He was born in 1844/45 (6 (18 in 1863), 7 (16 in 1861), 8 (19 in 1863), 13 (34 in 1880)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7, 8, 13).
When he enlisted, he was a clerk, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 7, 8).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (6, 7, 8 [5'4"]).
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 15 October 1861 (1, 6, 7). He was enlisted for three years, by Captain Sinex (7). He was mustered in service, as a musician, in company D, by Captain Sinex (1, 6, 7, 19-21).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (10).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863 (1, 6, 8). He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan (8).
On 30 July 1864 he was ordered by Colonel Gregory to report to the Fifth Corp Hospital at City Point (2, 3, 5 [1 Aug], 9 [1 Aug]). The detail was to report to brigade headquarters at 8 am on 1 August 1864 (3). He was still detailed as a nurse in September (?) 1864 (5).
On 10 March 1865, he went on a furlough, which ended on 25 March 1865 (4). He returned on 28 March 1865 (4).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 6). He was a musician, in company D (19-21).
Probably in fall 1879, he was living at 637 North 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14). He was living with William A Widdifield (14). He was a teacher (14).
In 1880, he was living at 637 North 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13). He was living with his father W A Widdifield, with Catherine (presumably his mother), his sister Fanny and her husband George Stout, cousin Anna Widdifield, and a servant (13). He was a musician (13).
Probably in fall 1884, he was living at 649 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15). He w+as a musician (15).
Probably in fall 1899, he was living at 649 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He was a musician (16).
On 16 March 1892, he applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (11, 12).
Perhaps he is the Joseph Widdifield who died on 20 March 1896 (17). If so, he was living at Madison Avenue below Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, [Delaware County,] Pennsylvania (17). Note, however, that the newspaper death notice doesn't mention his wife, and doesn't mention the 91st Pennsylvania.
On 6 August 1897, his widow, Mary E C Widdifield, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (11, 12).
His presumed widow, Mary E Widdifield, died (18). She was apparently buried at Monument Cemetery (18).
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, Tayman to Reed, 13 August 1864
3 special order 186, HQ 5th Army Corps, 30 July 1864
4 enlisted men's furloughs (Jos Widdifield)
5 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (Joseph Weddefield)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 18 May 2004 (Joseph Widdefield; rolls have 'Widdifield')
7 company D, descriptive roll, musicians, entry 2 (Joseph Widdifield)
8 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 10 (Jos Widdifield)
9 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 1 August 1864 (Musician Widdifield)
10 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Joseph Widdefield)
11 pension index, by name (two cards) (Joseph Widdifield)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (Joseph Widdifield)
13 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 252, microfilm series T9, film 1174, page 56 B = 6 handwritten (Joseph Widdifield)
14 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, 1880, page 1733 (Joseph Widdifield)
15 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory 1885, page 1854 (Joseph Widdifield)
16 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory, 1890, page 1952 (Joseph Widdifield)
17 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 24 March 1896, page 9 (Joseph Widdifield)
18 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 May 1908, page 9 (Mary E Widdifield)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Widdefield)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Widdifield)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Joseph Widefield)
| line | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| street name | North 16th Street | ||||||
| house number | 637 | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 41 | ||||||
| family visit # | 47 | ||||||
| name | Widdifield W A | - Cathern [sic] | Stout Fanny | Widdifield Joseph | Widdifield Anna | Stout George | Murphy Anna |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M | F | M | F |
| age | 76 | 68 | 39 | 34 | 50 | 41 | 20 |
| month born if born in year | |||||||
| relationship | wife | daughter | son | niece | S-in-law | servant | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| married | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | |||||||
| married during year | |||||||
| occupation | clerk in bank | keeping house | helps at home | musician | at home | Teacher | servant |
| months unemployed | |||||||
| currently ill? | |||||||
| blind | |||||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||||
| idiotic | |||||||
| insane | |||||||
| disabled | |||||||
| school this year | |||||||
| can't read | |||||||
| can't write | |||||||
| birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| father's birthplace | Penn | Scotland | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Scotland | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
WIDDIFIELD.--On March 20, 1896, Joseph, son of Catharine and the late William A. Widdifield. Relatives and friends of the family, also any association of which he was a member, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday afternoon, the 24th instant, at 3 o'clock, from his late residence, Madison avenue, below Lansdowne avenue, Lansdowne, Pa. Train leaves Broad Street Station, 2.15 P.M.
WIDDEFIELD--May 15, 1908, MARY E. WIDDEFIELD, widow of Joseph Widdefield. Funeral services at the Monument Cemetery Chapel, on Monday morning, at 11 o'clock precisely; late residence, 640 N. 15th st.