He was born in May 1834 (11; 8 (25 in 1862), 12 [45 in 1880], 13, 14 [75 in 1910]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8, 12, 13, 14).
When he enlisted, he was a tinsmith (8).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (8).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 13 September 1862 (1, 3, 8, 9 [13 Apr 63], 9 [16 Apr 62]). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff (8). He was a private in company A (1, 17).
On 14 May 1863, he was detailed as a hostler at division headquarters (5).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (15).
On 30 December 1863, Sinex reported that France was one of thirty men who had more than fifteen months to serve who were willing to reenlist (4). On 2 January 1864, he was transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry, while those eligible were on veterans' leave (7).
On 20 December 1864, he went on a furlough, which ended on 30 December 1864 (6). He returned (6).
He was discharged on 30 May 1865 by general order 77, dated 2 June 1865 (1, 3, 8, 9, 16). He was a private, in company A (17).
In 1873/74, he married Mary H [unknown family name] (13, 14). They had both been married once before (14). In 1900 and 1910, she had had three children, two of whom were alive (13, 14).
In 1880, he was living at 4516 [illegible street name], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12). He was a tinsmith (12). He was living with his wife Mary, children Mary and Charles, and mother-in-law Selina Garret (12).
He attended the 1884 meeting of the 91st's Survivors' Association (2).
In 1890, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9).
He applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 7 September 1892 (3, 10).
In 1900, he was living at 1631 South Juniper Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13). He was a tin roofer, who had been unemployed for four months in the previous year (13). He was living with his wife Mary and children Mary and Charles (13).
He again applied for a pension on 12 February 1907 (3, 10).
In 1910, he was living at 1523 Butler Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14). He was living on his "own income" (14). He was living with his wife Mary and children Mary and Charles (14).
He died on 7 June 1916 at Philadelphia Pennsylvania (3, 11). He was buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (11, 16).
On 15 June 1916, his widow applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 10).
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'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail 20 December 1884, page 6 column 2.
3 pension index, by regiment (Charles E France)
4 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 30 December 1863
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 14 May 1863 (Private France)
6 enlisted men's furloughs (Chars E France)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 January 1864 (France)
8 company A descriptive roll, entry 101 (Charles E France)
9 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district [1], enumeration district [574] (3rd division, 26th ward), page [4] (image 1863 on Ancestry), line 32 (Charles A France)
10 pension index, by name (Charles E France)
11 West Laurel Hill Cemetery (Charles France)
12 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 425, microfilm series T9, film 1180, page 86 = 8D handwritten (Charles E France)
13 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 26, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 617, microfilm series T623, film 1468, page 26 = 3A handwritten (Charles E France)
14 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 38, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 949, microfilm series T624, film 1408, page 16 = sheet 16B handwritten (Charles E France)
15 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Chas E France)
16 Pennsylvania veterans burial records, available on Ancestry (transcribed 4 December 2010) (Charles E. France)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Charles E France)
| line | 16 | 17 | 18 | 29 | 20 |
| street name | [illegible] | ||||
| house number | 4516 | ||||
| dwelling visit # | 73 | ||||
| family visit # | 74 | ||||
| name | France Charles E. | - Mary | - Mary S | - Charles H | Garret Selina |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M | F |
| age | 45 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 65 |
| month born if born in year | |||||
| relationship | Wife | Daughter | Son | Mother in law | |
| single | 1 | 1 | |||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | ||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | Tin Smith | Keeping house | |||
| months unemployed | |||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | |||||
| can't read | |||||
| can't write | 1 | ||||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | England |
| father's birthplace | England | England | Penna | Penna | England |
| mother's birthplace | England | Maryland | Penna | Penna | England |
| line | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| street | So Juniper St | |||
| house number | 1631 | |||
| dwelling number | 45 [?] | |||
| family number | 45 [?] | |||
| name | France Charles E. | - Mary H [?] | - Mary [?] | - Charles H. |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Son |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M |
| birth date | May 1834 | Oct 1844 | Oct 1877 | Apl 1879 |
| age | 66 | 55 | 22 | 21 |
| married? | M | M | S | S |
| # years married | 26 | 26 | ||
| mother of how many children? | 3 | |||
| # of children living | 2 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | England | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | England | England | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Tin Roofer | [illegible; looks like 'Boot J'] Carder | Compositor | |
| # months not employed | 4 | 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 | ||||
| line | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 |
| street | Butler Street | |||
| house nr | 1523 | |||
| dwelling nr | 282 | |||
| family nr | 307 | |||
| name | France Charles E | - Mary E | - Mary S | - Charles H |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Son |
| sex | M | F | F | M |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| age | 75 | 65 | 32 | 30 |
| marital status | M2 | M2 | S | S |
| #years present marriage | 36 | 36 | ||
| mother of # children | 3 | |||
| mother of # living children | 2 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | England Eng | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | England Eng | England Eng | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | own income | none | Carder | Compositer |
| nature of industry etc. | Dontel [?] Co. | Book | ||
| employer etc. | W | W | ||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | no | no | ||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | no | o | ||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||||
| owned/rented | R | |||
| owned free or mortagaged | ||||
| farm/house | H | |||
| nr on farm schedule | ||||
| civil war vet | UA | |||
| blind | ||||
| deaf & dumb | ||||