He was born in August 1847, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John and Elizabeth Sweed. [sources: date: 12; 4 (19 in 1864), 5 (19 in 1864), 11 (15 in 1860), 12 (52 in 1900), 14 (56 yrs 10 mos 11 days at death). place: 4, 11, 12, 14. parents: 7]
In 1860, he was living in the 14th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with John and Elizabeth Sweeds (presumably his parents), and with other Sweeds (presumably siblings or other relatives). He had attended school within the year. [source: 11]
When he enlisted, he was a stonecutter. [source: 4]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and dark hair. [source: 4]
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 13 February 1864. He was enlisted for three years, by Lieutenant Shipley. He was mustered in as a private, in company D, by Lieutenant Hildebrand. [sources: 1, 4, 5, 9, 16]
He was wounded on 8 May 1864 at Laurel Hill, Virginia. [sources: 1, 4, 8]
He returned to the regiment on 11 September 1864. [source: 6]
On 7 October 1864, Sellers reported that he was missing in action on 30 September 1864 near Peeble's House. [source: 2]
On 30 May 1865, a field officers court martial was appointed to meet on 31 May or as soon as practicable after that to try Sweed. However, the only officer appointed to the court was John F Casner. [source: 3]
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company. He was a private, in company D. He had served for 1 year, 6 months, 1 day. [sources: 1, 5, 9, 15 (co.B), 16]
In 1890, he was living in Cecil County, Maryland (post office address Chesapeake City, Maryland). [source: 15]
On 13 July 1891, he successfully applied from Maryland for a pension. [sources: 9, 10]
In 1893/94, he married Julia [unknown family name]. In 1900, she had had no children. [sources: 7, 12]
In 1900, he was living at 2455 Marsden Street, 28th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Julia. He was a stone cutter, but had been unemployed for six months in the previous year. [source: 12]
On 24 June 1904, he died, of carcinoma of the inferior maxilla, with exhaustion contributing, at 2204 Nassau Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (his residence). He was a gentleman. He was married. The funeral was on Monday 27 June 1904, at his residence, 2204 Nassau Street. Fairmount Council No 321 Jr OUAM, and surviving members of company D were invited to attend. He was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 7, 9, 14]
In 1910, his widow, Julia Sweeds, was living at 1420 Columbia Avenue, 47th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her niece Alice and a lodger. [source: 13]
On 19 September 1916, his widow, Julia R Sweeds, successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 9, 10]
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)
2 letter, Sellers to Tayman, 7 October 1864
3 special order 30, HQ 91st PA, 30 May 1865 (George W Sweed)
4 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 60 (George W Sweed)
5 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 August 2004 (George W Sweed)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 11 September 1874 (Privt Sweed)
7 [death notice], Philadelphia Inquirer, 26 June 1904, page 7 (George W Sweeds)
8 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (George Sweed)
9 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (George W Sweeds)
10 pension index, by name (George W Sweeds)
11 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 14th ward, 1st division, microfilm series M653, film 1164, page 85 = 85 handwritten (Geo Sweeds)
12 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 28, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 696, microfilm series T624, film 1470, page 244 = 5 A handwritten (W George Sweeds)
13 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 47, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 1200, microfilm series T624, film 1414, page 36 = 8 A handwritten (Julia Sweeds)
14 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 24 June 1904, #164?8 (the next-to-last digit is illegibly light) (George Washington Sweeds)
15 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Maryland, Cecil, enumeration district 9, page 3 (FamilySearch) (George W Swede)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (George W Sweed)
| line | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Dwelling number | 550 | ||||||||||
| Family number | 621 | ||||||||||
| Name | Jno Sweeds | Eliz | Jno | Chas | Emanuel | Geo | Jefferson | Eliz | Mary | Susan | Clara |
| Age | 56 | 55 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 33 | 17 | 29 | 13 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | m | m | m | f | f | f | f |
| Color | |||||||||||
| Occupation | Segar Maker | Segar maker | Segar maker | Bricklayer | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 6000 | ||||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 1000 | ||||||||||
| Place of birth | Phila | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 32 | 33 |
| street | Marsden St | |
| house number | 2455 | |
| dwelling number | 101 | |
| family number | 107 | |
| name | Sweeds W George | Sweeds I Julia |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| color | W | W |
| sex | M | F |
| birth date | Aug 1847 | Dec 1852 |
| age | 52 | 47 |
| married? | M | M |
| # years married | 6 | 6 |
| mother of how many children | 0 | |
| # of children living | 0 | |
| birthplace | Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| father's birthplace | New Jersey | Philadelphia |
| mother's birthplace | Massachusetts | Virginia |
| immigration year | ||
| # years in USA | ||
| naturalized citizen? | ||
| occupation | Stone Cutter | |
| # months not employed | 6 | |
| # months in school | ||
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | O | |
| free or mortgaged | F | |
| farm/house | H | |
| # of farm schedule | ||
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| street | Columbia Avenue | ||
| house nr | [1420] | ||
| dwelling nr | [182] | ||
| family nr | 207 | ||
| name | Sweeds Julia | - Alice | Snyder Katherine |
| relationship | Head | Niece | Lodger |
| sex | F | F | F |
| color | W | W | W |
| age | 58 | 36 | 35 |
| marital status | Wd | S | Wd |
| #years present marriage | |||
| mother of # children | 0 | 1 | |
| mother of # living children | 0 | 0 | |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | |||
| naturalized/alien | |||
| speaks English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Own Income | Proprietess | Saleslady |
| nature of industry etc. | Hair Dressing Store | [illegible] Suite [?] | |
| employer etc. | Emp | W | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | ||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | ||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |||
| owned/rented | O | ||
| owned free or mortagaged | F | ||
| farm/house | H | ||
| nr on farm schedule | |||
| civil war vet | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf & dumb | |||