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William H Jeffries

Before the war

He was born to Samuel Jeffers and Elizabeth A Welsh (13, 14, 15). He was 19 years old when he enlisted (3 [22 in 1863], 8, 13 [72 at death in 1914], 14 [7 in 1850], 15 [17 (?) in 1860]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 13, 14 [Ireland], 15).

In 1850, he was living in ward 1, Moyamensing, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (14). He was living with his parents Samuel and Elizabeth Jeffries, and with Mary H, Eliza, and James Jeffries (presumably his siblings), along with Catharine Burk (14). He had attended school within the year (14).

In 1860, he was living in ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15). He was living with his parents Samuel and Elizabeth A Jeffries, and with Mary, Samuel, and Eliza Jeffries (presumably his siblings) (15). He was a varnisher (15).

When he enlisted, he was a varnisher (3, 8). He was living in Philadelphia when he was enrolled (8).

Description

He was 5 feet 6-1/4 inches tall, had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (3, 8 [5'7"]).

During the war

He was enrolled and mustered into service on 20 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 8, 9, 12). He served as a private in company E (1).

He was slightly wounded on 13 December 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia (1, 3 [which has 10 December]).

He was reported missing in action on 7 May 1863 (7). He was then a corporal (7).

He was promoted to fourth corporal, on 1 October 1863 (6).

He re-enlisted for three years, as a veteran volunteer, at Bealton, Virginia, on 24 December 1863 (1, 3, 8 [26 Dec 63]). He was enlisted by Lieutenant Carpenter, and mustered into service by Lieutenant Swann (this may relate to his original enlistment) (3).

He was promoted to corporal for soldierly conduct (3). [Note: the list of non-commissioned officers (2) does not list him as a corporal.]

He was promoted on 16 September 1864 from corporal to sergeant (2, 5), for bravery on the battlefield (3).

He was again wounded, this time in the wrist, on 27 October 1864 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia (1, 3).

He was discharged, at US General Hospital Summit House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 9 June 1865 by War Department general order 77, because of a gunshot wound (1, 4, 8, 9 [10 Jun], 11, 12).

After the war

On 20 August 1866, he applied successfully for a pension (10, 12).

In 1890, he was living at 1119 Federal Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9).

On 17 July 1914, he died, at Philadelphia Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12, 13). He was a laborer (13). He was widowed (13). His usual residence was 1334 Annin Street, ward 26, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13). He died of lobar pneumonia, right side (13).

On 21 July 1914, he was buried, at Fernwood Cemetery, Delaware County, Pennsylvania (13).

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 list of non-commissioned officers, co E

3 descriptive roll, company E, entry 43 (William Jeffries)

4 company E, register of men discharged, number 45 (William H Jeffries)

5 special order 79, headquarters, 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, 16 September 1864

6 special order 99, HQ 91st PA, 1 October 1863

7 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Corpl Jeffries)

8 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 6 May 2004 (Wm H Jeffries)

9 1890 US Census, Veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 477, page [2] (image 1875 on Ancestry), line 21 (William Jeffers [sic])

10 pension index, by name (William H Jeffries)

11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 13 June 1865 (Sergt Jeffries)

12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (William H Jeffries)

13 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 17 July 1914, #13395 and #17587 (William H Jeffries)

14 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Moyamensing ward 1, microfilm series M432, film 809, page 223 = 445 handwritten (William H Jeffries)

15 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 327 = 229 handwritten (William H Jeffries)

[I did not find an entry for him in RootsWeb WorldConnect (accessed 20 Jun 2009)]

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Moyamensing ward 1, microfilm series M432, film 809, page 223 = 445 handwritten]
line3456789
Dwellings visited844      
Families visited1129      
NameSamuel JeffriesElizabeth M doWilliam H doMary H doEliza doJames doCatharine Burk
Age45267532/1216
SexMFMFFMF
Color       
Occupation of males over 15 yearsCloth Dealer      
Real estate owned       
Birthplacedo [sc. Ireland]dodoPennadodoIreland
Married within year       
Attended school within year  S    
Over 20 & can't read/write       
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.       

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 327 = 229 handwritten]
line171819202122
Dwelling number1609     
Family number1832     
NameSamuel JeffriesElizabeth AWilliam H "Mary A "Samuel FEliza
Age543517 [?]15710/12
SexMFMFMF
Color      
OccupationLaborer Varnisher   
Value of real estate owned450     
Value of personal estate150     
Place of birth" [sc. Ireland]"Penn"""
Married within year      
Attended school within year      
Cannot read & write      
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.      

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 US Census, Veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 477, page [2] (image 1875 on Ancestry)]
[line] 21
[house] 71
[family] 79
[name] Jeffers [sic] William
[rank] Sergt
[company] E
[unit] 91 Pa Inf
[enlistment date] 20 Aug 1861
[discharge date] 10 Jun 1865
[length of service] 3 years, 9 months, 11 days
[post office address] 1119 Federal " " " [sc. St Philada Pa]
[disability incurred] " " [sc. Flesh wound]
[remarks] Pensioner

1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory

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

death certificate

[death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 17 July 1914, #13395 and #17587, William H Jeffries]
[thanks to Ed McLaughlin for finding this!]

CERTIFICATE OF DEATH.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS.
File No [blank]
Registered No. 13395
17587

1. PLACE OF DEATH.
County of PHILADELPHIA,
City of PHILADELPHIA.
Registration District No. 1.
Primary Registration District No. [blank]
Hospital or Institution Philadelphia
2. FULL NAME William H. Jeffries

PERSONAL AND STATISTICAL PARTICULARS
3. SEX Male
4. COLOR OR RACE White
5. Widower
6. DATE OF BIRTH [blank]
7. AGE 72 yrs. [blank] mos. [blank] ds.
8. OCCUPATION Laborer
9. BIRTHPLACE Phila
10. NAME OF FATHER Samuel Jeffers
11. BIRTHPLACE OF FATHER Phila
12. MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER Elizabeth A Welsh
13. BIRTHPLACE OF MOTHER Philada
14. THE ABOVE IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE
Informant John R. Furey
Address Phila Hospital
15. Filed JUL 20 1914 Neva [?] R Deardorff Local Registrar

MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF DEATH
16. DATE OF DEATH July 17th 1914
17. I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from 7-14-1914, to 7-17-1914, that I last saw him alive on 7-17-1914, and that death occurred, on the date stated above, at 6:25 P.M. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:
Lobar Pneumonia r. side Duration [blank]
Contributory [blank]
Signed E. Epstein M.D.
7-18-1914 Address Phila Hospital
18. LENGTH OF RESIDENCE FOR HOSPITALS AND INSTITUTIONS
At place of death [blank] yrs. 2 mos. 26 ds.
In the State [blank]
Where was disease contracted, if not at place of death? [blank]
Former or usual residence, 1334 Annin St Ward 26
19. PLACE OF BURIAL OR REMOVAL Fernwood
DATE OF BURIAL July 21 1914
20. UNDERTAKER David H. Bowen & Son
ADDRESS 813 SO 2nd St

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revised 20 Jun 09
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