Roster and Genealogies of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

John Albert Burrows

b. 24 April 1840, d. 30 July 1908

Father: William Fletcher Burrows b. 24 Apr 1804, d. 21 Aug 1873
Mother: Louisa Eastman b. 9 Sep 1811, d. 26 Mar 1884

Company: 1_SS

John Albert Burrows was born on 24 Apr 1840 at Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, son of William Fletcher Burrows and Louisa Eastman.
At the time of his enlistment, John gave his occupation as Farmer.
In 1861 John was living at Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Starting 30 Apr 1861, John also served in the 8th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, Company A.
He ended his service with the 8th Massachusetts Infantry by mustering out on 1 Aug 1861.
On 2 Sep 1861 John Albert Burrows mustered into service with the 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters. He was 21 years, 4 months and 9 days old.
On 15 Dec 1862 John ended military service with the 1st Massachusetts Sharpshooters at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, by discharge for disability.
On 9 Oct 1867 John Albert Burrows, 27, married Sarah Frances Russell, daughter of Jonas Russell, at Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in a first marriage for both.
John Albert Burrows and Sarah Frances Russell were enumerated in the 1870 US Federal Census on 19 Jul 1870 at Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, as:
John A Burrows, 29, shoemaker, b. MA
Sarah F., 28, b. MA.
John Albert Burrows and Sarah Frances Russell were enumerated in the 1880 US Federal census on 12 Jun 1880 at Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, as:
Burrows, John A., 40, policeman, b. MA (of NH parents)
---, Sarah F., 39, wife, b. MA (of NH parents)
---, William R., 8, son, b. MA
---, A. Maud, 6, daur, b. MA.
John Albert Burrows and Sarah Frances Russell were divorced apparently. In 1900 and 1910, she is living as a "widow" with her son in Newark, New Jersey.
John Albert Burrows made application at New Hampshire for a veteran's pension on 12 Dec 1890, and received certificate number 777513.
On 24 Nov 1897 John Albert Burrows, 57, married Mattie A. Young, 30, daughter of E. Frank Young and Ann Frances Bracket, at Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
John A. Burroughs and Mattie A. Young were enumerated in the 1900 US Federal census on 8 Jun 1900 at Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, as:
Burroughs, John A., b. Apr 1840, 40, married 2 years, (he has two children living), b. MA (of NH parents), foreman in shoe factory
---, Mattie A., wife, b. Oct 1867, she has no children, b. NH of NH parents.
John Albert Burrows died on 30 Jul 1908 at Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. He was 68 years, 3 months and 6 days old.
He was buried in 1908 at Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
On 28 Dec 1916 Mattie A. Young received a pension to surviving family member in New Hampshire based on John's service; his wife received certificate number 858159.

Last Edited: 30 May 2011

Family 1: Sarah Frances Russell b. 1842

William R. Burrows b. May 1872
Maude A. Burrows b. Nov 1873

Family 2: Mattie A. Young b. Oct 1867

David Burt

b. between 1835 and 1836

Company: A

David Burt was born between 1835 - 1836 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1863, David gave his occupation as tanner, according to Ford's history.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1863, David gave his occupation as farmer, according to the MASSCW.
In 1863 David was living at Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
On 29 Jul 1863 David mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a draftee, being credited to the quota of Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 15 Oct 1863, David was transferred from the regimental hospital to the general hospital; no later record found.
On 27 Jul 1864 David ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by administrative transfer to the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as "absent sick", according to Ford's history and the 1870 roster.

Last Edited: 30 May 2011

Elisha G. Buss

b. 1836, d. 23 July 1863

Elisha G. Buss

Father: Fortunatus Buss b. 12 Jul 1800, d. 31 May 1846
Mother: Elizabeth Goddard b. 4 Apr 1801, d. 7 May 1876

Company: C

Elisha G. Buss was born in 1836 at Sterling, Worcester County, Massachusetts, son of Fortunatus Buss and Elizabeth Goddard.
On 31 May 1846 his father, Fortunatus Buss, died at age 45.
Elisha G. Buss was enumerated in the household of Henry Bowman in the 1860 US Federal Census on 6 Aug 1860 at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
**Henry BOWMAN, 25, clerk, $4300 in real estate, $1300 personal estate, b. MA
Hannah, 56, $6325 in real estate, $2300 in personal estate, b. MA (his widowed mother)
(With Henry's brother, just six doors away.)
George Bowman, 35, stage driver, $3500 in real estate, $1500 personal estate, b. MA (as were all in the house)
Abbie M., 36
Rosella M., 9
Hattie M., 8
Fred Atherton, 25, baker
**Elisha E. Buss, 26, carpenter (who would become Henry Bowman's 1st Lieutenant in Co. C a year later.)
(Note: it is reasonable to suppose that Elisha Buss and Henry Bowman were acquainted, and possibly good friends.).
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, Elisha gave his occupation as carpenter.
On 12 Jul 1861 Elisha mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a 1st Sergeant, being credited to the quota of Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 25 years old.
On 17 Sep 1862 his brother, Henry Kirk Buss, died at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland, killed in action, while serving as a Corporal with the 21st Massachusetts Infantry at age 19.
On 14 Nov 1862 Elisha was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
On 9 Feb 1863 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Elisha G. Buss was mentioned in an article about promotions.
On 15 Mar 1863 Elisha was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
On 1 Jul 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Elisha G. Buss was mentioned in an article about promotions.
On 2 Jul 1863 Elisha G. Buss was wounded at The Battle of Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, severely in the thigh, hip and foot.
On 8 Jul 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Elisha G. Buss was mentioned in the first dispatches from the Gettysburg battle.
On 22 Jul 1863 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Elisha G. Buss was reported as wounded at Gettysburg.
He died on 23 Jul 1863 at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, of wounds from Gettysburg, as 1st Lieutenant of Co. "K".. He was 27 years old.
He was buried on 24 Jul 1863 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
The Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Index for 1863 gives his residence as Clinton and shows that there was an official administration of his estate.
On 24 Aug 1863 Elizabeth Buss received a pension to surviving family member based on Elisha's service; his mother, received certificate number 8136.
Elizabeth, his mother, outlived Elisha and died on 7 May 1876 at Plaistow, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, at age 75.
On 4 Jun 1879, Elizabeth Goddard was dropped from the pension rolls.
In 1896, Elisha was included in "The History of Clinton, Massachusetts."
Credits: Primary photo above by permission of the Worcester Historical Museum, Ward Collection.

From Ford's history -

Lieutenant Elisha G. Buss was a native of Sterling, but had been for some years a resident of Clinton when the war broke out. He enlisted as a private but had been promoted on account of merit, so that before the battle of Gettysburg he had received a commission as lieutenant. He fell pierced by four bullets. As he seemed to be reviving after he was taken to the hospital, those in charge assented to his ernest request to be taken home. The journey was too much for him to bear in his exhausted condition, and about a week after his arrival, he died, July 23. Many of the former soldiers of the Fifteenth attended his funeral on the 24th. Rev. C. M. Bowers conducted the services and expressed the high esteem in which he was held by his townsmen and comrades.

Last Edited: 31 Jul 2010

George Butler

b. between 1841 and 1842, d. 17 September 1862

Father: John Butler d. 7 Oct 1850
Mother: Ann Dwyer b. 1821, d. 23 Dec 1885

Company: I

George Butler was born between 1841 - 1842 at Tipperary, County Clare, Ireland, son of John Butler and Ann Dwyer.
On 7 Oct 1850 his father, John Butler, died at Tipperary, County Clare, Ireland.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, George gave his occupation as shoemaker.
In 1861 George was living at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 15 May 1861 George mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 9 Nov 1861 George Butler was mentioned in a report to the Webster Times, by F. Q. Robinson, concerning the aftermath of Ball's Bluff and reporting his status.
George wrote a letter to Ann Dwyer on 26 Nov 1861 as follows: (click icon to read).
George wrote a letter to Ann Dwyer on 21 Mar 1862 as follows: (click icon to read).
George wrote a letter to Ann Dwyer on 25 May 1862 as follows: (click icon to read).
George wrote a letter to Ann Dwyer on 23 Jul 1862 as follows: (click icon to read).
George Butler died on 17 Sep 1862 at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland, unmarried, killed instantly in action.
On 1 Oct 1862 Francis Carpenter, having visited the battlefield, wrote a letter to the Webster Times detailing the status of many men after the Battle of Antietam.
On 4 Oct 1862 at "The Webster Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, George Butler was mentioned (Volume 4 # 30) as follows:
Funeral Services
Appropriate funeral services occasioned by the death of Webster volunteers on the field of battle --- H. L. Amidon, L. H. Briggs, Geo. Butler, G. Foster and A. Sargent, will be held at the Methodist Church tomorrow afternoon, at the hour of the usual service.
They will be conducted by Rev. Messrs. Cromack of the Methodist, Fish of the Baptist, and Kendall of the Congregational churches; and the usual afternoon services at the last two places of worship will be omitted. It will be noticed that to the above list of dead, the name of Moses Wood is not mentioned. The surviving parent of this young man being too ill to attend on this occasion, services occasioned by his death will be deferred until a more convenient time.
He was buried at Calvary Cemetery (North Village), Dudley, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 4 Sep 1863 Ann Dwyer received a pension to surviving family member based on George's service; his mother, received certificate number 11.983. He was her only son.
On 25 Sep 1869 George Butler was mentioned in an article about the Slater Guards, published in the Webster Times, possibly written by Elmoine Clemens.
Ann, his mother, outlived George and died on 23 Dec 1885 at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
On 17 Sep 1900 George Butler was included on the Civil War memorial at Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland, on the 35th anniversary of the battle. (Articles from the Fitchburg Sentinel about the planning for the memorial.).
On 4 Jul 1907 George Butler was included on the Civil War memorial at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, according to an article in the Webster Times. See the "Documents" section at the main website for an account of the festivities of dedication. (Click icon to view original listing of names on the monument.).

Last Edited: 8 Jul 2009

Henry Butler

b. between 1840 and 1841, d. 14 November 1862

Father: Henry Butler b. 1815
Mother: Margaret [--?--] b. 1822

Company: I

Henry Butler was born between 1840 - 1841 at Suffield, Vermont, son of Henry Butler and Margaret [--?--], (Note: could not find a location "Suffield" in any Vermont county, but marriage record confirms Vermont.).
Henry Butler was enumerated in the household of Henry Butler and Margaret [--?--] in the 1850 US Federal Census on 24 Aug 1850 at Boylston, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
Henry Butler, 35, laborer, b. Canada
Margaret, 28, b. Canada
**Henry, 10, b. VT
Margaret, 8, b. VT
Orley, 3, b. VT
Mary, 1, b. VT
Josett Butler, 75, b. Canada.
In 1861 Henry was living at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Henry gave his occupation as shoemaker.
On 15 May 1861 Henry mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
He was declared missing in action on 21 Oct 1861 at The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Leesburg, Virginia.
John Maley wrote a letter to The Webster Times, listing his fellow prisoners, on 27 Oct 1861 from Richmond, Virginia,, mentioning Henry Butler, as follows.
On 30 Oct 1861 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Henry Butler was included among "The Killed Wounded and Missing of the Fifteenth Regiment," after Ball's Bluff.
On 2 Nov 1861 at "The Webster Weekley Times", Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Henry Butler was listed as a Company I casualty of Ball's Bluff.
On 9 Nov 1861 Henry Butler was mentioned in a report to the Webster Times, by F. Q. Robinson, concerning the aftermath of Ball's Bluff and reporting his status.
On 20 Nov 1861 at "The Worcester Daily Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Henry Butler was listed among the prisoners taken at Ball's Bluff.
On 22 Feb 1862 at "The New York Times", New York City, New York, H. Burler was mentioned in an article about the return of prisoners under a flag of truce.

On 6 Mar 1862 Henry Butler married Sarah C. Paul, daughter of Joseph Paul and Calista [--?--], at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, in a first marriage for him and the second for her. From The Webster Times, March 15, 1862, (Volume IV # 1)

Marriages
In Webster, 6th inst., by W. H. Davis Esq., Henry Butler, a returned prisoner from Richmond, to Miss. Sarah Paul, both of Webster.
The printer has been kindly remembered by a presentation of bridal loaf, ect. The parties certainly have our heartiest wishes for a long and prosperous life, and the uninterrupted enjoyment of connubial fidelity.

On 17 Sep 1862 Henry Butler was wounded at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland, by a gunshot wound in his leg, and for a long time he lay in a critical condition at Smoketown Hospital.
On 1 Oct 1862 Francis Carpenter, having visited the battlefield, wrote a letter to the Webster Times detailing the status of many men after the Battle of Antietam.
He died on 14 Nov 1862 at Smoketown, Washington County, Maryland, at the Regimental Hospital of wounds received at the Battle of Antietam.
The day after his death, a letter to his wife was published in the local newspaper. (Click the icon to read.).
He was buried in Nov 1862 at Antietam National Cemetery, Sharpsburg, Maryland, Gravesite: #981.
On 25 Apr 1863 Sarah C. Paul received a pension to surviving family member based on Henry's service; his wife, received certificate number 12774.
Henry Butler and Sarah C. Paul had no issue.
On 17 Sep 1900 Henry Butler was included on the Civil War memorial at Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland, as having died of his wounds received at the battle. (Read several articles from the Fitchburg Sentinel about the planning for the memorial.).
On 4 Jul 1907 Henry Butler was included on the Civil War memorial at Webster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, according to an article in the Webster Times. See the "Documents" section at the main website for an account of the festivities of dedication. (Click icon to view original listing of names on the monument.).

Last Edited: 2 May 2011