Other Children of Francis P. Burns s/o Patrick & Ellen

Ellen or Ella A. Burns, second daughter of Francis P. and Mary McKnight Burns was born March of 1868 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She married Harvey (Harry) Cobb on April 2, 1893 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born December 1862 in New Jersey, the son of John A. and Elizabeth H. Cobb, from Waterford, Camden County, New Jersey. The 1900 Census showed they had four children, Anna, Joseph, Harry Junior, and Russell. It is unknown when Ella died, but it was sometime after 1930. The 1930 census was the last record of them together, in Philadelphia at 2036 South Alden Street. Regina Burns was born in 1872 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She married Arthur Welch of South Carolina on 5 July 1894 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died sometime after 1920. A search for them in the 1930 census was unfruitful. She and Arthur were not together, at the very least, and no Regina Burns is listed which matches her information. William Burns was born in January or June of 1875 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Katherine about August of 1899. She was born March 1882. 1900 thru 1920 his occupation was a Cooper in a barrel factory. They lived in rented homes in the South Philadelphia area at 214 Daly Street and 234 Dickenson Street. Children born to them were Francis born 1901 in Pennsylvania, William junior was born 1903 and Viola in 1906 both in New Jersey, Hazel born in 1910, George in 1915, and Katherine in 1917. Viola Burns was not listed on the 1920 Federal census so it is possible she died; although I cannot find it at this time. It is possible they lived in New Jersey for several years. It is unknown when either of them died, and their common names make searches very difficult without knowing more about them.


Francis T. Burns was born in June 1877 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was known as “Frank. He worked in Sugar Operations. Possibly, at Franklin Sugar Refinery located between Almond and Front Streets. It is unknown whom he married or when he died. There were many “Frank” and “Francis” Burns in the area. James Burns was born in June of 1879 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a grocer by occupation but nothing more is known of him. His common name presents a large barrier to his search, just the same as his siblings. John Burns was born about 1881, but died only three years later, on 9 July 1884 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of “congestive membranes.” He was buried on 10 July 1884 in Old Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the same plot owned by Patrick Burns

Margaret (Maggie) Burns was born in October of 1883 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She married Howard Durfor on October 13 1912 in New Castle Delaware. He was the son of Abraham and Mary McGinnis Durfor and was born May 1, 1880. In 1914, they lived at 2244 S. Croskey Street; which is between Jackson and Wolf Streets. She gave the information that was on her father’s death certificate. The 1920 census and the 1942 World War II draft card show their residence as Atlantic City, New Jersey. The draft card showed there address was 151 South Arkansas Avenue. The Draft information stated he worked at Atlantic Refining Company on 1344 Passyunk Avenue. Howard Durfor died November 29, 1959. At his death he was a widower and lived in El Paso Texas; working as an Assistant Supervisor in a refining company. He was buried in Fernwood Cemetery, Lansdowne Pennsylvania. No further information has been found yet.

William Boyd Husband of Mary E. Burns

William Boyd, Mary’s husband, was born on 23 April 1860 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At first, William was known as “Samuel,” according to the 1860 census. Apparently, his parents were not very sure of the name, because by 1870, it was changed to “William” and his younger brother was called “Samuel.” Perhaps “William” is his grandfather’s name. William was a bricklayer in his younger years, but became a grocer in his adult life. He also helped his brothers who owned a liquor store/bar near his home. During his later years, after Mary died, he lived in an Old Folks Home. He died after being hit by a bus near the home on 13 Nov 1944 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His grandson, Sam, remembers learning about it by reading the newspaper’s obituary that a relative mailed to him. William was buried on 15 Nov 1944 in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania.

Francis P. Burns 2nd son of Patrick & Ellen

Francis Palmer Burns was born July 1842 and died of heart disease on June 21, 1914. He was buried on 26 Jun 1914 in Old Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the last one buried in the plot owned by Patrick Burns. His last address was 538 Dudley Street. He married Mary E. McKnight around 1862. They had twelve children. His life’s occupation was a Bricklayer; as early as 1861, when he still lived at home on N E Front and Reed Streets. It is unknown when Mary died, although it is most likely after Francis, since Francis’ death certificate states that he was married, not widowed, when he died. Fortunately, Francis’ parents were listed on his death certificate: Patrick Burns and Ellen Kiernan. A new maiden name opens another venue to research.

John J Burns 1st son of Patrick Burns & Ellen Kiernan

John J Burns, first son of Patrick Burns and Ellen Kiernan was born in 1840, in the village of Southwark, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret O’Shea around 1863. She was born in Ireland, August 4, 1841 and died July 10, 1914. She was buried with her husband at Old Cathedral Cemetery. Margaret E. O’Shea Burns lived to her 73rd year and resided at 1115 Tree Street. She immigrated to the United States in 1854. It is unknown whom if anyone came with her. They had 11 children all natural born. He fought in the civil war with the Pennsylvania 118th Infantry. He lived in a rented house at 2120 South 10th Street from 1880 to 1890 moving to 1039 Snyder Avenue, then finally to 2336 S 11th Street. He died February 11, 1898 of Cardiac Asthma, which is similar to Congestive Heart failure. His death certificated listed Patrick and Ellen as his parents. John was buried at Old Cathedral Cemetery in the Devir Family Plot; although the owner of f 9 47 is listed as John J Byrne. Ann Dever was the first one interred in the plot in 1862. She was born 1807. The large monument has Devir on the bottom with many names on all four sides that are unreadable.

Patrick Burns and Ellen Kiernan Burns

Patrick Burns was born in Ireland sometime between 1816 and 1820. It is believed he is of Scotch- Irish descent. In the 1840’s the immigration of the Scotch Irish was due to the economic conditions and famine. He married Ellen Kiernan. She was born in Ireland about 1814. They emigrated from England between 1838 and 1840. Patrick’s occupation was recorded as a Tailor. Names like Francis and Patrick and the Tailoring connection might tie in with the Burns family in Derry Island, Monaghan County, Ireland, they were known as the “Tailors of Monaghan”. It is most likely he was from that county in Ireland. The population of Monaghan County dropped almost one-third around the 1840’s as emigrants flooded out of the county.


Patrick and Ellen lived in England where Mary was born about 1838. They emigrated to the United States and their first son, our direct ancestor, John J. was born about 1840 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The subsequent children Francis Palmer born 1842, James born 1845, Ellen born 1847, Anna A. born 1849 and Margrett born in 1854 all were born in Philadelphia. Patrick and Ellen had two children die in infancy. Catherine was born 1843 and died September 14, 1843 of asphyxia. Born in 1852 Catherine J. died at the age of 2 years 6 month old on February 7, 1854. Catherine J. was buried in Old Cathedral Cemetery located at 48th Street and Lancaster Avenue. The plot is three adjoining lots owned by Patrick Burns, lot number N-6-39; there are no head stones as markers. It can be assumed there was no family plot at the time of her death since she was the first to be placed in it over a month after her death on March 14.

Immigrants and immigrant children took over the old row house neighborhoods.

They tended to live near their jobs and members of their own ethnic group and family. They shopped on local streets; the individual neighborhoods were where they lived their lives. The 1850’s and 60’s showed Patrick was living in a rented house in the Village of Southwark in the county of Philadelphia, Pa. They were sucked into the city of Philadelphia in 1854 when the county gobbled up all the villages and small towns to become the city it is now. One of the City’s worst neighborhoods included Southwark below South Street. In a jumble of small streets, courts, alleys scattered with warehouses, factories and markets were the homes of our immigrant families. A family could rent a two-story six-room row house for less than $20.00 a month. Patrick had a Tailor Shop on South Street until late in the 1850’s. During that time, the family helped others by letting them live with them.

Hugh Welsh was born in Ireland. His occupation was a Tailor and he was 22 years old where, along with his wife Mary 21 years old also born in Ireland were living with Patrick Burns and family in 1850. Hugh died on March 9, 1862 while residing at 21 Reed Street. Francis Palmer Burns and family resided at that location. Francis’ daughter Regina married an Arthur Welsh. The 1910 Federal Census shows Francis P. Burns residing at 234 Daly Street with grandson Frank Welsh, 15 years old, born in 1895. Hugh Welsh may have started out an immigrant in need of help, but I believe he became family.

1870 Federal Census shows our ancestors lived in the 2nd District of the 1st Ward. This area of Philadelphia was from Wharton Street to Passyunk Avenue, from Broad Street to the Delaware River and encompassed the village Southwark. Patrick stayed in this area for the rest of his life. He always rented. He did not own property. He was a family man. John J. lived at the residence with wife Margaret O’Shea with four children. Anna was 6 years old, John Jr was 4 years old, Kate was 2 years old and Teresa was 1 year old. Patrick’s son James and daughters Maggie, Mary Devir, Anna Rival along with Granddaughter Maggie Rival also lived in the same house. The occupations in the household varied; Patrick still a Tailor, John was an Iron Moulder he worked in an iron foundry and poured molten iron from the furnace into moulds for casting iron. James was a Waterman; he transported passengers across and along the river. Francis Patrick Burns live near his father, in the same area. He was a bricklayer or Mason who laid brick to construct brickwork. In England, bricklayers were known as “brickies”.

Even though I cannot find the 1880 census for Patrick, the Philadelphia city directories have made it possible to prove our ancestry. Patrick’s daughter Mary Burns married Edward Devir between 1860 and 1869. He died before 1870. She moved home with her parents as the 1870 Federal Census shows. The census listed her as his Daughter. The 1881 Philadelphia City Directories show her as “Mary widow of Edward Devir.” Patrick and Mary Devir resided at 1822 South 2nd Street. Another one of Patrick’s daughters, Anna Rival, also lived with Patrick in 1870. She died on February 27, 1872; her residence was 1820 South 2nd Street on the death certificate; and buried in New Cathedral Cemetery along with her parents, Patrick Burns and Ellen Kiernan. The 1887 Philadelphia City directory lists Patrick Burns and Mary Devir residing at 1543 Moyamensing Avenue. These documented facts prove this is our family.

We find John J. Burns and Margaret O’Shea renting a house at 2120 S. 10th Street near the south Philadelphia area where he grew up. Francis Palmer Burns owned his house. The number changed several times throughout the years due to the changes that the city when through; finally it was set as 21 Reed Street. The 1880’s decade showed how similar John J. and Francis P. were to their father. John like Patrick never owned a house. Francis took people who needed help into his home.

As the turn of the century approached, our family began to change. The patriarch of our family had past away on January 30, 1894 at the age 73. The death certificate for the city of Philadelphia reported his birth in the year 1821 and in Ireland. He was a widower and his occupation a Tailor at the time of his death. His residence was 1438 S. 3rd Street off Moyamensing Avenue, in ward 1, having lived in the area for over fifty years. The cause of death was Capillary Bronchitis, which caused inflammation of the tiny branches of air tubes in his lungs. Before him, Ellen Kiernan Burns went to her death at the age of 75. She died July 24, 1888. New Cathedral cemetery, 2nd and Butler streets, their final residence together; although there is no headstone; Family is a beautiful monument to their long life together.

Mary E. Burns Devir

Mary E. (Ellen) Burns was born in England around 1838. She married Edward Devir. He was born 1811 in Donegal County, Ireland, in Ulster providence. Like Patrick be too was a Tailor. He died at the age of 52 on December 13, 1863. His final residence was 315 or 715 South 2nd Street, in South Philadelphia Pennsylvania. His internment was the same plot at Old Cathedral Cemetery with John J Burns. It could be possible that This Edward is a father-in law, although older men do marry younger women and so far, no evidence of a son named Edward.