He was born on 29 February 1827, to John Baird and Catharine Campbell, in Denngal [perhaps Donegal??], Ireland. [sources: date: 2 (35 in 1861), 9 (muster out roll has 26), 16 (45 in 1870), 17 (51 in 1880), 18 (73 in 1900; May 1827), 19 (83 at death in 1910; 29 Feb 1827), 22 (32 in 1860). place: 2, 16, 17, 18, 19. parents: 19]
He immigrated to the US in 1847. [source: 18]
Beginning in 1854, he probably had a tavern or hotel at the northeast corner of 11th and Federal Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 27]
He married Margaret [unknown family name]. She was born in 1831/35, in Ireland. They apparently had at least these children:
[sources: 16, 22, 24]
In 1860, he was living in ward 7, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living at 1179 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a tavern keeper or innkeeper. He was living with his wife Margaret, their apparent children William and George, and with John and Mary. [sources: 22, 27]
When he enlisted, he was an innkeeper. [source: 2]
His brother, Alexander Baird, also served in the 91st.
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-3/4 inches tall, had a light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair. [source: 2]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was enlisted by Captain Lentz, for three years. He was mustered into service by Colonel Reiff. He was a private, in company E. [sources: 1, 2, 9, 13, 28, 29]
He was one of eleven men taken prisoner at the Battle of Fredericksburg, when company E was left behind. On 19 May 1863, he (along with eight others) returned to the regiment, as a paroled prisoner. [sources: 2, 7]
He fought at the battle of Gettysburg. [source: 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. On 2 January 1864, he was transferred to the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry, while those eligible were on veterans' leave. [sources: 6, 8]
On 10 April 1864, he started a leave. He was reported absent without leave on 18 April 1864. He was reported returned from the leave on 19 April 1864. [sources: 10, 11, 12]
On 3 June 1864, he wrote a letter to his Uncle Andrew, describing the death of his brother Alexander Baird on 1 June 1864. He buried Alexander by a road, and promised that if he survived he would find a different resting place for him. (Alexander was reburied in Mount Moriah Cemetery after the war.) David described himself as 'in low spirits as god knows how things here may end'. After Alexander's death, he says, 'god knows how I felt as I did not know. But the next moment might be my own'. But despite that, he didn't consider giving up: 'We are shelling the rebels and they are shelling us, and we have now marched close to their works. So we must still keep fighting our way on'. [source: 21]
He mustered out on 9 September 1864, at Weldon Railroad, Virginia, when his term expired. He was a private, in company E. [sources: 1, 2, 9, 13, 15, 28, 29]
In 1870, he was living in ward 7, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his (presumed) wife Margaret, and four children. He worked in a gas works. [source: 16]
On 25 October 1873, his wife, Margaret Baird, died, of ascites. The funeral was held from her late residence, 1179 South Eleventh Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 28 October 1873, she was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery. [sources: 23, 25]
In 1874 or 1875, he married Elizabeth Chambers. She was born in January 1850, in Ireland, to Thomas and Mary Chambers, and immigrated to the US in 1870. They apparently had no children. [source: 18, 26]
In 1880, he was living at 1179 Eleventh Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Elizabeth and daughters Maggie and Mary (presumably children from a previous marriage). He worked in a gas works. [source: 17]
He applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 11 July 1889 [?]. [sources: 4, 20]
In 1890, he was living at 1179 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He apparently had no occupation. He had hearing problems, in both ears, caused by concussion, and had applied for a pension. [sources: 13, 14]
In 1900, he was living with his wife Elizabeth at 1179 Eleventh Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He was retired. [source: 18]
He again applied for a pension on 19 February 1907. [source: 20]
He died on 9 March 1910, at 1179 South Eleventh Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of inflammation of the brain, with a coma contributing. He was married, and was not working. He was buried on 13 March 1910, at Mt Moriah Cemetery. [sources: 19, 20]
His widow Elizabeth Baird successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension on 17 March 1910 [??]. [sources: 4, 20]
His widow Elizabeth Baird seems to have died on 29 January 1917. She was 'formerly of 2714 Harper [?] st', Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery. [source: 26]
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 Ancestry) (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 Ancestry) (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)
21 letter, 3 June 1864, David Baird to Andrew Baird, from widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate WC 44751, Andrew Baird guardian of minor children of Alexander Baird
22 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 7, microfilm series M653, film 1157, page 249 = 249 handwritten (David Baird)
23 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 October 1873 (Margaret Baird)
24 records in the International Genealogical Index
25 death notice, Public Ledger 27 October 1873, page 2 (Margaret Baird)
26 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 February 1917, page 12 (Elizabeth Baird)
27 select Philadelphia city directories
28 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (David Baird)
29 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (David Beard)
| line | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Dwelling number | 1548 | |||||
| Family number | 1837 | |||||
| Name | John Baird | David " | Margaret " | William " | George " | Mary " |
| Age | 27 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 30 |
| Sex | M | M | F | M | M | F |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Tavern Keeper | do | Semstress [sic] | |||
| Value of real estate owned | 1600 | 2000 | ||||
| Value of personal estate | 300 | |||||
| Place of birth | Ireland | do | do | Pennsylvania | do | Ireland |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | |||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| 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 | ||
BAIRD--On the 25th [?] inst., MARGARET BAIRD, wife of David Baird, aged 41 years.
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral on Tuesday afternoon 28th inst at 1 o clock, from her late residence, 1179 [sic] South Eleventh street. To proceed to Mount Moriah cemetery.
BAIRD.--(nee Chambers). Jan. 29, ELIZABETH, widow of David Baird and daughter of late Thomas and Mary Chambers, formerly of 2714 Harper [?] st. Relatives and friends invited to funeral, Sun., 2 P.M., 3900 Germantown ave. Int. Mt. Moriah Cem.