He was born on 3 January 1827, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Christopher Shinkle and Rachel [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 13; 3 (34 in 1861), 10 (25 in 1850), 11 (20 in 1860). place: 3, 10, 11, 13 parents: 10, 11, 13]
In 1850, he may be the Edwin [?] Shinkle living in High Street Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was an oak cooper. He was living with Christopher and Ellen Shinkle (presumably his father and stepmother), and with William, Alfred, Mary, and John (presumably his siblings). They was living at 15 Farmer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 9, 10]
He may be the Edward Wesley Shinkel who married Sarah Halfman, at the Old St George Methodist Episcopal Church, on 29 January 1854. I have not found any further information about this marriage or about her. [source: 14]
In 1860, he may have been living in ward 6, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with Christopher and Ellen Shinkle (presumably his father and stepmother), with William, John, and Mary Shinkle (presumably his siblings), and with Elia Dunaway (a domestic). He was a cooper's apprentice. [source: 11]
On 15 November 1860, he married Barbara Beveridge. She was born in 1839/40, in Pennsylvania. They were married by Alderman C Brazier. They had one child:
[source: 8]
On 16 September 1861, his child, Rachel G Shinkle, was born. He was a cooper, then in the US Army. They lived in Combs Alley. [source: 8]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. [source: 3]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 29 August 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain McArthur. He was a private in company C. [sources: 1, 3, 4, 5 (mustered 25 Sep 61), 15-16]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 5]
He was captured. While the regiment was marching from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Berlin Heights, Maryland, he became ill, and the regimental surgeon gave him a pass to fall to the rear of the regiment, because the regimental ambulance was full. Presumably he was captured then, along with John Donnelly (C). He appeared very ill; John G Brass later testified that he believed from Shinkle's appearance that he couldn't live very long. [sources: 1, 8]
He died on 13 July 1863 at Richmond, Virginia. He was a private, in company C. [sources: 1, 15-16]
On 1 November 1863, he was reported missing in action. [source: 2]
On 6 September 1863, Barbara Shinkle received a letter from Serget Robert G Lindsey (K 121 PA). He said that the Richmond Virginia Daily News had published a statement that Shinkle and John Donnelly (C) had been captured between Sharpsburg and Berlin, Maryland, and sent to Belle Island, Virginia, and that Donnelly was shot the day after he arrived. Later that month, Sergeant Maginnis (C 91 PA) (presumably John M McGinnis) sent her a letter claiming that Shinkle died at Belle Island. [source: 8]
On 3 June 1864, his widow, Barbara Shinkel, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension under the Act of 14 July 1862. She was living at 4 Mineral Place, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Proving that he had died was hard; John L Graham (C), Joseph Everhart (C), John G Brass (A), B J Tayman (F&S), and Joseph Gilbert (C) all testified in her behalf. [sources: 6, 7, 8]
On 23 June 1864, the Second Auditor's Office, of the Treasury Department, sent Barabara Shinkle a certificate for Edward Shinkle's pay and bounty, for a total of $131.63. [source: 8]
In September 1867, before her original pension application was approved, Barbara Shinkle also applied for an increase in pension under the Act of 25 July 1866. She was then living at 250 Brenner's Alley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 8]
On 29 February 1868, her attorney, George Ford, wrote the Pension Commissioner, summarizing what he had sent them, and hoping for a quick and favorable decision. [source: 8]
On 11 April 1868, Barbara Shinkle's application was finally approved, retroactive to 13 July 1863. She received $8 per month, and $2 extra for each month in which Rachel was less than 16. [source: 8]
In 1870, his widow, Barbara Shenkel, seems to have been living in ward 6, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a tailoress. Their daughter, Rachel, was probably at the Soldier's Orphans' Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 12]
On 13 September 1886, the Pension Office sent a letter to Ann Shindel (at Chester, Pennsylvania), telling her that Rachel was not entitled to the accrued pension, since she was sixteen when Barbara died. [source: 8]
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) (Edward Shinkle)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 1 November 1863 (Priv Shinkle)
3 company C, descriptive roll, entry 63 (Edward Shinkel)
4 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 99 (Edward Shinkle)
5 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Edward Shinkle)
6 pension index, by name (Edward Shinkel)
7 pension index, by regiment (Edward Shinkel)
8 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate number WC 111,870 (Barbara Beveridge widow of Edward Shinkel)
9 selected Philadelphia city directories
10 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, High Street Ward, microfilm series M432, film 816, pages 199 recto = 397 handwritten to 199 verso = 398 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Edwin [?] Shinkle)
11 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 6, division 1, microfilm series M653, film 1156, page 658 = 46 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Edwd Shinkle)
12 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 6, district 17, microfilm series M593, film 1391, page 183 verso = 170 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Barbara Shenkel)
13 Old St George Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, baptismal records, page 203, in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, reel 387 (Edward Wesley Shinkle)
14 Old St George Methodist Episcopal Church, marriage records, in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, reel 387 (Edward Wesley Shinkel)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Edward Shinkel)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Edward Shinkle)
The baptismal and marriage record (entries 13 and 14) are pretty clearly about the same person, since they are from the same church and he has the same name (Edward Wesley Shinkel). According to the baptismal record, Edward Wesley was the son of Christopher and Rachel and brother of Alfred, which pretty clearly links him to the 1850 and 1860 census records (entries 10 and 11). Unfortunately, according to the marriage record, this Edward Shinkle married Sarah Halfman, while the widow's pension certificate file (entry 8) has the Edward who served in the 91st married to Barbara Beveridge.
Nevertheless, I am tentatively assuming that all these records are of the same person, which suggests that Barbara was Edward's second wife. First, the birth record for Rachel, daughter of the Edward who served in the 91st, lists his occupation at cooper, which matches the occupation of the Edward in the 1860 census entry transcribed below. Second, I have found no other records for an Edward Shinkel of about the right age (or of Sarah Shinkle).
Note also that Edward is not living with Christopher in 1870 (see 1870 US census, 2nd enumeration, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 6, district 17, microfilm series M593, film 1419, page 209 verso = 32 handwritten (FamilySearch), including Christopher (61), Ellen (50), Wm (46), Mary (25), John (23), and Thaddeus (14).
line | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Dwellings visited | 526 | ||||||
Families visited | 464 | ||||||
Name | Christopher [sic] Shinkle | Ellen Shinkle | Wm " | Edwin [?] " | Alfred " | Mary " | John " |
Age | 45 | 35 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 9 | 3 |
Sex | m | f | m | m | m | f | m |
Color | |||||||
Occupation of males over 15 years | Shoe Maker | Shoe maker | Oak Cooper | Printer | |||
Real estate owned | |||||||
Birthplace | Penn | Penn | " | " | " | " | " |
Married within year | |||||||
Attended school within year | (1) | ||||||
Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
Dwelling number | 236 | ||||||
Family number | 284 | ||||||
Name | Christr [?] Shinkle | Wm " | Edwd " | John " | Ellen " | Mary " | Elia Dunaway |
[the head's personal name could be 'Christn'] | |||||||
Age | 53 | 35 | 20 | 13 | 42 | 19 | 32 |
Sex | " [sc. M] | " | " | " | F | " | " |
Color | |||||||
Occupation | Cordwainer | " | Cooper App | Seamstress | " | Domestic | |
Value of real estate owned | |||||||
Value of personal estate | |||||||
Place of birth | Penna | " | " | " | " | " | N Jersey |
Married within year | |||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||
Cannot read & write | |||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 28 |
Dwelling-house number | [960] |
Family number | [1155] |
Name | Shenkel Barbara |
Age | 27 |
Sex | F |
Color | W |
Occupation | Tailoress |
Real estate value | |
Personal estate value | |
Birthplace | Penna |
Father foreign born | 1 |
Mother foreign born | 1 |
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 | |
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
Sir; I have the honor to state that Edward Shinkle was a Private in this company. But whether he was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg I cannot state. He fell to the rear before the engagement took place, and it is the general impression that he was taken prisoner by the enemy. His name has been dropped from the rolls but they do not state whether he was killed in action or taken prisoner.
Camp in the field Jan 26 /65
Sir,
You wish to now [sic] about Edward Shinkle In Comp. C. as far as i [sic] can tell you about him i [sic] new [sic] he was a member of said Comp and he fell out of the ranks returning from Gettersburg [sic] and was dropped from the rolls as nothing could be found out in regard to him. he was nout [sic] wounded in action but Supposed he was captured by the Rebs in Regard of him strgling [sic] from the camp As for my part this is all i [sic] can Tell you as Edward J Maguigan was in Command of the comp. at that time But if i [sic] can git [sic] an official account of his Death then i [sic] will make out his papers but without that i [sic] cannot Do any thing as i [sic] do not now [sic] if he is ded [sic] or not
Yours
Joseph Everhart
1st Lieut Comanding [sic] Co C. 91 P.VV
I have recd notice from you that you wish additional evidence in regards to Edward Shinkle of my Comp I can funish no evidence in regards to this man any more than he was Suposed to have been taken prisoner & Suposed to have died at Belle Isle as we have never heard anything of him Since his falling out on the march from Gettysburg We have never Recd any notice of his death, from the War Department If his widow will furnish me with any proof of his Death & the date of such I will endeavour to fill up his certificate & forward to Pension Office
that she derives her knowledge of the confinement of her said husband, in the rebel prison at Belle Island Va. from the following circumstances. She received a letter dated September 6th 1863 from a Robert G. Lindsey, who was a Serg't. in Co. "K." 121st Reg't. Penna. Vols, stating that he saw in the Richmond Va. "Daily News" a statement that the said Edward Shinkle together with another man named John Donnelly, also a private in Co. "C" 91st Regt. Penna. Vols. had been taken prisoners [sic] between Sharpsburg and Berlin Md. and that they had be [sic] sent as prisoners-of-war to Belle Island Va. and that said John Donnelly, on the day after his arrival at Belle Island, was shot dead by the guard [page 32 [sic]] on account of not promptly obeying orders. and in the latter part of the same month, she again heard, through her father-in-law, from a soldier named --- Maginnis [sic], who was also a Sergt. in same Co. + Regt. that her husband the said Edward Shinkle, had died while a prisoner-of-war at Belle Island Va. and further said Maginnis is now deceased. and she does further declare that she is unable to procure and [sic] further or more definite proof of the death of her said husband.
DATE OF BAPTISM | 1837 | ||
Edward Wesley son of Christopher and Rachel Shinkle | Alfred son of " " " " " | Rachel Dunmay dau. of " " " " | |
DATE OF BIRTH | Jan. 3 1827 | June 3 1831 | Adopted May 10 1830 |