He was born on 1 March 1825 (2; 8 (36 in 1861), 15 [84 at death in 1910], 17 [75 in 1900], 19 [75 in 1900], 20 [75 in 1900]). He was born in Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania (2; 8 (Chester Cty), 17 (PA), 19 (PA), 20 (PA)). He was born to [unknown] Cox and Jane Speakman (15).
He was married to Ann Roberts Woodward, in January 1851, at Philadelphia, by Reverand Jos Kennerd; he hadn't been married before that (2). They had three children living in 1898 (2):
When he enlisted, he was a carpenter (2, 8).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had a light complexion, blue eyes, and sandy hair (2, 8).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 4 November 1861 (1, 8, 9, 14). He enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Lieutenant Gregory (8). He was a private in company G (1. 19, 20, 21).
He was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville (5, 13, 16 [wounded in arm], 18 [arm]).
On 24 April 1863, he returned to the regiment from being absent sick (4).
He was wounded on 3 July 1863, at Gettysburg Pennsylvania (1).
He was transferred to company D of the 13th Veterans' Reserve Corps on 8 July 1863 [or 23 July 1863?], at Washington, DC (1, 6 [no date], 7 [8 Jul], 8 [8 Jul], 14 [8 July], 21). When he was transferred, he was a private, in company G (21).
He mustered out on 6 November 1864, at Portland Maine (2, 9). He had served for 36 months (17, 19, 20).
He attended the 1884 meeting of the 91st's Survivors' Association (3).
On 1 August 1890 he applied for a pension (2, 11, 14). He was living at 1610 N 13th Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (2, 9, 10). He was a cabinetmaker (10). He was examined on 3 March 1891, and found to be totally deaf in the right ear, and severely deaf in the left ear (2). His pulse was 80, respiration 16, temperature 98 2/5, 5'4-1/2" tall, and he weighed 160 pounds (2). He was approved for a pension of $12 per month (2, 11).
On 28 August 1900 he was admitted from Pennsylvania to the Southern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (2, 17, 19, 20).
In 1901, he was present in the Southern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (17). He was receiving a pension of $12 per month (17). He was deaf (17).
While in the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, on 15 February 1907, he applied for a pension under a later act, and was approved to receive $20 per month (2, 14 [19 Feb 1907]).
He was discharged from the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers on 9 July 1907 (2, 19), and was also discharged from there on 9 April 1910 (2). He was then receiving a pension of $20 per month (19).
On 9 April 1910, he was discharged from the Southern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (20). He was then receiving a pension of $20 per month (20).
He died on 15 April 1910, at 3817 Baring Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, of cystitis due to enlarged prostate (duration several years), with old age contributing (2 [14 Apr], 12 [15 Apr], 14, 15). He was married (15). He was retired (15). The funeral was held on Monday at his residence, 3817 Baring Street (12). He was buried at Mt Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12, 15).
A few months later his daughter, Ella Cavender, asked for a form for accrued pension; her residence was also 3817 Baring Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (2).
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 Selections from pension file, SC 580.576, William S Cox
3 'The Ninety-first'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail, 20 December 1884, page 6 column 2
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 24 April 1863 (Pri Cox)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Private Cox)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 1 August 1863 (Private Cox)
7 company G, register of men transferred (Wm S Cox)
8 company G, descriptive roll, entry 33 (William S Cox)
9 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia (24th division [20th ward]), supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 423, page [1] (image 957 on Ancestry), line 8 (William S Cox)
10 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (William S Cox)
11 pension index, by name (William S Cox)
12 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 April 1910, page 9; also published on 16 April (William S Cox)
13 'Further from General Hooker's army', Philadelphia Inquirer, 7 May 1863, page 1 (WS Cox)
14 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company G (William S Cox)
15 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 March [sic, sc April] 1910, #10526 [?] (William S Cox)
16 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Wm S Cox)
17 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 (Wm S Cox)
18 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (Wm S Cox)
19 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908. Letter from the President of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908. Serial Set volume 5528, Session volume 118, 60th Congress, 2nd Session, House Document 1106. Nine relevant entries. page 311 (Wm S Cox)
20 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. Letter from the President of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report... fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. Serial Set volume 6058, Session volume 114, 61st Congress, 3rd Session, House Document 1078. Page 325 (Wm S Cox)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William S Cox)
COX.--On April 15, 1910, WILLIAM S COX. Relatives and friends, also members of E B Baker Post, No 8, GAR, are invited to attend the funeral services, on Monday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, at his late residence, 3817 Baring st. Interment private, at Mt Peace Cemetery.