In 1890 and 1900, he was going by the name 'Penrose F Thomas', but in 1870 and 1880 he was going by 'Penrose Forsyth'. His death certificate records two names: 'Thomas Penrose Forsyth' and 'Penrose F Thomas'. [sources: 14, 15, 16, 17, 21]
He was born in June 1843, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to David Thomas Forsyth [?] and [unknown]. [sources: date: 14; 10 (19 in 1861), 11 (19 in 1861), 15 (36 in 1880), 17 (28 in 1870), 21 (66 yrs in 1908). place: 10, 14, 15, 21. parents: 21]
When he enlisted, he was a farmer, and was living in Philadelphia. [sources: 10, 11]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and light hair. [sources: 10, 11]
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private on 17 September 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia Pennsylvania, by Captain Smith. He was a private, in company A. [sources: 1, 10, 11, 19-20]
On 9 June 1863, he was sick in his quarters. [source: 5]
He was missing in action on 27 June 1863. He was then second sergeant. He was dropped from the rolls on 9 July 1863, by order of Brigadier General Garrard. On the next consolidated morning report, dated 28 July 1863, he was reported as having been dropped because he was missing in the campaign. [sources: 6, 9, 10]
On 31 August 1863, he was reported regained. [source: 7]
On 8 September 1863, Sinex reported that he was in Philadelphia, and able to rejoin the regiment, and requested his return. [source: 3]
On 24 September 1863, he returned to duty from being absent sick. [source: 9]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia. [source: 1]
On 26 March 1864, he was reported sent to hospital. [source: 12]
He was a sergeant on 11 October 1864. [source: 4]
On 11 October 1864, he was reduced to the ranks for being absent without leave and deserting from hospital. And on 13 October 1864, he was reported absent sick. [sources: 4, 18]
He was absent, sick, at muster out. He was a private in company A. [sources: 1, 4, 10, 11, 19-20]
In 1867/68, he married Susan P [unknown family name]. They apparently had these two children:
[sources: 14, 15]
In 1870, he was probably living in the 2nd ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a varnisher, and was living with his wife Susan. [source: 16]
In 1880, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a telegraph clerk. He was living with his wife, Susan, and his daughters Lillie and Mabel. [source: 15]
In 1890, he was living at 44 Sewall Street, Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [source: 17]
In 1900, he was living at 396 Midford [?], Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was a furniture salesman, and had been out of work for two months in the previous year. [source: 14]
On 26 April 1905, he applied successfully from Massachusetts for a pension. [sources: 2, 13]
On 17 August 1908, he died, at 9 Hudson Street, Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He died of exhaustion, with diabetes mellitus contributing. He was a furniture salesman. On 19 August 1908, he was buried, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts. [source: 21]
On 3 October 1908, Susan P Forsythe, his widow, applied successfully from Massachusetts for a pension. [sources: 2, 13]
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 pension index, by regiment (Penrose Forsythe)
3 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 8 September 1863
4 special order 92, HQ 91st PA, 11 October 1864
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 9 June 1863 (Sergt Forsythe)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 July 1863 (Sergt Forsythe)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 31 August 1863 (Sergt Forsyth)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 24 September 1863 (Sergt Forsyth)
9 Register of men discharged, co.A (Penrose Forsyth)
10 company A descriptive roll entry 16 (Penrose Forsyth)
11 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (Penrose Forsythe)
12 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 26 March 1864 (Sergt Forsythe)
13 pension index, by name (Penrose Forsythe)
14 1900 US census, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, 5th ward Somerville City, supervisor's district 115, enumeration district 944, page 34 stamped = sheet 5 handwritten, lines 55-61 (Penrose F Thomas [sic])
15 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 41, handwritten page 17 = stamped page 154A, NARA film T9-1167, lines 31-34 (Penrose Forsythe)
16 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 2nd ward 6th district, page 175 = page 37 handwritten (Penrose Forsigh)
17 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Somerville, supervisor's district 67, enumeration district 599, page 4 (Penrose F Thomas [sic])
18 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 13 October 1864 (Privt Forsythe)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Penrose Forsythe)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Penrose Forsyth)
21 New England Historic Genealogical Society, Massachusetts vital records, 1840-1911 (Thomas Penrose Forsyth [or] Penrose F. Thomas)
| line | 7 | 8 |
| Dwelling-house number | [265] | |
| Family number | [283] | |
| Name | Forsigh Susan | - Penrose |
| Age | 25 | 28 |
| Sex | F | M |
| Color | W | W |
| Occupation | - | Varnisher |
| Real estate value | ||
| Personal estate value | ||
| Birthplace | Penn | Penn |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| street name | [illegible] | |||
| house number | 1024 | |||
| dwelling visit # | 157 | |||
| family visit # | 169 | |||
| name | Forsythe Penrose | - Susan | - Lillie | - Mabel |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F |
| age | 36 | 34 | 9 | 4 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | wife | Daughter | Daughter | |
| single | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||
| widowed/divorced | ||||
| married during year | ||||
| occupation | Telegraph Clerk | Keeping house | At School | At home |
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | 1 | |||
| can't read | ||||
| can't write | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| line | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 |
| street | Midford [?] | ||||||
| house number | 396 | ||||||
| dwelling number | 89 [?] | ||||||
| family number | 111 | ||||||
| name | Thomas Penrose F | - Susan P [?] | Leacock, Lillian M | - Richard S [?] | Clement Mabel W | - William S [?] | - Emory F [?] |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Son in Law | Daughter | Son in Law | Grandson |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M | F | M | M |
| birth date | June 1843 | Sept 1845 | Oct 1872 | Dec 1865 | Feby 1876 | Mch 1872 | May 1898 |
| age | 56 | 54 | 27 | 34 | 24 | 28 | 2 |
| married? | M | M | M | M | M | M | S |
| # years married | 32 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| mother of how many children? | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| # of children living | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | England | Pennsylvania | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | England | Pennsylvania | New Hampshire | Massachusetts |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | England | Pennsylvania | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| immigration year | 1892 | ||||||
| # years in USA | 8 | ||||||
| naturalized citizen? | Al | ||||||
| occupation | Salesman furniture | Bookkeeper | Salesman jewelry | ||||
| # months not employed | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| # months in school | |||||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| owned/rented | O | ||||||
| free or mortgaged | F | ||||||
| farm/house | H | ||||||
| # of farm schedule | |||||||
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I attended deceased during last illness, from Aug. 16, 1908 to Aug. 17 1908 that to the best of my knowledge and belief death occurred on the date dated above, and that the CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:
Primary: Exhaustion (DURATION) [blank] DAYS