When he enlisted, he was born in 1822/23 (2 (38 in 1861), 4 (38 in 1861), 8 [40 in 1860], 9 [50 in 1870], 10 [62 at death in 1880], 20 [62 at death]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 19).
In 1860, he was living in ward 12, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He was a sheet iron worker, and owned $600 in personal property (8). He was living with Ann (presumably his wife), and with Debora, Nathan, Susannah, and Horace (presumably their children (8).
When he enlisted, he was a sheet iron worker (2).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (2, 4). He had a scar and a raised [?] nail on the little finger of his left hand (4).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 18 September 1861 (1, 2, 4, 5, 19). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Smith (4, 5). He was mustered in at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2). He was a private, in company C (1, 21).
He was discharged at Camp near Falmouth, Virginia, on 31 January 1863 [or possibly 27 January (2)] on surgeon's certificate of disability, by order of the medical director of the division (1, 2, 3, 5, 19 [31 Jan 1862]). He was a private, in company C (21).
Probably in fall 1869, he was a sheet iron worker, and lived at 5 Rechel's Row, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11).
In 1870, he was living in ward 12, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with Ann (presumably his wife), and Debby, Nathaniel, Susanah, Horace, and George (presumably their children (9).
On 11 August 1870, he applied unsuccessfully for a pension (6, 7).
Probably in fall 1871, he was an ironworker, and lived at 1 [?] Rechel's Row, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12).
Probably in fall 1872, he was a laborer, and lived at rear 493 Dillwyn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13).
Probably in fall 1873, he was a laborer, and lived at rear 493 Dillwyn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14).
Probably in fall 1874, he was a janitor, and lived at rear 493 Dillwyn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15).
Probably in fall 1876, he was a janitor, and lived at 508 Dillwyn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16).
On 8 May 1878, he was mustered into George G Meade Post, Number 1, Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic (19).
Probably in fall 1878, he was a janitor, and lived at 528 Dillwyn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17).
Probably in fall 1879, he was a janitor, and lived at 528 Dillwyn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (18).
His wife died "some months" before he did, and he was depressed after her death (20).
On 6 April 1880, he died, of an accidental dose of laudanum (10, 19, 20). He was living at rear 530 Dillwyn Street (20). He was found said at the Saunders Public School, where he was janitor (20). He died at, or was buried from, Dilwyn Street below Green Street, 12th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (10). He was married (10). He was a lamplighter (10). On 9 April 1880, he was buried, at [Greenwood] Knights of Pythias Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (10, 19 [North Cedar Hill]). The George G Meade GAR post paid for the service, and performed the Grand Army service at the grave (19).
On 7 December 1889, his minor dependent, Horace M Duncan (and others) applied unsuccessfully from New Jersey for a pension (6, 7).
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 discharge certificate, George S. Duncan (supplied by Dennis Clowney)
3 company C, register of men discharged, number 10 (George S Duncan)
4 company C, descriptive roll, entry 29 (George S Duncan)
5 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 26 (George S Duncan)
6 pension index, by name (George S Duncan)
7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (George S Duncan)
8 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 12, microfilm series M653, film 1162, page 111 = 111 handwritten (George S Duncan)
9 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 12, 3rd division, Dillwyn Street East Side, page 679 verso = 14 handwritten (Geo Duncan)
10 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 April 1880 (George Duncan)
11 1870 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 490 (George S Duncan)
12 1872 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 449 (George S Duncan)
13 1873 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 446 (George S Duncan)
14 1874 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 425 (George S Duncan)
15 1875 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 456 (George S Duncan)
16 1877 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 438 (George S Duncan)
17 1879 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 477 (George S Duncan)
18 1880 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, page 505 (George S Duncan)
19 Joseph Ripley Chandler Ward. History of George G. Meade Post No. One Department of Pennsylvania Grand Army of the Republic. Philadelphia, 1889. Page 95 (George S Duncan)
20 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 8 April 1880 page 2 (George Duncan)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (George S Duncan)
On April 6th Comrade George S. Duncan died, and was buried on the 9th at Frankford. The Post took full charge of the funeral, bearing the whole expense. A committee of the Post, under Past Commander Jos. R. C. Ward, accompanied the remains to the cemetery and performed the Grand Army service at the grave.
George S. Duncan was born in Philadelphia, Penna.; enlisted as private in Co. C, 91st Reg't Penna. Vols., on September 18, 1861; was discharged January 31, 1862 [sic]. He was mustered into Geo. G. Meade Post, No. 1, Department of Penna., May 8, 1878, and died April 6, 1880, aged sixty-one years. Buried at North Cedar Hill Cemetery, Frankford, Philadelphia, Pa.
| line | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Dwelling number | 604 | |||||
| Family number | 790 | |||||
| Name | George S Duncan | Ann [?] K do | Debora [?] do. | Nathan [?] do | Susannah K do | Horace [?] M do |
| Age | 40 | 36 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | F | M |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Sheet Iron Worker | |||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | 600 | |||||
| Place of birth | do [sc. Penna] | do | do | do | do | do |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Dwelling-house number | [illegible] | ||||||
| Family number | 5 | ||||||
| Name | Duncan Geo | - Ann | - Debby | - Nathaniel | - Susanah | - Horace | - George |
| Age | 50 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 10 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | F | M | M |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation | |||||||
| Real estate value | |||||||
| Personal estate value | |||||||
| Birthplace | |||||||
| Father foreign born | |||||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||||
| 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 | |||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
A Sad Case.--The Deputy Coroner held an inquest yesterday on the body of George Duncan, aged sixty two years, residing in the rear of No. 530 Dillwyn street, who was found dead, on Tuesday morning, at the Saunders Public School House, Dillwyn and Callowhill streets. The evidence elicited was to the effect that the deceased had [sic] been janitor of the school house, and has [sic] been low spirited since the death of his wife, some months ago. On Tuesday morning, at an early hour, he extinguished the lights in the public lamps, having been also employed in that capacity, and repaired to the school house. After the morning session one of the pupils visited the basement and found Mr. Duncan lying on a lounge, apparently asleep. An unsuccessful attempt was made to wake him, and it was ascertained he had been dead for some time. Near him was found a bottle containing a small quantity of laudanum. Duncan had been in the habit of taking laudanum for sleeplessness, and it is supposed he took an overdose. The jury rendered a verdict of death from an overdose of laudanum, accidentally taken.