Awww...Peanuts

[RJNorton]

THANK YOU to Steve for sending this information. Steve writes: "Joe Barry asked about a Joseph Burroughs who lived in the Tenelytown suburb of Washington which was mention by Cliff in a post a decade ago. Cliff had enough information in his post where I could track him down for his life up to 1917.

Firstly I need to point out that Cliff and his genealogist friend made a mistake. This Joseph Burroughs was living with his mother in the 1870 census in Tenelytown. The family's surname is incorrectly written as Burrs but they match the family details of the 1860 census and are also living next door to a family named Burroughs. Joseph's occupation in the 1870 census is listed as farmer. His age in the 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses would place his birth around 1848-9 which matches the age estimate given by William T. Kent of about 17 during the trial. Based on the limited evidence we have with these census records, I think it's equally possible that Peanut could be this Joseph Burroughs and he returned to his mother after the trial or they could be two different people with the same name and age.

If they are two different people, then Peanut presumably left Washington before 1870. I also need to note the Tenelytown Joseph spelled his name both as "Burroughs" and "Burrows" and definitely seemed to favor the Burrows spelling after he moved to Baltimore. As we shall see the Tenelytown Joseph Burroughs definetly seems like he's literate. Whether or not he and Peanut are the same person, I need to point out that Peanut signing his statement with "X" is not proof Peanut was illiterate in the 19th century plenty of people who could write their signature signed documents with an "X" sometimes. One of my own 19th century ancestors signed his marriage record with an X but later signed his name on a document. Also its possible Peanut could have hurt his hand holding onto the horse in the way Booth took it away from him and just didn't feel like writing out his signature.

Without further adeu here's the life of Joseph Alexander Burroughs/Burrows (he also calls himself a Jr. in some of the Baltimore directories) after the 1870 census:

In April 1873 Joseph Alexander Burroughs marries Mary Elizabeth Burroughs in the District of Columbia Yes, same last name but I don't know for sure if they're closely related.

Shortly thereafter Joseph and Mary move to Baltimore. In the 1870's Baltimore directories and the 1880 census Joseph's occupation is listed as a laborer.

In the 1880 census Mary's brother Joseph A. Burrows is living with the family (I don't if the brother's middle name was also Alexander), he's listed as a butcher in the census and earlier years Baltimore directories before later changing professions. While this Joseph A. Burrows is also listed as being born in Washington, he is too young to be Peanut. In the 1880 census Joseph A. Burrow's birthplace and birthdate match the Tenelytown Joseph Alexander Burrows and Mary's birthplace is also listed as Washington.

In the 1881 and 1882 Baltimore directories Joseph Alexander Burrows is listed as a clerk. His brother-in-law Joseph is living at the same address with the occupation of butcher, so this is definitely the same person.

By 1885 Joseph Alexander Burrows is selling produce at a stall in the Baltimore City Market. He continues selling produce for as long as I can track him. By the 1890's he's joined by his son John has joined him in the business.

In August 1907 Mary Elizabeth Burrows dies and in the obituary there's a poem praising her written by Joseph and/or his children.

The 1917 Baltimore directory is where I last find Joseph Alexander Burrows. I haven't found an obituary for him yet, so I don't yet know when he died.

I think Tom Bogar and Dave Taylor should definitely be paged for their opinions. They have way more knowledge and expertise on Peanut Burroughs then I do and can better evaluate the probability/possibility of Joseph Alexander Burroughs and Peanut Burroughs being the same person.