He was born on 4 July 1842, in Pickaway, Ohio. [sources: date: 5, 9 (19 in 1861), 14 (28 in 1870), 15 (39 in 1880), 22, 24 (7 in 1850), 25 (18 in 1860). place: 5, 14, 15, 22, 24 (Fayette County PA), 25 (PA)]
In 1850, he seems to have been living in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He was living with Esquire and Susanah Abet (presumably his parents), and with Margaret and Elizabeth (presumably his sisters). [source: 24]
In 1860, he seems to have been living in Pitt Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was living with Squire and Susanna Abbot (presumably his parents), and with Thomas Dabney, and Margaret, Mary, William, and Robert Abbott (presumably siblings). He was a day laborer. [source: 25]
When he enlisted, he was a boatman, and was living in Pittsburgh, [Allegheny County,] Pennsylvania. [source: 9]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, [blank] eyes, and dark hair. [source: 9]
He enlisted on 4 July 1861, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was mustered into service as a private on 22 July 1861, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He initially served in company F of the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry. [sources: 2, 9, 10, 20, 26]
In October 1861 or 1 November 1862 he was transferred to company M. [sources: 1, 2, 9 (1 Nov 1862), 20, 21]
On 17 July 1864, he was reported returned to duty from absent without leave. [source: 11]
He was transferred to the 91st Pennsylvania on 20 July 1864. He was a private, in company K. [sources: 1, 26]
On 26 July 1864, John Lentz asked for advice about Abbott: a guard from the Provost Major at Brigade Headquarters had brought Abbott to them, but his name was not on the list of men transferred to the 91st, and Lentz thought he might be entitled to a discharge. [source: 2]
He claimed that he left for City Point in the afternoon of 19 July 1864, with companies L and M of the 62nd Pennsylvania. Captain Murry gave him a pass to visit his father, who was at the corps hospital. He was supposed to return by 9 AM, to catch a boat for Washington. Unfortunately, the boat left early, and he went to the provost marshal at City Point to find out what to do. [source: 2]
This account differs significantly from that told by Matthew Wilson, who was then the acting orderly sergeant of company M of the 62nd Pennsylvania. According to Wilson, Abbott had been absent from his company since 2 May 1864, except for eleven days. He had last straggled from his company on 16 June 1864 while they were marching from the James River to Petersburg, Virginia. He was returned under guard on 16 July 1864. [source: 2]
On 2 August 1864, Lentz ordered a guard of one man to be placed on Abbott each day until his court martial. [source: 3]
The court martial found him guilty, and sentenced him to lose all pay due him then or in the future as a soldier, to make good the time lost, and to be dishonorably discharged. He was transferred to company K on 16 August 1864. [sources: 4, 12, 21]
He was dishonorably discharged on 20 October 1864. However, his conviction and dishonorable discharge seem to have been overturned, since the government paid for his tombstone. According to the consolidated morning report, he was discharged when his term expired. He was a private, in company K. [sources: 1, 5, 9 (24 Oct), 10 (19 Oct), 13, 26]
On 31 March 1869, he married Margaret Jane Doyle, in E Birmingham, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She was born in Maryland, in March 1848. They probably had eleven children (four of whom had died by 1900), including these:
[sources: 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22]
In 1870, he was living in the 23rd ward of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Margaret and (presumed) son John. He was a laborer. [source: 14]
In 1880, he was living in Allegheny City, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Margaret and daughters Mary, Annie, and Margaret. He was a laborer. [source: 15]
On 12 November 1889, he applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 18, 19]
In 1890, he was living in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He had been shot in the right knee, and had contracted ague at Petersburg. [source: 10]
He died on 22 October 1890, in West Newton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Salem Church Cemetery, Rostraver Township, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 5, 7, 20, 22]
On 8 [?] November 1890, his widow, Margaret Abbott, applied unsuccessfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 18, 19]
In 1900, his widow Margaret was living in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was living with her children Anna, Margaret, Sarah, Peter, Laura, and Bessie. [source: 16]
In 1910, his widow Margaret was living in Rostover Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was living with her daughters Anna, Margaret, Laura and Bessie. [source: 17]
On 23 August 1910, his daughter Laura (who was born on 10 January 1887, in Lawrenceville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania) married William Denny St. Clair Jones, in West Newton, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. Their daughter, Vera Elsie Jones, served as President of the GAR and as President of the Pennsylvania Department of the GAR. [sources: 5, 6]
His widow, Margaret J Abbott, died in 1913. She was buried in the Salem Regular Baptist Church Cemetery, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. [source: 23]
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 letter, Lentz, 26 July 1864
3 special order 69, HQ 91st PA, 2 August 1864
4 special order 72, HQ 91st PA, 16 August 1864
5 e-mail, Marilyn Goodson, December 2003 (Peter McCarty Abbott)
6 'Vera Fennell was devoted to the GAR', Tribune Review. (Thanks to Marilyn Goodson for a copy of this!)
7 e-mail, Marilyn Goodson, August 2004
8 tombstones (pictures from Marilyn Goodson--thanks!)
9 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 29 May 2005 (Peter M Abbott)
10 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Rostraver Township, supervisor's district 8, enumeration district 194 (image 1 of 9 on Ancestry) (Peter M Abbott)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 July 1864 (Peter M Abbott)
12 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 17 August 1864 (Peter M Abbott)
13 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 20 October 1864 (Privt Abbott)
14 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, twenty-third ward, microfilm series M593, film 1298, page 228 = 8 handwritten (Peter Abbitt)
15 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Allegheny City, 3rd precinct, supervisor's district 9, enumeration district 23, microfilm series T9, film 1087, page 605 D = 8 handwritten (Peter Abbott)
16 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Rostraver Township, supervisor's district 16, enumeration district 118, microfilm series T623, film 1498, pages 184 B - 185 A = 16-17 handwritten (Margaret Abbott)
17 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Rostover Township, supervisor's district 20, enumeration district 184, microfilm series T624, film 1431, page 124 B = 3 handwritten (Margaret Abbott)
18 pension index, by name (Peter M Abbott)
19 pension index, by regiment, 62nd PA Infantry, company M (Peter M Abbott)
20 Pennsylvania veterans burial records, available on Ancestry (transcribed 4 December 2010) (Peter M Abbitt)
21 Page 153. Floyd G Hoenstine. Military services and genealogical records of soldiers of Blair County, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Telegraph Press, 1940. (Peter M Abbott)
22 Find a grave, memorial 44148977, added 10 Nov 09, by Pat Callahan (maintained by Patti), accessed 22 Feb 12 (Peter McCartney Abbott)
23 Find a grave, memorial 52400769, created 14 May 2010 by Todd Walker, accessed 22 Feb 12 (Margaret J Abbott)
24 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Fayette County, Brownsville, microfilm series M432, film 780, page 308 verso = 612 handwritten (Peter Abet)
25 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pitt Township, microfilm series M653, film 1066, pages 862=68 handwritten to 862 = 69 handwritten (Peter Abbott)
26 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Peter M Abbott)
[requested a copy of the court-martial record, 26 May 2015--it's file NN-2258, ARC identifier 1864304--I'm interested both in the actual trial, and in whether there's any evidence the verdict was ever overturned]
line | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
Dwellings visited | 554 | ||||
Families visited | 554 | ||||
Name | Esquire Abet [sic] | Susanah " | Peter " | Margarett [sic] " | Elizabeth " |
Age | 30 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
Sex | M | F | M | F | F |
Color | |||||
Occupation of males over 15 years | Labourer | ||||
Real estate owned | |||||
Birthplace | Do [sc. Fayette Co Pa] | Do | Do | Do | Do |
Married within year | |||||
Attended school within year | |||||
Over 20 & can't read/write | 1 | ||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
Dwelling number | 453 [?] | ||||||||
Family number | 454 | ||||||||
Name | Squire Abbot | Susanna | Thomas Dabney | Peter Abbott | Margaret " | Mary E [?] | William | Robert | |
Age | 41 | 38 | 3 [?] | 18 | 15 | 12 [?] | 10 | 3 [?] | |
Sex | M | F | M | M | F | F | M | M | |
Color | |||||||||
Occupation | Engineer [?] | Day Laborer | |||||||
Value of real estate owned | |||||||||
Value of personal estate | 6 | ||||||||
[I suspect the value is '60', not '6'; that would make the page total correct] | |||||||||
Place of birth | Penn | " | " | Penn | |||||
Married within year | |||||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||||||
Cannot read & write | |||||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Dwelling-house number | 48 | ||
Family number | 48 | ||
Name | Abbitt [sic] Peter | - Margaret | - John W |
Age | 28 | 21 | 1/12 |
Sex | M | F | M |
Color | W | W | W |
Occupation | Laborer | Keeps House | At Home |
Real estate value | |||
Personal estate value | |||
Birthplace | Ohio | Maryland | Penna |
Father foreign born | |||
Mother foreign born | |||
Birth month if born within year | Apr | ||
Marriage month if married within year | |||
Attended school past year | |||
Can't read | |||
Can't write | |||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | ||
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
line | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
street name | High Street | ||||
house number | [39 [?]] | ||||
dwelling visit # | 54 | ||||
family visit # | 54 | ||||
name | Abbott Peter | - Margaret | - Mary | - Annie | - Margaret |
color | W | W | W | W | W |
sex | M | F | F | F | F |
age | 39 | 37 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
month born if born in year | |||||
relationship | Wife | Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | |
single | |||||
[all the boxes, including Peter and Margaret, have a dot in them] | |||||
married | M | M | |||
widowed/divorced | |||||
married during year | |||||
occupation | Laborer | Keeping house | |||
months unemployed | |||||
currently ill? | |||||
blind | |||||
deaf/dumb | |||||
idiotic | |||||
insane | |||||
disabled | |||||
school this year | |||||
can't read | |||||
can't write | |||||
birthplace | Ohio | Maryland | Penna | Penna | Penna |
father's birthplace | Penna | Ireland | Ohio | Do | Do |
mother's birthplace | Penna | Ireland | Maryland | Do | Do |
line | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 1 |
street | |||||||
house number | |||||||
dwelling number | 263 | ||||||
family number | 270 | ||||||
name | Abbott Margaret | - Anna | - Margaret | - Sarah E | - Peter H | - Laura | Abbott Bessie |
relationship | Head | Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | Son | Daughter | Daughter |
color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
sex | F | F | F | F | M | F | F |
birth date | Mar 1848 | May 1877 | May 1879 | Dec 1881 | May 1884 | Jan 1887 | Feb 1890 |
age | 52 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 10 |
married? | Wd | S | S | S | S | S | S |
# years married | |||||||
mother of how many children? | 11 | ||||||
# of children living | 7 | ||||||
birthplace | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
father's birthplace | Ireland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
mother's birthplace | Ireland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Pennsylvania |
immigration year | |||||||
# years in USA | |||||||
naturalized citizen? | |||||||
occupation | At School | At School | At School | ||||
# months not employed | |||||||
# months in school | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||
can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
owned/rented | R | ||||||
free or mortgaged | |||||||
farm/house | H | ||||||
# of farm schedule |
line | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 |
street | Monongahela Road | ||||
house nr | |||||
dwelling nr | 57 | ||||
family nr | 57 | ||||
name | Abbott Margaret | - Anna | - Margaret | - Laura | Matthews [?] Bessie [illegible] |
relationship | Head | Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | Daughter |
sex | F | F | F | F | F |
color | W | W | W | W | W |
age | 65 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 20 |
marital status | Wd | S | S | S | M1 |
#years present marriage | |||||
mother of # children | 11 | ||||
mother of # living children | 7 | ||||
birthplace | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
father's birthplace | Ireland Eng | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
mother's birthplace | Ireland Eng | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland |
immigrated | |||||
naturalized/alien | |||||
speaks English | English | English | English | English | English |
occupation | None | School Teacher | School Teacher | School Teachers | none |
nature of industry etc. | Public schools | Public school | Public schools | ||
employer etc. | W | W | W | ||
out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | No | ||
# weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
school since 1 Sep 09 | |||||
owned/rented | O | ||||
owned free or mortagaged | F | ||||
farm/house | H | ||||
nr on farm schedule | |||||
civil war vet | |||||
blind | |||||
deaf & dumb |