He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in about 1829/30. [sources: place: 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15. date: 5 (31 in 1861), 6 (54 in 1885), 9 (30 in 1860), 10 (49 in 1880), 11 (55 at death), 12 (20 in 1850), 13 (40 in 1870), 15 (54 in 1885)]
In 1850, he was living in the Richmond District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with George and Hannah McCormick. He was a brickmaker. [source: 12]
He married Amanda Detterline, sister of George Detterline, who also served in the 91st Pennsylvania. She was born about 1831/32, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They apparently had at least these children: [sources: 9, 10, 13, 14, 16]
In 1860, he was living in the 19th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Amanda, and with Charles, Harvey, and George (presumably their children. He was a ropemaker. [source: 9]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 11 inches tall, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. [source: 5]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 19 October 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Charles L Burr (?). He was mustered in as a private in company H. He had gun number 41. [sources: 1, 5, 15, 18]
He was with William Shaw when Shaw was injured, while they were marching from Fairfax Court House to Clouds Mills, about 10 September 1862. [source: 3]
He was discharged at camp near Falmouth, Virginia, on 29 March 1863 on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was a private, in company H. [sources: 1, 2, 4, 5, 15, 18]
In 1870, he was living in the 19th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Amanda and children Charles, Harvey, George W, and Samuel. He was a ropemaker. [source: 13]
On 5 February 1874, he applied successfully for a pension. [sources: 7, 8]
After the war (probably in 1879), he filed an affidavit describing William Shaw's injuries. He was then living at 2524 Fairhill Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 3]
In 1880, he was living at 2624 Fairhill Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living in his son Charles's household, with his wife Amanda, children George M and Samuel, and Charles's family. He was a ropemaker. [source: 10]
On 16 January 1885, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He was receiving a pension of $4 per month, and had heart disease. He was a laborer. His wife, Amanda Holcomb, lived at 2121 Melway Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had no record for him after 30 June 1885. [sources: 6, 15]
He died on 29 October 1885, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of bowel inflammation. He was a ropemaker. He died at 2347 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 1 November 1885, he was buried at Northwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 7, 11]
On 14 July 1890, his widow, Amanda Holcomb, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 7, 8]
On 30 November 1905, his widow, Amanda, died, of arteriosclerosis, with chronic bronchitis contributing. She was buried from 242 Collom Street, her son's residence. On 4 December 1905, she was buried at Northwood Cemetery. [source: 17]
Chad Holcombe is researching Charles Holcombe. Contact him at [email protected].
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) (Charles Holcomb)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 30 March 1863 (Private Holcomb)
3 "General affidavit", not dated, pension file of William Shaw (Charles Holcomb)
4 company H, register of men discharged, #35 (Charles Holcomb)
5 company H, descriptive roll, #46 (Chas Holcomb)
6 National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Report of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the said board for the year ending June 30, 1885. January 7, 1886. Serial Set volume 2415, session volume 10, 49th Congress, 1st Session, House Miscellaneous Document 38, page 173 (Charles Holcomb)
7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (Charles Holcomb)
8 pension index, by name (Charles Holcomb)
9 1860 US census, Pennsyhlvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 1170, page 757 = 287 handwritten (Chas Holcomb)
10 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 376, microfilm series T9, film 1178, page 380 = 13 A handwritten (Charles H Holcombe)
11 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 29 October 1885 (Charles Holcomb)
12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Richmond District, microfilm series M432, film 820, page 181 = 363 handwritten (Charles Holcolm)
13 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, district 59, microfilm series M593, film 1405, page 302 = 134 handwritten (Charles Holcombe)
14 e-mail, Chad Holcombe to Harry Ide, May 2009
15 National Military Home, Hampton, register T, image 126 of 1131 on Ancestry (Charles Holcomb)
16 Philadelphia death certificates, 1905, #26650 (Amanda Holcomb)
17 death notice, 1 December 1905, Philadelphia Inquirer, page 7 (Amanda Holcombe)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Charles Holcomb)
| line | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Dwellings visited | 7 | |||
| Families visited | 7 | |||
| Name | George McCormick | Hannah " | Charles Holcolm | Abigal McCormick |
| Age | 39 | 40 | 20 | 3 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F |
| Color | ||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Labrour [sic] | Brick Maker | ||
| Real estate owned | ||||
| Birthplace | Pa | Holland | Pennsylvania | " |
| Married within year | ||||
| Attended school within year | ||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | 1 | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Dwelling number | 2079 | ||||
| Family number | 2343 | ||||
| Name | Chas Holcomb | Amanda " | Charles " | Harvey " | George " |
| Age | 30 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 6/12 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | m |
| Color | |||||
| Occupation | Rope Maker | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||
| Value of personal estate | |||||
| Place of birth | Phil. | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||
| Attended school within year | |||||
| Cannot read & write | 1 | 1 | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Dwelling-house number | 941 | |||||
| Family number | 1086 | |||||
| Name | Holcombe Charles | - Amanda | - Charles | - Harvey | - George W | - Samuel |
| Age | 40 | 38 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Rope maker | Keeps House | Works in brick yard | Works in brick yard | ||
| Real estate value | ||||||
| Personal estate value | ||||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| Father foreign born | ||||||
| Mother foreign born | ||||||
| Birth month if born within year | ||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Can't read | 1 | |||||
| Can't write | 1 | |||||
| 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 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| street name | Fairhill Street | ||||||||
| house number | 2624 | ||||||||
| dwelling visit # | 113 | ||||||||
| family visit # | 124 | ||||||||
| name | Holcombe Charles H | Louisa S | Annie C | Amanda | Harvey | Charles H | Amanda | Geo M | Samuel |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F | M | M | F | M | M |
| age | 26 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 48 | 20 | 17 |
| month born if born in year | |||||||||
| relationship | Wife | Daughter | Daughter | Son | Father | Mother | Brother | Brother | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| married | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| widowed/divorced | |||||||||
| married during year | |||||||||
| occupation | Oil Cloth Painter | Rope Maker | Oil Cloth Painter | ||||||
| months unemployed | |||||||||
| currently ill? | |||||||||
| blind | |||||||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||||||
| idiotic | |||||||||
| insane | |||||||||
| disabled | |||||||||
| school this year | |||||||||
| can't read | |||||||||
| can't write | |||||||||
| birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| father's birthplace | Pa | Germany | Pa | Pa | Pa | [blank] | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | Germany | Pa | Pa | Pa | [blank] | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| NO. | 4561 $4 00 186366 |
| NAME. | Charles Holcomb (laborer) |
| Name and Adress of Relatives or Friends. | Amanda Holcomb 2121 Melway Ave Phila Pa |
| Where Born. | Phila Pa |
| Company and Regiment. | H 91 Pa Vols |
| Date of Enlistment. | 19 Oct 1861 |
| Date of Discharge. | 29 Mch 1863 |
| DISABILITY. | Heart Disease |
| Date of Admission. | 16 Jan 1885 |
| By order of Manager. | Genl Degleu [??] |
| Age. | 54 |
| Married or Single. | M |
| REMARKS | First admission Not at S.B. No record later than June 30 85 |
HOLCOMBE.--November 30, AMANDA, wife of late Charles Henry Holcombe, aged 73 years. Relatives and friends, E D Baker Circle, No 89, Ladies of GAR, invited to attend funeral services, Monday, 3 PM, at son's residence, Charles Henry Holcombe, 242 Collom st, Germantown. Interment Northwood. Williamstown papers, please copy.