He was born in 1845/46 (3 (18 in 1861), 5, 8 [4 in 1850], 9 [14 in 1860]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 8, 9). He was born to John M Bryson and Rebecca [unknown family name] (8). (They were married on 23 December 1844 by Reverend M Thompson (11).)
In 1850, he was living in ward 3, Spring Garden, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his parents John M and Rebecca Bryson, and other (8).
On 26 October 1857, his father, John M Bryson, died (11).
In 1860, he was living in ward 10, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with his mother Rebecca Bryson, and others (9). He had not attended school within the year (9).
When he enlisted, he was a baker (3).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-3/4 inches tall, had a light complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair (3).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 21 December 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 3 [date not certain; could be 26 December], 5 [26 Dec], 11 [26 Dec]). He was enlisted and mustered in by Captain Lentz (3). He was a private, in company E (1, 3, 5, 11, 14).
He was killed in action on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia, while charging the enemy (or the enemy's works) (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13). He was a private, in company E (14). (Walter gives a description of the battle on the 3rd of May.) He had last been paid to 28 February 1863 (11). He was not married (11).
On 9 November 1863, his mother, Rebecca Bryson, successfully applied for a pension under the act of 14 July 1862 (6, 7, 11). She lived at 829 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11). Her application was approved (retroactive to 3 May 1863) on 22 April 1864 (11).
On 1 April 1865, his mother, Rebecca L Bryson, died (10). She was buried in Woodlands Cemetery (10). She died at, or was buried from, 829 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (10). She died of pulmonary consumption (10).
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 list of deaths, company E
3 descriptive roll, company E, entry 99 (William Bryson)
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Wm Bryson)
5 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (William Bryson)
6 pension index by name (William H Bryson)
7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (William H Bryson)
8 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Spring Garden, ward 3, precinct 2, microfilm series M432, film 818, page 9 verso = [18] handwritten (Wm Bryson)
9 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 10, E.D., microfilm series M653, film 1160, pages 481-482 = 47-48 handwritten (Wm H Bryson)
10 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1 April 1865, Rebecca L Bryson
11 pension certificate file, Rebecca Bryson, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, certificate WC 19,912
12 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Wm Bryson)
13 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (William Bryson)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Bryson)
line | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
Dwellings visited | 119 | |||||
Families visited | 130 | |||||
Name | John M. Bryson | Rebecca Do | Wm Do | Ann C Do | George Do | Emma Do |
Age | 33 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 6 days | 56 |
Sex | M | F | M | F | M | F |
Color | ||||||
Occupation of males over 15 years | Painter | |||||
Real estate owned | 4,000 | |||||
Birthplace | Pennsylvania | Do | Do | Do | Do | Do |
Married within year | ||||||
Attended school within year | ||||||
Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Dwelling number | 297 | ||||||||||
Family number | 348 | ||||||||||
Name | Cathn Landis | Rebecca Bryson | Wm H " | Anna C " | George " | Francis H Bryson | Henry Landis | Hanna A " | Wm H " | Mary E " | Anna G " |
Age | 71 | 36 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 26 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Sex | F | F | M | F | M | M | M | F | M | F | F |
Color | |||||||||||
Occupation | |||||||||||
Value of real estate owned | 20,000 | 4,000 | |||||||||
Value of personal estate | 1,000 | ||||||||||
Place of birth | " [sc. Penna] | " | " | " | " | Penna | " | " | " | " | " |
Married within year | |||||||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Cannot read & write | |||||||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
1. Affidavits of identifying witnesses, showing motherhood, widowhood, that soldier left no widow nor [sic] children, + dependence.
2. Adjt. Genl's report showing on Rolls for March + April 1863. he is reported a private. "Killed in action at Chancellorsville May 3. 1863." "Last paid by Major Sheridan to Feby 28. 1863."
3. Power of Atty to Geo. W. Ford, Phila. Pa.
On this Ninth day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, personally appeared before me, the Clerk of Orphans Court in and for the City and State aforesaid Rebecca Bryson a resident of 829 Cherry St. Phila State of Pennsylvania aged 39 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, approved July 14th, A.D. 1862; that she is the widow of John M. Bryson and mother of William H. Bryson deceased, who was a Private in Company E, commanded by [blank] in the 91st Pa Vol Regiment, commanded by Colonel E. M. Gregory in the War of 1861, that said son volunteered at Philadelphia on or about the 26 day of December, 1861 and who died on the 3rd day of May 1863. She further declares that her son the said William H. Bryson while in the service and line of his duty was killed at the time and place above mentioned.
And she further declares that she was married to John M. Bryson the Father of the said William H. Bryson at Philadelphia on the 23 day of December, 1844, by Rev M Thompson that her husband, the said John M. Bryson died at Philadelphia on or about the 26 day of October 1857. That her son the said William H. Bryson contributed of his weekly earnings regularly to her support; that he assisted in paying house rent and other necessary expenses, and that she received money from him while in the Army for the same purpose, that she has no other estate coming to her, and further that she is unable to procure [?] any record evidence of marriage.
She further declares that her son, the said William H. Bryson deceased, upon whom she was wholly or in part dependent for support, having left no widow, or minor child or children under sixteen years of age surviving him, declarant makes this application for a Pension under the above mentioned Act, and refers to the evidence filed herewith, and that in the proper department, to establish her claim.
She also declares that she has not in any way, been engaged in, or aided or abetted the Rebellion in the United States; that she is not in the receipt of a pension under the 2nd. Section of the Act above mentioned, or under any other Act; nor has she married since the death of her son, the said William H. Bryson.
And I hereby make, constitute and appoint George W. Ford of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, my true and lawful Attorney for me in my name and place, to prosecute and procure the above claim for Pension,--giving and granting unto said Attorney full power and authority to do and perform every act and thing whatsoever requisite, and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intent and purposes as I might or could do if I were personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney or substitute shall lawfully do, or cause to be done by virtue hereof,--hereby revoking all and every other order or power of Attorney, that I may have given or granted to any other person for a like purpose.
Rebecca BrysonAlso personally appeared, Hannah Landis a resident of [blank], and Hannah White a resident of 1255 No 10th St. Philada. Pa, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they were present, and saw Rebecca Bryson sign her name to the foregoing declaration and power of Attorney, and they further swear that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the applicant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, that we were acquainted with William H. Bryson deceased, and have every reason to believe that he was the son of the applicant, that he served as aforesaid, and died on or about the time above mentioned,--that he died, leaving no wife or minor, child or children under sixteen years of age surviving him, and have every reason to believe that the declarant was married to the said John M. Bryson on or about the time above mentioned, and that he died as aforesaid, and that the said Rebecca Bryson is still a widow. They further declare that they saw the said William H. Bryson while in the service aforesaid, they know of the death of John M. Bryson the father of said Wm H. Bryson from the fact that they attended his funeral about the month of October 1857. They further declare that they saw the said William H. Bryson deceased give his mother money at various times from his earnings to assist in paying the house rent and for other necessary expenses of the family, that they saw letters from him while in the Army which contained money and which he then stated was for the above mentioned purposes, and that there is no other estate due her. That the said Rebecca and John M. Bryson lived together as husband and wife and were so regarded and respected. and they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
Hannah LandisSworn to and subscribed before me on this 9th day of October A.D. 1863, and I hereby certify that I have no interest directly or indirectly in the prosecution of this claim;--that the said Court is a Court of Record in and for the City and State aforesaid, that I am duly authorized to administer oaths in and for said Court, and have the custody of its official seal.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Philadelphia, Pa., this 9th day of October A.D. 1863.
PM Batters [?]I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 38.070, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
There is no evidence on file in this Office that William Bryson was enrolled and mustered into service in Co "E", 91st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. But on the Muster Roll of Co. "E" of that Regiment, for the months of March + April '63 + dated May 10th 1863, there is the following evidence of service: He is reported a Private "Killed in action at Chancellorsville May 3 1863" "Last paid by Major Sheridan to Feby 28" 1863"
I am, Sir, very respectfully,I, Matthew Hall hereby certify on honor, that William H. Bryson who was a Private in Company "E" 91st Regiment Pa. Vols. commanded by Col. E. M. Gregory and who volunteered at Philada. Pa on or about the 26th day of Dec. 1861 while in the service of the United States and in the line of his duty, he received a gunshot wound while engaged at the battle of Chancellorsville Va May 3rd 1863 from the effects of which he died on the 3rd day of May 1863 on the field of Battle.
And I certify to the above from a personal knowledge of him and of his services.
In Testimony whereof, witness my hand and seal this First day of November A.D. 1863 at Camp near Warrenton Junction Va
Matthew Hall Capt [seal]