He was born in 1836/37 (2 (26 in 1863)). He was born in Lancashire, England (2).
When he enlisted, he was a labo[rer] (2).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair (2).
He was drafted (1, 2, 3). He enlisted and was mustered into service in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry on 17 July 1863 (1, 2, 3). He enlisted for three years (2). His enlistment was credited to the fourth congressional district (2). He was in company F of the 118th Pennsylvania (3, 6).
He was captured at Cold Harbor, Virginia, on 2 June 1864 (3).
On 2 June 1865, he was transferred from the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry (1). He was a private in company C in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry (1, 7).
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1). He was a private, in company C (7).
He died on 28 May 1878 (6).
In 1890, his widow, Martha, was living in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts (4).
On 24 May 1890, his widow, Martha Pearson, applied from Massachusetts for a pension, which she received (5, 6).
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) (Joseph Pearson)
2 company C, descriptive roll, entry 186 (Joseph Pearson)
3 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'One hundred and eighteenth regiment', volume 3, page 1330. (In the roster) (Joseph Pearson)
4 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Massachusetts, Middlesex, Lowell, supervisor's district [?], enumeration district [511], page [3] (image 34 of 139 on Ancestry) (Joseph Pearson)
5 pension index, by name (Joseph Pearson)
6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Joseph Pearson)
7 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Pearson)