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George Black

Before the war

He was 38 years old in 1860 (17, 19 [25 in 1850]). He was born in New York (17, 19).

In 1850, he was living in Richmond District, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (19). He was living with Elizabeth Black (presumably his wife), Catharine, Ellen, and George Black (presumably his children), and James Black, William Black, Walter Jones, and Mary Black (19). He was a plasterer, and owned $1,200 in real estate (19).

In 1860, he was living in the 19th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). He was a plasterer, and owned $10,000 in real estate and $1,000 in personal property (17). He was living with his wife Catharine, children Ellen, George, Theodore, and Emma, along with three other people (17).

During the war

On 19 October 1861, he was second lieutenant of company H (14).

He mustered William Thaworth into service in company H on 8 November 1861 (8).

He was mustered into service on 14 November 1861 (1, 4, 10). He served as a first lieutenant, in company H (1).

His son, George Black, served as a musician in company H (11). He insisted on staying as close as possible to his father, even in battle (11).

On 29 June 1862, he, along with the other commissioned officers in the regiment (except Colonel Gregory), signed a statement denying accusations that they were on the verge of open mutiny, that the regiment had been reduced to 400 men, and that Colonel Gregory was too lenient to Confederates and too harsh to men in the regiment (13).

He may have been the lieutenant who declined to attempt to recover the regimental wagon in November 1862 (3).

He was on leave starting 6 March 1863 (5), and had returned on 15 March 1863 (6).

On 18 March 1863, he was on picket duty (7).

He was wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1, 4, 10, 11).

He died on 6 May 1863 of the wounds he had received at Chancellorsville (1, 2, 4). The regiment did not receive reliable word of his death until 16 May (9).

After the war

On 19 April 1864, his minor dependent, William H Black, applied successfully for a pension (12, 18).

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, and on page 189)

2 Official Army Register

3 Thomas Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldier's Mail volume 3, number 36, page 2

4 regimental descriptive book

5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 6 March 1863 (Lieut Black)

6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 15 March 1863 (Lieut Black)

7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 18 March 1863 (Lt Black)

8 discharge papers, William Thaworth (Lieut George Black)

9 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 16 May 1863 (Lieut Black)

10 company H, list of commissioned officers (George Black)

11 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 (George W Black)

12 pension index, by name (George R Black)

13 'Ninety-first Pennsylvania Regiment'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 July 1862, page 2 (George Black)

14 'Camp Chase at Gray's Ferry' Philadelphia Inquirer 19 October 1861 page 8 (- Black)

15 'Camp Chase', Philadelphia Inquirer 30 November 1861 (Geo Black)

16 'Departure of Col. Gregory's regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1862 page 2 (George Black)

17 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 307 = 307 handwritten (Geo Black)

18 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (George R Black)

19 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Richmond District, microfilm series M432, film 820, page 185 = 371 handwritten (Geo Black)

[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veterans' census (searched April 2007)]

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Richmond District, microfilm series M432, film 820, page 185 = 371 handwritten]
line262728293031323334
Dwellings visited66        
Families visited66        
NameGeorge BlackElizabeth BlackJames BlackWillm BlackWalter JonesMary BlackCatharine BlackEllen BlackGeorge Black
Age2526191716404310/12
SexMFMMMFFFM
Color         
Occupation of males over 15 yearsPlasterer dododo    
Real estate owned1200        
BirthplaceNew YorkPennaN YorkdodoIrelandPennadodo
Married within year         
Attended school within year    1    
Over 20 & can't read/write         
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.         

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 307 = 307 handwritten]
line323334353637383940
Dwelling number2190        
Family number2472        
NameGeo BlackCath "Ellen "Geo "Theodore "Emma "Mary BlackJacob Anhanson [?]John Emms [?]
Age3815131187502422
Sexmffmmffmm
Color         
OccupationPlasterer     Widow  
Value of real estate owned10000        
Value of personal estate1000        
Place of birthNYPhila""""ScotlandPhila 
Married within year         
Attended school within year 11111   
Cannot read & write         
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.         

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revised 9 Mar 09
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