Peter Burns

Other Events and Attributes:

• _FGLINK: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70687817
• _FGRAVE: 70687817

Notes:

Died:
Peter & Martin Burns were twins.

Peter was the caretaker at the Post Office in Almonte, Ontario, and he lived in the apartment above it with his wife Sarah, and their children, Mary, Jim and Carmel. The apartment had big windows overlooking Mill St, and even in their senior years, his children remembered how they counted the 52 steps up and down the steep staircase leading to it, as well as having carved their initials into one of those window frames. Peter navigated those stairs many times a day for 19 years, despite having a wooden leg (the result of an accident, see below), until he retired in 1928 at age 67. Shortly after his death, his wife Sarah wrote in her personal journal, "April 18, 1935. Peter Burns died. He had a kind and generous heart for everybody but such love and kindness for me and our family as I did not think existed. Lord have mercy on him." [H. Presley, g-grandson]
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The Almonte Gazette
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
Friday, April 27 1894, p. 1
A Fractured Leg.
Messrs. Peter Burns, of Huntley, and Wm. Boyle, of this town, drove to Carleton Place on Sunday last, and while they were driving in the direction of the junction, a little boy named Hallinan handling the reins, the whistle of an engine caused the horse to wheel around and run away. The boy jumped out, as did Mr. Boyle, and both were not injured; but Mr. Burns remained in the rig for a time, trying to get hold of the lines, and when he did jump he fell on a knoll, breaking some of the bones above the ankle joint. The fracture was a bad one, one of the bones protruding through the skin. It will keep Mr. Burns a prisoner for some time, and he may have a stiff leg as a reminder of the accident. Mr. W. Warren, of this town, chased the runaway horse on his bicycle, and caught it at the Appleton turn. Neither horse nor rig was injured.

Friday, May 4, 1894, p. 1
Mr. Peter Burns, whose leg was broken at Carleton Place last week, is now in an Ottawa hospital, where he is progressing favorably. It was feared that amputation would have to be performed, but we are glad to learn that that is now unnecessary.

Friday, July 27, 1894, p. 1
We regret to learn that Mr. Peter Burns, of Huntley, who had his leg broken a month or two ago, has not been making as much progress as was expected towards recovery. Since the accident he has been in the Ottawa hospital, and it has been decided to amputate the broken limb today.

NOTE: Peter's leg was amputated below the knee. He had a wooden leg for the remainder of his life, with the foot portion carved into the shape of a shoe.
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The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, September 7, 1907, p. 19

Almonte, Sept. 6. Mr. and Mrs. Moulton left yesterday for Seattle where they will make their home in the future with their sons. Mr. Peter Burns has now taken Mr. Moulton's place as caretaker of the post office.
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The Almonte Gazette
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
Thursday, April 18, 1935, p. 4

Peter Burns
The funeral of Peter Burns of Almonte, whose death occurred Friday last after a short illness, was held Monday morning to St. Mary's church where requiem mass was sung by Rev. Geo. O'Toole, P.P. Mr. Burns, who was born in Ramsay township, the son of Patrick Burns and Mary Kelly, was in his 75th year. He had made his home in Almonte for about 30 years. Besides his wife, formerly Sarah Carter of Huntley, he leaves two daughters (Mary) Mrs. Wilfred R. Colton of Kinburn, (Carmel) Mrs. C. Hilliard James of Toronto, and a son, P. J. of Kirkland Lake. The late Mr. Burns, who was of a kind and cheerful disposition, was very well known in this district and his passing in sincerely regretted here. The funeral was largely attended and interment was in St. Mary's cemetery. The pallbearers were M. J. Ryan, James Kelly, Wilfred R. Colton, Hilliard James, James Curtin and R. J. Hickey.



Buried:
Inscription
PRAY
FOR THE SOUL OF
PETER BURNS
BORN JAN 1861 DIED APR 1935
HIS WIFE
SARAH CARTER
BORN JAN 1867 DIED APRIL 1953
HIS FATHER
PATRICK BURNS
BORN OCT 1829 DIED JUNE 1867
HIS MOTHER
MARIA KELLY
BORN MAY 1834 DIED MAY 1911

Peter married Sarah Magdalen Carter on 4 May 1903 in Corkery, Huntley township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada. Sarah (daughter of James Carter and Elizabeth Kelly) was born on 6 Jan 1867 in Almonte, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; died on 4 Apr 1953 in Fitzroy Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada; was buried on 7 Apr 1953 in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Ramsay, Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]