91st PA: John G Brass

John G Brass

Before the war

He was born in July 1838, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jacob Brass and Jane Graham. [sources: date: 37, 30 [23 in 1861], 34 [10 in 1850], 35 [31 in 1870], 36 [41 in 1880], 37 [61 in 1900], 44 [70 at death in 1909]. place: 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 44. parents: 41, 44]

In 1850, he was living in the 5th ward of Kensington, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Jacob and Jane Brass. [source: 34]

When he enlisted, he was a moulder. [source: 30]

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, light eyes, and dark hair. [source: 30]

During the war

He also served in company D of the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry. [sources: 3, 33]

He enlisted and was mustered into service in the 91st Pennsylvania on 2 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr. He was a sergeant in company A. [sources: 1, 3, 29, 30, 31 (3 Oct), 51]

He was promoted to orderly sergeant on June 12th 1862. [sources: 29, 30 [perhaps 12 Jan?]]

On 8 October 1862, he testified at the trial of Franklin Clough. He testified for Clough, to mitigate his offence:

Accused was once a member of our Company Co. A. 91st Regt. Penna Vols. I detailed him for Guard on the 20th Day of July 1862. He never answered any Roll Call since. On the day before that we had been paid. It was usual for some of the men to be absent a day or two after they were paid. I never have known the Officer of the Company to maltreat him. He was reduced to the Ranks. The order reducing him to the ranks was read before the Company.

Although this testimony doesn't seem to help at all, the Court cited it as an explanation of their relatively light sentence. [source: 48]

He was promoted to second lieutenant on 10 [?] December 1862. [source: 28]

He married Mary Ferguson, in 1862/63. She was born on 15 September 1839, in Pennsylvania, to Samuel and Catharine Ferguson. She (and presumably they) had seven children, all of whom were alive in 1900: [sources: 36, 37 (1838), 41, 45, 46 (1839)]

He led details on picket duty on 20 August 1863 to 21 August 1863, on 1 September 1863, and on 15 September 1863. He was then in company C. [sources: 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24]

On 27 March 1863, he was promoted to first lieutenant, effective 18 January 1863, when Francis Gregory was promoted to captain. [sources: 1, 6, 19, 20, 30]

He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 39]

On 18 September 1863, he was relieved of command of company C, and ordered to report to Captain Gregory (A). [sources: 11, 25]

On 2 October 1863, the Army of the Potomac granted him a leave of absence. [sources: 21, 26]

On 17 February 1864, he was transferred from company A to command of company B. [source: 27]

He was acting adjutant beginning 22 February 1864. Oddly, an order relieving him of command of company B and making him adjutant was canceled. Perhaps that is connected to his not being acting adjutant by 1 March 1864. [sources: 12, 13, 14]

He was commissioned, but not mustered, captain on 1 March 1864. [source: 1]

A board of survey was appointed on 6 March 1864 to investigate a deficiency in items for which he and David Baker were responsible. [source: 15]

He was in command of company H, in March 1864. [source: 7]

On 8 June 1864, he was detailed as aide-de-camp for the colonel commanding the brigade (16). He was assigned to command company C on 26 June 1864, replacing John Donnell, who had been temporarily commanding it. [sources: 17, 18]

He mustered out on 4 October 1864 (2, 30, 38 [?]) or 13 October 1864 when his term expired. He was first lieutenant of company A. Thomas Simpson (A) gave him money to take to his mother. [sources: 1, 19, 30, 31 [3 Oct], 38, 49, 51]

After the war

On 15 December 1864, he testified that Edward Shinkle (C) received a pass to fall to the rear because he was ill, and was then taken prisoner and taken to Richmond, the regiment had heard from paroled prisoners that Shinkle was in prison at Richmond, and that Shinkle's appearance led him to believe that he couldn't survive very long (50). He was then living at Ball and Clairbourne Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (50).

In 1870, he was living in the 18th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder. He was living with his wife Mary, and their children Jacob, Catharine F, and Charles E. [source: 35]

At a meeting of the 91st's survivors after Edgar Gregory's death, he was appointed to a committee to draft resolutions about Gregory's death. At the first meeting of the Survivor's Association, on 4 December 1871, he was elected Corresponding Secretary. [sources: 42, 43]

In 1880, he was living at 1021 Artisan [?], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder. He was living with his wife Mary, and their children Catharine F, Jacob, Charles E, George W, Francis H G, and Howard M Brass. [source: 36]

He attended the 1884 meeting of the Survivors' Association. [source: 4]

In 1890, he was living at 956 Clairborn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder. [sources: 31, 32]

In 1900, he was living at 2738 East Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder, and had not been out of work in the previous year. He was living with his wife Mary, and their children Charles, Howard, and David. [source: 37]

He applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 7 July 1904 and 11 May 1907. [sources: 3, 33]

On 24 April 1908, his wife, Mary Brass, died, at 2215 E Firth Street, ward 31, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was buried in North Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 45, 46, 47]

He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 12 December 1909. He lived at 2556 Cedar Street, but had been elsewhere (presumably in hospital) for 20 days when he died. He was a moulder. He was married. The funeral was held on Wednesday, at 2213 E Firth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the home of his son Jacob Brass). He is buried on 15 December 1909 in North Cedar Hill Cemetery. [sources: 3 (1911), 40, 41, 44, 47]

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 Official Army Register

3 pension index by regiment (John G Brass)

4 newspaper account of 1884 meeting

5 signed Officer's certificate of disability for Thomas Walter, 17 Dec 1873, in Philadelphia

6 Thomas Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail volume 3 number 38 page 2 (two references).

7 Thomas Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail v.3 #44 p.2.

8 special order 58, HQ 91st PA, 20 August 1863

9 special order 68, HQ 91st PA, 1 September 1863

10 special order 80, HQ 91st PA, 15 September 1863

11 special order 83, HQ 91st PA, 18 September 1863

12 special order 9, HQ 91st PA, 22 February 1864

13 special order 11, HQ 91st PA, 25 February 1864

14 special order 13, HQ 91st PA, 1 March 1864

15 special order 16, HQ 91st PA, 6 March 1864

16 special order 42, HQ 91st PA, 8 June 1864

17 special order 50, HQ 91st PA, 26 June 1864

18 special order 52, HQ 91st PA, 26 June 1864

19 regimental descriptive book

20 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 27 March 1863 (2nd Lt Brass)

21 special orders received, #46, received 3 October 1863 (John G Brass)

22 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 20 Aug 1863 (Lieut Brass)

23 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 21 Aug 1863 (Lt Brass)

24 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 15 September 1863 (Lieut Brass)

25 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 19 September 1863 (Lieut Brass)

26 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 4 October 1863 (Lieut Brass)

27 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 17 February 1864 (#1) (Lt Brass)

28 register of commissioned officers, company A (John G Brass)

29 register of non-commissioned officers, company A (John G Brass)

30 company A descriptive roll, entry 85 (John G Brass)

31 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district [1], enumeration district [355], page [3] (image 761 on Ancestry), line 30 (John Brass)

32 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (John G Brass)

33 pension index, by name (John G Brass)

34 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 5th ward Kensington, page 302 = 603 handwritten, microfilm series M432, film 807 (John Brass)

35 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward 54th district, microfilm series M593, film 1403, page 294 = 99 handwritten (John G Brass)

36 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 355 [?], microfilm series T9, film 1177, page 252A = page 5 handwritten (John G Brass)

37 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward, microfilm series T623, film 1460, page 116, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 354 (John G Brass)

38 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 6 October 1864 (John G Brass)

39 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (John G Brass)

40 [death notice], Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 December 1909, page 9 (John G Brass)

41 [death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 December 1909, page 7 (John G Brass)

42 'Ninety-first regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 5 December 1871 page 3 (John G Brass)

43 'General Gregory'. Philadelphia Inquirer 11 November 1871 page 2. (Captain Brass)

44 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 December 1909 (John Brass)

45 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 28 April 1908, page 7 (Mary Brass)

46 death certificate, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 24 April 1908, #10875 (Mary Ferguson Brass)

47 Find a Grave, memorial 35859256, created by margaret orthodox, added 14 April 2009, accessed 29 April 2011 (John G Brass)

48 court-martial record, Franklin L Clough, 8 October 1862 (John G Brass)

49 pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, certificate 52,775, Susanna mother of Thomas W Simpson (Lieutenant Brass)

50 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate number WC 111,870, Barbara Beveridge widow of Edward Shinkel (John G Brass)

51 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John G Brass)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

1860 US census
FamilySearch index, HeritageQuest index (accessed 29 April 2011)
the 1860 Biddle's Philadelphia directory lists George W Lowrey miller at Ball bel Richmond; I was not able to find him in the 1860 census
the John Kreckemums at Richmond below Ball according to the 1860 Biddle's directory (p.1225) could be John Krickbaum, conductor, in the 1860 US census, Philadelphia, ward 22, page 292 = 290 handwritten--however, the previous entry, Luther Albert, seems to be Rev Luther E Albert at Gtn av & 42 N 9th in the 1860 Biddle's directory page 7; the list of streets on page 1340 has "Ball st. from Richmond to Del (K)"
1910 US census
FamilySearch index, HeritageQuest index (accessed 29 April 2011)
1920 US census
FamilySearch index, HeritageQuest index (accessed 29 April 2011)
1930 US census
Footnote index (accessed 29 April 2011)
RootsWeb WorldConnect
accessed 29 April 2011

Display



John G Brass in the 91st PA database

Philadelphia city directories

[1860 Biddle's Philadelphia directory, page 146]
Brass Jacob laborer, Ball and Richmond

[1865 Sherman's Philadelphia directory, page 96]
Brass Jacob, laborer, Ball & Clairborne
Brass John C. [sic], moulder, Ball & Clairborne
Brass Thomas, machinist, Ball & Clairborne

[1870 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 263]
Brass Jane, wid Jacob, h 1213 Ball
Brass John G., moulder, h 1235 Ball
Brass Thomas, machinist, h 1213 Ball

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 5th ward Kensington, page 302 = 603 handwritten, microfilm series M432, film 807]
line101112131415
Dwellings visited14      
Families visited21      
NameJacob BrassJane BrassElizabeth BrassThomas BrassJohn BrassGeorge Brass
Age41391714107
SexMFFMMM
Color       
Occupation of males over 15 yearsLabourer     
Real estate owned       
Birthplacedo [sc. Pa]dododododo
Married within year       
Attended school within year   W [?]W [?] 
Over 20 & can't read/write      
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.      

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward 54th district, microfilm series M593, film 1403, page 294 = 99 handwritten]
line2122232425
Dwelling-house number693    
Family number765    
NameBrass John G.- Mary- Jacob- Catharine F- Charles E
Age3130549/12
SexMFMFM
ColorWWWWW
OccupationMoulderKeeping House   
Real estate value     
Personal estate value     
BirthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPenna
Father foreign born     
Mother foreign born     
Birth month if born within year    Aug
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, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 355 [?], microfilm series T9, film 1177, page 252A = page 5 handwritten]
line12345678
street nameArtisan [??]
house number1021       
dwelling visit #39       
family visit #43       
nameBrass John G- Mary- Catharine F- Jacob- Charles E- George W- Francis H G- Howard M
colorWWWWWWWW
sexMFFMMMMM
age4141141510862
month born if born in year        
relationship WifeDaughterSonSonSonSonSon
single  111111
married11      
widowed/divorced        
married during year        
occupationMoulderKeeping houseWorking in card FactoryWorking in Card FactoryAt SchoolAt SchoolAt School 
months unemployed        
currently ill?        
blind        
deaf/dumb        
idiotic        
insane        
disabled        
school this year    111 
can't read        
can't write        
birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's birthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPenna
mother's birthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPennaPenna

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district [1], enumeration district [355], page [3] (image 761 on Ancestry), line 30]
[line] 30
[house] 119
[family] 119
[name] John Brass
[rank] Lieut [?]
[company] A
[unit] 91 Pa Inf
[enlistment date] 3 Oct 1861
[discharge date] 3 Oct 1864
[length of service] 3 years, 0 months, 0 days
[post office address] 956 [?] Clairborn St Phila Pa
[disability incurred] [blank]
[remarks] [blank]

1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory

[searched transcription on Ancestry, February 2005]
John G Brass, moulder, h 956 Clairborn

1900 census

[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward, microfilm series T623, film 1460, page 116, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 354]
line9091929394
streetEast Cumberland Street
house number2738    
dwelling number35    
family number37    
nameBrass John G- Mary- Charles S- Howard M- David M
relationshipHeadWifeSonSonSon
colorWWWWW
sexMFMMM
birth dateJuly 1838Sept 1838Aug 1869Mar 1878Aug 1881
age6161302018
married?MMMSS
# years married37376  
mother of how many children? 7   
# of children living 7   
birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
immigration year     
# years in USA     
naturalized citizen?     
occupationMoulder MoulderMachinistDay Laborer
# months not employed0 000
# months in school     
can readyesyesyesyesyes
can writeyesyesyesyesyes
speaks Englishyesyesyesyesyes
owned/rentedR    
free or mortgaged     
farm/houseH    
# of farm schedule     

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 10 Mar 2014, from Fold3]


Brass, John G.
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Sgt. | 1" Lt.
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

death notice, Mary Brass

[death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 28 April 1908, page 7]
[transcribed 29 April 2011, from GenealogyBank]

BRASS.--On April 24, 1908, MARY, wife of John G. Brass and daughter of the late Samuel and Catharine Ferguson. Relatives and friends, also Edward D. Baker Circle, No. 89, Ladies of GAR; Seminole Council, No 127, D of P, and members of the Wesley M E Church, are invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday at 1 PM from her late residence, 2215 E. Firth st. Services in Wesley M E Church, at 2 PM. Interment private, at North Cedar Hill Cemetery.

death certificate, Mary Brass

[death certificate, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 24 April 1908, #10875, Mary Ferguson Brass]
[transcribed 29 April 2011, from FamilySearch]

10875
RECORD OF A DEATH IN PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
Full Name of Deceased, Mary Ferguson Brass
Sex, Female
Color, White
Single, Married, [blank]
Date of Birth 1839 Sept 15
Date of Death 1908 April 24th
Years 69 Months 7 Days 9

I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from Dec 1904 to April 24th, 1908, that I last saw her alive on Apr 24th 1908, and that death occurred, on the date stated above at 1130 AM. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:

Chief, Chronic Interstitial Nephritis DURATION [blank]
Contributing, Myocardial Degeneration DURATION [blank]
Signed, Thomas Mattack M.D.
Residence, 2358 E York St.

UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE.
Occupation Housework
Place of Birth, Phila
Birthplace of Father, Phila
Birthplace of Mother, " [sc. Phila]
Name of Father, Samuel Ferguson
Maiden Name of Mother, Catharine Rhil
Last Place of Residence (This need only be given when it is other than the place of death) [blank]
Place of Death, Street and No. 2215 [sic] E. Firth St.
Ward, wherein death occurred 31st
Buried from, Street and No. " " " " [sc. 2215 E. Firth St.]
Date of Burial, April 28th 1908
Place of Burial, N Ced Hill Cem
DH Fillow [?] S Undertaker
Residence, 241 Richmond St.

death notice

[Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 December 1909, page 9]

BRASS.--On December 12, 1909, JOHN G. BRASS, son of the late Jacob and Jane Brass. Residence, 13 [sic East Firth st. Due notice of funeral will be given.



[Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 December 1909, page 7]

BRASS.--On December 12, 1909, JOHN G. husband of the late Mary Brass, and son of the late Jacob and Jane Brass. Relatives and friends, also Survivor's Association, 91st Regiment, P V., are invited to attend the funeral service, on Wednesday, at 2 P.M., at the residence of his son, Mr Jacob Brass, No 2213 E Firth st. Interment private at North Cedar Hill Cemetery.

death certificate

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 December 1909, John Brass]
[source: www.familysearch.org (viewed 2 November 2008)]

RECORD OF A DEATH IN PHILADELPHIA.
27536
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
Full Name of Deceased, John Brass
Sex, Male
Color, White
Married
Date of Birth, [blank]
Date of Death, Year 1909 Month 12 Day 12
Age Years 70
FORMER OR USUAL RESIDENCE 2556 Cedar St.
HOW LONG AT PLACE OF DEATH? [blank] MONTHS 20 DAYS
WHERE WAS DISEASE CONTRACTED? Probably at work

I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from 11-22 1909 to 12-12 1909 that I last saw him alive on 12-12 1909 and that death occurred on the date stated above at 5:30 A.M. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:


Pulmonary Tuberculosis DURATION [blank]
Contributory [blank]
UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE
Occupation, Moulder
Place of Birth, Phila
Birthplace of Father, Phila
Birthplace of Mother, Phila
Name of Father, Jacob Brass
Maiden Name of Mother, Jane Graham
Ward, (Give ward of Residence, except when deceased resided out of City. In such cases give ward of Hospital or Institution.) 31st
Buried from, Street and No. 2213 E Forth [? looks like 'Furth'] St.
Date of Burial, Dec 15th 1909
Place of Burial, N Cedar Hill Cemty
David H Tillen Sr Undertaker.
Residence, 341 [??] Richmond St.

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revised 10 Mar 14
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