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Absalom Shell

Before the war

He was born in March 1849 (7). He was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (4, 7, 8). He was 18 years old when he was enlisted (4, 7 [51 in 1900], 8 [31 in 1880]).

He was a farmer when he was enlisted (4).

Description

He was 5 feet 5 inches tall, and had a sandy complexion, blue eyes, and auburn hair (4).

During the war

He was enlisted and mustered into service on 24 February 1864 (1, 4). He was enlisted for three years, at Reading, Pennsylvania, by Captain Kapp (4). He served in company F (1)

At some point, he was due $300 boundy, and had drawn $27.25 worth of clothing since he had enlisted (4).

He was reported gained as a "recruit from depot" on 20 April 1864 (3).

He was wounded on 27 October 1864 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia (1).

On 27 April 1865, he was promoted to corporal, effective 1 April 1865 (1, 2).

He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1). He was then a corporal (1, 6).

After the war

In 1869/70, he married Elizabeth [unknown surnam] (7). In 1900, she had had 10 children, 8 of whom were alive (7).

In 1880, he was living at 202 Chestnut Street, Elmira, Chemung County, New York (8). He was living with his wife Elizabeth and children William, Mary, Catharine, and Jacob (8). He was a farmer, but had been out of work for 10 [?] months in the previous year (8).

On 9 May 1889, he applied successfully from New York for a pension (5, 6).

In 1890, he was living at 522 State, Elmira, New York (9). He had been wounded, by being slashed in the head (9). He was receiving a pension (9).

In 1900, he was living at 416 Perry Street, ward 4, Elmira, Chemung County, New York (7). He was living with his wife Elizabeth and children William, Jacob, Lizzie, and Edward (7). He was a stationary engineer, and had been out of work one month in the previous year (7).

On 16 November 1903, his minor dependent, R Brushr [??], applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (5, 6). The pension index by regiment card notes: "Helpless child Supp to Minor" (6).

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) (Absalom Shell)

2 special order 25, HQ 91st PA, 27 April 1865 (Absalam Shell)

3 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 20 April 1864 (Schell)

4 company F, second descriptive roll, #26 (Absalom Shell)

5 pension index, by name (Absalom Shell)

6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (Absalom Shell)

7 1900 US census, New York, Chemung County, Elmira City, ward 4, supervisor's district 15, enumeration district 16, microfilm series T623, film 1016, page 187 A = 7 handwritten (Abslom [?] Shell)

8 1880 US census, New York, Chemung County, Elmira, supervisor's district 9, enumeration district 77, microfilm series T9, film 817, page 391 B = 10 handwritten (Absolom Shell)

9 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New York, Chemung County, Elmira, supervisor's district 9, enumeration district 120, page [blank] (image 28 of 90 on Ancestry) (Absalom Schell)

[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veterans' census (searched Apr 2007)]

[I did not find an entry for him in RootsWeb WorldConnect (accessed 3 November 2009)]

[I did not find an entry for him in Find-a-grave (accessed 3 November 2009)]

1880 census

[1880 US census, New York, Chemung County, Elmira, supervisor's district 9, enumeration district 77, microfilm series T9, film 817, page 391 B = 10 handwritten]
line123456
street nameChesnut St
house number202     
dwelling visit #92     
family visit #96     
nameShell Absolom- Elisabeth- William- Mary- Catharine- Jacob
colorW""W"W
sexMFMF"M
age313010842
month born if born in year      
relationship wifesonDaughterDaughson
single  1111
married11    
widowed/divorced      
married during year      
occupationFarmerKeeps House    
months unemployed10 [?]     
currently ill?      
blind      
deaf/dumb      
idiotic      
insane      
disabled      
school this year  11  
can't read      
can't write      
birthplacePenna""New YorkNew YorkNew York
father's birthplacePa"""Pa"
mother's birthplacePa"""Pa"

1890 census, veterans schedule

[1890 US census, veterans' schedule, New York, Chemung County, Elmira, supervisor's district 9, enumeration district 120, page [blank] (image 28 of 90 on Ancestry)]
[line] 18
[house] 101
[family] 147
[name] Absalom Schell
[rank] Private
[company] F
[unit] 91 Penna Vet Vol
[enlistment date] 24 Feb 1863
[discharge date] 10 July 1865
[length of service] 2 years, 4 months, 16 days
[post office address] 522 State Elmira N.Y.
[disability incurred] Wounded slashed in the Head
[remarks] Has Pension

1900 census

[1900 US census, New York, Chemung County, Elmira City, ward 4, supervisor's district 15, enumeration district 16, microfilm series T623, film 1016, page 187 A = 7 handwritten]
line345678
streetPerry St
house number416     
dwelling number131     
family number144     
nameShell Abslom [?]- Elizabeth- William- Jacob- Lizzie- Edward
relationshipHeadWifeSonSonDaughterSon
colorWWWWWW
sexMFMMFM
birth dateMar 1849Aug 1849Feb 1871Jan 1879Sept 1882Aug 1880 [sic; presumably 1890]
age51502921179
married?MMSSSS
# years married3030    
mother of how many children? 10    
# of children living 8    
birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew York
father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
immigration year      
# years in USA      
naturalized citizen?      
occupationStationary Engineer PuddlerShoemakerWeaver (cotton)At School
# months not employed1 000 
# months in school      
can readyesyesyesyesyes 
can writeyesyesyesyesyes 
speaks Englishyesyesyesyesyes 
owned/rentedR     
free or mortgaged      
farm/houseH     
# of farm schedule      

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revised 3 Dec 09
contact Harry Ide at hide1@unl.edu with comments or questions