Walsh Family History

There is little definite information known about the Burns family and most information is conflicting. The root of the Burns family starts with John Burns and Elizabeth Conner. The only confirmed children of this family are: Mary E., Joseph, John, Anna, Jennie (Jane) Burns, and Alice Burns. The information for these individuals are conflicting.

Based on a Baptism Record, Jane (Jennie) Veronica Burns was born 10 May 1879 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She was baptized at St. Mary's Church in Lawrence. Her mother and father are recorded as Patrick Burns and Elizabeth Conner. It is known that Jane had other sisters. Alice, Anna, and Mary . She had two known brothers, Joseph, John, and possibly William?

The name of Joseph Burns is found in the 1920 U.S. Census living at the residence of John King (Jane's husband). In the 1920 Census his age is recorded as 45, and being born in Pennsylvania. This means he was born about 1875. The name of Alice Burns in found in the marriage records from Visitation Church, Chicago, Ill.

Based on these records Alice was born in 1884 in Lewiston, Maine. The recorded fathers name is John Burns. Alice married a Timothy C. Charles. It is known that Alice had at least one child. This is based on the baptism records from Visitation Church. Alice and Timothy were married on 10 Oct 1908. Adelaide was born on 21 Feb 1912.

Based on inscriptions found in the family bible belonging to John and Jennie King, the following is known:

John J King and Jennie V. Burns were married 12 Sep 1900 in St. Agnes Church, Chicago, Illinois, This marriage was witnessed by James King and Alice Burns.
Elizabeth Burns died on 19 Jan 1908 ¹
John Burns died on 2 May 1899 (Place of death unknown)
Anna (Annie) Burns was never married (died about 1953-55 in Chicago)

Based on personnel family papers, a man by the name of Joseph Greely was sick and in Edgewater Hospital (Chicago) on 17 April 1932. Other records from a funeral director, dated 20 Apr 1932 indicated that Joseph Greely died between 17 and 20 of April 1932. In addition personnel papers from John King indicated he was doing a financial accounting to pay for the funeral of Joseph Greely. The financial account references the names of Jennie, Alice, Minnie, Adelaide, and Annie.

Based on the date of death of 17 April 1932, researching Joseph Greely's death certificate, it was found and discovered that Joseph Greely was really Joseph Burns. Based on the certificate of death the parents of Joseph Greely were John Burns (Birth Place: County Mayo, Ireland) & Elizabeth Conner (Place of Birth Queenslarm, Ireland). His birth place was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Date of Birth recorded as 14 Feb 1872. His profession is listed as an Electrical Engineer. Joseph Burns (Greely) is buried at Mt Olivet Cemetery, Cook County, Illinois. Why there was an official name change is unknown at this time.

Burns Daughters (Abt 1898?)- Left to Right: Alice, Jennie, Anna, and Mary Burns

1880 United States Census
Census Place: Lewiston, Androscroggin, Maine

Family of: John Burns & Elizabeth Burns

Name	Birth Year	Birth Place	Age	Occupation	Marital Status	Race	Relation	Fathers Birth Place	Mothers Birth Place
John Burns	1844	Ireland	36	Works In Cotton Mill	M	W	Head	Ireland	Ireland
Elizabeth Burns	1844	England	36	Keeping House	M	W	Wife	Ireland	Ireland
Mary E. Burns	1868	Penn	12	At School	S	W	Dau	Ireland	England
Joseph Burns	1870	Penn	10	At School	S	W	Son	Ireland	England
John Burns	1872	Penn	8	At School	S	W	Son	Ireland	England
Anna Burns	1875	Mass	5		S	W	Dau	Ireland	England
Jennie Burns	1879	Mass	1		S	W	Dau	Ireland	England

Family discussions relate that John Burns worked at as a mechanic in Woolen Mills in the north eastern United States. Both Lawrence, Mass. and Lewiston, Maine were very busy mill towns. No other information is found regarding the brothers, Joseph, John, or William. It is interesting to note that Elizabeth Burns place of birth is recorded as England, however her mother and father were born in Ireland.

Alice Burns is not listed in the above Census. Alice was born in 1884 in Lewiston, Maine. See marriage record below.

Visitation Church

Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
Record of Marriage
Date: 10 Oct 1908

Timothy C. Charles and Alice Burns

Name	Year of Birth	Place of Birth	Name of Father
Timothy C. Charles	1884	Point Elgylin, Canada	William Charles
Alice Burns	1884	Lewiston, Maine	John Burns

Sponsors at Marriage:
Thomas P. Ryan
Gertrude M. St. John

Visitation Church

Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois Record of Baptism

Child of: Timothy Charles and Alice Burns

Name	Date of Birth	Date of Baptism	Name of Mother	Name of Father
Adelaide Mary Charles	21 Feb 1912	10 Mar 1912	Alice Burns	Timothy Charles

Sponsors:
John J. Burns
Marie Charles

Source: Visitation Parish Records: LDS # 1752989-1752990

Burns, Elizabeth, 83, 5524 Carpenter St. 18 Jan 1908: From Chicago Tribune

Walsh Family History of Chicago

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