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Samuel S Griffith

Name

According to Bates (1), and the list of non-commissioned officers (3), his middle initial is S Griffith. I'm not sure what letter the company E descriptive roll (2) has, but I think it is a "C".

Before the war

He was 40 years old when he enlisted (2, 15 [74 at death in 1890], 16 [62 in 1880], 17 [53 in 1870]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2, 15, 16, 17).

In 1860, he was living in the first ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12). He was a hotel keeper, and owned $300 in personal property (12). He was living with Rebecca (presumably his wife), with John, Samuel, Anne, Sarah, Rebecca, and William (presumably their children), and with William McIlvain, Lewis Brophey, and Charles Davis (12).

When he enlisted, he was a vender (2).

Description

He was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, had a light complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair (2).

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 August 1861 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a sergeant in company E (1, 2, 9). He was enlisted by Captain Lentz, and mustered into service by Colonel Reiff (2). He was appointed sergeant on 10 September 1861 (3).

He seems to have had a son Samuel Griffiths, who was badly injured in an explosion in an ammunition factory in March 1862 (13).

Starting 10 February 1863, he was absent on furlough for ten days (6). On 21 February 1863, he had returned (7).

He fought, as a sergeant, in the battle of Gettysburg (5).

On 2 September 1863, he had returned to the regiment from hospital (8).

He mustered out on 1 September 1864 when his term expired, at Weldon Railroad, Virginia (1, 2, 3, 4 [9 September], 9, 11).

After the war

In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). He was living with his wife Rebecca and children Rebecca and Emma (17). He was a butcher, and owned $6,000 in real estate and $500 in personal property (17).

In 1880, he was living at 1149 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He was living with his wife Rebecca, and children Rebecca and Emma (16). He was in the livery business (16).

On 26 February 1890, he died, of capillary bronchitis (15). He died at, or was buried from, 1515 Federal Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15). He was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, on 3 March 1890 (15).

In 1890, his widow, Rebecca Griffith, was living in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (9).

On 27 September 1890, his widow, Rebecca Griffith, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (10, 14).

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)

2 company E descriptive roll, number 5 (Samuel C [?] Griffith)

3 list of non-commissioned officers, company E

4 company E, register of men discharged, number 20 (Samuel S Griffith)

5 Pennsylvania Memorial, 91st Pennsylvania plaque, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Samuel S Griffith)

6 consolidated morning report, 10 February 1863

7 consolidated morning report, 21 February 1863 (Sergt Griffith)

8 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 September 1863 (Sergt Griffith)

9 1890 US Census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 582, page 2 (image 1896 on <www.ancestry.com>) (Samuel Griffith)

10 pension index, by name (Samuel S Griffith)

11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 10 September 1864 (Sergt Griffith)

12 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 445 = 185 handwritten (Samuel Griffith)

13 'City affairs'. North American and United States Gazette (Philadelphia PA) 2 April 1862 (son Samuel Griffiths)

14 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (Samuel S Griffiths)

15 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Samuel S Griffith, 26 (?) February 1890 (Samuel S Griffith)

16 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 553, microfilm series T9, film 1185, page 552 = 8 D handwritten (Saml S Griffith)

17 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 284 = 43 handwritten (Samuel S Griffith)

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 445 = 185 handwritten]
line4567891011121314
Dwelling number1319          
Family number1510          
NameSamuel GriffithRebecca "John "Samuel "Anne "Sarah "Rebecca "William "William McIlvainLewis BropheyCharles Davis
Age42352017 [could be 14 or 19]131131502815
Sexmfmmfffmmmm
Color           
Occupationhotel keeper Butcher" "    Iron moulder"Butcher
Value of real estate owned           
Value of personal estate300          
Place of birthPenn"""""""IrelandPennN Jersey
Married within year           
Attended school within year    11     
Cannot read & write           
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.           

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 284 = 43 handwritten]
[I did not transcribe the other six people in this household, none of whom have the surname 'Griffith']
line11121314
Dwelling-house number286   
Family number316   
NameGriffith Samuel S- Rebecca- Rebecca- Emma
Age5345149
SexMFFF
ColorWWWW
OccupationButcherKeeping houseAttending schoolAttending school
Real estate value$6000   
Personal estate value$500   
BirthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
Father foreign born    
Mother foreign born    
Birth month if born within year    
Marriage month if married within year    
Attended school past year  11
Can't read    
Can't write    
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.    
Male US citizen at least 21 years old1   
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...    

1880 census

[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 553, microfilm series T9, film 1185, page 552 = 8 D handwritten]
[I did not transcribe the eight boarders at this house]
line31323334
street nameSouth 15th
house number1149   
dwelling visit #65   
family visit #65   
nameGriffith Saml S." " Rebecca" " Rebecca" " Emma
colorWWWW
sexMFFF
age62542218
month born if born in year    
relationship WifeDaughterDaughter
single  11
married11  
widowed/divorced    
married during year    
occupationLivery Buisness [sic]   
months unemployed    
currently ill?    
blind    
deaf/dumb    
idiotic    
insane    
disabled    
school this year    
can't read    
can't write    
birthplacePennaPennaPennaPenna
father's birthplaceWalesEnglish [sic]PennaPenna
mother's birthplaceWalesPennaPennaPenna

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 US Census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 582, page 2 (image 1896 on <www.ancestry.com>)]
[line] 25
[house] 162
[family] 162
[name] Rebecca Griffith widow of Samuel Griffith
[rank] Private
[company] E
[unit] 91st PV
[enlistment date] Aug [?] 20 1861
[discharge date] Sep 1864
[length of service] [blank]
[post office address] 515 [illegible]
[disability incurred] [blank]
[remarks] [blank]

1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory

[I could not find him in the transcription on <www.ancestry.com>, March 2005]

death certificate

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Samuel S Griffith, 26 (?) February 1890]
[Note: This seems very plausible, but I have no direct evidence confirming this is the correct Samuel S Griffith]

RETURN OF A DEATH
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
1. Name of Deceased, Samuel S. Griffith
2. Color, White
3. Sex, Male
4. Age, Seventy-four
5. Married
6. Date of Death, Feb 26th [the '6' seems to be written above a '7']
7. Cause of Death, Capillary Bronchitis
Geo. T. Parke M.D.
Residence, 1521 Spruce St

UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation, -
9. Place of Birth, Phila.
10. When a Minor, [blank]
11. Ward, 26th
12. Street and Number, 1515 Federal St.
13. Date of Burial, March 3rd 1890
14. Place of Burial, Woodlands Cemetery
S. R. Foster Undertaker
Residence, 1728 Federal St

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revised 28 Feb 09
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