He was born in 1826/27 (11 (34 in 1861), 15, 19 [54 in 1880], 21 [61 at death in 1892]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15, 19, 21).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair (15). He had a heavy scar on his right thumb (15).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private on 20 August 1861 (1, 11, 15, 16, 17). He was enlisted for 3 years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff (15, 16 [Lt Col], 17 [Lt Col]). He was in company C (1, 22 (sgt), 23 (sgt)).
He was appointed second sergeant on 21 September 1861 (13).
He was wounded on 13 December 1862 at Fredericksburg Virginia (1, 4). He was taken to the hospital from Stoneman's Switch (4). On 7 February 1863, he was in a hospital in Washington DC because of those wounds (9). He eventually went to Philadelphia (5).
He was promoted to first sergeant (1, 11 [unknown date], 12, 14).
He was commissioned, but not mustered in, as first lieutenant, on 22 December 1862, when Theodore Parsons was appointed captain (1, 8, 11, 12, 14).
The regiment had not heard officially from him as of 28 August 1863, but thought he was in Philadelphia (4). He was still in Philadelphia, recovering from the wounds, on 14 November 1863 (5).
He was discharged at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 21 November 1863 on surgeon's certificate of disability, by Special Order 518 [?], Secretary of War, 21 November 1863 (1 [has 23 Nov], 2 [has 24 Nov], 7, 8 [21 Nov], 10, 11 [23 Nov 63], 14 [resigned], 17 [for diability, 23 Dec]). The order reached the 5th Corps, 2nd Division, Headquarters on 23 November (7), and reached the 91st Pennsylvania on 8 December, after they had already filed the returns for November (6). He was first sergeant of company C (22, 23).
On 28 April 1879, he applied successfully for a pension (18, 20).
In 1880, he was living at 2216 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (19). He was a park guard (19). He was living with his wife Margaret (19).
He attended the 1884 meeting of the 91st's Survivors' Association (2).
He died of inflammation of brain + pneumonia, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 20 March 1892 (20, 21). He was married (21). He was a park guard (21). He died at, or was buried from, 2411 Seybert Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21). On 24 March 1892, he was buried in Northwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21).
On 11 May 1892, his widow, Margaret R Delavan, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (18, 20).
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 The ninety-first [account of the 1884 meeting of the Survivors' Association] Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail, 20 December 1884, page 6 column 2 (James Delavean)
4 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 28 August 1863
5 letter, Gregory to Marvin, 14 November 1863
6 letter, Sinex to Thomas, 8 December 1863
7 special order 518, Adjutant General's Office, War Dept, 21 November 1863
9 consolidated morning report, 7 February 1863
10 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 9 December 1863 (James Delavan)
11 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (James M Delavan; rolls have 'Delavean')
12 company C List of commissioned officers (James Delavan)
13 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 1, sergeants (James Delavan)
14 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 2, first sergeants (James Delavan)
15 company C, descriptive roll, number 2 (James Delavan)
16 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 5 [This entry is crossed out] (James Delavan)
17 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 7 (James Delavan)
18 pension index, by name (James Delavan)
19 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 635, microfilm series T9, film 1188, page 328 B = 18 handwritten (James Delavan)
20 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (James Delavan)
21 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 20 March 1892 (James Delavan)
22 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Delavan)
23 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James Delavant)
| line | 22 | 23 |
| street name | South Street | |
| house number | 2216 | |
| dwelling visit # | 142 | |
| family visit # | 147 | |
| name | Delavan James | - Margaret |
| color | W | W |
| sex | M | F |
| age | 54 | 36 |
| month born if born in year | ||
| relationship | Wife | |
| single | ||
| married | 1 | 1 |
| widowed/divorced | ||
| married during year | Park Guard | Housekeeping |
| occupation | ||
| months unemployed | ||
| currently ill? | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf/dumb | ||
| idiotic | ||
| insane | ||
| disabled | ||
| school this year | ||
| can't read | ||
| can't write | ||
| birthplace | Phila | Phila |
| father's birthplace | Phila | Phila |
| mother's birthplace | Phila | Phila |