He was born in 1809/1818, in Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 3 (43 in 1861), 6 (70 in 1880), 8 (60 in 1870), 9 (50 in 1860). place: 6, 8, 9 (Ireland)]
In 1838, he seems to have been a manager of the Wreckers' Club 'first grand Fancy, Firemen's, Military and Citizens' Ball', on 11 April, at V Guillou's Saloon. [source: 13]
In 1842, he seems to have been a director of the Western Hose Company. [source: 12]
He married Elizabeth [unknown family name]. She was born in 1819/25, in Ireland or Delaware. They seem to have had at least these children:
[sources: 6, 8, 9, 11]
In 1860, he may be the Alexander Blee living in ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If so, he was living with Eliza (presumably his wife), with Sarah, Thomas, and Rebecca (presumably their children), and with Henrieta Smith. He was a cordwainer. [source: 9]
He enlisted and was mustered into service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 23 September 1861. He was mustered in as a private. He was a private in company D. [sources: 1, 3, 15 (corpl)]
He was discharged on 8 December 1863 on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was a private, in company D. [sources: 1, 2 (medical board), 3, 15]
In 1870, he may be the Rojers Blee living in Ridley Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. If so, he was living with Elizabeth (presumably his wife), and with Thomas H and Rebecca (presumably their children). He was a brickmaker. [source: 8]
On 6 December 1873, he applied unsuccessfully for a pension. [sources: 4, 5]
In 1880, he was living in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Elizabeth, children Thomas and Horace, and a laborer and domestic servant. He was a retired farmer. [source: 6]
On 15 June 1880, he died, in Chester, [Delaware County,] Pennsylvania. He died of dropsy. He was buried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 7]
In 1890, his widow Elisabeth may have been living at 921 Pearl Street, Camden, Camden County, New Jersey. [source: 14]
On 27 June 1891, his son, Thomas Henry Blee, died. Thomas's mother, Elizabeth S Blee, was then living at 626 North Eighth Street, Camden, New Jersey. He was buried in Philadelphia Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 10]
On 28 January 1893, his widow, Elizabeth S Blee, applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 4, 5]
On 15 May 1903, his widow, Elizabeth, died. She was buried in Philadelphia Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 11]
Another Francis Blee was born in Pennsylvania about 1810. He was a brickmaker, and married to Ann [unknown family name]. (Since the pension cards list Elizabeth as the widow of the Francis Blee who served in the 91st, he is not the right Francis Blee.)
He was living in Philadelphia in 1850, and in New Jersey in 1860, 1870, and 1880. He died on 23 December 1881, in Salem, Salem County, New Jersey. (See 'Sources checked unsuccessfully' below for the citations.)
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) (Francis J Blee)
2 company D, register of men discharged, entry 5 (Francis J Blee)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 7 August 2004 (Francis J Blee)
4 pension index, by name (Francis J Blee)
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Francis J Blee)
6 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Chester, 3rd [?] [ward?], supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 14, microfilm series T9, film 1126, page 237 A = 5 handwritten (Francis Blee)
7 Philadelphia Pennsylvania death certificates, 1803-1915 (Francis J Blee)
8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Ridley Township, post office Darby, micrfilm series M593, film 1337, page 413 recto = 194 handwritten (Rojers Blee)
9 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 633 = 167 handwritten (Alexander Blee)
10 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 July 1891, page 6 (Thomas Henry Blee)
11 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 18 May 1903, page 15 (Elizabeth Blee)
12 advertisement about Western Hose Company, Public Ledger, 6 January 1842, page 2 (Francis J Blee)
13 advertisement about Wreckers' Club ball, Public Ledger 7 March 1838, page 2 (Francis J Blee)
14 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New Jersey, Camden County, Camden, enumeration district 164, page 3 (image 34 of 142 on Ancestry) (Elisabeth S Blee widow of Thos [sic] U Blee)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Francis J Blee)
| household | family | name | occupation | city directory |
| 282 | 449 | Ewen Bockus | cooper | [no entry] |
| 283 | 450 | John R Coats | carter | [no entry] |
| 283 | 450 | Benj [and David] Coats | brick maker | [no entry] |
| 283 | 451 | Jas McCully | laborer | [no entry] |
| 283 | 451 | Robt Bowmer | carter | [no entry] |
| 284 | 452 | John Monk | laborer | [no entry--the only John Monk is at 614 N 4th, and has 'tin plate wr' as occupation] |
| 285 | 453 | Wm McEwen | carter | [no entry] |
| 286 | 454 | Francis Blee | brick maker | |
| 287 | 455 | Henry Huhn | brick maker | [p.202] 'Huhn Henry, brickmr., Cedar ab Ashton' |
| line | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Dwelling number | 973 | |||||
| Family number | 1277 | |||||
| Name | Alexander Blee | Eliza " | Sarah " | Thomas " | Rebecca " | Henrieta Smith |
| Age | 50 | 38 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 20 |
| Sex | m | f | f | m | f | f |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Cordwainer | |||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Ireland] | " | Phila. | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Dwelling-house number | 637 | |||
| Family number | 582 | |||
| Name | Blee Rojers [sic] | - Elizabeth | - Thos H | - Rebecca |
| Age | 60 | 48 | 21 | 15 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F |
| Color | ||||
| Occupation | Brick Maker | K H | ||
| Real estate value | ||||
| Personal estate value | ||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Del | do | do |
| 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 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| street name | ||||||
| house number | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 42 | |||||
| family visit # | 42 | |||||
| name | Blee Francis | Elizabeth | Thomas | Horace | Harper, William | Rebbecca |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M | F |
| age | 70 | 55 [?] | 31 | 6 | 26 | 25 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Son | Servant | ||
| single | ||||||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||
| married during year | ||||||
| occupation | Retired farmer | Keeping house | Laborer | Laborer | Domestic | |
| months unemployed | ||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||
| idiotic | ||||||
| insane | ||||||
| disabled | ||||||
| school this year | ||||||
| can't read | ||||||
| can't write | ||||||
| birthplace | Penna | Delaware | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Pa | Del | Del | Del | Pa | Pa |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | Del | Del | Del | Pa | Pa |
BLEE.--On June 27, 1891, Thomas Henry, son of Elizabeth S. and the late Francis J. Blee, late of Chester, Pa., in his 43d year.
The relatives and friends of the family, also Washington Castle, No. 2, K.G.E., Eureka Commandery, No. 11, K.G.E., Euphemia R. Grieb Cavalry Camp, No. 38, Sons of Veterans, and all orders of which he was a member, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Sunday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, from his mother's residence, 626 North Eighth street, Camden, N.J. To proceed to Philadelphia Cemetery, Philadelphia.
BLEE.--At Chester, May 15, 1903, Elizabeth, widow of Francis J Blee, in her 83d year. Relatives and friends of family are invited to attend funeral services, Monday evening, at 8 o'clock, from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. John Harper, 19 W Fourth st. Interment Philadelphia Cemetery, Tuesday morning, at 11.30.
At a Stated Meeting of the WESTERN HOSE COMPANY, held on Tuesday Evening, January 4th, the following named gentlemen were duly elected Officers for the ensuing year:
President--JOSEPH R. FLANIGEN.Investigating Committee--John Addis, Richard R Young, Henry Baker
Standing Committee--John Addis, Chas. Knowles, Samuel R Reed, Wm Mullin, George W Watson.
Directors--Wm Fow [?], Isaac Watson, Charles Carter, Wm Hinckle, Francis J. Blee, George Kinsley, Wm. Sipps, F. Murphey
R. R. YOUNG, Sec'ry pro tem.THE WRECKERS' CLUB. No. 1--Intend giving their first grand FANCY, FIREMEN'S, MILITARY and CITIZENS' BALL, on WEDNESDAY Evening, 11th of April, at V. GUILLOU'S SALOON.--Tickets to be had at the following places:--Mr. Dubon's, Pine street, below 7th; Mr. Miller's, Thirteenth and Race streets; James Hutchinson's, Twelfth and Locus streets; Walpole's Naval Inn; Mr. Steinmetz's, Ridge Road and Vine st; Mr. McMamee's, (their Head Quarters,) Spruce street, between Schuylkill 4th and 5th sts.
MANAGERS.