He enlisted under the alias 'James Clarke'. [sources: 3, 7]
He was born on 31 August 1836, in Lancashire, England. [sources: date: 8 (31 Aug 36), 4 (May 1837), 9 (31 Aug 1841); (2 (28 in 1865), 4 (63 in 1900), 8 (54 in 1891; 72 in 1907), 15 (32 in 1870), 16 (44 in 1880). place: 2, 8, 9, 15, 16]
In 1860, he may be the William Bibby who was living in ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If so, he was a weaver, and was living with Thomas Bibby, and James Bibby and his family. However, note that while his occupation nicely matches the later occupations of the William Bibby who served in the 91st, it does not match his occupation when he enlisted. [source: 14]
When he enlisted, he was a miner. [sources: 2, 8]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 2, 8]
He seems to have served in company F of the 6th New Jersey Infantry. He may have served from 13 September 1861 through 13 September 1864. He may have deserted on 22 January 1863, at Falmouth, Virginia. [sources: 5, 6; I assume the pension index cards and file (3, 7, and 8) do not mention this service because of his desertion]
He was a substitute. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 25 March 1865. He was enlisted for one year, at Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, by Captain Lloyd. He was a private in company I. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 8 (Huntingdon PA), 17, 18]
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865. He was a private, in company I. [source: 1, 2, 3, 8, 17, 18]
On 12 August 1865, he married Anna Farrell. She was born in June 1847, in England. They were married by Reverend James McGinn, at Saint Francis Xavier, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had at least these children:
[sources: 4, 8]
In 1870, he was apparently living in ward 15, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a loom boss in a mill. He was living with his wife Annie (who was a weaver in a woolen mill). [source: 15]
In 1880, he was living at 2442 Meredith Street, ward 15, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Annie, and children Charles, John, Mary, James, and Annie. He was a loom boss. [source: 16]
In 1890, he was living at 3337 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 5]
On 17 July 1891, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension, under the Act of 27 June 1890. He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, post office address 3337 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia. He was wholly unable to earn a living by manual labor because of deafness, rheumatism, defective vision, and general debility. [sources: 3, 7, 8, 10]
In 1900, he was living at 3153 Kensington Avenue, ward 25, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Annie, and nine children. He was a loom fixer. [source: 4]
On 29 March 1907, he again applied for a pension, under the Act of 6 February 1907. He was living at 3426 F Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received $15 per month, effective 15 March 1909; the certificate was dated 6 April 1909. [sources: 3, 8, 10]
From 20 June 1907 until his death, he was treated by Dr James S Shoemaker, for uremia and congestion of liver. He lived for the last three months of his life with his son James J Bibby, at 1909 E Lippincott Street, Philadelphia, and was nursed by Margaret Bibby. [source: 8]
On 30 January 1908, his wife, Annie Bibby, died, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Members of the BVM Sodality, the Sacred Heart and Altar Societies of the Ascension Church, and the St Francis Temperance Society, were invited to attend her funeral. The funeral was held from her late residence, at the corner of Emerald and Wishart Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was buried in St Dominic's Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 8, 12, 13]
On 25 July 1909, he died, at 1909 E Lippincott Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died of uremia (which he had had for eleven months). He was a loom fixer. On 28 July 1909, he was buried at St Dominic's Cemetery, in Holmesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Members of the Loomfixers' P and B Association were invited to his funeral. He did leave a will. He had last received a pension through 4 May 1909. The Bureau of Pensions dropped him from the pension rolls on 26 August 1909. [sources: 8, 9, 10, 11]
On 13 August 1909, his son, James J Bibby, applied for reimbursement for $583.54 in expenses from his last illness and death. William Bibby had three life insurance policies, for a total of $366. [source: 8]
In Bibby's pension application, he claimed that his only military service was with the 91st Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, he is almost certainly the William Bibby who served in the 6th New Jersey. The 1890 veterans schedules have the William Bibby who served in the 6th New Jersey living at 3337 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and on 16 July 1891, the William Bibby who served in the 91st applied for a pension, listing his post-office address as 3337 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia. I have also found no other William Bibby in the censuses who could be the William Bibby who served in the 6th New Jersey. I assume he did not list his service in the 6th New Jersey in his pension application because he deserted.
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) (James Clark)
2 company I, descriptive roll, #51 (James Clark)
3 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company I (William Bibby alias James Clarke)
4 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 25, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 601, microfilm series T623, film 1467, page 109 A = 5 handwritten (William Bibby)
5 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 567, page [blank] (William Bibby)
6 'New Jersey volunteers', from the NJ Civil War record, page 285, transcribed at New Jersey State Library (accessed 23 December 2009) (William Bibby)
7 pension index, by name (accessed Ancestry, 4 October 2013) (William Bibby alias James Clarke)
8 pension documents file, soldier's certificate 852,487 (William Bibby alias James Clark)
9 death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, July 1909, #17414, (FamilySearch) (William Bibby)
10 Veterans Administration pension payment cards, 1907-1933, National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm series M850, film 167 (FamilySearch) (William Bibby alias James Clark)
11 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 26 July 1909 page 13 (William Bibby)
12 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 2 February 1908 page 10 (Annie Bibby)
13 Pennsylvania death indices, 1908 ("Bibby, Annie; 9544; Phila.; Jan. 30.")
14 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 169, page 139 = 139 handwritten (FamilySearch) (William Bibby)
15 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 15, district 46, microfilm series M593, film 1400, page 5 verso = 10 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Wm Bibby)
16 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 15, enumeration district 285, microfilm series T9, film 1175, page 490 = 12 D handwritten (FamilySearch) (Wm Bibby)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Clark)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Clarke)
| line | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Dwelling number | [1018] | 1019 | ||||
| Family number | 1119 | |||||
| Name | Jas. Bibby | Mary | William | Thomas | Thos Bibby | William |
| Age | 30 | 29 | 9 | 1 | 28 | 24 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | m | m |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Weaver | " | " | |||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||||
| Place of birth | England | " | " | Pa | England | " |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | |||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 21 | 22 |
| Dwelling-house number | [62] | |
| Family number | 75 | |
| Name | Bibby Wm | - Annie |
| Age | 32 | 24 |
| Sex | M | F |
| Color | W | W |
| Occupation | Loom Boss (in Mill) | Weaver in Woolen Mill |
| Real estate value | ||
| Personal estate value | ||
| Birthplace | England | England |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 |
| 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 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| street name | Meredith St | ||||||
| house number | 2442 | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 60 | ||||||
| family visit # | 68 | ||||||
| name | Bibby Wm | " Annie | " Chas | " Jno | " Mary | " James | " Annie |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | F | M | F |
| age | 44 | 34 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 11/12 |
| month born if born in year | July | ||||||
| relationship | Wife | son | son | daughter | son | daughter | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||||
| widowed/divorced | |||||||
| married during year | |||||||
| occupation | Loom boss | Keeping house | weaver | at school | |||
| months unemployed | |||||||
| currently ill? | |||||||
| blind | |||||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||||
| idiotic | |||||||
| insane | |||||||
| disabled | |||||||
| school this year | 1 | ||||||
| can't read | |||||||
| can't write | |||||||
| birthplace | England | do | Penna | do | do | New Jersey | Penna |
| father's birthplace | England | England | England | do | do | do | do |
| mother's birthplace | England | do | do | do | do | do | do |
| line | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| street | Kensington Av | ||||||||||
| house number | 3153 | ||||||||||
| dwelling number | 93 | ||||||||||
| family number | 93 | ||||||||||
| name | Bibby William | " Annie | " Charles | " John | " Mary | " James | " Annia [sic] | " Egbert | " Ellen | " Hugh | " Kattie [sic] |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Daughter | Son | Daughter | Son | Daughter | Son | Daughter |
| color | " [sc. W] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| sex | M | F | M | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F |
| birth date | May 1837 | June 1847 [?] | Sep 1867 | Dec 1871 | June 1873 | Sep 1876 | July 1880 | Oct 1883 | Dec 1885 | Aug 1888 | April 1892 |
| age | 63 | 52 [?] | 32 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 8 |
| married? | M | M | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| # years married | 34 | 34 | |||||||||
| mother of how many children? | 13 | ||||||||||
| # of children living | 9 | ||||||||||
| birthplace | England | " | Pennsylvania | " | " | New Jersey | Pennsylvania | " | " | " | " |
| father's birthplace | England | Ireland | England | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| mother's birthplace | England | Ireland | England | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| immigration year | Un | ||||||||||
| ['Un' is written across three columns] | |||||||||||
| # years in USA | |||||||||||
| naturalized citizen? | |||||||||||
| occupation | Loom Fixer | Weaver | Twister | Seamstress | Boss [?] Spinner | Winder | Spinner | At School | " " | " " | |
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| # months in school | 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R | ||||||||||
| free or mortgaged | |||||||||||
| farm/house | H | ||||||||||
| # of farm schedule | |||||||||||
ON THIS 16th day of July, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety one personally appeared before me, a notary public within and for the County and State aforesaid, William Bibby alias James Clark aged 54 years, a resident of the City of Phila County of Phila State of Pa, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical William Bibby alias James Clark who was ENROLLED on the 25 day of March, 1865, in Co "I" 91st Pa Vols - Private - no prior or subsequent service in the war of the rebellion, and served at least ninety days, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Camp in the Fields Va on the 10th day of July, 1865. That he is wholly unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of Deafness, Rheumatism and [?] results, Defective Vision and General Debility
That said disabilities are not due to his vicious habits, and are to the best of his knowledge and belief permanent. That he has never applied for pension
That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension-roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890. He hereby appoints
W. V. SICKEL, of Philadelphia, Pa.,his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim, and he directs that the sum of ten dollars be paid to said attorney. That his POST OFFICE ADDRESS is 3337 Kensington ave County of Philada State of Pa
[Persona]lly appeared James Grant, residing at Phila Pa and Chas. A. Bibby residing at Philada Pa, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say they were present and saw William Bibby alias Jas Clark, the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him for 25 years and 13 years, respectively, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
James GrantOn this 10 day of March A.D. one thousand nine hundred and nine (1909) personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, William Bibby, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 72 years of age, and a resident of Philadelphia county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania; and that he is the identical person who was ENROLLED at Huntingdon Pa. under the name of James Clarke, on the 25 day of March, 1865, as a Private, in Co "I" 91st Penna. Vet. Vols. in the service of the United States, in the Civil war, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Camp in the Field Va, on the 10th day of July, 1865 That he also served [blank] That he was not employed in the military or naval service of the United States otherwise than as stated above. That his personal description at enlistment was as follows: Height, 5 feet 6 inches; complexion, fair; color of eyes, blue; color of hair, dark; that his occupation was miner; that he was born August 31, 1836, at Lancashire England
That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Philadelphia Penna
That he is a pensioner. That he has heretofore applied for pension Cert # 852487
That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the act of February 6, 1907.
That his post-office address is 3426 "F" St. Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania
Also personally appeared Hugh Bibby, residing in Philadelphia Penna. and Charles A. Bibby, residing in Philadelphia Penna., 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 William Bibby, the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of the claimant and their acquaintance with him of 21 years and 42 years respectively, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
Hugh BibbySUBSCRIBED and sworn to before me this 10th day of March, A.D. 1909, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words [blank], erased, and the words [blank], added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
Joseph J GeggisIn forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below.
Very respectfully,SIR: You are hereby directed to drop from the roll the name of the above-described pensioner who died July 25", 1909
J. L. Davenport.SIR: The name of the above-described pensioner, who was last paid at $15 per month to MAY 4 1909, has this day been dropped from the roll of this agency.
S. MulhollandIt is alleged that the above-named man enlisted Mch 25, 1865, and served as a pri in Co. I, 91 Reg't Pa. Inf. also as a [blank], and was discharged at Camp in the Field, Va on July 10, 1865.
No. of prior claim [blank]The War Department will please furnish an official statement in this case, showing date of enrollment and date and mode of termination of service.
Very respectfully,On this 10 day of Aug, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and nine, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid, James J. Bibby, aged 34 years, a resident of Phila., County of Phila, State of Penna., who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain reimbursement from the accrued pension for expenses paid (or obligation incurred) by claimant for the last sickness and for the burial of William Bibby alias James Clark, who was a pensioner of the United States by certificate No. 852487. Pension was last paid to May 4, 1909, by the U.S. Pension Agent at Philadelphia
That my post-office address is No. 1909 on Lippincott Street, in the town or City of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, State of Penna
That the answers to questions propounded below are full, complete, and truthful to my best knowledge, information, and belief, and that no evidence necessary to a proper adjustment of all claims against the pension accrued is suppressed or withheld.
| NAMES. | NATURE OF EXPENSES. | STATE WHETHER PAID OR UNPAID. | AMOUNT. |
| James S. Shoemaker | Physician's bills | Not paid | 60 00 |
| Medicine Included in Physicians [sic] Bill | |||
| James J Bibby | Board | Not paid | 120 - |
| Margaret Bibby | Nursing and care | Not paid | 35 - |
| James Vicient [?] | Rent | Not paid | 9 - |
| Henry Smith | Groceries and other living expenses for use of pensioner. | Not paid | 85 15 |
| Francis E. Nugent | Undertaker's bill | Paid | 161 - |
| John O'Brien | Coal | Not paid | 34 89 |
| A Domnicks | Cemetery charges | Paid | 12 - |
| OTHER EXPENSES AND THEIR NATURE | |||
| D. J. Brueghal | Mass for deceased | Paid | 25 - |
| Kate Bibby, Charles Bibble and John Bibby | Mdse, Clothing + ect. [sic] at request of deceased | Paid | 41.50 |
| TOTAL | 583 54 | ||
(When the claimant for reimbursement is a married woman she is required to sign the application with her own full name, not using the Christian name or the initials of her husband, and all bills should be receipted to her in her name.)
James J. BibbyAlso personally appeared Fred Rotwell and [blank], 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 James Bibby, the claimant, sign his name (or make [blank] mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they were acquainted with William Bibby, the pensioner named in the foregoing application, and that they know the claimant herein; that they have read all the questions, answers, and declarations in said application and believe the facts therein set forth to be true; and that they have no interest, direct or indirect, in this claim.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10 day of August, A. D. 1909; and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words [blank] erased and the words [blank] added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
I certify that the foregoing statement is correct.
J S Shoemaker Attending physician.| CLASS. | RATE. | DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. | DATE OF CERTIFICATE. |
| REISSUE | 15 | Mar. 15 /09 | Apr. 6 /09 |
BIBBY.--January 30, 1908, ANNIE BIBBY, wife of William Bibby, aged 61 years. Relatives and friends, also the BVM Sodality, the Sacred Heart and Altar Societies of the Ascension Church, and the St Francis Temperance Society, are invited to attend the funeral, Monday, at 8 30 AM from her late residence, corner Emerald and Wishart sts (25th ward). High requiem mass at the Church of the Ascension, at 10 AM. Interment at St Dominic's Cemetery.
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from Aug 12 1908 to July 24 1909 that I last saw him alive on July 24 1909 and that death occurred, on the date stated above at 3 A.M.
The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:BIBBY--On July 25, 1909, WILLIAM BIBBY, husband of the late Anna Bibby. Relatives and friends also Loomfixers' P and B Association, are invited to attend the funeral, on Wednesday, at 8 30 A M. from the residence of his son, 1909 E Lippincott st, 25th ward. High requiem mass at Church of the Ascension at 10 A M. Interment at St Dominic's, Holmesburg.