He was born on 25 July 1823, to Nathan Spare and Ann Johnson, in Upper Providence, [Montgomery County], Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 4 (38 in 1861), 7, 8, 10 (26 in 1850), 13 (37 in 1860). place: 4, 10, 37]
He married Matilda Bitting on 22 December 1847. They had five children: [sources: 1, 7, 8, 12]
In 1850, he was living in Perkiomen Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Matilda and daughter Wilhelmina. He was a day laborer. [source: 10]
Matilda Spare died on 14 or 15 July 1859. [source: 7, 12]
In 1860, he was living in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was a mason. He was living with William and Mary Spear (and others). His children were apparently not living with him. [source: 13]
On 24 July 1860, he married Elizabeth B Shade, in Trappe, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. They were married by Reverend Albert B Shenkle, at St Luke's German Reformed Church. They had no children. [source: 7, 12]
When he enlisted, he was a stonemason. [source: 4]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-1/2 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. [source: 4]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 22 October 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Keyser. He was a private in company G. [sources: 1, 4, 12, 18-19]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 5]
He died of apoplexy, in camp near Beverly Ford, Virginia, at about 12.15 PM on 8 August 1863. He had not been well for several weeks, apparently because of fatigue from the marches since the Battle of Gettysburg. He was eating dinner beside his tent, fell over, and died in about five minutes. He was initially buried 'in the corner of the woods at the junction of two roads[,] one leading to [Beverly's] Ford and the other to Rappahannock Station. He was apparently later buried at the National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, block 2 section E row 10 grave 80. He was a private, in company G. Captain Eli Sellers said that he would send his pocket book and pass book to his family, rather than sending them to Washington, to be sure that his family would receive them. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 17, 18-19]
When John died, his children were living with different people Wilamina was living with her uncle, a Mr Valentine, in Philadelphia; Henry was living with Evan Lewis, in Limerick Township, Montgomery County; Mary Elizabeth was living with John Supplee in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County; Ann Matilda was living with her uncle Stroud Spear, in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County; and Gertrude was living with a Mrs Morgan in Philadelphia. [source: 12]
On 9 September 1863, his widow, Elizabeth B Spear, applied successfully for a pension. He application was accepted on 11 January 1865, retroactive to 8 August 1863. She initially received $8 per month. [sources: 6, 9, 12]
In 1870, his widow, Elizabeth P Spare, was living in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She owned $2,000 in real estate, and $200 in personal property. [source: 14]
In 1880, his widow, Elizabeth Spear, was living in ward 1, Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She was living with Frederick and Sarah Spear. [source: 15]
On 1 October 1881, his widow, Elizabeth Spear, applied for an increase in pension because of his children. As far as I call tell from her pension certificate file, she did not receive the increase. [source: 12]
In 1890, his widow, Elizabeth B Spear, was living in ward 8, Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [source: 16]
His widow, Elizabeth B Spear, died in the mid-1890's, presumably shortly after she last was paid her pension, through 4 November 1893. [source: 12]
In August 1911, Spear's grandson, William B Northam, of Chester, Pennsylvania, sent a letter to the Pension Office, asking in what regiment John Spear had served. After he explained his interest, the Pension Office gave him the information. [source: 12]
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 Spear)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 10 August 1863 (John Spear)
3 company G, register of deaths (John Spear)
4 company G, descriptive roll, #70 (John Speer [sic])
5 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (John Spear)
6 pension index, by name (John Spear)
7 'John Spare', on Arlington Cemetery site (viewed April 2007) (John Spare, aka John Spear)
8 'Scott/Cauffman family database', a gedcom available on RootsWeb WorldConnect, contact Wendy Scott (viewed April 2007) [other gedcoms are also available] (John Spare)
9 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company G (John Spear)
10 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Perkiomen Township, microfilm series M432, film 799, page 46 (John Spare)
11 letter, Eli G Sellers to Elizabeth B Spear, August 1863
12 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate WC 38,707 (Elizabeth B Shade, widow of John Spear)
13 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Upper Providence Township, microfilm series M653, film 1145, page 549 = 121 handwritten (John Spear)
14 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Norristown, subdivision 267 (Lower Ward), microfilm series M593, film 1378, page 78 verso = 156 handwritten (Elizabeth P Spare)
15 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Norristown Borough, ward 1, supervisor's district 4, enumeration district 47, page 399 = 48 D handwritten (Elizabeth Spear)
16 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Norristown, ward 8 (image 46 of 59 on Ancestry), supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 226, page 1 (Elizabeth B widow of John Spear)
17 Find a Grave, memorial 45,306,745, created by Pat Callahn, 10 December 2009, accessed 1 November 2011 [identification is confirmed by reference to his service] (John Spear)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Spear)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Speer)
Madam It is with regret that I have to write these few lines to let you know about your husband. On the 8th inst at about 1/4 past 12 oclock he was sitting beside his tent eating his dinner when he fell over in a fit of appoplexey [sic] and died in about five minutes. knowing that it would be impossible to send him home at this season of the year I had him buried as best the accomodations [sic] afforded us here would allow, in the corner of the woods at the junction of two Roads one leading to the above named Ford and the other to Rappahannock Station. The grave is marked with his full name and Company and Regiment. and could be easily found. I sent for his nephew whose Division had passed us in the morning but they had gone so far they they [sic] could not be found. He had some small articles in his pockets such as a pocket book and pass book all of which I will sent to you as soon as we get near the Rail Road and settled in a camp. it is my duty to send these things to Washington but knowing that the Relatives and friends like to take care of these things and they are of no value to any one else and perhaps never would reach you if I sent them to Washington I will send them the first opportunity I will send you the proper papers so that you can have them filled up and receive the pay that is due him. John had not been very well for two or three weeks but we thought it came from the long marches and that with a little rest he would recruit up [sic] again. myself and the company sympathise with you in your loss as John was liked by all the members of the company. with these few lines I must close and remain yours most respectfully
E. G. Sellers capt| line | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Dwellings visited | 193 | ||
| Families visited | 215 | ||
| Name | John Spare | Matilda Spare | Wilamina Do |
| Age | 26 | 26 | 6/12 |
| Sex | M | F | F |
| Color | |||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Day laborer | ||
| Real estate owned | |||
| Birthplace | Do [sc. Pennsylvania] | Do | Do |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | |||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Dwelling number | 797 | |||||||||
| Family number | 889 | |||||||||
| Name | William Spear | Mary " | Matilda " | Esther " | Hannah " | Emma " | Wiliam [sic] " | Jacob " | Nathan | John |
| Age | 50 | 47 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 37 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | F | F | M | M | M | M |
| Color | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Farmer | Seamstress | Mason | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 4,980 | |||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 2,500 | |||||||||
| Place of birth | Penn | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 27 |
| Dwelling-house number | 1222 |
| Family number | 1233 |
| Name | Spare Elizabeth P |
| Age | 58 |
| Sex | F |
| Color | W |
| Occupation | Keeping House |
| Real estate value | 2000 |
| Personal estate value | 200 |
| Birthplace | Penna |
| 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 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| street name | |||
| house number | 609 | ||
| dwelling visit # | 475 | ||
| family visit # | 509 | ||
| name | Spear Frederick | - Sarah | - Elizabeth |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F |
| age | 66 | 59 | 63 |
| month born if born in year | |||
| relationship | wife | sister | |
| single | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |
| widowed/divorced | |||
| married during year | |||
| occupation | Carpenter | Keeping house | |
| months unemployed | |||
| currently ill? | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf/dumb | |||
| idiotic | |||
| insane | |||
| disabled | |||
| school this year | |||
| can't read | |||
| can't write | |||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Pa | Pa |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Pa | Pa |