He was born in 1821/25, in New York. [sources: date: 17 (38 in 1860), 19 (25 in 1850). place: 17, 19]
On 8 March 1845, he married Elizabeth M Jones. They were married by J LeRoy Taft, of the Front Street Methodist Episcopal Church. She was born in 1823/24, in Pennsylvania, to James Jones and Frances [unknown surname]. They had at least these children:
[source: 18, 22, 23, 24]
In 1850, he was living in Richmond District, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Elizabeth Black, their children Catharine, Ellen, and George Black, and James Black, William Black, Walter Jones, and Mary Black. He was a plasterer, and owned $1,200 in real estate. [source: 19]
On 2 August 1855, his wife, Elizabeth M Jones, died. She was buried in Franklin Cemetery. [source: 22, 24; see 25]
In 1860, he was living in the 19th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a plasterer, and owned $10,000 in real estate and $1,000 in personal property. He was living with his wife Catharine, children Ellen, George, Theodore, and Emma, along with three other people. [source: 17]
On 14 August 1861, he enlisted, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 22]
On 19 October 1861, he was second lieutenant of company H. [source: 14]
He mustered William Thaworth into service in company H on 8 November 1861. [source: 8]
He was mustered into service on 14 November 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a first lieutenant, in company H. [sources: 1, 4, 10, 14, 26]
His son, George Black, served as a musician in company H. He insisted on staying as close as possible to his father, even in battle. [sources: 11, 25]
On 29 June 1862, he, along with the other commissioned officers in the regiment (except Colonel Gregory), signed a statement denying accusations that they were on the verge of open mutiny, that the regiment had been reduced to 400 men, and that Colonel Gregory was too lenient to Confederates and too harsh to men in the regiment. [source: 13]
He may have been the lieutenant who declined to attempt to recover the regimental wagon in November 1862. [source: 3]
He was on leave starting 6 March 1863, and had returned on 15 March 1863. [sources: 5, 6]
On 18 March 1863, he was on picket duty. [source: 7]
He was wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia. [sources: 1, 4, 10, 11, 20 (wounded and missing), 21 (wounded and missing), 22]
He died on 6 May 1863 of the wounds he had received at Chancellorsville, apparently in a rebel hospital. The regiment did not receive reliable word of his death until 16 May. He was first lieutenant of company H. [sources: 1, 2, 4, 9, 22, 26]
On 19 April 1864, William H Black, guardian of his minor dependents, applied successfully for a pension, from Pennsylvania. He was living at Amber Street, below Otis, ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His application was accepted on 12 December 1864, and he received a pension of $17 per month (retroactive to 6 May 1863), to continue until 2 December 1868 (when the youngest child turned 16). [sources: 12, 18, 22]
On 13 June 1872, Mary Emma Black died, at Merion Square, Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She died of consumption of lungs. On 16 June 1872, she was buried, at Franklin Cemetery. [source: 22]
On 25 February 1880, Theodore Black applied for restoration and increase of pension. His application was accepted on 8 September 1881. While the pension certificate file does not explicitly state this, I suspect that he was applying for the increase of $2 per month for each child less than 16 years old under the act of 25 July 1866. [source: 22]
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, and on page 189)
3 Thomas Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldier's Mail volume 3, number 36, page 2
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 6 March 1863 (Lieut Black)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 15 March 1863 (Lieut Black)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 18 March 1863 (Lt Black)
8 discharge papers, William Thaworth (Lieut George Black)
9 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 16 May 1863 (Lieut Black)
10 company H, list of commissioned officers (George Black)
11 William C Reiff, 'A boy hero: a young drummer made of the right kind of stuff'. National tribune 3 August 1905, page 3, columns 1-2 (George W Black)
12 pension index, by name (George R Black)
13 'Ninety-first Pennsylvania Regiment'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 July 1862, page 2 (George Black)
14 'Camp Chase at Gray's Ferry' Philadelphia Inquirer 19 October 1861 page 8 (- Black)
15 'Camp Chase', Philadelphia Inquirer 30 November 1861 (Geo Black)
16 'Departure of Col. Gregory's regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1862 page 2 (George Black)
17 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 307 = 307 handwritten (Geo Black)
18 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (George R Black)
19 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Richmond District, microfilm series M432, film 820, page 185 = 371 handwritten (Geo Black)
20 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Geo Black)
21 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (George Black)
22 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate WC 36,231, Ellen Black minor child of George R Black (George R Black)
23 death notice, Public Ledger 2 August 1855, page 2 (William Walter Black)
24 death notice, Public Ledger, Saturday 4 August 1855, page 2 (Elizabeth M Black)
25 'Personal'. National Tribune 16 January 1890, page 3 (George Black)
26 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (George Black)
| line | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Dwellings visited | 66 | ||||||||
| Families visited | 66 | ||||||||
| Name | George Black | Elizabeth Black | James Black | Willm Black | Walter Jones | Mary Black | Catharine Black | Ellen Black | George Black |
| Age | 25 | 26 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 40 | 4 | 3 | 10/12 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | F | F | M |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Plasterer | do | do | do | |||||
| Real estate owned | 1200 | ||||||||
| Birthplace | New York | Penna | N York | do | do | Ireland | Penna | do | do |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Dwelling number | 2190 | ||||||||
| Family number | 2472 | ||||||||
| Name | Geo Black | Cath " | Ellen " | Geo " | Theodore " | Emma " | Mary Black | Jacob Anhanson [?] | John Emms [?] |
| Age | 38 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 50 | 24 | 22 |
| Sex | m | f | f | m | m | f | f | m | m |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation | Plasterer | Widow | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 10000 | ||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 1000 | ||||||||
| Place of birth | NY | Phila | " | " | " | " | Scotland | Phila | |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
On the 1st inst, WILLIAM WALTER, infant son of George R. and Elizabeth M. Black.
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, from No. 363 [the middle digit is almost illegible] Wood street, below Frankford Road, this afternoon, at 1 1/2 o clock.
On the 2d inst, Mrs. ELIZABETH M, wife of George R. Black and daughter of James and Frances Jones of Bucks County Pa, in the 32d [?] year of her age. [Doylestown and New York papers please copy.]
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, from the residence of her husband, No. 363 [??] Wood street, below Frankford Road, on Sunday afternoon, 5th inst, at 3 o'clock, without further notice--to proceed to Franklin Cemetery.