He was born in 1832/33 (9 (28 in 1861), 10 [30 in 1863], 11 [30 in 1863], 15 [50 in ?1880], 17 [30 in 1860], 18 [38 in 1870], 19 [50 in 1880], 23 [50 in 1880]). He was born in Ireland (11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20).
In 1860, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). He was living with Rebecca (presumably his wife), Anna (presumably their daughter), and Mary Walls and Jane Chism (perhaps his sister?) (17). He was a blacksmith, and owned $200 in personal property (17).
When he enlisted, he was a laborer, and was living in Philadelphia (9, 10).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, gray eyes, and dark hair (9 [light hair], 10, 11).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private on 20 November 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 8, 9, 13, 14). He was enlisted by Lieutenant Kayser, for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He was a private, in company B (1, 23, 24).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (16).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 9, 10 [25 Dec], 11 [25 Dec]). He was enlisted for three years by Lieutenant Carpenter, and mustered by Lieutenant Swan (10).
He was promoted to corporal on 13 March 1864 (3, 6, see also 7).
He was wounded on 15 May 1864 (1, 9, 11, 20, 21 [14 May]). He was still absent wounded, in hospital, later in May 1864 (21).
On 27 April 1865, he was promoted to sergeant, effective 1 April 1865 (4).
On 13 June 1865, he began a furlough, which expired on 28 June 1865 (5). He returned on 29 June 1865 (5)
He was "to be charged"--perhaps for lost equipment, when the regiment mustered out (12).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 9, 13 [14 Jul], 14). He served for forty-four months (15, 23). He was a sergeant, in company B (24).
In 1870, he was living in the 26th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (18). He was living with Jane (presumably his wife), Annie (presumably their daughter), and John (presumably his father, or perhaps uncle) (18). (I don't know whether Jane is the Rebecca he was living with in 1860, or a second wife.) He was a blacksmith, and owned $1,800 in real property and $500 in personal property (18).
On 3 October 1867, he became a naturalized US citizen, in the District Court of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (22).
On 6 April 1876 [??], he successfully applied for a pension (2, 14).
On 18 January 1880, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (15, 23). He had wounds in his right arm (15). He received a pension of $3 per month (15).
In 1880, he was living at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Montgomery County, Ohio (19). He was widowed or divorced (19). He was a spring maker, and had been out of work for twelve months in the previous year (19).
In 1882, he was present at the Central Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (15).
In 1890, he was living in the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Montgomery County, Ohio (13). He had a gunshot wound of his right arm (13).
He died on 15 November 1900 (14, 23). He apparently died in the Central Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (23). He had been receiving a pension of $8 per month, and had received a gunshot wound (23).
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 pension index, by name. (Searched 8 May 2001, on <www.ancestry.com>.)
3 special order 21, HQ 91st PA, 13 March 1864
4 special order 25, HQ 91st PA, 27 April 1865 (James Chism)
5 enlisted men's furloughs (James Chism)
6 list of non-commissioned officers, co.B (James Chism)
7 company B, [second] list of non-commissioned officers (Jas Chism)
8 company B, descriptive roll, entry 21 (James Chism)
9 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 31 May 2004 (James Chism)
10 company B, [second] descriptive book, entry 5 (James Chism)
11 company B, [third] descriptive roll, entry 4 (James Chism)
12 list of men who owed money [?], page 2, number 3 (J Chism)
13 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Ohio, Montgomery County, National Military Home, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district special, page 109 (James Chism)
14 pension index, by regiment (James Chism)
15 Annual report of the Board of Managers of the National Soldiers Home, 30 December 1882 [for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1882]. Serial Set volume 2115, session volume 1, 47th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 13, page 378 (James Chism)
16 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (James Chism)
17 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M653, film 1157, page 349 = 349 handwritten (James Chism)
18 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 26th ward, microfilm series M593, film 1414, page 536 = 46 handwritten (James Chism)
19 1880 US census, Ohio, Montgomery County, National Military Home, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 169, microfilm series T9, film 1052, page 606 = 43 handwritten (James Chism)
20 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (James Chism)
21 monthly return, company B, May 1864 (James Chism)
22 Jefferson M Moak, compiler. Military petitions for naturalization filed in the Philadelphia [county] District Court 1862-1874. Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Monograph series no. 5. c2000 (James Chism)
23 Serial Set volume 4323, session volume 56, House document 39, Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, page 487 (Jas Chism)
24 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Chism)
| line | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Dwelling number | 2096 | ||||
| Family number | 2605 | ||||
| Name | James Chism | Rebecca " | Anna " | Mary Walls | Jane Chism |
| Age | 30 | 26 | 4 | 20 | 30 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | F |
| Color | |||||
| Occupation | Blacksmith | Tailoress | do | ||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||
| Value of personal estate | 200 | ||||
| Place of birth | do [sc. Ireland] | do | Pennsylvania | Ireland | do |
| Married within year | |||||
| Attended school within year | |||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Dwelling-house number | 319 | |||
| Family number | 329 | |||
| Name | Chism James | - Jane | - Annie | John |
| Age | 38 | 42 | 13 | 70 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Black Smith | Work in Woolen Mill | At School | No Occupation |
| Real estate value | 1800 | |||
| Personal estate value | 500 | |||
| Birthplace | Ireland | Ireland | Penna | Ireland |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Birth month if born within year | ||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | |||
| Can't read | ||||
| Can't write | ||||
| [James Chism may have a '1' in the "can't write" column] | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... | ||||
| line | 30 |
| street name | Iowa Avenue |
| house number | [21] |
| dwelling visit # | [21] |
| family visit # | [21] |
| name | Chism James |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| age | 50 |
| month born if born in year | |
| relationship | Disabled Soldier [two illegible words; seem to be 'Beneficorie [? maybe beneficiary?] bort [??]'] House for D.V.S. |
| single | |
| married | |
| widowed/divorced | 1 |
| married during year | |
| occupation | Spring Maker |
| months unemployed | 12 |
| currently ill? | |
| blind | |
| deaf/dumb | |
| idiotic | |
| insane | |
| disabled | 1 |
| school this year | |
| can't read | |
| can't write | |
| birthplace | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland |