He was born in 1826/27, in Ireland. [sources: date: 2 (38 in 1865), 7, 8 (56 in 1883), 12 (abt 1827). place: 2, 7, 8, 12]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer. [source: 2]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. [source: 2]
He also served in company I of the 1st New Jersey Infantry. He enlisted on 21 May 1861, in Trenton, New Jersey. He was mustered in on 4 June 1861. He was discharged on 6 June 1864. [sources: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8]
He also served in company H of the 6th Veteran Reserve Corps. He was transferred on 15 March 1864. On 6 June 1864, he was honorably discharged, at Washington DC. He had served for three years. [sources: 3, 4, 6, 7]
He was a substitute. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 23 March 1865. He was enlisted for one year, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, by Captain Jacques [?]. He was a private in company I. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 15]
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865. He was a private, in company I. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 15]
He lived in Newark, New Jersey, after the war. [source: 7]
He married Mary Ann Larkin. She was born in Ireland, in 1835/36, to James Larkin and Bridget Cecelia [unknown family name]. They apparently had at least this child:
[sources: 9, 11, 12, 13, 14]
On 22 November 1875, his wife, Mary Ann Burns, died. She died at (or was buried from) 801 McClennon Street, ward 2, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died of consumption. On 24 November 1875, she was buried, at Old Cathedral Cemetery. [sources: 12, 14]
In 1880, his daughter, Cecelia Burnes, was living with his mother-in-law, Bridget C Larkin, and others. She was living at 907 McClellan Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
On 12 June 1883, he entered the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home, in Hampton, Virginia. He had a hernia. This was his first admission to the National Soldiers Home. [sources: 7, 8]
On 11 June 1888, he was transferred to the Central Branch of the National Soldiers Home at Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was admitted there on 12 June 1888. He had a right-side hernia. He also had rheumatism and renal disease. [sources: 7, 8, 9]
In 1890, he was living in the National Soldiers Home, Montgomery County, Ohio. He had a hernia. [sources: 6]
On 9 July 1890, he successfully applied from Ohio for a pension. He received a pension of $12 per month, retroactive to 9 July 1890, under the Act of 27 June 1890. [sources: 3, 4, 9]
He died on 23 September 1897, in the Central Branch of the National Soldiers Home. He died of chronic nephritis. He was buried in the Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio. The Home sent a telegram to Celia M Currey, in Philadelphia, apparently to inform his daughter that he had died. His personal effects included $14.60 in cash, and personal belongings valued at $0.35, and sold for $0.75. [sources: 3 (23 Sep), 5 (22 Sep), 7 (23 Sep), 9 (23 Sep), 12 (23 Sep)]
In 1900, his (apparent) daughter, Ceclia [sic; sc. Cecelia] M Curry, was living at 2316 Myrtlewood Street, ward 28, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her husband Martin H, and his (and presumably their) children Harry T, Inez M, Helen C, and John D. They had been married for nine years, and she had four children, all living. That she is his child is suggested by the National Home's having sent a letter to her at 2339 Sherwood Street, Philadelphia, after John's death; she and Martin were living at 2339 Sharswood in 1897, but had moved to Myrtlewood by 1899. [sources: 9, 10, 11, 12]
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) (John Burns)
2 company I, descriptive roll, #51 (John Burns)
3 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company I (John Burns)
4 pension index, by name (accessed 4 October 2013, on Ancestry) (John Burns)
5 records of headstones of deceased Union veterans, 1879-1903 (John Burns)
6 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Ohio, Montgomery County, National Military Home, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district special, page 98 (image 200 of 352 on Ancestry [accessed 5 October 2013]) (John Burns)
7 Find a grave, memorial 441547, created by US Veterans Affairs Office, added 25 Feb 2000, maintained by Dennis Brandt (John Burns)
8 National homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, 1866-1938, National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm series M1749, film 230, Hampton Virginia (John Burns)
9 National homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, 1866-1938, National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm series M1749, film 39, Dayton, Ohio (John Burns)
10 Philadelphia city directory, Martin Curry
11 [not transcribed] 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 28, enumeration district 701, microfilm series T623, film 1470, page 32 = 7 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (Ceclia M Curry)
12 'Gilmore/Curry family tree', available on Ancestry, owner Mgandted, accessed 5 October 2013 (John Burns) Ancestry (John Burns)
13 [not transcribed] 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, enumeration district 21, microfilm series T9, film 1167, page 314 = 11 C handwritten (FamilySearch) (Cecelia Burnes)
14 [not transcribed] death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 22 November 1875 (FamilySearch) (Mary Ann Burns)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Burns)
The key evidence I have is his death date (see especially entry 3) and the fact that after he died, the National Home sent a letter to Celia M Currey (2339 Sherwood St, Philadelphia) (see entry 9). Unfortunately, this hasn't helped me locate many records for them.
The John Burns who served in company B of the 29th Ohio (from January 1864 through November 1864) and was in the Central Branch of the National Soldiers' Home at various times from 1867 to 1884 is not this John Burns; his widow, Wealthy Burns, applied for a pension on 13 July 1888 from Ohio. [sources: see the pension index by name card (available on Ancestry), the pension index by unit card (FamilySearch), the National Home record (FamilySearch)]
| No. | 3694 N.P. [sc. no pension] |
| NAME. | John Burns Laborer |
| Name and Address of Relatives or Friends | Newark N.J. |
| Where Born. | Ireland |
| Company and Regiment. | I" 1st N.J. Vols |
| Date of Enlistment. | June 4 1861 |
| Date of Discharge. | June 1864 |
| Disability. | Hernia |
| Date of Admission. | June 12" 1883 |
| By order of Manager. | Gen McMahon |
| Age. | 56 |
| Married or Single. | W. ['W.' is written below a crossed-out 'S'] |
| REMARKS. | First Admission No Transf to C.B. 11-6-88 No papers on file |
| MILITARY HISTORY. | |||||||
| Time and Place of each Enlistment. | Rank. | Company and Regiment. | Time and Place of Discharge. | Cause of Discharge. | Kind and Degree of Disability. | When and Where Contracted. | |
| June 4" [?] 61 Trenton N.J. | Pvt | I | 1" N.J. Vols | June 1864 Washington D.C. | Exp term | Hernia r side | 1862 |
| DOMESTIC HISTORY. | |||||||||
| WHERE BORN. | Age. | Height. | Complexion. | Color of Eyes. | Color of Hair. | OCCUPATION. | Residence Subsequent to Discharge. | Married or Single. | P.O. Address of Nearest Relative. |
| Ireland | 56 | 5. 9 | DK | Gray | Gray | Laborer | Newark N.J. | Wid | |
| HOME HISTORY. | ||||||
| Rate of Pension. | Date of Admission and Re-Admission. | Condition of Re-Admission. | Date of Discharge. | Cause of Discharge. | Date of Death. | Cause of Death. |
| 12 00 648852 | June 12' 83 June 13. 88 | Southern Bch Fr " " | June 11" 88 | To Central | Sept 23' 1897 K-22 Grave # 18 | Chronic Nephritis |