Joseph Welch (Welsh?)

1880 census

[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 643, microfilm series T9, film 1189, page 4 D = 8 handwritten]

line	44	45	46	47	48
street name	South 15th St
house number	763
dwelling visit #	69
family visit #	90
name	Welch Joseph	- Mary E	- Benjamin	- Hellen	Laws Bridget
color	W	W	W	W	W
sex	M	F	M	F	F
age	44	45	16	9	35
month born if born in year
relationship		Wife	Son	Daughter
single			1	1	1
married	1	1
widowed/divorced
married during year
occupation	Minister	Keeping House	At School	At School	Servant
months unemployed
currently ill?
blind
deaf/dumb
idiotic
insane
disabled
school this year			1	1
can't read
can't write
birthplace	England	Delaware	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Ireland
father's birthplace	England	Delaware	England	England	Ireland
mother's birthplace	England	Delaware	Delaware	Delaware	Ireland

[1890 veterans' census]

[1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 29th ward, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 672, page 2 (image 2170 on <www.ancestry.com>)]cc
[line] 24
[house] 280
[family] 280
[name] Joseph Welsh
[rank] Chaplain
[company] [blank]
[unit] 91 Pa.
[enlistment date] Aug 28 1861
[discharge date] Jany 30 1863
[length of service] 1 year 5 months 2 days
[post office address] 1742 N 16th St (280)
[disability incurred] General breaking up of system has never recovered
[remarks] Discharged on Surgeon certificate of Disability

1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory

[searched transcription on <www.ancestry.com>, March 2005]
Joseph Welch (Rev), h 1742 N 16th

1900 census

[1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 710, ward 29, microfilm series T623, film 1470, page 146=4 handwritten, lines 57-58]
[They are living with Annie C Creth, who ran a boarding house]

line	57	58
street	15th Street
house number	[1723]
dwelling number	[66]
family number	[68]
name	Welch, Joseph	- Mary E.
relationship	Boarder	Boarder
color	W	W
sex	M	F
birth date	Dec 1836	Aug 1832
age	63	67
married?	M	M
# years married	[blank] [sic]	37
mother of how many children?		2
# of children living		2
birthplace	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania
father's birthplace	England	England
mother's birthplace	Delaware	Delaware
immigration year
# years in USA
naturalized citizen?
occupation	Minister
# months not employed	0
# months in school
can read	yes	yes
can write	yes	yes
speaks English	yes	yes
owned/rented
free or mortgaged
farm/house	[house]
# of farm schedule

1910 census

[1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 232, 15th ward, page 153=handwritten sheet 10, lines 20-23]

line	20	21	22	23
street	Green st. North side
house nr	2117
dwelling nr	182
family nr	280
name	Welch Joseph	- Benjamin H	- Helen R	Magee Sarah
relationship	Head	Son	Daughter	Servant
sex	M	M	F	F
color	W	W	W	W
age	72	46	39	26
marital status	Wd	S	S	S
#years present marriage
mother of # children
mother of # living children
birthplace	England Eng	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Ireland Eng
father's birthplace	England Eng	England Eng	England Eng	Ireland Eng
mother's birthplace	Eng Eng	Delaware	Delaware	Ireland Eng
immigrated	1844			1907
naturalized/alien
speaks English	English	English	English	English
occupation	minister	merchant	none	servant
nature of industry etc.	church	Wood [or perhaps 'Wool'?] Industry		private family
employer etc.	W	OA		W
out of work 15 Apr 1910?				no
# weeks out of work 1909				5
can read	yes	yes	yes	yes
can write	yes	yes	yes	yes
school since 1 Sep 09
owned/rented	R
owned free or mortagaged
farm/house	H
nr on farm schedule
civil war vet	U [?]
blind
deaf & dumb

1920 census

[1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 309, ward 15, page 277=10 handwritten, lines 5-8]

line	5	6	7	8
street	Green Street
house number	2117
dwelling visit number	167
family visit number	249
name	Welch, Joseph	- B. Harvey	- Helen R	Lavelle Kate
relationship	Head	brother [sic]	sister [sic]	servant
own/rent	R
free/mortgaged (if owned)
sex	M	M	F	M
race	W	W	W	W
age at last birthday	83	56	48	55
marital status	Wd	S	S	S
year of immigration	1844			1889 [?]
naturalized/alien	Na			Al
year of naturalization	1851 [last digit unclear]
attended school since Sept 1919
can read	yes	yes	yes	yes
can write	yes	yes	yes	yes
birth place	England	Penna	Penna	Ireland
native language	English			English
father's birthplace	England	England	England	Ireland
father's native language	English	English	English	English
mother's birthplace	England	England	England	Ireland
mother's native language	English	English	English	English
can speak English	yes	yes	yes	yes
occupation	Chaplain	Traffic Manager	None	Servant
industry, business	Penitentiary [??]	Railroad		Private family
employment status	W	W		W
number of farm schedule

Smull's

[source: Smull's legislative hand book and manual of the state of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg PA: State Printer, 1896. Page 87] STATE INSTITUTIONS AND BOARDS OF CONTROL.
EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY.
...
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.
...
Joseph Welch, Moral Instructor.

Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, 1888

The journal of prison discipline and philanthropy. January 1888. [journal of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, with committee reports etc.] page 54
VISITING COMMITTEE AT THE EASTERN PENITENTIARY.

We have earnest, faithful christian workers on this committee, some of whom are ministers of the Gospel, of different denominations. These, with other efficient members, are untiring in their efforts to "rescue the perishing," spending many hours every week in proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation so freely offered in the Gospel.

...
THE OFFICERS,
...

Rev. Joseph Welch devotes his whole time to the work, and labors earnestly for the conversion of souls. My intercourse with him is of the most pleasant character.

Report

[source: Eighty-first annual report of the inspectors of the State Penitentiary for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for the year 1910. Philadelphia, 1911.]
[page 75]
Moral Instructor's Report

The Board of Inspectors of the Eastern State Penitentiary of Pennsylvania:

GENTLEMEN:--

With devout gratitude to God, for His mercies vouchsafed us during the year, I respectfully present this report.

There has been prevalent a continuance of the healthy tone of the moral and physical life of the Institution, that commends itself to those interested in its welfare and work.

The modifications in the discipline and methods that have been wrought, by a gradual development of the purpose of the Board for the well being of the inmates, have produced a marked effect in the production of an ambition healthful and stimulating, throughout our community.

The growth of occupation incidental to these various changes, is one of the beneficial results thus produced; and the training thus fostered in industry and economy, is a vital element in the formation of a character of good citizenship.

The cultivation of the principle of self-help, is carried on to the utmost extent, so that learners in all the various fields possible to be utilized among us, are trained to do practically the chief part of the work by which the ends have been accomplished.

In our school work, the Teacher has been assisted very successfully by several of our inmates familiar with some of the foreign languages spoken among us; this facilitates greatly the teaching of them in our own, in which some of them make remarkable progress.

The same principle obtains in the teaching of instrumental music, in which we have over a hundred learners.

Our efforts are embarrassed by the fact that no adequate facilities exist adapated to the purpose in view.

The library is doing good work, and we are feeling our way to a limited equipment in the foreign languages, to help us in the better teaching and training of those who come to us from other lands.

[page 76]

We are aided in our social and religious work by visiting clergymen of the various churches, who administer the sacraments to members of their respective Denominations.

Visitors of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, the American Society for Visiting Catholic prisoners, the Protestant Episcopal City Mission, and the Prisoner's Guild of the King's Daughters, are in regular attendance, contributing to the comfort, encouragement, and general up-building of our people.

The Pennsylvania Prison Society by its General Agend Frederick J. Pooley has given us very valuable services, especially providing clothing for those in need at the time of their discharge; in this connection we mention the active sympathy of John J. Lytle for over fifty years a worker among the inmates of this Penitentiary, still devising in his sick room, plans of help and ministry.

We are bountifully supplied with Magazines and Journals from various societies and clubs, through the thoughtfulness of faithful friends, who patiently collect them for us.

Religious and educational papers are supplied by the Prison Socieites, the Rev. S. W. Thomas D. D. of the Philadelphia Conference Tract Society, Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth of the American Volunteers, and Miss Eva Booth of the Salvation Army.

We have had the services of the Right Reverend Bishop Prendergast of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Right Reverend Bishop Mackay-Smith of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the administration of the ordinances of Confirmation to large classes of candidates.

The regular Sunday services at 9. o'clock have been well sustained: preachers and choirs from our city churches have been promptly in attendance.

A song service at 3.30 P.M. arranged for by the Protestant Episcopal City Mission is regularly held; and a Bi-monthly choir is furnished by the American Society for Visiting Catholic Prisoners.

In occasional need, we call on the Orchestra of the Penitentiary, which has been organized and trained by a willing and competent teacher and friend.

Our thanks are due to the various helpers who have so constantly served with us; the local preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Lutheran City Mission, the Friend's Yearly Meeting, and the King's Daughters.

[page 77]

Many are aided in obtaining employment on their discharge by the Rev. H. L. Duhring D. D. of the Protestant Episcopal City Mission, the Rev. J. P. Duffy D. D> of the City Missionary Society, and faithful friends who are ready at all times to give us assistance as we call upon them.

The Home of Industry, F. H. Starr Supt. and Hope Hall in New York in the care of Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth extend a welcome and a helping hand, to those in need.

The work of the Parole Law is expected to afford efficient relief in this direction.

The work of our Printing and Bindery rooms, is being well done, though under the disabilities of insufficient equipment: they furnish valuable training to young men for future usefulness.

The reports of the Teacher and Librarian herewish presented furnish but a faint idea of the work done in those departments.

The twenty-seven thousand lessons given during the year, cover an amount of mental effort of both Teacher and Scholar, that is not expressed in figures.

I am deeply indebted to the Board for the ready sympathy and willing encouragement that I have received.

I am deeply indebted to the Board for the ready sympathy and willing encouragement that I have received.

I appreciate very highly the frank and faithful support of the Warden, and the courtesy of the Officers and inmates.

The following figures were gathered in my interviews with those admitted, the total number being 409.

Number who	had attended	Sunday School	269
" "	" "	Church	221
" "	were members of Church		155
" "	" abstainers from use of liquor		75
" "	" moderate users " "		178
" "	had been	intemperate	156
" "	" "	users of Tobacco	367
" "	" gambled	on cards	24
" "	" "	" dice	23
" "	" "	" Horse races	8
" "	" visited	immoral women	141
" "	" kept	mistresses	10

Respectfully Submitted,
Joseph Welch,
Moral Instructor.

'Counterfeiting in prison'

['Counterfeiting in prison', New York Times, 14 September 1903, page 5]
COUNTERFEITING IN PRISON.
Coining Plant Discovered by Inspectors in Pennsylvania Eastern Penitentiary.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 13--Following closely upon the exposure of gross irregularities in the cigar department of the Eastern Penitentiary, came the public announcement to-night that the illegal coinage of minor silver pieces has been carried on by convicts in the big institution. No details of the counterfeiting scheme can be learned from any of the officials connected with the prison, or from the Government officials that have been assigned to the case.

The fact that such a daring scheme has been carried on in the penitentiary was made public by George Vaux, Jr., one of the prison Inspectors, who summoned newspaper men to his home and voluntarily made the disclosure. He gave out a brief statement, which is as follows:

"Dr. W. D. Robinson and George Vaux, Jr., who are at present the visiting Inspectors on duty at the Eastern State Penitentiary, made the statement that there has come to their official knowledge that within a short time an attempt has been made by certain convicts now confined in the penitentiary to manufacture counterfeit silver coins.

"But a few pieces were made, and a number of these have come into the possession of the Inspectors, together with metals and dies used, the attempt thus being nipped in the bud. The evidence in the case is not yet complete, but all that has been secured has been submitted to the United States authorities."

Mr. Vaux refused absolute to give any more details than contained in his statement. From other sources, however, it was learned that dimes, quarters, and half dollars were the coins manufactured.

The discovery was made several days ago, and United States Secret Service officials were immediately called in. Their investigation, it is learned, is still in progress, their principal object being to learn whether there was collusion between the convicts and employes [sic] of the institution.

It is believed the discovery of counterfeiters in the prison was the result of the investigation now being carried on in the place as a result of the irregularities in the cigar department. These irregularities became public matter last week, and pending an investigation Warden Daniel Bussinger and the overseer of the cigar department were temporarily relieved from duty and the penitentiary placed in charge of the Rev. Joseph Welch, the chaplain.

It is alleged that thousands of cigars made by convicts are unaccounted for, that thousands of them did not contain the internal revenue stamps, and that in many instances the law requiring prison-made cigars to be stamped "convict made" was ignored. How long this has been carried on is yet to be learned.

The government of the penitentiary is vested in a board of five Inspectors appointed by the Governor, who serve without salary. This board is now making an inspection of each branch of the institution, and has employed an expert accountant to go over the books. In addition to this the internal revenue officers are carrying on a separate investigation.

Dr. William B. Robinson, one of the Inspectors, in speaking of the affair, said that the Inspectors have not found anything that militates against the personal integrity and ability of the Warden, but have found abundant evidence that the old methods so long in vogue are faulty and antiquated. Warden Bussinger has been permitted to engage an accountant to protect his interests.

[newspaper articles]

[source: free preview, GenealogyBank.com; searched 20 April 2008]

• [death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 and 20 January 1920]
• 'Prison chaplain 28 years ousted--Dies in 4 days--Rev. Joseph Welch succumbs to attack of hemorrhage', Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 January 1920.
• 'Bury prison chaplain--Eastern Penitentiary inmates send floral tribute', Philadelphia Inquirer 22 January 1920.
• 'M'Kenty is cleared by prison probers', Philadelphia Inquirer 10 January 1920: "The report of the State Board also recommends the removal of Rev. Joseph Welch, the prison chaplain. ..."
• 'Governor demands early report on prison inquiry--State Board of Charities ordered to speed up ...', Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 December 1919: "... and fraternal organizations which have adopted resolutions protesting against any effort by the Governor or the Board of Charities to remove Rev. Joseph Welsh, chaplain of the penitentiary, or William A. Dunlap, a member of the Board of Inspectors."