He was born on 31 December 1843 (14; 3 (18 in 1861), 7 (14 in 1860), 8 (38 in 1880), 9 (65 in 1910), 12 (6 in 1850), 13 (26 in 1870)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14). He was born to Joseph Rittenhouse and Ellen Sell (14).
In 1850, he was living in the 6th ward of Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12). He was living with Jos and Ellen Rittenhouse (presumably his parents), along with five others (presumably his siblings) (12).
In 1860, he was living in the 12th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7). He was living with Jos [?] and Ellen Rittenhouse (presumably his parents) and other Rittenhouse's (presumably his siblings) (7). He was a lead pencil maker (7).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10-1/2 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (3).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 27 August 1861 (1, 3, 4, 5). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff (3, 4 [Lt Col Reiff]). He was a private in company C (1, 16).
He was discharged at Camp near Sharpsburg, Virginia, on 28 October 1862 on surgeon's certificate of disability (1, 2, 4, 5 [28 Oct]). He was a private, in company C (16).
In 1870, he was living in the 11th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13). He was a plumber and gas fitter (13). He was living with Joseph Rittenhouse (presumably his father) and others (13).
In 1880, he was living at 572 Parrish Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his brother William and William's family (8). He was single (8). He was a Pass [?] R R conductor (that is, a conductor for the Passayunk [?] Railroad) (8).
In 1887/1888, he married Louise [unknown surname] (9). In 1910, she had had two children, both of whom were alive (9).
On 28 December 1889, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (10, 11).
In 1890, he was living at 817 Randolph Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5, 6). He was a conductor (6).
On 8 March 1907, he again applied for a pension (11).
In 1910, he was living at 937 [North] 26th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with his wife Louise and his children Wilhelmina and Sylvester (9). He was a superintentent at the Masonic Temple (9).
He died on 3 May 1913, at 937 North 26th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11, 14). He died of pneumonia (duration 3 days), with general catarrh and influenzic [?] catarrh (duration 10 years) contributing (14). He was a superintendent, at the Masonic Temple (14). He resided at 937 North 26th Street (14). He was buried on 6 May 1913, at Arlington Cemetery, [Drexel Hill, Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania] (14).
On 10 May 1913, his widow, Louisa Rittenhouse, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (10, 11).
In 1920, his widow, Louisa Rittenhouse, was living in New Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (15).
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) (S Rittenhouse)
2 company C, register of men discharged, number 6 (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
3 company C, descriptive roll, entry 60 (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
4 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 54 (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
5 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 222, page 1 (image 1362 on <www.ancestry.com>) (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
6 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadephia, ward 12, microfilm series M653, film 1162, page 253 = 33 [?] handwritten (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
8 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 210, microfilm series T9, film 1173, page 164 C = 19 (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
9 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 29, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 682, microfilm series T624, film 1399, page 90 A = 2 handwritten (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
10 pension index, by name (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Northern Liberties, ward 6, microfilm series M432, film 811, page 371 verso = 34 handwritten (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
13 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 11th ward, microfilm series M593, film 1396, page 142 = 22 handwritten (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
14 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 3 May 1913, #11239 (Sylvester Rittenhouse Sr)
15 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Bucks County, New Britain Township, supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 17, microfilm series T625, film 1542, page 254 = 3 B handwritten (Louisa Rittenhouse)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Sylvester Rittenhouse)
| line | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Dwellings visited | 255 | |||||||
| Families visited | 306 | |||||||
| Name | Jos Rittenhouse | Ellen do | Caroline do | Augustus do | Sylvester do | Geo do | Wm do | Henry do |
| Age | 35 | 33 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2/12 | 80 |
| Sex | m | f | f | m | m | m | m | m |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Tobacconist | Carpenter | ||||||
| Real estate owned | ||||||||
| Birthplace | do [sc. Penn] | do | do | do | do | do | do | do |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Dwelling number | 234 | |||||||
| Family number | 273 | |||||||
| Name | Jos [?] Rittenhouse | Ellen " | Caroline " | Augustus " | Sylvester " | George " | William " | Edward " |
| Age | 47 | 45 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 7 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | M | M | M | M |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation | Turner | Flour Dealer | Lead Pencil maker | |||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||||||
| Place of birth | Penna | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Dwelling-house number | 152 | |||||||
| Family number | 159 | |||||||
| Name | Rittenhouse, Joseph | Kelpin, George W | - Caroline B | - Charles B | Rittenhouse George | - Sylvester | - William | - Edward |
| Age | 57 | 28 | 28 | 3 | 22 | 26 | 19 | 17 |
| Sex | M | M | F | M | M | M | M | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | News Dealer | House Painter | Keeping House | Brittania Member | Glass Blower | Plumber + Gas Fitter | Jewelry Polisher | |
| Real estate value | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Personal estate value | 600 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| 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 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| street name | Parrish Street | |||
| house number | 572 | |||
| dwelling visit # | 151 | |||
| family visit # | 155 | |||
| name | Rittenhouse Wm | - Sue A | - Sylvester | - Sylvester |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M |
| age | 30 | 28 | 21 | 38 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Brother | |
| single | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||
| widowed/divorced | ||||
| married during year | ||||
| occupation | Clerk in Paper Box Factory | Keeping house | Pass [?] R R Conductor | |
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | ||||
| can't read | ||||
| can't write | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| line | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| street | 26th Street | |||
| house nr | 937 | |||
| dwelling nr | 27 | |||
| family nr | 29 | |||
| name | Rittenhouse Sylvester | - Louise | - Wilhelmina | - Sylvester |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Son |
| sex | M | F | F | M |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| age | 65 | 51 | 22 | 21 [?] |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S |
| #years present marriage | 22 | 22 | ||
| mother of # children | 2 | |||
| mother of # living children | 2 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Ger. German | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Ger. German | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Superintendent | None | Book Keeper | Electrician |
| nature of industry etc. | Masonic Temple | Publishing House | Electric Co | |
| employer etc. | W | W | W | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | No | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | No | |||
| owned/rented | R | |||
| owned free or mortagaged | ||||
| farm/house | H | |||
| nr on farm schedule | ||||
| civil war vet | UA [?] | |||
| blind | ||||
| deaf & dumb | ||||
| line | 89 |
| street | [illegible] |
| house number | X |
| dwelling visit number | 72 |
| family visit number | 76 |
| name | Rittenhouse Louisa |
| relationship | Head |
| own/rent | R |
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | |
| sex | F |
| race | W |
| age at last birthday | 61 |
| marital status | WD |
| year of immigration | |
| naturalized/alien | |
| year of naturalization | |
| attended school since Sept 1919 | |
| can read | yes |
| can write | yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania |
| native language | |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| father's native language | |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| mother's native language | |
| can speak English | yes |
| occupation | Keeper |
| industry, business | Boarding house |
| employment status | OA |
| number of farm schedule |