He was born in 29 February 1827, to John Baird and Catharine Campbell (18 [May 1827], 19 [29 Feb 1827]). He was 35 years old when he enlisted (2, 9 [muster out roll has 26], 16 [45 in 1870], 17 [51 in 1880], 18 [73 in 1900], 19 [83 at death in 1910]). He was born in Denngal [perhaps Donegal??], Ireland (2, 16, 17, 18, 19).
He immigrated to the US in 1847 (18).
When he was enlisted, he was an innkeeper (2).
He was 5 feet 5-3/4 inches tall, had a light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair (2).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private in company E on 20 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 2, 9, 13). He was enlisted by Captain Lentz, for three years (2). He was mustered into service by Colonel Reiff (2).
He was one of eleven men taken prisoner at the Battle of Fredericksburg, when company E was left behind (2). On 19 May 1863, he (along with eight others) returned to the regiment, as a paroled prisoner (7).
He fought at the battle of Gettysburg (5).
On 30 December 1863, Sinex reported that he was one of 38 men who had less than fifteen months to serve who were unwilling to reenlist (6). On 2 January 1864, he was transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry, while those eligible were on veterans' leave (8).
On 10 April 1864, he started a leave (11). He was reported absent without leave on 18 April 1864 (10). He was reported returned from the leave on 19 April 1864 (12).
He mustered out on 9 September 1864, at Weldon Railroad, Virginia, when his term expired (1, 2, 9, 13, 15).
In 1870, he was living in ward 7, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He was living with his (presumed) wife Margaret, and four children (16). He worked in a gas works (16).
In 1874 or 1875, he married Elizabeth [unknown surname] (18). In 1900, she had had no children (18).
In 1880, he was living at 1179 Eleventh Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). He was living with his wife Elizabeth and daughters Maggie and Mary (17). He worked in a gas works (17).
He applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 11 July 1889 [?] (4, 20).
In 1890, he was living at 1179 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (13, 14). He apparently had no occupation (14). He had hearing problems, in both ears, caused by concussion, and had applied for a pension (14).
In 1900, he was living with his wife Elizabeth at 1179 Eleventh Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (18). He was retired (18).
He again applied for a pension on 19 February 1907 (20).
He died on 9 March 1910, at 1179 South Eleventh Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of inflammation of the brain, with a coma contributing (19, 20). He was married, and was not working (19). He was buried on 13 March 1910, at Mt Moriah Cemetery (19).
His widow Elizabeth Baird successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension on 17 March 1910 [??] (4, 20).
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 descriptive roll, company E, entry 19 (David Baird)
3 company E, register of men discharged, number 24 (David Baird)
4 Veterans' administration. Pension index, by name. (Searched 13 Jan 2001, at <www.ancestry.com>.) (David Baird)
5 Pennsylvania Memorial, 91st Pennsylvania plaque, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (David Baird)
6 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 30 December 1863
7 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 19 May 1863 (Private Baid [sic])
8 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 2 January 1864 (Baird)
9 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 17 May 2004 (David Baird)
10 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 18 April 1864 (D Baird)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 10 April 1864 (not named)
12 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 19 April 1864 (Baird)
13 1890 US Census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 477, page 3 (image 1876 on <www.ancestry.com>) (David Baird)
14 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (David Baird)
15 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 10 September 1864 (Privt Baird)
16 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 7, microfilm series M593, film 1392, page 597 = 63 handwritten (David Baird)
17 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 549, microfilm series T9, film 1185, page 497 = 17A handwritten (David Baird)
18 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 26, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 62, microfilm series T623, film 1468, page 87 = 16A handwritten (David Baird)
19 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 9 March 1910, number 6987 (David Baird)
20 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (David Baird)
| line | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Dwelling-house number | 358 | |||||
| Family number | 491 | |||||
| Name | Baird David | - Margaret | - William J | - George C | - Mary | - Maggie |
| Age | 45 | 35 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 2 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Works in Gas Works | |||||
| Real estate value | 3,000 | |||||
| Personal estate value | ||||||
| Birthplace | Ireland | Ireland | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Birth month if born within year | ||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Can't read | ||||||
| Can't write | 1 | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | [crossed-out '1'] | |||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| street name | Eleventh Street | ||||
| house number | 1179 | ||||
| dwelling visit # | 140 | ||||
| family visit # | 150 | ||||
| name | Baird David | - Elizabeth | - Maggie | - Mary | Chambers Isabelle [?] |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F | F |
| age | 51 | 29 | 11 | 19 | 27 |
| month born if born in year | |||||
| relationship | Wife | Daughter | Daughter | Boarder | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | |||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | works at Gas Works | Keeping House | At School | At Home | At Home |
| months unemployed | |||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | 1 | ||||
| can't read | 1 | 1 | |||
| can't write | 1 | 1 | |||
| birthplace | Ireland | Ireland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland |
| line | 30 | 31 |
| street | Eleventh St | |
| house number | 1179 | |
| dwelling number | 282 | |
| family number | 330 | |
| name | Baird David | - Elizabeth |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| color | W | W |
| sex | M | F |
| birth date | May 1827 | Jan 1850 |
| age | 73 | 50 |
| married? | M | M |
| # years married | 25 | 25 |
| mother of how many children? | 0 [?] | |
| # of children living | 0 | |
| birthplace | Ireland | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland | Ireland |
| immigration year | 1847 | 1870 |
| # years in USA | 53 | 30 |
| naturalized citizen? | [blank (sic)] | |
| occupation | Retired | |
| # months not employed | 0 | |
| # months in school | ||
| can read | yes | no |
| can write | yes | no |
| speaks English | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | O | |
| free or mortgaged | F | |
| farm/house | H | |
| # of farm schedule | ||