The Story of William John Vautier

My maternal grandfather's maternal grandfather was a wonderful character, and one of my few great-great-grandparents of whom I have several photographs, thanks to different cousins. He also has one of the most detailed reports of anyone in my family, due in part to persistence and multiple sources (like Philadelphia city directories and a very complete Civil War Pension file!)  This is his story.

The story of William John Vautier starts in Passyunk Township, where his father, Peter Vautier of the truck farming Vautiers had a farm.  Passyunk Township became a part of Philadelphia in 1854, but William's story begins before that.  Though documents claiming his birth took place in Philadelphia aren't entirely inaccurate (given the consolidation of 1854), he wasn't actually born in the city.

William was born 28 March 1840, as the fourth of Peter Vautier and Sarah Young's six children, on the farm the family had in Passyunk Township. He spent his childhood attending the local school and also the Baptist church, for though his parents had married in an Evangelical Lutheran church in Philadelphia (and had baptized his two elder siblings there), there were none in the area they settled.

On 28 November 1860, William's father passed away and the family had to support themselves without him.  Sarah became a huskster, a traveling saleswoman of groceries to support her family (and appeared to do very well indeed), and William was a gardener, most likely on one of his uncles' farms.  However, this was also the time of the growing hostilities between the Northern and Southern states, and as a young man, William felt the call to enlist in the Civil War.

On 20 August 1862, William enlisted in the Union Army, and was sworn into Company E of the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers by Lt. Setford.  His older brother, Charles, also enlisted three days after him and was put into the same company. The captain of their company was Captain Syke Buemont.  (Younger brother John D. Vautier also enlisted at the age of 17 and wrote a few works about his time in the Civil War.)

William J. Vautier in his Civil War uniform.  Photo in the personal collection of the blogger

Though it cannot be proven with documents yet, William likely saw some sort of action in the battles of Chancellorsburg, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Ringgold, Lookout Mountain, and was probably part of the siege in Atlanta, and was likely held in provost for Antietam.  He was with the regiment when they were granted a furlough in late December 1863 until early February 1864 and did come home to Philadelphia for that furlough.  This furlough was granted after three-fourths of the regiment reenlisted (including William) on 10 December 1863.

On 8 December 1864, he was on detached duty as a drug clerk at Hospital 16 in Nashville, Tennessee.  While William was watching a procession of colored soldiers walking down the street who were shooting wild salutes, a pistol was fired from an unknown person in the procession and the bullet lodged in William's left arm.   The ball was never removed and as a result of the injury, William was unable to fully open or close his middle, ring and pinky finger on his left hand.  He was honorably discharged from duty as a soldier in the Union Army on 11 May 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee and came back to his life in Philadelphia.

On 30 December 1868, he was a witness in the trial of George S. Twitchell Jr., who was charged with murdering his mother-in-law, Mrs. M. E. Hill.  William had been asked to help search the property after the fact and testified to his negative search of the privy of Hill house. At the time, he was employed by George Shisler, the son-in-law of his maternal uncle John Young.  William was still living with them in 1870 when the family was enumerated on Rope Ferry Road in the 26th ward of Philadelphia, though he was erroneously listed as being 35 years of age, when in reality he was only 30. The family lived on what was known as the Girard homestead.

William J. Vautier as a middle-aged man, date of photo unknown.  Photo in personal collection of the blogger.

On 7 September 1871, William married Catherine Elizabeth Miller at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity.  The church is still located on the corner of Wolf and Eighteenth Streets in Philadelphia, and was just up the street from the Girard Homestead.  The couple was joined in marriage by Rev. S.A.K. Francis.

Catherine, or Kate as she was known, was the eldest child of Jacob Miller and Helen DeForest Maurice Sheets.  She was born 7 September 1851  in Philadelphia.  Kate's father was also a prominent farmer, but it is not known how the couple met.

The couple spent the first few years of their marriage living in the southern end of Philadelphia, as their first few children were all born in what is now the South Philadelphia neighborhood of Philly.  William worked a series of jobs while living here. He worked as a chandelier maker for a year, went back to work as a gardener, was a general laborer and a teamster at times and then was employed as a grocer.

The couple's eldest daughter, Helen Mary, was born on 19 July 1872 at 1111 Mifflin Street and was baptized at the same church her parents were married at nearly six months later.  Daughter Sarah Miller was born June 1874.  Her place of birth was listed as the Women's Hospital, but that hospital did do births as outpatients as well, so it is not certain if she was born at home or the hospital.  Son Jacob Miller was born 15 October 1875 at 1810 South Twelfth Street.  (Sarah and Jacob were also baptized at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity.) Son William John was born 3 October 1877 on League Island (he died a little over a year later at 1119 Moore Street).  It is not known where in the city daughter Miriam Crosby was born on 1 December 1878 because she mysteriously is the only one of the eleven children whose birth registration cannot be found.  Son Ellerslie Wallace was the last child to be born in south Philadelphia, as he was born 4 January 1881 at 1728 Passyunk Road. 

The family moved to the Harrowgate neighborhood shortly after Ellerlie's birth.  The family moved to a home on Harrowgate Lane near Emerald Street.  It was here that daughter Julia Ann was born 10 October 1884, son Ellerslie died on 31 August 1883 and son Daniel Miller was born 14 December 1884.  During this time, William was listed in the city directories as a butcher and dealer, liking dealing in groceries and the wares left over from the butchering process.

The house they lived in became officially 3546 Emerald Street, and this residence was listed as the place of birth for the final three children born to William and Catherine.  Ann Grubb was born here 17 September 1877, Laura Elizabeth was born 13 September 1890 and James Wilson, the youngest child, was born here 18 February 1893.  The family lived here for thirteen years.  However, for about a year (1888-1889), William's address on certain documents from his pension file was listed as 526 Stephen Street in Camden, New Jersey.   Evidence suggests that William lived in Camden while the family continued to reside in the Harrowgate neighborhood at the Emerald Street address.  Perhaps he moved to Camden to get a better doctor to examine him for a pension increase.

As a result of the wound he received during his stint in the Civil War, William was put on a disability pension for the rest of his life, since even though he could hold down a job, he wasn't able to work the more manual jobs for too long due to his injured hand and arm.  His original pension was $4 per month, which he started receiving in April of 1873.  However, in 1879 he was awarded an arrears of pension in the amount of $381.87 from 1865 until 1873.  Over the course of the rest of his lifetime, he made several requests for an increase in pension.  He applied for increase in 1885 and was denied.  He again applied in 1888 and was approved for a increase to $6 per month commencing 24 July 1889 (this coincided with his move to Camden, which suggests he may have made the move because the doctors on the examining board in Camden may have been more favorable to increasing his pension than the doctors in Philadelphia). In May of 1891 he applied for another increase to his pension and was approved for an increase to $8 per month commencing 9 March 1891.  In 1907, he applied for another increase in pension, and was granted $12 per month 25 March 1907.  He again applied in 1910 for an increase and on 31 March 1910 his rate was raised to $15 per month.  It was ultimately raised to $24 per month starting 22 May 1912 and ending upon his death.  After his death, his wife applied for a widow's pension and received it.

Also because of his service in the Civil War, he joined the Grand Army of the Republic and was a member of Post 71, General John F. Reynolds in Philadelphia. 

Anyway, back to Philadelphia in 1894.... this was the year that William and family made the move from Harrowgate to a rented home at 3169 Belgrade Street in the Port Richmond neighborhood.  This neighborhood was the final move for William J. Vautier, though he lived in two different houses on this street. For four years they lived at 3169 Belgrade before moving down the street to 3183 Belgrade Street.  The lot the home was on was owned for at least part of the time by one William Allen, and the family rented the home.  It was a row house, as were many houses in the neighborhood (and still are, though the current homes on the street were built in 1920).

Two photographs of the William J. and Catherine E. Vautier family, both taken in the yard of the Belgrade addresses.  Photos in the personal collection of the blogger (I can identify most everyone in both photos if you would like me  to... drop me a line)

The family lived in the same block as did the Elizabeth Hans Waldspurger family at this time, and it is assumed that this was how William's daughter Julia met Elizabeth's son Edward, or how the Waldspurger family came to live on the same block (as son Edward may have let his mother know a home was for rent or purchase on the street after having met the Vautiers).  In any case, the two families joined as one in my genealogy in the marriage of Julia Ann Vautier to Edward Charles Waldspurger in 1901.

William worked as a janitor while living in the Port Richmond neighborhood, and according to family stories, at least part of that time was spent as a janitor at the local school. 

William J. Vautier, circa 1910, in the backyard of his Belgrade home in Philadelphia.  Photo in the personal collection of the blogger.

On 18 February 1913, William John Vautier died at the rented home on 3183 Belgrade Street.  The cause of death on his certificate was listed as apoplexy.  Apoplexy was the term used at that time for a stroke, which is what William very likely died from.  The physician attending to his death was W.R. Knight.  He was buried two days later at North Cedar Hill Cemetery after a funeral at home.  He was buried in section W-6.  His grave was unmarked until 1938, when his daughter in law, Flora Bardsley Vautier, applied for a headstone from the Veteran's Administration. 

William J. Vautier's headstone.  Photo taken August 2017 at North Cedar Hill Cemetery by the blogger.

In October of 1913, the lot upon which the family lived was sold to Theresa Crosson for $1400, and Catherine moved out.  It is not known where she moved to, but it is likely her sons helped to support her and their sisters, as social convention dictated.  The family moved to various addresses on Almond Street in the Port Richmond neighborhood, if following Daniel and James Wilson in the city directories, and by 1919, Catherine was living at 3192 Almond Street. 

Belgrade Street as it looked in August 2017.  While the houses were built in 1920, they are of similar style to the ones that were there.  I took a walk in the neighborhood in 2017 to see where my family lived, and shot this photo among others.

It was here at 3192 Almond Street that Catherine passed away 4 February 1919 from sarcoma of the stomach.  The cancer that took Catherine's life was detected first on 1 July 1918, and from 5 July 1918 until her death, she was attended to by Doctor Rolla L. Smith of 2987 Richmond Street in Philadelphia. Her daughter Ann was her primary caretaker and nurse.  Her youngest child, James Wilson Vautier, was overseas fighting in World War One when his mother passed, and the rest of his siblings chose to not tell him she had died until he returned home two months later.

After a funeral at her home, Catherine was buried next to her husband in North Cedar Hill Cemetery, although to this day, no headstone marks her final resting place.

Son Daniel died in 1937 as a civilian worker aboard the U.S.S. Cassin when a steam explosion caused him and several others to be boiled alive.

Sources Used:
 "1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for Peter Voutier and family, Year: 1850, Census Place: Passyunk Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_820, Page: 63A, and Image: 134; citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for Peter Vautier and family, Year: 1860, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 1 Division 1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1151, Page: 52, Image: 56, and Family History Library Film: 805151; citing 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2019), Entry for John L. Young and household, Year: 1870, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 26 District 88 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: M593_1414, Page: 595B, and Family History Library Film: 552913; citing 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1890 Veterans Schedules," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2016), Entry for William Vautier, Year: 1890, Census Place: Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 80, Pages: 1-2, and Enumeration District: 569; citing Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for William Gauitier and family (as indexed in database), Year: 1900, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 25 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1467, Page: 8B, Enumeration District: 0587, and FHL microfilm: 1241467; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for William J Vautier and family, Year: 1910, Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 25 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: T624_1398, Page: 15A, Enumeration District: 0539, and FHL microfilm: 1375411; citing  Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2016), Entry for Wm. J. Vautier and family, Year: 1880, Census Place: Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1185, Family History Film: 1255185, Page: 430A, Enumeration District: 545, and Image: 0129; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Anna C. Wueteun entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, "Births Registered during 1887 Jan-Dec." reel 41: page 108, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865: prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, 5 Volumes (Harrisburg: B. Singerly, State Printer, 1869), Volume One; Page 520; "Vautier, Wm. J., Private, Mustered in Aug. 20, '62, 3 years, discharged by General Order, May 23, 1865".

"City Directories for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania," online database with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 30 September 2016).  Various years and entries for William J. Vautier and family  (for complete listing of entries, contact the blogger)

Daniel Vautier entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, fn 6432: Month of December, 1884 returns for J. Howard Evans, M.D., Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"Died," death notices, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 19 February 1913, page 7, entry for William J. Vautier; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 October 2016).

"Died," death notice, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 6 February 1919, page 18, entry for Catherine M. Vautier; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 13 October 2016).

E. Wallace Vautine entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1877, reel 35: page 54, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Hellen Vautier entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, Doctors' Returns: Birth Returns for 1 June 1872 to 1 July 1872 for Wm Patterson M.D., Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Historical Data Systems, comp., "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2016), Entry for William J Vautier; Enlisted 20 Aug 1862 as a Private in Company E, Pennsylvania 29th Infantry Regiment on 20 Aug 1862; Mustered out on 03 Jun 1865; citing data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA; Source: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865.

Jacob Votere entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1875: page 16, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jas W. Vautier entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1893: page 76, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Julia A. Vautier entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1882-1883: page 216, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Julia Ann Waldspurger wife of Edward Charles Waldspurger SSN 715-14-8640 application of wife for spouse's annuity, 1952; Railroad Retirement Board Inactive Claim Folders, RG 184; National Archives and Records Administration - Atlanta, Morrow, GA.  Father's full name William John Vautier.

Kropp, Sonny. A White Star On My Cap by William J. Vautier (N.p.: Sonny Kropp, 1983).

Laura Elizabeth (Vautier) entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, Doctor's Returns: Return of Births September 1890 for Mary Leichsenring, midwife, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"Local Intelligence: The Hill Murder," The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 30 December 1868, page 1. "William J. Vautier sworn - I am employed by Mr. Shissler; the privy at Mrs. Hill's house was searched by me, and nothing was found."; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 11 June 2017).

"Mother, Awaiting Son, Dies: Young Philadelphia, Anticipating Reunion, Not Told of Death," Eveninig Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 8 April 1919, page 6; online images, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 13 October 2016), Historic American Newspapers.

National Archives and Records Administration, "U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2016), Entry for William Vautier and widow Catherine Vautier; Roll number T288_488; Invalid application number 183354, certificate number 124364; Widow's application number 1006154, certificate number 761815; filed in Pennsylvania; citing "General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934". Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls.

"Obituary notes," obituary, Harrisburg Daily Independent (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), 19 February 1913, page 10; online archives, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 October 2016).

"Oral interviews with various Waldspurger family members," 1999-2020 by Patricia Waldspurger Mahoney, information and notes collected by Patricia Waldspurger Mahoney and passed along to Kelley Wood-Davis; owned by Patricia Waldspurger Mahoney, Lansdale, Pennsylvania; no notes taken; oral information on family history.

"Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 October 2016), Entry for William J. Vautier; Enlistment date 20 Aug 1862; Private Co. E, 29th Pennsylvania; citing Pennsylvania (State). Civil War Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1861–1866. Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Record Group 19, Series 19.11 (153 cartons). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 October 2016), Entry for Catherine Voutier, died 4 Feb 1919, cn 16521; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 October 2016), Entry for William J Vautier; date of death 18 Feb 1913; certificate number 22400; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 8 October 2016), William Vautier, 25 Mar 1879; FHL microfilm 2,031,099; (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDVB-KYP); citing Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

"Pension Certificates Issued," The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 6 March 1892, page 8; "Washington, March 4. - Pension certificates have been issued as follows: Issue of February 19, 1892.....Pennsylvania - Originial...... William Vautier"; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 October 2016).

Pension File Claim for William Vautier Private Co E 29 Pa. Vols, pension number 183354; Photocopies provided by NARA in the pension file for William Vautier; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C., Filed with the Adjunant General's Offie 9 August 1865. (For complete listing of documents, contact the blogger)

Sarah Vautier entry, Birth Registers 1860-1903, book 1874, reel 30: page 71, Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Schanes, Nancy. Family Group Sheet of Peter Vautier and Sarah Young, Vautier Collection; supplied by Schanes, [address for private use], Wilmington, Delaware, September 1988; Information obtained via Civil War Pension Records, Pennsylvania Census Records (1850 and 1880), the diary of John Vautier, Notes from Jill Vautier Miller, and records from St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Photocopy sent by Schanes to Kelley Wood-Davis in 2002.

"U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963," online database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 October 2016), Entry for William Vautier, died 18 Feb 1913; citing Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941. Microfilm publication M1916, 134 rolls. ARC ID: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Record Group 92. National Archives at Washington, D.C; Applications for Headstones, compiled 01/01/1925 - 06/30/1970, documenting the period ca. 1776 - 1970, ARC: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Vautier, John D. The Personal Diary of John D. Vautier, transcribed copy (n.p., n.d.), ; online transcription, Robert Weaver and Phyllis Weaver Bickley, WikiTree (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Vautier-28 : accessed 12 February 2019.

Widow Pension for Catherine M Vautier, widow of William Vautier, private, Co. E, 29th Pennsylvania Inf. Certificate number 761815, approved 21 June 1913; Photocopies provided by NARA in the pension file for William Vautier; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C. (for complete listing of documents, contact the blogger)

William Vautier entry, Return of Births in the City of Philadelphia 1860-1903, Doctors' Returns: Birth Returns for November 1877 for W.J. Patterson, M.D., Philadelphia City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.