Frank M. Welch (1841 - 1907)

Born 27 Oct 1841 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 10 Feb 1907 at age 65 in United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: K Raymoure [send private message]

Biography

Frank Welch is a part of US Black heritage.

Frank Welch was born in 1841 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania^[1] or Connecticut^[2]. He was one of the first men of African American descent to attain a commissioned office in the United States military.

Occupations

• 1900: Day labor
• 1893: War Department, Record and Pension office
• 1880: Letter carrier
• 1860, 1863, 1870: Barber

Residences

• 1900: Washington, D.C. with his wife Hattie, stepchildren and a number of lodgers
• 1880: Bridgeport, Connecticut with his wife Susan and children
• 1870: Seymour, Connecticut with his wife Kate and fellow barber David T. Boyer
• 1863: West Meriden, Connecticut (military enlistment)
• 1860: West Meriden, Connecticut in a boarding house managed by Peter and Julia Near

Military Service

First Lieutenant in the all-black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry regiment, Company F. Enlisted on 12 May 1863 from West Meriden, Connecticut. He was about 21 years old, single and working as a barber when he enlisted. He was wounded in action on 18 July 1863 at Second Battle of Fort Wagner.

He was promoted to First Sergeant in Company F, then promoted to Second Lieutenant on 28 April 1865 and mustered in at that rank on 3 June 1865. Promoted to First Lieutenant on 20 June 1865 and mustered 22 July 1865.

He briefly served as Second Lieutenant of the 14th United States Heavy Artillery in 1865.

The highest rank attainable for soldiers of color when he enlisted was Sergeant Major. He was one of the first men of African American descent to attain a commissioned office in the United States military.

Research Notes

The 1870 census doesn't include familial relationships, so I'm assuming Kate is his first wife. She could also be his sister, though.

Raymoure-1 17:03, 28 August 2019 (UTC) recorded from American Origins, LLC correspondence:

I meant to tell you about a new record series #2538355 that I found out about in the Archives. It is not fully indexed yet but these are records about pension agents and lawyers who were cheating widows and veterans, and also files about veterans acting fraudulently. These some files about the 54th Mass. soldiers, if you want to keep in your notes should they be of interest later:

Reference to Benjamin Thompson in case file for Henry P. Clark (NARA ID 45634657)

Reference to mother of Harrison Pierce, who was charged illegal fees by Charles R. Dudley (NARA ID 75832087)

References to widow of Frank M. Welch, Hattie, in correspondence with Leonard A. Block (NARA ID 17394227)

Reference to Richard Gomer of Company H, victim of fraud by Alfred P. Alexander (NARA ID 7462148)

Reference to Richard R. Smith in an investigation of Albert J. Benfield (NARA ID 12160884)

Sources

1. ↑ roster entry, 1870 census
2. ↑ 1860 census

• 1860 United States Federal Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Meriden, New Haven, Connecticut; Roll: M653_88; Page: 1107; Family History Library Film: 803088
• 1870 United States Federal Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Seymour, New Haven, Connecticut; Roll: M593_112; Page: 626A; Family History Library Film: 545611
• 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut; Roll: 95; Page: 697A; Enumeration District: 137
• 1900 United States Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0072
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• Find a Grave: Frank M. Welch