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Destitute Irish Orphans
Mary Burns, Catherine Burns and Francis Burns were children of Bridget and Hugh Burns, immigrants from Ireland into New York City.
Mary, age 9, and Francis, age 11, were admitted into the New York Juvenile Asylum in September 1860, the reason given that the family was destitute. Catherine was admitted in July 1861 at the age of 7, reason given that her father had gone to war and she was without a home.
Records show that Mary and Catherine were sent west and indentured to Hezekiah Phillips, a farmer in Mahomet, Champaign County, Illinois. It is known that Mary served out her time in 1870 and received $50.00. Mary then became a servant in the home of Samuel Foster at the wages of $1.50 a week. It is assumed that Catherine followed her sister into the workplace as she is found in the 1880 Piatt County, Illinois census in the home of James Ownby, Willow Branch Township, as a servant.
Francis was sent to the Champaign County area to be near his sisters in January, 1862.
He was indentured to R. F. Carter, a farmer, in Champaign City, Illinois. In March 1863. According to the Asylum records, Francis was kept in touch with his parents through the agent through 1866. He left the Carter home around May, 1870.
It is known that Mary and Catherine married brothers.
Mary Burns married Joseph Neal Cornell, November 13,	1872	in
Champaign County, Illinois. They had three children; Frank C., Annie and Ida. They lived in Willow Branch Township, Piatt County, Illinois and in Brown Township, Champaign County, Illinois.
Mary (Burns) Cornell died March 25, 1903, and Joseph Cornell died in 1911. They are buried at Willow Brook Cemetery, Fisher, Champaign County, Illinois.
Catherine Burns married Charles Edward Cornell, December 22, 1881, at the home of her sister Mary Cornell, by Justice of the Peace James Ownby, in whose home she had been working. Catherine and Charles were the parents of five children; Cloyd P., Lee E., Acy F., Clarence E., and Glenna M. They farmed in Willow Branch Township, Piatt County, Illinois and resided in Richland County, Illinois for a few years, returning to Willow Branch Township, where they lived out their years.
Catherine (Burns) Cornell died January 7,	1921 and Charles Cornell died
September 1, 1912. They are buried at the Croninger Cemetery, Willow Branch Township, Piatt County, Illinois.
Nothing more is known of Francis Burns. Information about Francis Burns, Hezekiah Phillipps, and R. F. Carter is being sought. Phyllis (Cornell) Abner, granddaughter of Catherine (Bums) and Charles Cornell, through their son, Clarence E., has been researchning these two sisters who rode the Orphan TRain from New York to the "west", is grateful to the Children’s Village, Dobbs Ferry, New York, for the above information. If you have information to share, please write to Phyllis Abner, 709	1/2
Highpoint Rd., Normal, IL 61761.
CROSSROADS Vol. 18, January, 1992 page 4