Bates (1) has Frailey, but the Official Army Register (2) has Fraley.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12, 19, 21, 22). He was 18 years old when he was enlisted (12, 19 [22 at death in 1866], 21 [15 in 1860], 22 [6 in 1850]).
In 1850, he was living in the 2nd ward of Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (22). He was living with George and Jane Fraley (presumably his parents), and with Emma Fraley (presumably his sister) (22).
In 1860, he was living in the 18th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21). He was living with his mother Jane Fraley, along with Emma and Emma Brown (presumably his sister and niece) (21). He was an apprentice steel polisher (21).
He was 5 feet and 1/2 [?] inch tall, and had a light complexion, light eyes, and light hair (12).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 1 October 1861 (1, 12, 18). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Zinn (12). He probably originally served in company D (18, 20). He was mustered into company H (18, 20). He had rifle number 97 (12).
He was probably transferred to company H on 4 December 1861 (18, 20; see also 1).
He was promoted to third sergeant on 20 May 1862 (11).
He was Sergeant of the Guard on 8 August 1862, when Lieutenant Brewster was arrested for being drunk on duty (14).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (16).
On 6 October 1863, he returned from hospital (5).
He re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer (1).
On 3 July 1864, he and four other men in company H asked their captain, James Closson, to be transferred to a newly forming battalion of sharpshooters (5). Closson passed their request on to the regimental adjutant (5), but none were transferred.
On 5 November 1864, he was promoted to first sergeant, effective 3 November 1864 (7, 11 [4 Nov]).
On 4 January 1865, Sellers asked that he be discharged to enable him to be mustered in as first lieutenant, since he had received a commission from the Pennsylvania Governor (6). He was promoted on 6 January 1865 to first lieutenant (1, 10, 15).
On 27 January 1865, he and other officers met near Petersburg Virginia and adopted a testimonial to Captain James Closson, who had died in November 1864, of wounds received in action (3).
He was wounded on 6 February 1865 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia (1 [roster & p.192], 12).
He mustered out on 27 March 1865, because of disability (1, 12, 17, 18 [wrong date]). (The Official Army Register (2) has him discharged on 4 April 1865.)
He died on 21 October 1866, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of peritonitis (18 [26 Oct], 19 [21 Oct 66], 20 ]26 Oct]). He was married then, and was a sawmaker (19). He was living at, or died at, Dauphin Street, below Amber (19). He was buried at Union Weslian Grave (presumably Union Wesleyan Church Cemetery, in the Hanover Street Burial Grounds), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (19).
On 17 March 1873, his widow, Rachel Adams, applied successfully for a pension (13, 18, 20).
On 17 March 1873, his mother, Jane Fraley, applied unsuccessfully for a pension (13, 18, 20).
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 p.192)
3 testimonial to James Closson, adopted 27 Jan 1865
5 letters, Fraley et al. to Closson, and Closson to Tayman, 3 and 4 July 1864 (WM H Fraley)
6 letter, Sellers to Bartlett, 4 January 1865 (Wm H Fraily)
7 special order 104, HQ 91st PA, 5 November 1864 (Wm H Frailey)
8 [undated and untitled chart with officers' names] (two references: Fraley, and Lt Frailey)
9 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 6 October 1863 (Sergt Fraly)
10 company H, list of commissioned officers (Wm [?] H Frailey)
11 company H, list of non-commissioned officers (William H Fraley [2 entries])
12 company H, descriptive roll, #25 (William Frailey)
13 pension index, by name (William H Fraley)
14 court-martial record, E Carroll Brewster (Sergt Fraley)
15 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 8 January 1865 (1st Sergt Fraily)
16 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (William H Fraley)
17 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 27 April 1865 (W Fraley)
18 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (William F Fraley)
19 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 21 October 1866 (William H. Fraley)
20 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (William H Fraley)
21 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward, microfilm series M653, film 1168, page 468 = 174 handwritten (William H H Fraley)
22 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Kensington, ward 2, microfilm series M432, film 806, page 76 = 151 handwritten (William H Fraley)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]
[perhaps his widow is the Rachel Adams, 38 years old, born Pennsylvania, who was in the 1870 census at Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 20th ward, microfilm series M593, film 1406, page 124 = 11 handwritten]
| line | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Dwellings visited | 292 | |||
| Families visited | 339 | |||
| Name | George W Fraley | Jane " | Emma M " | William H " |
| Age | 33 | 30 | 14 | 6 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M |
| Color | ||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Cordwainer | |||
| Real estate owned | ||||
| Birthplace | Pa | Ireld | Pa | Pa |
| Married within year | ||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | ||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Dwelling number | 1220 | |||
| Family number | 1369 | |||
| Name | Jane Fraley | Emma A. Brown | Emma E. V. " [sc. Brown] | William H. H. Fraley |
| Age | 40 | 20 | 3 | 15 |
| Sex | f | f | f | m |
| Color | ||||
| Occupation | Widow of Power Loom Weaver | Vest Maker | App Steel Polisher | |
| Value of real estate owned | ||||
| Value of personal estate | $440 | |||
| Place of birth | Ireland | Pennsylvania | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||
| Attended school within year | ||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |