91st PA: Thomas Johnson or Johnston

Thomas Johnson or Johnston

Before the war

He was born on 2 December 1841, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomas Johnston (born Ireland) and Isabella McKee (born Ireland). [sources: date: 16, 18; 6 (19 in 1861), 7 (22 probably in 1863), 17 (35 in 1880). place: 7, 16, 17, 18. parents: 16]

When he enlisted, he was a carter. [source: 6]

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a light complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair. [sources: 6 (5'8-1/2", fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair), 7 (5'8", light complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair)]

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service on 23 October 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Keyser. He was mustered in as a private at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a private in company B. [sources: 1, 6, 7, 9, 12, 19, 20]

He was transferred to company C. [sources: 1, 6]

On 3 June 1863, he returned to his company, probably from detached duty. [source: 5]

On 15 August 1863, he was detailed as a driver in the Brigade ambulance corps. [source: 2]

He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia. [sources: 1, 6]

On 26 April 1864, he was detailed by Lieutenant Colonel Sinex for duty in the ambulance corps, and ordered to report to brigade headquarters. He was still an ambulance driver in September (?) 1864. [sources: 3, 4 (27 Apr), 8]

He was absent when the regiment mustered out on 10 July 1865. He was a private, in company C. [sources: 1, 6, 9 (discharged 10 July 1865), 19, 20]

After the war

In 1865/66, he married Mary [unknown surname]. She was born in September 1849, in Germany. She immigrated to the United States in 1854. They apparently had nine children, five of whom were alive in 1900, including:

[sources: 17, 18]

In 1880, he was living at 212 McClellan Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Mary, and children Mary, John, Robert, and A Fanny. He was a laborer. [source: 17]

In 1890, he was living at 1715 Dutton Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a driver. James Robinson, a driver, was also living there. [sources: 9, 10]

On 7 October 1890, he successfully applied for a pension from Pennsylvania. [sources: 11, 12, 13]

In 1900, he was living at 113 Watkins Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Mary, and children John, Robert, Thomas, Cassie, and Annie, and Robert's wife Mary. He was a produce huckster, and had not been out of work in the previous year. [source: 18]

On 19 February 1906, at 6.30 AM, he died, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died of apoplexy. He was a dealer. He was living at 114 Watkins Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 22 February 1906, he was buried in Northwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 12, 14, 15, 16]

On 24 [?] February 1906, his widow, Mary Johnston, successfully applied for a pension from Pennsylvania. [sources: 11, 12, 13]

Sources

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 special order 54, HQ 91st PA, 15 August 1683

3 special order 38, HQ 91st PA, 26 April 1864

4 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (Thomas Johnston [sic])

5 consolidated morning report, HQ 91st PA, 3 June 1863 (Private Johnson)

6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 28 June 2004 (Thomas Johnson)

7 company C, descriptive roll, entry 93 (Thomas Johnson)

8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 27 April 1864 (Thomas Johnson)

9 1890 United States census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 128, enumeration district 17, page 3 (image 81 on Ancestry), line 32 (Thomas Johnson)

10 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (searched January 2005, on Ancestry) (Thomas Johnson)

11 pension index, by regiment (Thomas Johnston [sic])

12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Thomas Johnston)

13 pension index, by name (Thomas Johnston)

14 Pennsylvania death indices, 1906 ("Johnston, Thomas: 17347; Phila.; Feb. 19.")

15 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 20 February 1906, page 7 (Thomas Johnston)

16 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19 February 1906 #4983 (Thomas Johnston)

17 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 27, microfilm series T9, film 1167, pages 429 = 19 C to 439 = 20 D handwritten (FamilySearch) (Thomas Johnson)

18 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 17, microfilm series T623, film 1451, page 219 = 7 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (Thomas Johnson)

19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Thomas Johnson)

20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Thomas Johnston)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

Find a grave
searched for Thomas Johnston d. 1906, Thomas in Northwood Cemetery, and Thomas Johnson buried PA 1906 (accessed 27 September 2012)
Pennsylvania veterans burial cards, 1777-1999
Ancestry index (accessed 27 September 2012)
US applications for headstones for military veterans, 1925-1941
FamilySearch index (accessed 27 September 2012)
RootsWeb WorldConnect
searched for Thomas Johnson or Johnston died 1906, Thomas Johnston or Johnston born 1842 +/- 1 married Mary (accessed 27 September 2012)
1850 US census
taking account of the parents listed in the death certificate, the best candidate I have found is Thomas Johnson, 8, b. PA, who was living with Thomas Holingsworth [?] et al., in ward 7, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, microfilm series M432, film 811, page 562 verso = 232 handwritten (FamilySearch)
1860 US census
I have not found any high-probability candidates (accessed Ancestry index 27 September 2012)
1870 US census
Ancestry index (accessed 27 September 2012)
1910 US census
FamilySearch and Ancestry index (accessed 27 September 2012)
1920 US census
FamilySearch and Ancestry index (accessed 27 September 2012)
1930 US census
FamilySearch and Ancestry index (accessed 27 September 2012)

Display


Thomas Johnson in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect

Thomas Johnson in the 91st PA database

1880 census

[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 27, microfilm series T9, film 1167, pages 429 = 19 C to 429 = 20 D handwritten (FamilySearch)]
[identification is uncertain]
line484950123
street nameMcClellan StreetMcClellan Street
house number212  212  
dwelling visit #169  169  
family visit #169  169  
nameJohnson ThomasMaryMaryJohnson John" " Robert" " A. Fanny
colorWWWWWW
sexMFFMMF
age353010841
month born if born in year      
relationship WifeDaughterSonDaughterDaughter
single  111 
married11    
widowed/divorced      
married during year      
occupationLaborerKeeping houseAt SchoolSchool  
months unemployed      
currently ill?      
blind      
deaf/dumb      
idiotic      
insane      
disabled      
school this year  11  
can't read      
can't write      
birthplacePhilaGermanyPhilaPhilaPhilaPhila
father's birthplacePhilaGermanyPhilaPhilaPhilaPhila
mother's birthplaceFranceBohemiaPhilaGermanyGermanyGermany

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 United States census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 128, enumeration district 17, page 3 (image 81 on Ancestry), line 32]
[identification is confirmed by reference to his service in the 91st]

[line] 32
[house] 176
[family] 189
[name] Thomas Johnson
[rank] Private
[company] C
[unit] 91 [above a crossed-out '99'] Pa Inf
[enlistment date] 26 [below '33'] Oct 1861
[discharge date] 10 July 1865
[length of service] 3 years, 0 months, 0 days
[post office address] 1715 Dutton St
[disability incurred] [blank]
[remarks] [blank]

1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory

[searched Jan 2005, on Ancestry]
Thomas Johnson, driver, h 1715 Dutton
James Robinson, driver, h 1715 Dutton

1900 census

[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 17, microfilm series T623, film 1451, page 219 = 7 A handwritten (FamilySearch)]
[identification is likely; note that when he died, in 1906, his address was 114 Watkins (just across the street), and his wife's name matches the name of the widow who applied for a pension]
line4243444546474849
streetWatkins
house number113       
dwelling number119       
family number123       
nameJohnson Thomas- Mary- John- Robert- Thomas- Cassie- Annie- Mary
relationshipHeadWifeSonSonSonDaughterDaughterDaughter in law
colorWWWWWWWW
sexMFMMMFFF
birth dateDec 1841Sept 1849Sept 1872June 1877May 1879Oct 1882Aug 1886Aug 1882
age5850272221171317
married?MMSMSSSM
# years married3434 1   1
mother of how many children? 9     0
# of children living 5     0
birthplacePennsylvaniaGermanyPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
father's birthplaceIrelandGermanyPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's birthplaceIrelandGermanyGermanyGermanyGermanyGermanyGermanyPennsylvania
immigration year 1854      
# years in USA 46      
naturalized citizen?        
occupationHuckster (Produce) StevedoreTeamsterBox NailerServant  
# months not employed0 6906   
# months in school        
can readyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
can writeyesnoyesyesyesyesyesyes
speaks Englishyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
owned/rentedR       
free or mortgaged        
farm/houseH       
# of farm schedule        

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 27 June 2014, from Fold3]


Johnson, Thomas
Co. B, C, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt.
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 2, transcribed 30 June 2014]

Johnston, Thomas
Co. B, C, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Johnson, Thomas

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

death notice

[death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 20 February 1906, page 7, Thomas Johnston]
[transcribed 27 September 2012, from GenealogyBank]

JOHNSTON.--Suddenly, February 19, 1906, THOMAS JOHNSTON, beloved husband of Mary Johnston. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral, Thursday afternoon, at 1.30 P.M., at his late residence, 114 Watkins st. Front and Morris. Interment at Northwood Cemetery.

death certificate

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19 February 1906 #4983, Thomas Johnston]
[transcribed 27 September 2012, from FamilySearch]

4983
RECORD OF A DEATH IN PHILADELPHIA
CORONER'S CERTIFICATE
Name of deceased, Thomas Johnston
Color, W
Sex, M
M[arried]
Date of Birth. Year, 1841 Month, Dec Day, 2
Date of Death. Year, 1906 Month, Feb Day, 19
Age. Years, 64 Months, 2 Days, 17
Place of Death, 114 Watkin St.
How long at place of Death, [blank]
Chief Cause of Death, Apoplexy
Contributing Cause, [blank]
Hour of Death, 6 30 A.M.
J M Rush Germon D. Coroner.

Undertaker's Certificate.
Occupation, Dealer
Place of Birth, Phila
Birthplace of father, Ireland
Birthplace of Mother Ireland
Name of father, Thomas Johnston
Maiden name of mother, Isabella McKee Decd
['Decd' seems to be written across the previous two lines, and may apply to both father and mother]
Residence, 114 Watkin St.
Ward, (of residence), 1st
Buried from (Street and Number), 114 Watkins St.
Date of Burial, Feb. 22 1906
Place of Burial, Northwood Cemetery
Wm J Cushing Undertaker.
Residence, 1100 Snyder Ave

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revised 30 Jun 14
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