| TOM W. BURGE PVT TEXAS ARTY. C.S.A. JUNE 1, 1842 OCT 31, 1941 |
I had heard vague mentionings of a "Grandpa Burge"
but of course being a child I dismissed it.
Both of my parents passed away in 1998 and some months
after I knew that their stones had been set
I went to the cemetary in Albany, Tx to view them.
While I was there I went to the gravesites of other family
members that I knew were buried there. (there are many on both sides of my family)
As I was looking at headstones I ran across one
with the inscription that this page starts with.
I looked at it and did a double take--I thought
"This has to be the "Grandpa Burge" I would hear things
about---this man was in the Civil War!!" This truly peeked my curiosity and thus started my "digging"..........
a search engine for Confederate Pension File Claims
--his name came up and I ordered a copy of his
Soldier's Application for a Pension (#50450)
through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
The application was filed from Cameron Co, Tx.
In the application he stated that he had been
a resident of Texas since 1843--that at the time of his enlistment
he lived in Hackberry, Tx (in Fayette Co)
He enrolled in Houston, Tx in Feb. 1863
and was discharged Nov. 1863 because of ill health.
Tom W. passed away on Oct 31, 1941 in the Confederate Veteran's Home in Austin, Tx. (View Death Certificate)
These are the Units he served in: