John J. Burchell
Biographical Information
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| Name | John J. Burchell | |
Very little personal information was originally given for John in his brief testimony. From it we know that in 1857 he was living at 319 E 13th St and was employed by Dr. Burdell to work as an assistant or errand boy during the day. He would arrive in the morning at about 8 am and leave late in the evening. No mention of his family or age are given, but he is generally referred to as a boy with at least some small amount of responsability. We can guess that he was somehwere between the age of 12 and 18, which would put his year of birth at between 1839 and 1845.
In the 1857 city directory is a James Burchell, builder, at the same address - 319 E 13th. This likely his father. The following year this same person seems to be listed as James G. Burchell, mason, at 318 E 13th with a Henry J. Burchell, mason, at 320 E 13th. The house numbers were likely an error. In the 1855 state census is a James Burchell, 46, listed as a grocer with son Nathaniel, 24, as a mason; Henry J, 22, and John, 13. Unforutnatly this record does't list the house address, but the estimated birth year for John fits out John perferfectly. He is then listed in newspapers as John J. Burchell (exact name) whose wife, Catherine, died when she was 22 in 1869 - and again when he remarried to Miss Isabel Jackson in September 1870. In the 1870 census this John, now listed as 24 which matches the age in the 1860 census, is listed as a sailmaker with wife "Bella" and a 3 month old daughter. This record was taken on July 5, but they were not married until September. The unnamed daughter was born in April, so would have been conceived in July of 1869 - within weeks of the death of his first wife. In 1890 James G. Burchell wrote his will and passed away shortly thereafter. He listed his sons as Nathaniel, Henry J., and John J. - confirming that all of these records are the same family.
He may also be related to the John Burchell, a native of Brandon, County Cork, Ireland, who died in the Yorkville neighborhood on the east side of manhattan in September of 1854. He might also be the John Burchell who is listed as age 14 and living with Arthur Burchell, a "gentleman" age 61, and Emelia Burchell, 41. Although Arthur is noted as born in New York, the rest of the family was born in Ireland.
Testimony[edit]
John J. Burchell, sworn, says - "I live at 319 East Thirteen Street; I was employed by Dr. Burdell as his boy; I have been with the doctor three weeks; the doctor was temperate in his habits; I have not heard any angry words between the doctor and the lady of the house; Mrs. Cunningham was in the doctor’s office yesterday morning; she said that I cleared out about 3 o’clock yesterday; at 3 o’clock he paid me my wages; I did not see him afterwards; I generally came in the morning at 8 o’clock, and made the fire in the working room; I never was in the doctor’s room upstairs; I left the scuttle at the door; I never observed male or female in his room; I never heard, directly or indirectly, any one threaten to injure the doctor; the only thing I heard was about coal; Mrs. Cunningham stated that she burned her coal in the doctor’s apartments, and her coal being consumed, she said he should get coal, to which he made no reply, but went up stairs; when I came this morning, I opened the working room door as usual, made the fire, and then brought up the scuttle of coal to leave at the doctor’s door; the door was closed, with the key outside; I then went down stairs an dbrought up another scuttle of coal to Mrs. Cunningham’s room; her room was open, and she was at breakfast; it was unusual to find the key outside of the doctor’s door; when I came up stairs the first time, it was to ask the doctor whether I should clean off the sidewalk; I opened the door, it was not locked, but the key was outside; the first thing that presented itself was the blood on the wall and closet door; I then beheld the doctor lying on his face close to the door, and surrounded with blood; I was frighteend, and slamming the door after me, I fell on my back outside of the door; I then got up and ran down stairs, and informed Hannah, the cook, that the doctor was dead and lying on the floor; she ran up crying, and told the rest of the family; Mr. Snodgrass came to the doctor’s room, and ran immediately to Mrs. Cunningham’s room, and told her what he had seen; Mrs. Cunningham began to cry; Mr. Snodgrass was holding her on the bed; I was then sent by Mr. Snodgrass to the corner of Broadway and Readed street, to bring up his brother-in-law, Mr. Bulen he came with me. This is all I know of the matter."
Documentation[edit]
Census:[edit]
- 1855: James Burchell with wife Jane, son Nathaniel (24), and John (13), among others.
- 1860: Arthur Burchell, 61, with Emelia Burchell (41), Amelia (19), John (16), and William (9).
- 1870: John Burchell, 24, sailmarker, with wife Bella (22), and a three month old daughter
City Directories:[edit]
- 1857: "Burchell James, builder, h 319 E. 13th" and "Burchell Arthur, h 139 E 22d"
- 1858: "Burchell James G., mason, h 318 E 13th", Burchell Henry J. mason, h 320 E 13th", "Burchell Arthur, h 139 E 22d", "Burchell Mary, h 320 E 13th" (listed on the next page).
Newspaper Articles:[edit]
- 24 Aug 1860 - Brooklyn Evening Star: Explosion at 155 E 29th St, being built by James G. Burchell
- 29 Jun 1869 - New York Daily Herald: Death of Catharine Burchell
- 14 Sep 1870 - New York Daily Herald: Marriage of John J. Burchell to Miss Isabel Jackson
Probate Records:[edit]
- 1890: Will of James G. Burchell - he divides his estate into seven equal parts for his children which he lists as Henry J. Burchell, John J. Burchell, Leah Godfrey, Isabella F. Fuller, Jane E. Schuyler, and Mary Schenck. The remaining 7th to be divided equally among James H. Burchell, Nathaniel J. Burchell, and Catharine C. Hoegenson - the children of his deceased son Nathaniel; and Cherry Clark, a grand-daughter of the same son Nathaniel.