He was born on 21 December 1822 (9, 13; 3 (39 in 1862), 7 (37 in 1860), 8 (48 in 1870), 9 (77 in 1900), 13 (83 yrs 5 mos 28 days at death in 1906), 14 (74 at death)). He was born in Lanark, Scotland (3, 7, 8, 9, 13). He was born to Thomas Somerville and [unknown] (13).
In 1845/46, he married Janet W [unknown family name] (9). In 1900, she reported having had six children, four of whom were alive (9).
He immigrated to the United States in 1855 (9). He became a naturalized citizen (8, 9).
In 1860, he was living in the 23rd ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (post office Frankford) (7). He was living with his wife Janet, and with Christina, Mary, James, and Thomas Summerville (presumably their children) (7). He was a warper (7).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and black hair (3).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 11 September 1862 (1, 3, 5, 12). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Gregory (3). He was a private in company C (1, 16-17).
He was wounded at Fredericksburg, Virginia (3).
He was discharged in January 1864 on surgeon's certificate of disability, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, because of wounds he had received at Fredericksburg, Virginia (1, 2, 3, 5 [May 1865], 11, 12). He was a private, in company C (16-17).
On 29 June 1864, he applied successfully for a pension (10, 12).
In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (post office: Olney) (8). He was living with his wife Janet, and with Mary, James, Thomas, and John Sommerville (presumably their children), along with two other people (8). He was a woollen warper, and owned $200 in personal property (8).
In 1890, he was living at 2516 North Front Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5). Two John Somerville's were living there: one, John Somerville, was a warper, and the other, John E Somerville, was a dyer (6).
In 1900, he was living at 2901 Waterloo Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with his wife Janet and son Thomas (9). He was a wool dresser (9).
He fell down stairs on 4 July (14).
He died of uraemia, with injuries accidentally received falling down stairs contributing, at the GAR Home at 65th and Vine Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 19 August 1906 (12 [20 Aug], 13 [19 Aug], 15 [20 Aug]). He was living at the GAR Home, 65th and Vine Streets (13, 14). His body was claimed for burial by his son, J V Somerville, 4672 Franklin Street (14). On 22 August 1906, he was buried, at North Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13, 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) (John Somerville)
2 company C, register of men discharged, number 25 (John Somerville)
3 company C, descriptive roll, entry 105 (John Somerville)
4 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 59 (John Somerville)
5 1890 census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, "War of the Rebellion", supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 397, page 1 (John Somerville)
6 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, transcribed on Ancestry (searched Dec 2004) (John Somerville, John E Somerville)
7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 23rd ward (post office Frankford), microfilm series M653, film 1174, page 843 = 83 handwritten (Jno Summerville)
8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (post office: Olney), microfilm series M593, film 1410, page 174 (John Sommervill)
9 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 33, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 865, microfilm series T623, film 1475, page 139 A-B = 5 handwritten (John Somerville)
10 pension index, by name (John Somerville)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 26 February 1865 (Sommervil)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (John Somerville)
13 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19 August 1906, #21347 (John Somerville)
14 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 21 August 1906 page 6 (John Somerville)
15 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 21 August 1906 page 7 (John Somerville)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Somerville)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Sommerville)
| line | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Dwelling number | 573 | |||||
| Family number | 571 | |||||
| Name | Jno Summerville | Janet | Christina [?] | Mary | James | Thomas |
| Age | 37 | 39 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M | M |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Warper | |||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||||
| Place of birth | Scotland | " | " | " | " | Penna |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Dwelling-house number | 54 | |||||||
| Family number | 53 | |||||||
| Name | Sommervill John | Janett | Mary | James | Thomas | John | Farrell Jennett | Cappof Anna |
| Age | 48 | 49 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 24 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | M | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Woollen Warper | Keeping House | Works in Woollen Mill | App to Machinist | At School | Domestic | ||
| Real estate value | ||||||||
| Personal estate value | 200 | |||||||
| Birthplace | Scotland | Scotland | Scotland | Scotland | Penn | Penn | Penn | Bavaria |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Birth month if born within year | ||||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | |||||||
| Can't read | ||||||||
| Can't write | ||||||||
| 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 | 50 | Waterloo | |
| street | Waterloo St | ||
| house number | 2901 | ||
| dwelling number | 90 | ||
| family number | 92 | ||
| name | Somerville John | - Janet W | - Thomas |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M |
| birth date | Dec 1822 | Oct 1820 | May 1859 |
| age | 77 | 79 | 41 |
| married? | M | M | S |
| # years married | 54 | 54 | |
| mother of how many children? | 6 | ||
| # of children living | 4 | ||
| birthplace | Scotland | Scotland | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Scotland | Scotland | Scotland |
| mother's birthplace | Scotland | Scotland | Scotland |
| immigration year | 1855 | 1856 | |
| # years in USA | 45 | 44 | |
| naturalized citizen? | NA | ||
| occupation | Wool Dresser | Color Shader | |
| # months not employed | 12 | 0 | |
| # months in school | |||
| can read | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R | ||
| free or mortgaged | |||
| farm/house | H | ||
| # of farm schedule | |||
John Somerville, 74 years old, a war veteran, died yesterday at the Home for Aged Veterans of the G.A.R., Sixty-fifth and Vine streets, of which he was an inmate, from the effects of a broken hip, an injury that he sustained on July 4 by falling down stairs. His son, J.V. Somerville, of 4672 Franklin street, claimed the body for burial.
SOMERVILLE.--On August 20 1906, JOHN SOMERVILLE. Relatives and friends, also the Board of Managers of the Home for Aged Veterans of the GAR and Wives, and survivors of the Ninety-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, are invited to attend the funeral services, Wednesday, 2 PM., at the home, 65th and Vine sts. Interment at North Cedar Hill Cemetery.