He was born on 26 July 1836, to Joseph Burns and Mary Russell (17, 19). He was 27 when he enlisted in 1864 (4, 10 [28], 14 [24 in 1860], 15 [34 in 1870], 16 [43 in 1880], 17 [63 in 1900], 18 [72 in 1908], 19 [71 yrs at death in 1908]). He was born in Glasgow, Scotland (4, 10 [28], 14, 15, 16, 17, 19).
In 1841, he immigrated to the United States (17). He was a naturalized citizen by 1870 (15, 17).
In 1860, he was living in the first ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14). He was living with Mary Burns (presumably his mother) and James and Thomas Burns (presumably his brothers) (14). He was a bricklayer (14).
When he was enlisted, he was a painter (4).
He was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair (4).
He served in the Navy before joining the army (7, 13, 20). He served as ship corporal, on the USS Powhatan, at Dacotah, North Carolina (7, 13).
On 27 October 1863, he returned to duty from the RS [recruiting service?] (14).
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 (9).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private in company E, as a veteran recruit, for three years, on 2 February 1864, at Philadelphia Pennsylvania (1, 4, 10 [nothing about vet status], 11). He was enlisted by Lieutenant Shipley, and mustered into service by Lieutenant Burke (4).
(Note: I do not know how he enlisted as a veteran. Bates (1) does not mention that he was a veteran, but the descriptive roll (4) claims he enlisted as a veteran. Perhaps he had served in another regiment?)
He was wounded in the hand while charging the enemy's works, on 18 June 1864 (1) or 23 June 1864 (4) at Petersburg, Virginia (1, 4).
He was promoted on 23 June 1864 to corporal, for soldierly (or gallant) conduct in late battle (1, 3, 4, 5, 10).
He was absent when the regiment mustered out (1, 10 [absent wounded]). He was mustered out on 31 July 1865 (11).
In 1865/66, he married Katharine Burns (17, 18). In 1900, she had had 6 [?] children, 5 of whom were living (17).
On 15 September 1865, he applied successfully for a pension (13, 20).
In 1870, he was living in the first ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15). He was living with his wife Catharine, with his son Thomas, and with several other people (15). He was a watchman, and owned $1,200 in real estate (15).
In 1880, he was living at 1120 Pearce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He was living with his wife Catharine, and apparently not with any of his children (16). He was an exchange door keeper (16).
He attended the 1884 meeting of the 91st's Survivors' Association (2).
In 1890, he was living at 1205 Mosley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11, 12). He apparently had no occupation (12). He had lost his right arm about the elbow, and had a bullet wound in his left arm (11).
In 1900, he was living at 1538 McKean, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). He was living with his wife Catharine, with his children Thomas, Katherine, Amanda, James, and William, and William's wife (17). He was a laborer, but was out of work 12 months in the previous year (17).
On 29 February 1908, he died at his residence, 1538 McKean Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of organic valvular heart disease (duration 1 month 23 days), with pneumonia (duration 6 days) contributing (18, 19, 20). He was then a painter (19). The funeral was held on Wednesday, from 1538 McKean Street (his residence) (18). Members of the US Grant Post, Number 5, GAR, were invited (18). He was buried on 4 March 1908 at Mount Moriah Cemetery (18, 19).
On 7 March 1908, his widow, Catharine Burns, applied successfully from Pennsylvania, for a pension (13, 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 newspaper account of 1884 meeting, Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail, 20 December 1884, page 6 column 2
3 list of non-commissioned officers, company E
4 descriptive roll, company E, entry 129
5 special order 55, headquarters, 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, 30 June 1864
6 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 30 December 1863
7 e-mail, Bill Burns
8 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 27 October 1863 (Priv Burns [?])
9 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 2 January 1864 (Burns)
10 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (William W Burns)
11 1890 US Census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 580, page [1] (image 1889 on <www.ancestry.com>) (William W Burns)
12 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (Wiliam W Burns)
13 pension index, by name (William W Burns)
14 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, first ward, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 355 = 257 handwritten (William Burns)
15 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, first ward, microfilm series M593, film 1387, page 383 = 80 handwritten (William Burns)
16 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 20, supervisor's district T9, film 1167, page 304 D = 36 handwritten (William Burns)
17 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 26th ward, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 643, microfilm series T623, film 1468, page 58 A = 4 handwritten (William W Burns)
18 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 March 1908, page 7 (William W Burns)
19 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 29 February 1908 (William Wilson Burns)
20 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (William W Burns)
| line | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Dwelling number | 1796 | |||
| Family number | 2041 | |||
| Name | Mary Burns | James " | William " | Thomas " |
| Age | 53 | 31 | 24 | 19 |
| Sex | f | m | m | m |
| Color | ||||
| Occupation | Bricklayer | Painter | Bricklayer | |
| Value of real estate owned | ||||
| Value of personal estate | ||||
| Place of birth | Scotland | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||
| Attended school within year | ||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 |
| Dwelling-house number | 732 | ||||||
| Family number | 659 | ||||||
| Name | Burns William W | Catherine | Thomas | Thomas | Reed Charles | Dubois Martha | Thomas |
| Age | 34 | 24 | 7/12 | 31 | 9 | 18 | 24 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Watchman | Keeping House | Bricklayer | Adopted Son | Boarder | Salesman | |
| Real estate value | 1200 | ||||||
| Personal estate value | |||||||
| Birthplace | Scotland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Scotland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | New Jersey |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Birth month if born within year | Oct | ||||||
| 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 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 42 | 43 |
| street name | Pearce Street | |
| house number | [1120] | |
| dwelling visit # | [275] | |
| family visit # | 301 | |
| name | Burns William | Burns Catherine |
| color | W | W |
| sex | M | F |
| age | 43 | 33 |
| month born if born in year | ||
| relationship | Wife | |
| single | ||
| married | 1 | 1 |
| widowed/divorced | ||
| married during year | ||
| occupation | Exchange door keeper | Keeping house |
| months unemployed | ||
| currently ill? | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf/dumb | ||
| idiotic | ||
| insane | ||
| disabled | ||
| school this year | ||
| can't read | ||
| can't write | ||
| birthplace | Scotland | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Scotland | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Scotland | Penna |
| line | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| street | McKean | |||||||
| house number | 1538 | |||||||
| dwelling number | 58 | |||||||
| family number | 65 | |||||||
| name | Burns William W | - Katharine | - Thomas J | - Katherine | - Amanda | - James E | - William | - Mary J |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Dau | Dau | Son | Son | D in law |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F | F | M | M | F |
| birth date | July 1836 | May 1846 | Oct 1870 | Nov 1878 | Feb 1881 | July 1882 | Oct 1871 | Nov 1873 |
| age | 63 | 54 | 30 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 28 | 27 |
| married? | M | M | D | S | S | S | M | M |
| # years married | 34 | 34 | 5 | 2 | 2 | |||
| mother of how many children? | 6 [??] | |||||||
| # of children living | 5 | |||||||
| birthplace | Scotland | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Scotland | Penna | Scotland | Scotland | Scotland | Scotland | Scotland | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| immigration year | 1841 | |||||||
| # years in USA | 59 | |||||||
| naturalized citizen? | Na | |||||||
| occupation | Laborer | Bricklayer | Maid | Saleswoman | Soap wrapper | Salesman | ||
| # months not employed | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| # months in school | ||||||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| owned/rented | R | |||||||
| free or mortgaged | ||||||||
| farm/house | H | |||||||
| # of farm schedule | ||||||||
BURNS.--On February 29, 1908, WILLIAM W. BURNS, beloved husband of Catharine Burns in his 72d year. Relatives and friends, also the survivors of the 91st Regiment, P V, and U S Grant Post, No 5, G A R, are invited to attend the funeral, on Wednesday, at 2 P M, from his late residence, 1538 McKean st. Remains can be viewed Tuesday evening. Interment at Mount Moriah Cemetery.
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from 1/1/1908 to 2/29/1908, that I last saw him alive on 2/29/1908 and that death occurred, on the date stated above at 5.57 P.M. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows: