He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22). He was born in August 1849 (15, 22 [10 months in 1850]). He was 13 years old when he was enlisted (11, 14 [30 in 1880], 15 [50 in 1900], 16 [60 in 1910], 17 [70 in 1920], 20 [11 in 1860]). (According to William Reiff, Black was less than twelve years old when he enlisted (12).) His father was George Black, first lieutenant of company H (12).
In 1850, he was living in Richmond District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (22). He was living with George and Elizabeth Black (presumably his parents), along with others (22).'
In 1860, he was living in the 19th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (20). He was living with his parents, George and Catharine Black, along with other people (20). He was attending school (20).
He was a dru[mmer] when he was enlisted (11).
He was 4 feet 5 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, black eyes, and lightish [?] hair (11).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 12 December 1861 (1, 9 [4 Jan 62], 11, 21 [4 Jan 62]). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain O Brown (11). He was mustered in as a musician in company H (1).
He was Jim Thompson's tent-mate (12).
Although urged by other men in his company to stay back, he took part in the charge against Marye's Heights, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 13 December 1862, because he intended to go wherever his father went (12). Jim Thompson threw him to the rear of the line, but he went as far as the division advanced as a body (12).
He was at the battle of Chancellorsville, and again insisted on staying as near his father as possible (12). This time William Reiff threw him backwards (12). His father was mortally wounded there, and died on 6 May 1863 (12). "[T]hereafter the spirited boy was filled with sorrow" (12).
On 28 July 1863, he was reported as having been dropped because he was missing in the campaign (probably after 11 June 1863) (7).
Near Culpepper Court House, he prevented a retreat (12):
Later on, near Culpeper Court House, Black prevented a stampede of our forces by placing his horse midway of the road and firing shot after shot into the head of the retreating column. A shell burst, killing his horse, wounding the lad in one wrist, and the horse falling upon him broke the other arm. (12; see also 9).
He was admitted to the Armory Square Hospital because of that injury (19).
On 26 September 1863, he was reported returned from missing in the campaign (8).
On 2 March 1864, Colonel Gregory detached him for duty with the recruiting service in Chester, Pennsylvania (2, 4). On 27 April 1864, Sinex asked that he be returned to the regiment (3).
On 16 September 1864, Sellers suggested that he be detached for duty in the Fifth Corps Hospital at City Point, Virginia (5).
He mustered out on 4 January 1865 when his term expired (1, 10, 11, 18, 21). He was replaced by John Fall (H) (6, 9).
On 8 October 1874, he applied successfully for a pension (13, 21).
In 1874 or 1875, he married Agnes [unknown surname] (15 [25 years in 1900], 16 [34 years in 1910]). In 1900, she claimed to have had no children (15).
In 1880, he was living at 530 Charter [?] Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14). He was living with his wife Agnes, and son Theodore (14). He was a plasterer (14).
In 1890, he was living at 2167 Manakin Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). His arm had been broken at Culpepper (9).
In 1900, he was living at 2167 Reece Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15). He was living with his wife Agnes (15). He was a plasterer, and had not been unemployed in the previous year (15).
In 1910, he was living at 2167 Reese [?] Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He was living with his wife Agnes (16). He was a plasterer, and had not been out of work in 1909 (16).
In 1920, he was living at 440 N [?] Paul [?] Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). He was living with his wife Agnes (17). He was retired (17).
He died on 14 December 1922, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21).
On 28 December 1922, his widow, Agnes Black, successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension (13, 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)
2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
3 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 27 April 1864
4 special order 14, HQ 91st PA, 2 March 1864
5 letter, Sellers to Bennett, 16 November 1864
6 special order 4, HQ 91st PA, 9 January 1865 (Geo Black)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 July 1863 (Musician Black)
8 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 26 September 1863 (Mus Black)
9 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district [1], enumeration district [376], page 2 (image 820 on <www.ancestry.com>), line 14 (George W Black)
10 company H, register of men discharged, #42 (George W Black)
11 company H, descriptive roll, #88 (George W Black)
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 (George Black)
13 pension index, by name (George W Black)
14 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 672, microfilm series T9, film 1190, page 426 = 25A handwritten (George W Black)
15 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 380, microfilm series T623, film 1460, page 121B = 3 handwritten (George Black)
16 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 19, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 306, microfilm series T624, film 1393, page 217B = 21 handwritten (George W Black)
17 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 33, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 1144, microfilm series T624, film 1626, page 212A = 18 handwritten (George Black)
18 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 5 January 1865 (Mus Black)
19 'From the Army of the Potomac', Philadelphia Inquirer 17 September 1863 page [1]] (GW Black)
20 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1169, page 307 = 307 handwritten (Geo Black)
21 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (George W Black)
22 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Richmond District, microfilm series M432, film 820, page 185 = 371 handwritten (George Black)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1930 census (searched May 2007)]
[I did not find an entry for him on Rootsweb WorldConnect (searched June 2007)]
| line | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Dwellings visited | 66 | ||||||||
| Families visited | 66 | ||||||||
| Name | George Black | Elizabeth Black | James Black | Willm Black | Walter Jones | Mary Black | Catharine Black | Ellen Black | George Black |
| Age | 25 | 26 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 40 | 4 | 3 | 10/12 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | F | F | M |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Plasterer | do | do | do | |||||
| Real estate owned | 1200 | ||||||||
| Birthplace | New York | Penna | N York | do | do | Ireland | Penna | do | do |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Dwelling number | 2190 | ||||||||
| Family number | 2472 | ||||||||
| Name | Geo Black | Cath " | Ellen " | Geo " | Theodore " | Emma " | Mary Black | Jacob Anhanson [?] | John Emms [?] |
| Age | 38 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 50 | 24 | 22 |
| Sex | m | f | f | m | m | f | f | m | m |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation | Plasterer | Widow | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 10000 | ||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 1000 | ||||||||
| Place of birth | NY | Phila | " | " | " | " | Scotland | Phila | |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| street name | Charter [?] St | ||
| house number | 530 | ||
| dwelling visit # | 188 | ||
| family visit # | 227 | ||
| name | Black George W | - Agnes | - Theodore |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M |
| age | 30 | 27 | 1 |
| month born if born in year | |||
| relationship | Wife | Son | |
| single | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |
| widowed/divorced | |||
| married during year | |||
| occupation | Plasterer | Keeping house | At home |
| months unemployed | |||
| currently ill? | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf/dumb | |||
| idiotic | |||
| insane | |||
| disabled | |||
| school this year | |||
| can't read | |||
| can't write | |||
| birthplace | Penn | Scotland | Penn |
| father's birthplace | Penn | Scotland | Penn |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Scotland | Scotland |
| line | 99 | 100 |
| street | Block A Reece Street | |
| house number | 2167 | |
| dwelling number | 2167 | |
| family number | 62 | |
| name | 68 | |
| relationship | Black George | - Agnes |
| color | Head | Wife |
| sex | M | F |
| birth date | Aug 1849 | Oct 1853 |
| age | 50 | 46 |
| married? | M | M |
| # years married | 25 | 25 |
| mother of how many children? | 0 | |
| # of children living | 0 | |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Scotland |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Scotland |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Scotland |
| immigration year | ||
| # years in USA | ||
| naturalized citizen? | ||
| occupation | Plasterer | House Keeper |
| ['House Keeper' seems to be crossed out] | ||
| # months not employed | 0 | |
| # months in school | ||
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R | |
| free or mortgaged | ||
| farm/house | H | |
| # of farm schedule | ||
| line | 74 | 75 |
| street | Reese [?] Street | |
| house nr | 2167 | |
| dwelling nr | 34 | |
| family nr | 39 | |
| name | Black George W | - Agnes |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| sex | M | F |
| color | W | W |
| age | 60 | 56 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 |
| #years present marriage | 34 | 34 |
| mother of # children | 4 | |
| mother of # living children | 0 | |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Scot English |
| father's birthplace | New York | Scot English |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Scot English |
| immigrated | 1872 | |
| naturalized/alien | ||
| speaks English | English | English |
| occupation | Plasterer | None |
| nature of industry etc. | General | |
| employer etc. | W | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | |
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||
| owned/rented | R | |
| owned free or mortagaged | ||
| farm/house | H | |
| nr on farm schedule | ||
| civil war vet | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf & dumb | ||
| line | 11 | 12 |
| street | N [?] Paul [?] St | |
| house number | 440 | |
| dwelling visit number | 433 | |
| family visit number | 453 | |
| name | Black George | - Agnes |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| own/rent | R | |
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | ||
| sex | M | F |
| race | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 70 | 66 |
| marital status | M | M |
| year of immigration | 1872 | |
| naturalized/alien | Na | |
| year of naturalization | 1876 [?] | |
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Scotland |
| native language | Scotch [?] | |
| father's birthplace | New York | Scotland |
| father's native language | Scotch | |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylva | Scotland |
| mother's native language | Scotch | |
| can speak English | Yes | Yes |
| occupation | Retired | None |
| industry, business | ||
| employment status | ||
| number of farm schedule | ||
The following soldiers wounded in the late cavalry engagement in the vicinity of Culpeper Court House, were admitted into the Armory Square Hospital today.