91st PA: John Walters

After the war

On 28 January 1863, Charles Houghton certified various facts about Walters' death. On 10 March 1863, Charles S Brown certified various facts about Walters' death. [source: 9]

His widow, Catherine Walters, applied successfully from Pennsylvania on 12 June 1863 for a pension, under the Act of 14 July 1862. Her post office address was Emerald near Huntingdon Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 2, 6, 9]

On 21 September 1863, Charles S Brown again certified various facts about Walters' death. [source: 9]

On 21 November 1864, Catharine Walters changed attorneys, at her old attorney's request, appointing Joseph E Devitt & Company as her new attorney. She apparently applied again for a pension, again under the Act of 14 July 1862. Her post office address was 2338 Coral Street, 19th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her application was accepted on 22 December 1864, and she received $8 per month, retroactive to 27 December 1861. [source: 9]

On 16 December 1864, Charles W Houghton again certified various facts about Walters' death. [source: 9]

On 25 September 1866, Catharine Walters applied for an increase in pension under the Act of 25 July 1866. Her post office address was 2338 Coral Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her application was accepted on 1 August 1867, and she received an additional $2 per month for each child less than sixteen years old, retroactive to 25 Julyu 1866. [source: 9]

In 1870, his widow, Catharine Walters, was living in ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with their children Joseph and William H. She may have been living at 2376 or 2516 Frankford Road. [source: 10]

On 3 March 1871, Joseph Walters, son of John and Catharine Walters, died, of phthisis pulmonalis. (However, note that in the 1881 city directory, Catharine Walter, widow of John, is listed as living at 2376 Frankford Avenue with Joseph Walter, brickmaker. He was 20 years old, and had been born in Philadelphia. He died at, or was buried from 2476 (or 2376?) F[rankford] Road, ward 19, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. On 6 March 1871, he was buried, at St Anne's Church Cemetery. [sources: 13, 14]

On 18 December 1875, the Pension Office instructed the Philadelphia Pension Agency to suspend payment of her pension. This is probably because Joseph Devitt and Company has been caught improperly swearing claimants and witnesses in their office, and then executing the documents in Court, without the personal presence of the claimants and witnesses. Her pension was resumed on 24 January 1876. [source: 9]

In 1880, his widow, Catharine Walters, was living at 2413 Martha Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (However, in the 1881 city directory, a Catharine Walter, widow of John, and Joseph Walter, were living at 2376 Frankford avenue.) She was living with their son William. She was a housekeeper. She had rheumatism. [sources: 11, 13]

On 10 June 1884, Catharine Walters died, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died of chronic diarrhea. She died at, or was buried from, 2415 Martha Street, 31st ward, Philadelphia. On 14 June 1884, she was buried, at St Anne's Cemetery. [source: 12]

In July 1888, the Philadelphia Pension Agency asked that Catharine Walters be dropped from the pension rolls, because she hadn't claimed her pension. She was last paid at $8 per month, through 4 June 1884. [source: 9]

Sources

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 Walters)

2 pension index, by name (supplied by Dennis Clowney) (John Walters)

3 company H, register of deaths (John Walters)

4 company H, descriptive roll, #50 (John Walters)

5 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 27 December 1861 (John Walters)

6 pension index by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (John Watters [sic])

7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 1170, page 816 = 346 handwritten (John Walter)

8 death notice, Public Ledger 30 December 1861, Public Ledger 30 December 1861, page 2 (John Walters)

9 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, widow's certificate number 37,102 (Catharine McCarty widow of John Walters)

10 1870 US census, 2nd enumeration Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, district 60, microfilm series M593, film 1433, page 458 recto = 25 handwritten to 458 verso = 26 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Catharine Walters)

11 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 687, microfilm series T9, film 1190, page 625 A = 11 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Catharine Walters)

12 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 10 June 1884 (FamilySearch) (Catharine Walters)

13 Philadelphia city directories

14 [not transcribed] death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 3 March 1871 (FamilySearch) (Joseph Walters son of John and Catharine Walter)

15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Walters)

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, microfilm series M653, film 1170, page 816 = 346 handwritten]
[identification is probable, since the names and ages match the evidence in the widow's pension certificate file transcribed below]

line	15	16	17	18	19	20
Dwelling number	[2458]
Family number	2818
Name	John Walter	Catharine	Joseph	William	Mary Sickel [?]	Renila [?] Fenton [?]
Age	39	32	12	10	1	55
Sex	M	F	M	M	F	M
Color
Occupation	Potter					Constable
Value of real estate owned
Value of personal estate
Place of birth	England	Phil	"	"	"	"
Married within year
Attended school within year			1
Cannot read & write
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.

1870 census

[1870 US census, 2nd enumeration, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, district 60, microfilm series M593, film 1433, page 458 recto = 25 handwritten to 458 verso = 26 handwritten (FamilySearch)]
[identification is probable; see the note on the 1860 census entry transcribed above]

line	39	40
Dwelling-house number	2376 [?]		Frankford Rd 2516
Family number
Name	Walters Catharine	Joseph	Walters Wm H
Age	41	20	14
Sex	F	M	M
Color
Occupation
Real estate value
Personal estate value
Birthplace
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 ...

1880 census

[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 687, microfilm series T9, film 1190, page 625 A = 11 handwritten (FamilySearch)]
[identification is probable; see the note on the 1860 census entry transcribed above]

line	19	20
street name	Martha Street
house number	2413
dwelling visit #	93
family visit #	111
name	Walters Catharine	- William
color	W	W
sex	F	M
age	60	21
month born if born in year
relationship		Son
single		1
married
widowed/divorced	1
married during year
occupation	Housekeeper	Weaver
months unemployed
currently ill?	Rheumatism
blind
deaf/dumb
idiotic
insane
disabled
school this year
can't read
can't write
birthplace	Penna	Penna
father's birthplace	Penna	Penna
mother's birthplace	Penna	Penna

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 2 May 2015, from Fold3]

Walters John
Co. H, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Cpl | Cpl
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

death certificate

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 27 December 1861, John Walters]
[source: FamilySearch]
[the "undertaker's certificate" is very faint]
RETURN OF A DEATH,
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
1. Name of Deceased, John Walters
2. Colour, White
3. Sex, Male
4. Age, Thirty five
5. Married
6. Date of Death, Dec 27th 1861
7. Cause of Death, Consumption Lungs
Charles Houghton, M.D.
Residence, Frankford Road at York
UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE, IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation, [blank]
9. Place of Birth, PA
10. When a Minor, Name of Father [blank]; Name of Mother [blank]
11. Ward 19
12. Street and Number Emenlund [??] at Hazerd [??] St
13. Date of Burial, Jan 1/ 62
14. Place of Burial Union Kensington
Geo Thumtest [??] UNDERTAKER
Residence, 858 Lancaster St
Date of Certificate, Dec 29, 61

death notice

[death notice, Public Ledger 30 December 1861 and Public Ledger 30 December 1861, page 2, John Walters]

WALTERS--On the 27th, of consumption of the lungs, JOHN WALTERS, of Co. H, Col. Gregory's Regiment, aged 35 [?].

The relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral, this Monday, the 30th inst, at 1 o'clock, from his late residence, Emerald and Huntington streets, Philadelphia. [Baltimore papers please copy]

widow's pension certificate file

[widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, widow's certificate number 37,102, Catharine McCarty widow of John Walters]
[transcribed 32 pages from Fold3 (October 2012)]

27 Aug 1846: John Walters married Catharine McCarty (pp.4, 22); they were married by John C Lyons, of the Presbyterian Church (pp.10, 22); two children under 16 in 1863: Joseph Walters (12 years old in 1863, born 30 July 1850) and William Henry Walters (5 years old in 1863, born 27 April 1857) (pp.4, 25, 26, 28); Joseph Walters was baptized on 17 August 1850 by Rev G Strobs [?], pastor of St Mary's Church (p.26)
29 Oct 1861: John Walters enlisted at Philadelphia PA (p.8)
25 Nov 1861: mustered as corporal, co H, 91st PA, at Philadelphia PA (p.8)
27 Dec 1861: John Walters died, at Philadelphia, PA (pp.4, 8); died of acute pneumonia 'the result undoubtedly of exposure incident to Camp life + by no fault of his own'; died of "Lung fever" (p.14); 'was taken ill while in the performance of his duties at Camp Chase' (p.4); John Walters was in good health when he enlisted
28 Jan 1863: Charles Houghton MD certified (at Philadelphia) that'John Walters Died with Inflamation [sic] of the Lungs contracted while in the Service of the Armmy [sic] of the United States. The undersigned had Charge of him while sick' (p.9)
10 Mar 1863: Chas S Brown certified that John Walters was mustered in on 29 October 1861 at Philadelphia, and died on 27 December at Philadelphia 'of ordanary [?] disability incured [sic] in service' (p.11)
12 June 1863: Catharine Walters applied for a pension under the act of 14 July 1862 (p.4); post office address Emerald near Huntingdon Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (p.4); Catharine was 35 years old (p.4); dated 10 June 1863 (p.4); application 24,389 (pp.8, 14); witnesses Ann Elizabeth Slough and David Agnew (residents of Philadelphia) (p.4); attorney Edward Carpenter (242 South 3rd St Philadelphia) (p.4)
27 June 1863: the Adjutant General's office sent the Pension Office the above-summarized information (p.8; see p.14 for the request)
24 Aug 1863: the Pension Office sent circular 9 to the attorney; the note says 'marriage address'--perhap those were two elements missing from the application? (p.15)
21 Sep 1863: Chas S Brown certified that Corp John Walters was mustered on 29 Oct by Capt Keyser of co C and died 27 Dec 1861 at Philadelphia 'of ordanry [?] disability incurred in service' (p.17)
21 Nov 1864: Catharine Walters revoked 'any previous authority to receive given by me to Edward Carpenter Esq Att'y at Law, at his own request', and appointed Joseph E Devitt & Co. her attorney (p.19)
?: Catharine Walters applied for a pension under the Act of 14 July 1862; post office address: 2338 Coral St, 19th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; attorney Jos E Devitt (pp.14, 16); admitted 22 Dec 1864, $8 / month retroactive to 27 December 1861 (pp.3, 16); certificate dated 5 January 1865 (p.16)
16 Dec 1864: Charles W Houghton, on duty at Chester PA G [?] M Hospital swore to the following facts (p.21); he was assistant surgeon of the 91st PA, and knew Corporal John Walters, who was mustered in about 30 Oct 1861, became 'disabled from doing duty as a soldier' about 18 Dec 1861, and died on 27 Dec 1861 (p.21); 'At Camp Chase 24th Ward Philadelphia Pa he was attached with acute pneumonia the result undoubtedly of exposure incident to Camp Life and by no fault of his own.' (p.21); 'His character and habits were good' (p.21)/dd>
21 Dec 1864: the Pension Office [received?] additional evidence (p.15)
25 Sep 1866: Catharine Walters, 38, resident of Philadelphia, applied for an increase in pension under the act of 25 July 1866 (p.28); post office address 2338 Coral St, Philadelphia PA (p.28); witnesses William Stratton and Sarah Ruth (both residents of Philadelphia) (p.28); attorney Jos E Devitt & Co (p.30); accepted 1 August 1867, and she received an additional $2 per month for each child less than 16 retroactive to 25 July 1866 (pp.30, 31); certificate dated 10 Aug 1867 (p.31)
18 Dec 1875: the pension agency was instructed to suspend payment (p.32)
24 Jan 1876: the Pension Office sent a letter to the Pension Agency instructing them to resume payment of the pension (p.32)
July 1888: the Pension Agency, Philadelphia, asked that Catharine Walters' name be dropped from the pension rolls because of failure to claim (p.12); she was last paid at $8 through 4 June 1884 (p.12)

death certificate, Catharine Walters

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 10 June 1884, Catharine Walters (FamilySearch)]
[identification is likely, given the date she stopped claiming her pension (last paid 4 June 1884)]
[but see the note on the 1900 census above]
[transcribed 31 October 2012, from FamilySearch]
RETURN OF A DEATH
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
1. Name of Deceased, Catharine Walters
2. Color, White
3. Sex, Female
4. Age, 56 Years
5. Widow
6. Date of Death, June 10th 1884
7. Cause of Death, Chronic Diarrhoea
Theo. J. Gramm M.D.
Residence, 1656 Vienna St.
UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation, [blank]
9. Place of Birth, Phila
10. When a Minor, [blank]
11. Ward, 31st
12. Street and Number, 2415 Martha St
13. Date of Burial, June 14th 1884
14. Place of Burial, St Anne's
Anthony C. Hookey Undertaker.
Residence, 2264 Frankford Ave

Philadelphia city directories

[transcribed October 2012, from Fold3]

1871 Gopsill's, p.1444: [the only Catharine Walters is:] 'Walters Catharine, dressmaker, 1917 N 5th'
1876 Gopsill's: [no Catharine Walter, or Walters]
1878 Gopsill's: [p.1878] 'Walter Catharine, wid John, h 65 Sloan'; [no Joseph or William Walter on Sloan]; [no Catharine Walters]
1881 Gopsill's p.1684: [the only William weaver is:] "Walters William, weaver, h 2601 N 4th"; [the 1882 Gopsill's directory, on page 1598, does not have any William Walters on N 4th St, but there are two William Walters, weavers, besides the one living at 2413 Martha]; [the only Catharine is:] "Walters Catharine, widow, h 934 Moyam'g av"; [p.1443] 'Walter Catharine, wid John, h 2376 Fkd av'; [p.1443] 'Walter Joseph, brickmaker, h 2376 Fkd av'
1882 Gopsill's: p.1598: "Walters William, weaver, h 2413 Martha"; p.1597: "Walters Catharine, wid John, h 2413 Martha"
1883 Gopsill's p.1648: "Walters William, weaver, h 2413 Martha"; "Walters Catharine, wid John, h 2413 Martha"
1884 Gopsill's: page 1637: "Walters William H., weaver, h 2413 [sic] Martha"; page 1636: "Walters Catharine, wid John, h 2413 Martha"

John Walters

Before the war

Description

During the war