He was born about 1838/39, in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey. [sources: place: 11, 19. age: 5 (22 in 1861), 11 (22 in 1861), 19 (21 in 1860)]
In 1850, he may have been living in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. If so, he was living with John Wesley and Sarah Thompson (presumably his parents), and Leveret, John, Elizabeth, Manly, Catharine, and David Thompson (presumably his siblings). He had attended school within the year. [source: 25]
In 1860, he may have been living in ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If so, he was living with Israel and Mary Shropshire and others, and was a glassblower. [source: 19]
When he enlisted, he was a glassblower, and was living at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 5]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, light eyes, and light hair. [sources: 5, 11]
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 24 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years. He was mustered into company D, as fourth sergeant. He had rifle number 3. [sources: 1, 5, 9, 10 (promoted to sgt), 11, 26 (pvt)]
He was transferred to company H on 31 October 1861. [sources: 4, 5 (transferred from H to D), 10]
He was reduced to the ranks by regimental order, on 18 May 1862. [source: 9]
He was George Black's tent-mate, and threw him to the rear when the regiment was charging Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 13 December 1862. [source: 12]
On 19 March 1863, he returned to the regiment from duty with the cattle guard. [source: 3]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. He and William Reiff were detailed as pickets on the night of 2 July 1863. They were placed about 125 feet in front of the wall the regiment built, and quickly built their own wall from loose rocks. Because they were having trouble staying awake, despite rubbing onion juice, pepper, and tobacco in their eyes they requested temporary relief. The officer of the guard, Joseph Jones, granted their request, and returned with Stephen Whinna (H) and George S Phillips. Reiff and Thompson slept for two hours, before being awakened about 2 AM and standing the watch until the sun rose. Thompson was ordered back before Reiff, who had to run a gauntlet of shot and shells back to the regiment's line. [13, 15]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863. [sources: 1, 5, 18]
On 2 March 1864, he married Joanna Chew, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was born about 1846/47, in New Jersey. They were married by James B McCullough, in a Methodist ceremony. They had no children. [source: 18, 21, 22, 23]
On 15 April 1864, he returned from being absent without leave. [source: 7]
He was wounded on 18 [?] June 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia. He received a gunshot wound in the right arm. He was sent from the First Division Hospital to the Depot Hospital, City Point, Virginia, on 19 June 1864. He died on 23 or 24 June 1864 of those wounds. He was a private, in company H. He was buried at City Point, Virginia. [sources: 1, 2 (20 Jun), 5, 8, 11, 14, 18 (20 Jun), 26]
On 8 August 1864, his widow, Joanna Thompson, applied for a pension. Her post-office address was Pierce Street, 2nd door above Dauphin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her application was accepted on 24 July 1865, retroactive to 20 June 1864. She initially received a pension of $8 per month. [sources: 16, 17, 18]
In April 1866, his widow, Joanna Thompson, apparently married William Winter, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had two known children:
[source: 20]
In 1870, his (remarried) widow was living in ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with William Winters, and with Elizabeth (presumably their child). He was a police sergeant. [source: 22]
In 1880, his (remarried) widow, Johannah Winters, was living in ward 3, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her husband William Winters, and their children Elizabeth and Henry. He was a hotel keeper. [source: 23]
On 30 December 1885, his (remarried) widow, Joanna Winters, died, of phthisis pulmonalis. She died at, or was buried from 542 West York Street, ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 5 January 1886, she was buried at Northwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 21]
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) (James Thompson (D) and James I Thompson (H))
2 City Point National Cemetery, interment index (searched 5 October 2000)
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 19 March 1863 (Pri Thompon)
4 company D, register of men transferred, entry 17 (James Thompson)
5 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 August 2004 (James Thompson [co.D]--merely refers to co.H card]
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 August 2004 (James I Thompson [co.H])
7 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 15 April 1864 (James Thompson)
8 company H, register of deaths (James Thompson)
9 company H, list of non-commissioned officers (James Thompson)
10 company H, register of men transferred (James Thompson)
11 company H, descriptive roll, #17 (James Thompson)
12 William C Reiff, 'A boy hero: a young drummer made of the right kind of stuff'. National tribune 3 August 1905, page 3, columns 1-2 (Jim Thompson)
13 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (J L Thompson)
14 'Our illustrious dead', Philadelphia Inquirer 20 July 1865 page 2 (James S Thompson)
15 William C Reiff. 'Josie and I at Gettysburg'. Gettysburg Compiler 9 August 1911. (Jim)
16 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (James L Thompson)
17 pension index, by name (James L Thompson)
18 abstract of widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, WC 52233 (Joanna Chew Thompson widow of James L Thompson)
19 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 130 = 130 handwritten (Jas Thompson)
20 'Married', Public Ledger 6 April 1866, page 2 (William Winter to Joanna Thompson)
21 death certificate, Philadelphia death certificates, 30 December 1885 (Joanna Winters)
22 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, district 58, microfilm series M593, film 1404, page 222 = 93 handwritten (Johanna Winters)
23 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 3, microfilm series T9, film 1168, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 66, page 472 = 6 B handwritten (Johannah Winters)
24 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 18, Northeast division (post office Kensington), microfilm series M653, film 1168, page 133 = 133 handwritten
25 1850 US census, New Jersey, Cumberland County, Maurice River Township, microfilm series M432, film 446, page 86 = 171 handwritten (James Thompson)
26 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James L Thompson)
| line | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Dwellings visited | 79 | ||||||||
| Families visited | 79 | ||||||||
| Name | John Wesley Thompson | Sarah Thompson | Leveret Thompson | John Thompson | James Thompson | Elizabeth Thompson | Manly Thompson | Catharine Thompson | David Thompson |
| Age | 45 [?] | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | M | F | M |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Wheelwright | ||||||||
| Real estate owned | |||||||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. NJ] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Dwelling number | 955 | |||||
| Family number | 1048 | |||||
| Name | Israel Shropshire | Mary | Mary Carroll | Ida | Orris | Jas Thompson |
| Age | 29 | 30 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 21 |
| Sex | m | f | f | f | f | m |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Seaman | Glass Blower | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||
| Value of personal estate | 300 | |||||
| Place of birth | NJ | NY [?] | " | " | NJ | " |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 |
| Dwelling number | 857 | |||||||
| Family number | 965 | |||||||
| Name | John Thompson | Sarah " | Leveratt " | John " | Fanny " | Elzth " | Cath. Thopmson | David " |
| Age | 50 | 48 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 12 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | f | f | f | m |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation | Wharf Builder | Glass Blower | ditto | ditto | Tailoress | |||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||||||
| Place of birth | do [sc. Pa] | do | N.J | do | do | do | Penna | do |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | (1) | |||||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Dwelling-house number | 638 | ||
| Family number | 811 | ||
| Name | Winters William | - Johanna | - Elizabeth |
| Age | 28 | 22 | 1 |
| Sex | m | f | f |
| Color | " [sc. W] | " | " |
| Occupation | Police Sargeant | keeping house | at home |
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | 300 | ||
| Birthplace | Ireland | New Jersey | Penna |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 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 | 1 | ||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| street name | North Ninteth [sic] Street | |||
| house number | 801 | |||
| dwelling visit # | 64 | |||
| family visit # | 71 | |||
| name | Winters William | Johannah | Elisabeth | Henry |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M |
| age | 38 | 32 | 11 | 9 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | Wife | Daughter | Son | |
| single | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||
| widowed/divorced | ||||
| married during year | ||||
| occupation | Hotel Keeper | Keeping House | At School | At School |
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | ||
| can't read | ||||
| can't write | ||||
| birthplace | Ireland | New Jersey | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | Pennsylvania | Ireland | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland | New Jersey | New Jersey | New Jersey |
WINTER--THOMPSON--At the parsonage of the Summerfield M.E. Church, 718 Dauphin Street, by Rev. Vaughan Smith, Mr WILLIAM WINTER to Miss JOANNA THOMPSON, all of this city.