He was born on 1 March 1825, in Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania to [unknown] Cox and Jane Speakman (2, 15). He was 36 years old when he was enlisted (8, 15 [84 at death in 1910]). He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania (8).
He was married to Ann Roberts Woodward, in January 1851, at Philadelphia, by Reverand Jos Kennerd; he hadn't been married before that (2). They had three children living in 1898 (2):
He was a carpenter when he was enlisted (2, 8).
He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had a light complexion, blue eyes, and sandy hair (2, 8).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 4 November 1861 (1, 8, 9, 14). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Lieutenant Gregory (8). He served as a private in company G (1).
He was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville (5, 13).
On 24 April 1863, he returned to the regiment from being absent sick (4).
He was wounded on 3 July 1863, at Gettysburg Pennsylvania (1).
He was transferred to company D of the 13th Veterans' Reserve Corps on 8 July 1863 [or 23 July 1863?], at Washington, DC (1, 6 [no date], 7 [8 Jul], 8 [8 Jul], 14 [8 July]).
He mustered out on 6 November 1864, at Portland Maine (2, 9).
He attended the 1884 meeting of the 91st's Survivors' Association (3).
On 1 August 1890 he applied for a pension (2, 11, 14). He was living at 1610 N 13th Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (2, 9, 10). He was a cabinetmaker (10). He was examined on 3 March 1891, and found to be totally deaf in the right ear, and severely deaf in the left ear (2). His pulse was 80, respiration 16, temperature 98 2/5, 5'4-1/2" tall, and he weighed 160 pounds (2). He was approved for a pension of $12 per month (2, 11).
On 28 August 1900 he was admitted to the Southern Branch, National Home (2). While there, on 15 February 1907, he applied for a pension under a later act, and was approved to receive $20 per month (2, 14 [19 Feb 1907]). He was discharged from there on 9 July 1907, and was also discharged from there on 9 April 1910 (2).
He died on 15 April 1910, at 3817 Baring Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, of cystitis due to enlarged prostate (duration several years), with old age contributing (2 [14 Apr], 12 [15 Apr], 14, 15). He was married (15). He was retired (15). The funeral was held on Monday at his residence, 3817 Baring Street (12). He was buried at Mt Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12, 15).
A few months later his daughter, Ella Cavender, asked for a form for accrued pension; her residence was also 3817 Baring Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (2).
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 Selections from pension file, SC 580.576, William S Cox
3 'The Ninety-first'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail, 20 December 1884, page 6 column 2
4 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 24 April 1863 (Pri Cox)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Private Cox)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 1 August 1863 (Private Cox)
7 company G, register of men transferred (Wm S Cox)
8 company G, descriptive roll, entry 33 (William S Cox)
9 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia (24th division [20th ward]), supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 423, page [1] (image 957 on Ancestry), line 8 (William S Cox)
10 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (William S Cox)
11 pension index, by name (William S Cox)
12 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 April 1910, page 9; also published on 16 April (William S Cox)
13 'Further from General Hooker's army', Philadelphia Inquirer, 7 May 1863, page 1 (WS Cox)
14 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company G (William S Cox)
15 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 March [sic, sc April] 1910, #10526 [?] (William S Cox)
COX.--On April 15, 1910, WILLIAM S COX. Relatives and friends, also members of E B Baker Post, No 8, GAR, are invited to attend the funeral services, on Monday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, at his late residence, 3817 Baring st. Interment private, at Mt Peace Cemetery.