He was born in March 1837 (16; 3 (19 in 1864), 6 (19 in 1864), 12 [72 yrs 1 mo 25 dys at death in 1904], 13 [26 in 1860], 14 [36 in 1870], 15 [45 in 1880], 16 [63 in 1900]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16). He was born to David and Eliser [?] Earnest (12).
In 1859/60, he married Francis [unknown family name] (16). In 1900, she had had two children, one of whom was alive (16).
In 1860, he was living in ward 8, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13). He was living with his wife Fanny and presumed child John (13). He was a stamper, and owned $300 in personal property (13).
When he enlisted, he was a differ [??] (3). (Perhaps the word is "dipper"?)
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6-1/2 inches tall, had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair (3).
He enlisted, as a recruit, and was mustered into service for three years, on 2 February 1864, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 3, 6, 7). He was enlistd by Lieutenant Shipley, and mustered into service by Lieutenant Burke (3). He was a private in company E (1, 3, 17, 18).
He was absent on a ten-day furlough beginning 17 October 1864 (11). He had returned from leave by 30 October 1864 (10).
On 3 February 1865, he was detailed as a stretcher bearer (5).
On 13 February 1865 he was detailed for duty in the 1st division ambulance corps (4).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 7). He was a private, in company E (17, 18).
In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14). He was living with his wife Fannie, presumed child John, and with Sarah Richards (14). He was a laborer, and owned $125 in personal property (14).
In 1880, he was living at 1433 [??] South 13th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15). He was living with his wife Frances, son John, sister-in-law Sallie Richards, and a servant (15). He was goffering (15).
He attended the 1884 meeting of the 91st's Survivors' Association (2).
On 13 June 1889, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (9).
In 1890, he was living at 1818 Bucknell Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7, 8). He was a goffer (8).
In 1900, he was living at 2311 Oxford [?] Street (16). He was living with his wife Francis, and his brother- and sister-in-law Charles and Sallie Phillips (16). He was a photographer (16).
He died on 16 May 1904, at 1443 Indiana Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of inanition, with alcoholic gastritis contributing (12). He was retired (12). He was widowed (12). He was buried at Chelton Hills Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 19 May 1904 (12).
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' [report of Survivor's Association meeting]. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail, 20 December 1884, page 6 column 2.
3 descriptive roll, company E, entry 128 (Robert T Earnest)
4 special order 7 [?], headquarters, 5th army corps, 13 [?] February 1865
5 letter, Donnell to Farnsworth, 3 February 1865
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 22 May 2004 (Robert T Earnest)
7 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 775, page 3 (image 2474 on Ancestry) (Robert G Earnest)
8 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (Robert T Earnest)
9 pension index, by name (Robert T Earnest)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 30 October 1864 (not named, but no one absent on leave in company E)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 October 1864 (Privt Earnest)
12 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 May 1904 (Robert T Earnest)
13 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 8, microfilm series M653, film 1158,l page 76 = 76 handwritten (Robt T Earnest)
14 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, district 84, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 178 = 56 handwritten (Robt Earnest)
15 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 26, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 552, microfilm series T9, film 1185, page 536 = 10 B handwritten (Thomas R Earnest)
16 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 29, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 740, microfilm series T623, film 1471, page 234 = 1 A handwritten (Thomas R Earnest)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Robert F Ernest)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Robert T Earnest)
| line | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Dwelling number | 461 | ||
| Family number | 556 | ||
| Name | Robt T. Earnest | Fanny " | John " |
| Age | 26 | 25 | 4/12 |
| Sex | m | f | m |
| Color | |||
| Occupation | Stamper | ||
| Value of real estate owned | |||
| Value of personal estate | 300 | ||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Penna] | Delaware | Penna |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | |||
| Cannot read & write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Dwelling-house number | 113 | |||
| Family number | 128 | |||
| Name | Earnest Robt | - Fannie | - John D. | Richards Sarah |
| Age | 36 | 35 | 10 | 24 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Laborer | Keep house | At School | Bonnet Trimmer |
| Real estate value | ||||
| Personal estate value | $125 | |||
| Birthplace | Penn | Delaware | Penn | Delaware |
| Father foreign born | ||||
| Mother foreign born | ||||
| Birth month if born within year | ||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | |||
| 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 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| street name | South [13th Street] | ||||
| house number | [illegible; perhaps '1433'?] | ||||
| dwelling visit # | 63 | ||||
| family visit # | 74 | ||||
| name | Earnest Thomas R | - Frances | - John | Richards Sallie | Millett Eliza |
| color | W | W | W | W | Mu |
| sex | M | F | M | F | F |
| age | 45 | 44 | 20 | 31 | 34 |
| month born if born in year | |||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Sister in law | Servant | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | |||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | Goffering | Keeping House | Works in Shirt Store | Goffering | Servant |
| months unemployed | |||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | |||||
| can't read | |||||
| can't write | |||||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | N. Carolina |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | N. Carolina |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | N. Carolina |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| street | [Oxford Street] | |||
| [the street name does not appear on this sheet] | ||||
| house number | 2311 | |||
| dwelling number | 1 | |||
| family number | 1 | |||
| name | Ernst Thomas R. | - Francis H [ ?] | Phillips Charles A. | - Sallie C. |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Bro-in-Law | Sister-in-Law |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F |
| birth date | Mch. 1837 | Oct. 1837 | Aug 1845 | Aug 1847 |
| age | 63 | 62 | 54 | 52 |
| married? | M | M | M | M |
| # years married | 40 | 40 | 1 | 1 |
| mother of how many children? | 2 | 0 | ||
| # of children living | 1 | 0 | ||
| birthplace | Pennsyvlania | Deleware [sic] | Maryland | Deleware [sic] |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Deleware [sic] | England | Deleware [sic] |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Deleware [sic] | Maryland | Deleware [sic] |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Photographer | Bookkeeper | ||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | ||
| # months in school | ||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| owned/rented | R | |||
| free or mortgaged | ||||
| farm/house | H | |||
| # of farm schedule | ||||