Lineage Crew list gives birthplace South Windsor, CT, age 18. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Erastus W. Brunham was entered on the crew list of the whaler Hannibal (1851-1854), dated 1851-Jun-21. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Burnham, Erastus W. South Windsor, Jan. 5, 1864 Source: Connecticut. Adjutant-General's Office. Catalogue of Connecticut volunteer organizations : (infantry, cavalry, and artillery,) in the service of the United States, 1861-1865, with additional enlistments, casualties, &c., &c., and brief summaries, showing the operations and service of the several regiments and batteries. Hartford : Brown & Gross, 1869. Internet Archive, connecticutvolorg00catarich, https://archive.org/details/connecticutvolorg00catarich. Erastus W., b. Apr. 28, 1834, m. May 15, 1855 Mary Devine. Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. Erastus W. Burnham served in the First Regt. Connecticut Heavy Artillery, in the Rebellion. Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. Burnham, Erastus W. Source: Connecticut. Adjutant General's Office. [from old catalog]. The Twelfth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Hartford, Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889. Internet Archive, twelfthregimentc00conn, https://archive.org/details/twelfthregimentc00conn. Also known as: Erastus W. Burnham, Rasp Identity note: South Windsor, Connecticut whaler and Civil War veteran. Source: Family story recorded with the pass for Erastus Burnham Crew list states citizenship USA. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Crew list: height 5 ft 6 in, light skin, light hair. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Burnham, Erastus W., South Windsor, Jan. 5, 1864, mustered out Sept. 25, '65, Washington, D. C. Source: Connecticut. Adjutant-General's Office. Catalogue of Connecticut volunteer organizations : (infantry, cavalry, and artillery,) in the service of the United States, 1861-1865, with additional enlistments, casualties, &c., &c., and brief summaries, showing the operations and service of the several regiments and batteries. Hartford : Brown & Gross, 1869. Internet Archive, connecticutvolorg00catarich, https://archive.org/details/connecticutvolorg00catarich. After a year at home he enlisted in the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery and served to the end of the war. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He was discharged on account of disability, in July of the following year. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Citizenship USA per crew list. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Educated in the public schools of his native district. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Height 5 ft 6 in, light skin, light hair. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Crew list gives birthplace South Windsor, CT. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Whaling aboard the Hannibal near New Zealand, 1851-1852 Source: Erastus Burnham - CAO: Powered by ArcLight and hosted at Western CT State University Search Results. https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/caoSearch/catalog?q=Erastus+Burnham (retrieved 2026-10-27). He entered the employ of Wood & Keeney in their paper mill. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He learned the trade of moulder in a brass foundry in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. His religious affiliation was with the Second Advent Church of South Windsor. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. On his return he learned the trade of moulder. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He served on the police force in Hong Kong, China, in 1853. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. At seventeen he went to sea, shipping on a whaling vessel for three years. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Erastus W. Burnham served in the First Regt. Connecticut Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. born Apr. 28, 1834 Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. He married May 15, 1855 Mary Devine. Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. Crew list gives citizenship USA. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. The Erastus W. Burnham collection documents the life of Erastus W. Burnham of South Windsor. Source: Erastus Burnham - CAO: Powered by ArcLight and hosted at Western CT State University Search Results. https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/caoSearch/catalog?q=Erastus+Burnham (retrieved 2026-10-27). Erastus W. Burnham (EWB) to father, Erastus W. Burnham Sr., 1851 Jun 13 Source: Erastus Burnham - CAO: Powered by ArcLight and hosted at Western CT State University Search Results. https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/caoSearch/catalog?q=Erastus+Burnham (retrieved 2026-10-27). Erastus Williams Burnham, (son of Erastus W. Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. Crew entry gives birthplace South Windsor, CT, residence South Windsor, CT. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted, January, 1862 Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Burnham, Erastus W., South Windsor, Jan. 5, 1864, Mustered out Sept. 25, '65, Washington, D. C. Source: Connecticut. Adjutant-General's Office. Catalogue of Connecticut volunteer organizations : (infantry, cavalry, and artillery,) in the service of the United States, 1861-1865, with additional enlistments, casualties, &c., &c., and brief summaries, showing the operations and service of the several regiments and batteries. Hartford : Brown & Gross, 1869. Internet Archive, connecticutvolorg00catarich, https://archive.org/details/connecticutvolorg00catarich. Burnham, Erastus W., Dec. 28, Discharged. Source: Connecticut. Adjutant-General's Office. Catalogue of Connecticut volunteer organizations : (infantry, cavalry, and artillery,) in the service of the United States, 1861-1865, with additional enlistments, casualties, &c., &c., and brief summaries, showing the operations and service of the several regiments and batteries. Hartford : Brown & Gross, 1869. Internet Archive, connecticutvolorg00catarich, https://archive.org/details/connecticutvolorg00catarich. Married May 15, 1855 Mary Devine. Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. He died in that place, April 11, 1921. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. On May 15, 1855, Erastus William Burnham married Mary Devine. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Erastus W. Burnham served in the First Regt. Connecticut Heavy Artillery, in the Rebellion. Source: Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. He was discharged on account of disability, in July of the following year. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He again enlisted, in the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and served to the end of the war. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Crew list gives citizenship USA. Source: American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. He received his education in the public schools of his native district. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. At seventeen he went to sea, shipping on a whaling vessel for three years. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He served on the police force in Hong Kong, China, in 1853. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. His religious affiliation was with the Second Advent Church, of South Windsor. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He was severely wounded in the battle of the Crater, at Petersburgh. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. After the war he purchased a tobacco farm at South Windsor, Connecticut, which he managed for sixteen years. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He learned the trade of moulder in a brass foundry in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. He entered the employ of Wood & Keeney, in their paper mill, and later the Parsons Paper Mills. Source: American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Sources American Offshore Whaling Crew Lists, https://whalinghistory.org, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. (CC BY 4.0), crew entry AE061341029, Hannibal : 1851-1854, list dated 1851-Jun-21. Connecticut. Adjutant-General's Office. Catalogue of Connecticut volunteer organizations : (infantry, cavalry, and artillery,) in the service of the United States, 1861-1865, with additional enlistments, casualties, &c., &c., and brief summaries, showing the operations and service of the several regiments and batteries. Hartford : Brown & Gross, 1869. Internet Archive, connecticutvolorg00catarich, https://archive.org/details/connecticutvolorg00catarich. Burnham, Roderick H. (Roderick Henry). Genealogical records of Thomas Burnham, the emigrant : who was among the early settlers at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. America, and his descendants, vol. v.1. Hartford, Connecticut : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. Print, 1884. Internet Archive, genealogicalreco01burn, https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco01burn. Connecticut. Adjutant General's Office. [from old catalog]. The Twelfth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Hartford, Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889. Internet Archive, twelfthregimentc00conn, https://archive.org/details/twelfthregimentc00conn. Family story recorded with the pass for Erastus Burnham American Historical Society. Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical;, vol. 8. New York, Boston [etc.] The American historical society (inc.), 1916-[2(5]). Internet Archive, encyclopediaofma08amer, https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma08amer. Erastus Burnham - CAO: Powered by ArcLight and hosted at Western CT State University Search Results. https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/caoSearch/catalog?q=Erastus+Burnham (retrieved 2026-10-27).