenna
father's birthplacePennaPenna
mother's birthplacePennaPenna

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Chester County, Phoenixville, supervisor's district [blank], enumeration district 107 (image 14 of 21 on Ancestry)]
[identification is confirmed by reference to his service in the 91st]

[line] 47
[house] 17
[family] 18
[name] Beaver William
[rank] 1st leut [sic]
[company] A
[unit] 91 Pa inf
[enlistment date] 15 Oct 1861
[discharge date] 10 July 1865
[length of service] 3 years, 8 months, 25 days
[post office address] Do " " " [sc. Phoenixville Chester Co. Pa.]
[disability incurred] none
[remarks] no Remarks

1900 census

[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, West Vincent Township, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 132, page 200 = page 6 handwritten]
[identification is likely, since (1) his apparent spouse's name matches his widow's name on the pension index by name cards (entry 4 above) and (2) he is in the same county as in 1890]
line4950
street  
house number  
dwelling number50 [?] 
family number121 
nameBeaver WilliamCatherine A
relationshipHeadWife
colorWW
sexMF
birth dateOct 1824July 1839
age7560
married?MM
# years married3333
mother of how many children? 5
# of children living 0
birthplacePennaPennsylvan
father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvania
immigration year  
# years in USA  
naturalized citizen?  
occupationLaborer (Farm) 
# months not employed0 
# months in school  
can readYes 
can writeYes 
speaks EnglishYes 
owned/rentedR 
free or mortgaged  
farm/houseH 
# of farm schedule  

1910 census

[1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Chester County, Borough of Phoenixville 3rd ward, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 50, page 122 = page 13 handwritten]
[identification is likely; see the note on the 1900 census entry transcribed above]
line95969798
streetClover [?] Street
house nr234   
dwelling nr279   
family nr284   
nameIrish Walter- Elsie- ArlineBeaver Catharine
relationshipHeadWifeDaughterAunt
sexMFFF
colorWWWW
age2726770
marital statusM1M1SWd
#years present marriage88  
mother of # children 1 5
mother of # living children 1 0
birthplaceNew JerseyPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's birthplaceNew JerseyunknownNew JerseyPennsylvania
mother's birthplaceNew JerseyPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
immigrated    
naturalized/alien    
speaks EnglishEnglishEnglish English
occupationBarbernonenonenone
nature of industry etc.own shop   
employer etc.Emp   
out of work 15 Apr 1910?    
# weeks out of work 1909    
can readyesyes yes
can writeyesyes yes
school since 1 Sep 09  yes 
owned/rentedR   
owned free or mortagaged    
farm/houseH   
nr on farm schedule    
civil war vet    
blind    
deaf & dumb    

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 15 Mar 2014, from Fold3]


Beaver William
Co. G A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | 1" Lieut.
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

Pennsylvania veterans burial card

[Pennsylvania veterans burial cards, 1777-1999, Chester County, 27 June 1902, William Beaver]
[transcribed 2 June 2013, from Ancestry]

RECORD OF BURIAL PLACE OF VETERAN
CHESTER COUNTY
NAME 3287 Beaver, William, [sic]
Date of Birth 10/28/1824
Date of Death 6/27/1902
Veteran of Civil War
Served in Army
Dates of Service 10/15/1861 7/10/65
Organization(s) Co A., 91st Regt Pa. Vol
Rank 1st lieut
Cemetery or Place of Interment Name Vincent Baptist Location West Pikeland Twp., [sic]
Location of Grave in Cemetery Section S.W.
Headstone Family
Information Given by Chas. M. Malin Date [blank]
Remarks over

top of document | home
revised 15 Mar 14
contact Harry Ide at [email protected] with comments or questions