He was 22 years old when he was enlisted (5, 8 [71 in 1910]). He was born in England (5, 8).
He immigrated to the United States in 1839 (8). He was a naturalized citizen by 1910 (8).
He was a boatman when he was enlisted (5).
He was 5 feet 2-3/4 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair (5).
He also served in company F of the 5th Pennsylvania Infantry (6).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 15 January 1862 (1, 5, 6). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Sellers (5). He served as a private in company G (1).
However, he seems to be the "Private Blanke" of company G who was returned to duty from being absent (probably absent sick) on 12 March 1863 (2).
On 28 July 1863, he was reported as having been dropped because he was missing in the campaign (probably after 11 June 1863) (3).
He was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, on 7 January 1864 on surgeon's certificate of disability (1 7 Jan 63], 4 [7 (?) Jan 64], 5 [7 Jan 63], 6 [Jan 64]).
On 14 September 1889, he applied successfully for a pension (6).
On 1 September 1909, he again applied for a pension (6).
In 1910, he was living in the Marion Branch of the National Soldiers Home, in Grant County, Indiana (8).
He died on 17 August 1910 (6 [1910], 7). He was buried in the Marion National Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana (7).
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) (Edward J Blanche)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 12 March 1863 (Private Blanke) (note that this is after he was discharged, according to Bates)
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 July 1863 (Private Blanche)
4 company G, register of men discharged, #36 (Ed J Blanche)
5 company G, descriptive roll, entry 30 (Edward J [?] Blance)
6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company G (Edward J Blanche)
7 Find-A-Grave, memorial #2860431 (imported from US Veteran's Affairs) (accessed 4 December 2009) (Edward J Blanche)
8 1910 US census, Indiana, Grant County, Center Township, Marion Branch Home for Disabled Vol. Soldiers, supervisor's district 11, enumeration district 47, microfilm series T624, film 351, page 46 = 16 B handwritten (Edward J Blanche)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the pension index by name (searched March 2007)]
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched June 2007)]
| line | 77 |
| street | |
| house nr | |
| dwelling nr | |
| family nr | |
| name | Blanche Edward J. |
| relationship | |
| sex | M |
| color | W |
| age | 71 |
| marital status | S |
| [I'm pretty confident this is 'S', but it could be 'D'] | |
| #years present marriage | |
| mother of # children | |
| mother of # living children | |
| birthplace | England |
| father's birthplace | England |
| mother's birthplace | England |
| immigrated | 1839 |
| naturalized/alien | Na |
| speaks English | English |
| occupation | |
| nature of industry etc. | |
| employer etc. | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | |
| can read | yes |
| can write | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |
| owned/rented | |
| owned free or mortagaged | |
| farm/house | |
| nr on farm schedule | |
| civil war vet | UA |
| blind | |
| deaf & dumb | |