He was born in 1835/36 (5 (25 in 1861)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5).
He marred Sarah Christine on 18 September 1857, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12). Reverend Jos. Mason, of the 5th Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, married them (12). They had no children (12).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-1/2 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (5). He had a scar on his breast, from a blister [?] (5).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 13 September 1861 (1, 5, 6, 7, 12). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr (5, 6, 12). He was in company C (1, 13 (corpl)).
He was appointed corporal on 21 September 1861 (2).
He was promoted to sergeant (3, 11).
He was wounded on 13 December 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia (1, 12). He died near Fredericksburg, of those wounds, on 13 December (1, 3 [killed in action], 4, 5 [killed 13 Dec 62], 6, 7, 12 [died 16 Dec 62; rolls have 13 Dec]). He was a sergeant, in company C (1, 13).
The accounts of his death are not easy to reconcile. According to regimental records, he was killed in battle on 13 December 1862. According to newspaper accounts, on the next Monday, 15 December, a dog was found near his body, which licked his face when it was uncovered, and refused to leave his body (8). The dog followed as his corpse was carried off for burial (8).
However, Brown's widow, Sarah Brown, wrote to Captain Parsons for information about Brown's death, apparently because she read the newspaper accounts of Covode's observation of his funeral (12). Parsons' reply confirmed his death, and suggested that Covode's account was nearly correct, except that he died three miles away from the battlefield (12). The wound "injured both legs and tore off part of his thigh"; one leg was amputated, and he "suffered untold agony from the time he was wounded" (12). Parsons left Conrad [perhaps Conrad Brown] and John Wright to bury him (12). Parsons asked what Sarah Brown wanted done with the body; the pension file includes no information about her reply (12). She may also have asked about Conrad [Conrad Brown?] and Harry McKane, since he noted that they were safe (12).
I suppose one possibility is that Covode was wrong to think Brown was dead, and that the supposed burial party was actually carrying Brown to a hospital. Perhaps another possibility is that Parsons was confusing Brown's death with another's. And a third possibility is that Covode misidentified Brown's body. Unfortunately, none of these strike me as especially plausible.
On 28 February 1863, his widow, Sarah Brown, applied successfully for a pension under the act of 14 July 1862 (10, 11). She was living at 622 Washington Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12). Her application was approved on 17 August 1863 (12). She initially received $8.00 per month, beginning 16 December 1862 (12).
In 1890, his widow was living in the Second Ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7). She was probably Sarah Brown, who lived at 620 Washington Avenue (7).
Her pension was increased to $20 per month, beginning 8 September 1916, under the act of 8 September 1916 (12).
She was unable to care for herself for several years before her death, and hardly left her room for the last year of her life (12). Her niece, Maggie J Dubissee, cared for her, and according to her physician cared well for her (12).
She died on 4 May 1924, at 4.55 PM, of senility (12). She was then receiving a pension of $30 per month (12). She was buried at Fernwood Cemetery, Delaware County, Pennsylvania (12).
After her death, her niece, Maggie J Dubisee, requested reimbursement for expenses, and received $31 (her last month's pension) (12).
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 H Brown)
2 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 1, corporals (Wm H Brown)
3 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 2, sergeants (Wm H Brown)
4 company C, register of deaths (William H Brown)
5 company C, descriptive roll, number 11 (William H Brown)
6 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 78 (Wm H Brown)
7 1890 United States census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 55, page [blank] (image 263 on Ancestry) (William H Brown)
8 'Fidelity of a dog on the battlefield'. Saturday Evening Post 27 December 1862 (Sergt W H Brown)
9 [deleted]
10 pension index, by name (William H Brown)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (William H Brown)
12 Widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15 (available at Footnote) (viewed December 2008) (William Henry Brown)
13 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William H Brown)
| line | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Dwelling number | 1382 | |||||
| Family number | 1508 | |||||
| Name | William H Brown | Sousin [sic] " | Mary " | William H " | Emma " | Clara " |
| Age | 28 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Sex | " [sc.m] | f | " | m | f | " |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Wheel Wright | |||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | 200 | |||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Pa] | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
FIDELITY OF A DOG ON THE BATTLE-FIELD.-- On the Monday after the contest, as Hon. John Covode, in company with a number of officers, was passing over the battlefield beyond Fredericksburg, their attention was called to a small dog lying by a corpse. Mr. Covode halted a few minutes to see if life was extinct. Raising the coat from the man's face, he found him dead. The dog, looking wistfully up, ran to the dead man's face and kissed his silent lips. Such devotion in a small dog was so singular that Mr. Covode examined some papers upon the body, and found it to be that of Sergt. W. H. Brown, company C, 91st Pennsylvania.
The dog was shivering with the cold, but refused to leave his master's body, and as the coat was thrown over his face again he seemed very uneasy, and tried to get under it to the man's face. He had, it seems, followed the regiment into battle, and stuck to his master, and when he fell remained with him, refusing to leave him or to eat anything. As the party returned an ambulance was carrying the corpse to a little grove of trees for interment, and the little dog following [sic], the only mourner at that funeral, as the hero's comrades had been called to some other point.
[John Covode is probably the abolitionist member of Congress who was first elected (as a Whig) in 1855, was re-elected (as a Republican) in 1857, and again in 1857, 1859, 1861, and 1867; he died on 11 January 1871. See Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (searched 7 Aug 05)]On Monday last, as Hon. JOHN COVODE, in company with a number of officers, was passing over the battle-field beyond Fredericksburg, their attention was called to a small dog lying by a corpse. Mr. COVODE halted a few minutes to see if life was extinct. Raising the coat from the man's face, he found him dead. The dog, looking wistfully up, ran to the dead man's face and kissed his silent lips. Such devotion in a small dog was so singular that Mr. COVODE examined some papers upon the body, and found it to be that of Sergeant W. H. BROWN, Company C, Ninety-first Pennsylvania.
The dog was shivering with the cold, but refused to leave his master's body, and as the coat was thrown over his face again he seemed very uneasy, and tried to get under it to the man's face. He had, it seems, followed the regiment into battle, and stuck to his master, and when he fell remained with him, refusing to leave him or to eat anything. As the party returned an ambulance was carrying the corpse to a little grove of trees for interment, and the little dog following, the only mourner at that funeral, as the hero's comrades had been called to some other point.
I. The marriage of William Henry Brown to Sarah Christine at Phila Pa. Sept 18, 1857, by the Revd Jos. Mason, is proved by a verified copy of the church record.
II. The rolls show that William H. Brown, the above soldier was enrolled and mustered into service Sept 13, 1861, as a Corporal in Co. "C." 91. Pa. vols. and that he died from wounds received in action at Frederickburg, Va Decr. 13. 1862, Phi verified certificate shows that he died Decr 16, 1862.
III. He left no children.
IV. Power of attorney in due form to James Ross Snowden.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 13853, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that William H. Brown was enrolled on the 13th day of September, 1861, at Phila Penna in Co. "C" 91st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a Corporal on the 13th day of September 1861, at Phila Penna, in Co. "C" 91st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co. "C" of that Regiment, for the months of November + December 1862, he is reported "died from wounds received in Action at Fredricksburg Va Dec 13th 1862"
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Sam G Breck [?]
Assistant Adjutant General
Personally appeared before me the undersigned the Prothy of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said City, the Rev. Francis Hodgson who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he is the Pastor of the 5th Street Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of Philada and has the custody of the records of the said [?] Church: and he further states that among the said records and on the books of the said Church the following entry appears, which said entry is in the handwriting of the Rev. Joseph Mason who appears to have performed the Ceremony of Marriage viz. "Married September 18th 1857 William Henry Brown to Sarah Christine. By Joseph Mason, Pastor of 5th St. M.E. Church."
Deponent further states that he has no interest in this application.
The name of the above-described pensioner who was last paid at the rate of $30 per month to APR 4 1924, has this day been dropped from the roll because of Death May 4, 1924
O J RandallThis is to Certify, that on the 13th day of Sept. 1861 William H. Brown was mustered into the Volunteer service of the United States for three years in Company "C," Captain PETER D. KEYSER, attached to Colonel E. M. GREGORY'S Regiment of Infantry, P.V.
Returned
I received your letter of inquiry in regard to your Husband William Henry and I am sorry to inform you that he was mortally wounded on the 13th inst and died, from the effects of his wounds on the morning of the 16th;
he was brought to this side of the river and had his leg amputated and had attention paid him untill [sic] he was buried.
I was present with him when he died, and I think that death relieved him of a great deal of pain for he suffered untold agony from the time he was wounded; he was struck by a shell which injured both legs and tore off part of his thigh.
The account of his burial
[page 15]
by the Hon John Covode is very near correct; with the difference that it was not on the battle field but three miles away that he died, and I left Conrad and John Wright to bury him as I was ordered away with the company.
His body can be sent home but we are all out of money: he will have to be embalmed and I would like to know wether [sic] you would like to have his body remain where it is untill [sic] some of his Relatives come for it or wether [sic] you will wait untill [sic] the Regt is paid off when Conard [sic] proposes to send him home.
It will cost about $50 to get his body to Philada.
Conrad is safe so is Harry [sic] McKane.
Please examine the enclosed certificate of T. H. Parsons, a Captain of Company C of the 91st Regiment of Pa. Vols, and return the same with a report as to his rank and the genuineness of his signature.
Respectfully, yours,I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of a letter asking for the rank and verification of the signature of T. H. Parsons, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
It appears from the rolls on file in this Office that the signature of T. H. Parsons, who was, on the 3rd day of April, 1863, Captain of Co. "C" 91st Regiment of Penna Volunteers, upon the within certificate is genuine.
I am, sir, very respectfully,| AMOUNTS CLAIMED. | CHARGES APPROVED. | DEDUCTIONS. | ||
| Physicians' bills | $ | $4 | State aid immaterial | |
| Medicine | [$]3 | Assets | ||
| Board | Insurance " [sc. immaterial] | |||
| Nursing and care | Amount waived | |||
| Rent | ||||
| Living expenses for pensioner | ||||
| Undertaker's bill | 195.50 | |||
| Livery | ||||
| Cemetery charges | TOTAL | |||
| OTHER EXPENSES. | SUMMARY. | |||
| Board and room | 30. | Charges approved | 232.50 | |
| Deductions | ||||
| Amount approved | ||||
| TOTAL | 232.50 | |||
I make application for Widows [sic] incrse [sic] my name is Sarah Brown
6021 Spring StI enclose Certificate signed by Dr. Frank S. Bowman and J. Griggs Schooley for Reimbursement for Sarah Brown, also Bill of E. Bowen & Son for Burial expenses etc., and also Two Affidavits by Sarah J. Hoppe and Janette Williamson.
Hoping that the above will prove satisfactory and that I will receive the remittance with [sic] the next few days,
I remainIn your claim for reimbursement in the case of Sarah Brown, I have to advise you that the enclosed certificate should be signed by the manager of the firm E. Bowen & Son, undertakers, and returned.
Respectfully,In your claim for reimbursement in the case of Sarah Brown, I have to advise you that itemized bills for undertaking, livery and cemetery charges should be furnished, each of which should contain the pensioner's name and a statement over the signature of the creditor showing by whom paid, or if unpaid, that you are held responsible for payment.
The affidavits should be furnished of two credible persons having personal knowledge, showing whether the pensioner left any money or property of any value.
The enclosed certificate should be signed by Dr. Frank S. Bowman and the druggist from whom the medicine was purchased, and returned.
Respectfully,On this 17th day of May, A.D., 1924, before me, the undersigned, personally appeared MAGGIE J. DUBISEE, aged 58 years, a resident of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, who makes the following declaration as an application for, and claim is hereby made for, reimbursement from the accrued pension for expenses paid (or obligation incurred) in the last sickness and burial of SARAH BROWN, who was a pensioner of the United States by certificate No. 4959 and who DIED May 4, 1924, at 6021 Spring St., Philadelphia and was buried at Fernwood Cemetery, Del. Co., Pa.
That said deceased pensioner did not leave sufficient assets to defray the expenses of her last sickness and burial.
That the deceased pensioner did not leave a widow; that said deceased pensioner did not leave a minor child or children under sixteen years of age.
That there was insurance (including death benefits) in force on the life of pensioner at time of death. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. $49. Maggie J. Dubisee [sc. benficiary], Maggie J. Dubisee [sc. person premiums paid by].
That said deceased pensioner did not leave any money, real estate, or personal property. none
That the following is a complete statement of all the expenses of the last sickness and burial of said deceased pensioner.
(Each charge entered below should be supported by an itemized bill of the person who rendered the service or furnished any supplies for which reimbursement is demanded and should show, over his signature, by whom paid, or who is help responsible for payment, and contain the name of the pensioner for whom the expense was incurred or service rendered. If no charge was made for any item, that fact should be indicated.)
| NAMES | NATURE OF EXPENSES | STATE WHETHER PAID OR UNPAID | AMOUNT |
| Dr. Frank S. Bowman | Physician | unpaid | 4.00 |
| Maggie J. Dubisee | Medicine | " [sc. unpaid] | 3.00 |
| [blank] | Nursing and care | [blank] | [blank] |
| E. Bowen & Son, | Undertaker | " | 195.50 |
| [blank] | Livery | [blank] | [blank] |
| [blank] | Cemetery | [blank] | [blank] |
| Maggie J. Dubisee | Other expenses and their nature: Board, & Room, | " " | 30.00 |
| TOTAL | $232.50 |
That of the above-mentioned expenses this claimant has paid, or guaranteed the payment of, the following items: Physician $4, Medicine $3, Undertaker $195.50, Board & Room $30.
Maggie J Dubisee (Claimant's signature in full.)Subscribed and sworn to before me this 17th day of May, A.D. 1924; and I certify that the contents of the foregoing application were fully made known and explained to the claimant before swearing, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
Haney [?] Void| May 7"/24 | L. Furnishing Casket | $85.00 | ||
| Grave Case | 20.00 | |||
| Embalming | 20.00 | |||
| Hearse Fernwood Cem. | 13.00 | |||
| 2 | Limousines " " @10.00 | 20.00 | ||
| Grave Expenses + Permit | 21.00 | |||
| Advertising | 5.00 | |||
| Lady Attendant | 5.00 | |||
| Burial Blanket | 5.00 | |||
| " Silk Hdkf. | 1.00 | |||
| Copy Certificate | .50 | |||
| $195.50 |
I am writing for information about Sarah Brown [sic] Check. She died on Sunday May 4", at five minutes of Six Oclock P.M. and her check came on the fifth and I thought I would write and let you know why it was returned and what I am to doo [sic] as we kneed [sic] the check to pay her expenses. I am her neice [sic] please let me here from you. No. of check 4959.
Mrs. Maggie J Dubisee