Civil War veteran LEVI CROMWELL of Virginia and Pennsylvania

The following records apparently all refer to the same man, despite apparent discrepancies in the individual’s race, place of birth, and the spelling of his name:

Census information:

1860 Ward 4, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
CROMWELL, Levi, 27, b. MD, restaurant keeping
Hester, 25, female, b. MD
[Neither is listed as black in census so they are identified by default as white.]

1870 Ward 7, District 18, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
CROWELL, Levi, 36, b. VA, keeps restaurant ($5000 personal estate; $5000 real estate)
Esther A., 33, b. MD, keeps house
MYERS, Julia, 21, b. MD, domestic servant
[All are listed as black.]

1880 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Household head—CROMWELL, Levi, 45, b. VA, restaurant keeper
Other—DAVIS, Ella, 25, b. DE, housekeeping
[All are listed as black.]

1900 934 Lombard Street, Ward 7, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Household head—CROMWELL, Levie, 66, b. VA, no occupation listed
Wife--- ………cie, 40, b. WV
Mother [Mother-in-law?]—MEYERS, Leydia [Lydia?], 66, b. WV
Servant—BURTON, [Harriet?], 49, b. VA
[All listed as black.]

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database:

CROMWELL, LEVI enlisted in 22nd Infantry Regiment, USCT, organized at Philadelphia during January 10-29, 1864.

Freedman’s Bank (Richmond, VA):

CROMWELL, LEVI named as a sibling of John W. CROMWELL, age 24, who was born in Portsmouth, VA, raised in Philadelphia, PA, and employed in Richmond, VA as a teacher. At the time of the application, Dec. 3, 1870, John W. Cromwell resided at 513 Adams Street. John W. Cromwell’s complexion was described as “black.” He was single and he signed his own name. In addition to Levi, John’s siblings include Willis H., Martha Armistead, and Esther Nash.