Archive:Civil War Pension File, James D. Burnham
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Civil War Pension File of James D. Burnham
Widow: Annie W. Burnham
Invalid Applic. # 942500 Cert. # 812337
Widow Applic. # 733053 Abandoned
National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
Civil War pension file of James D. Burnham, the husband of Annie W. Whitney, who was the daughter of Peleg Tallman and Mary E. (Varney) Whitney of Orono, Penobscot Co., Maine.
Company I, 15th Maine Infantry
On 24 Sep 1890 from Carlton County, NB, Canada, James D. Burnham signed a Declaration for Original Invalid Pension. He is forty-eight years old and a resident of East Florenceville, Carleton Co., Province of New Brunswick, Canada. He had entered the service in 1862 as a private in Company I of the 15th Regiment of Maine Volunteers commanded by Captain Boyce. He was honorably discharged at Portland or Augusta, ME, at the end of his term of service, but does not recall the date. He is forty-eight years old; 5 feet 9 inches in height; with a dark complexion, brown hair, and hazel eyes. He is now suffering from muscular rheumatism brought on by a dislocation of the left shoulder and other bruises received while in the line of duty at Ship Island in 1862 or 1863. James received a pension of six dollars per month commencing 30 Sep 1890.
On 4 Jun 1898 James answered an inquiry from the Bureau of Pensions. He is married, and his wife's maiden name is Annie W. Whitney. They were married by Squire Eldridge at Old Town, ME, where a record exists of the marriage. He had been previously married to Minnie Wilson, who died in Old Town. His living children are:
- Harry Burnham, born 31 Jul 1868 in Old Town
- Mary Relief Burnham, born 4 Mar 1870 in Old Town
- Edith Burnham, born 30 Nov 1872
- Charlie Burnham, born 27 Mar 1877
- (Name difficult to decipher) Jenny L. Burnham, born 30 Jun 1878
- Willie Burnham, born 9 Mar 1881
- (Name difficult to decipher) Ester W. Burnham, born 6 Jun 1884
On 12 Nov 1900 the Commissioner of Pensions was notified that James D. Burnham was last paid at six dollars per month to 4 Sep, and was dropped from the roll due to his death.
On 31 Dec 1900 from Aroostook County, ME, Annie W. Burnham signed a Declaration for Widow's Pension. She is fifty-two years old and a resident of East Florenceville, Carleton Co., Province of New Brunswick, Canada. She is the widow of James D. Burnham, who enrolled at Old Town on 31 Dec 1861 in Company I of the 15th Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry. He was honorably discharged on 19 Jan 1865. She was married under the name Annie W. Whitney to the soldier at Old Town, ME, 6 Sep 1866 by Mr. Eldridge, J.P. She had not been previously married, and the soldier had been previously married to Mina Wilson, whose date of death she does not know. The soldier died 9 Sep 1900 at East Florenceville, NB. He left no children under the age of sixteen. The declaration was witnessed by James M. Dysart, Jr. and Charles M. Burnham.
The claim is stamped ABANDONED. I can find no apparent reason in the file.
Copyright © 2009, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group
