He was born in 1820/21 (5 (40 in 1861), 9 (56 in 1884?), 10 (60 in 1880), 11 (39 in 1860), 12 (50 in 1870), 14 (56 in ?1876)). He was born in Illinois (9) or Pennsylvania (10, 11, 12, 13, 14).
In 1860, he was living in the 15th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11). He was living with Lydia (presumably his wife) and James, George and Josephine (presumably his children (11). He was a druggist, and owned $200 in personal property (11).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private on 24 September 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 3, 5). He was a private in company D (1, 16).
He was promoted to hospital steward (1).
He was present at the Battle of Gettysburg, as hospital steward (2).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 5). He was then a hospital steward (5).
On 29 June 1864, he was on duty at the division hospital (7).
On 1 August 1864, he was reported absent sick (8).
He was discharged on 8 March 1865 on surgeon's certificate of disability (1, 3, 5, 9 [42 months service], 15). He was then a hospital steward, in Field and Staff (3, 16). He had served for forty-two months (14).
He successfully applied for a pension on 2 August 1866 (3, 6).
In 1870, he was living in the 15th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12). He was living with Lydia Thomas (presumably his wife (12). He was a druggist, and owned $2,200 in personal property (12).
On 18 July 1876, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (9, 13, 14). He suffered from rheumatism (9, 14). He received a pension of $26 per month (9, 14 [$56 sic]).
In 1880, he was living in the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home (10).
In 1882, he was present at the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home (14).
He was present in the Southern Branch in 1883 (9), and in 1885 (13). He had rheumatism (13). He was 65 years old, and received a pension of $30 per month (13).
He died on 21 May 1885 (3, 13).
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 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
3 pension index, by regiment (David R Thomas)
4 regimental descriptive book (David B Thomas)
5 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 18 May 2004 (David B Thomas)
6 pension index, by name (searched on <www.ancestry.com>, 28 May 2004) (David B Thomas)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 29 June 1864 (Hos Steward D B Thomas)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 August 1864 (D B Thomas)
9 National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Report of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the said board for the year ending June 30, 1884. January 5, 1885. Serial Set volume 2310, session volume 1, 48th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 11, page 216 (David B Thomas)
10 1880 US census, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, Hampton, National Home for Disabled Vol Soldiers Southern Branch, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 13, microfilm series T9, film 1363, page 28 A = 55 handwritten (David B Thomas)
11 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 15th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1165, page 757 = 317 handwritten (David Thomas)
12 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 43rd district, 15th ward, microfilm series M593, film 1399, page 359 = 145 handwritten (David B Thomas)
13 National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Report of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the said board for the year ending June 30, 1885. January 7, 1886. Serial Set volume 2415, session volume 10, 49th Congress, 1st Session, House Miscellaneous Document 38, page 173 (D B Thomas)
14 Annual report of the Board of Managers of the National Soldiers Home, 30 December 1882 [for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1882]. Serial Set volume 2115, session volume 1, 47th Congress, 2nd Session, House Miscellaneous Document 13, page 378 (David B Thomas)
15 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 8 March 1865 (David Thomas)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (David B Thomas)
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Dwelling number | 1998 | ||||
| Family number | 2414 | ||||
| Name | David Thomas | Lydia " | James " | Geo " | Josephine " |
| Age | 39 | 37 | 19 | 17 | 14 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | f |
| Color | |||||
| Occupation | Drugist [sic] | Stone cutter | " " appr | ||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||
| Value of personal estate | 200 | ||||
| Place of birth | Pa | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 16 | 17 |
| Dwelling-house number | 831 | |
| Family number | 1046 | |
| Name | Thomas David B | - Lidia |
| Age | 50 | 49 [or 47?] |
| Sex | m | f |
| Color | W | W |
| Occupation | Druggist | Keeps house |
| Real estate value | ||
| Personal estate value | 2200 | |
| Birthplace | Penna | 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 | 1 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 49 |
| street name | |
| house number | |
| dwelling visit # | |
| family visit # | |
| name | Thomas David B |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| age | 60 |
| month born if born in year | |
| relationship | |
| single | 1 |
| married | |
| widowed/divorced | |
| married during year | |
| occupation | |
| months unemployed | |
| currently ill? | Disabled |
| blind | |
| deaf/dumb | |
| idiotic | |
| insane | |
| disabled | |
| school this year | |
| can't read | |
| can't write | |
| birthplace | Pa |
| father's birthplace | NJ |
| mother's birthplace | NJ |