Robert George Burgess was born about September 1834 at Manchester, Lancashire, England to Robert Burgess and Jessie Miller of Scotland. The family, including young Robert's sister Margaret, immigrated to the United States and were settled in Kings County, New York by about 1838. After the father's death, the rest of the family moved south to settle in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia by about 1856.
Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Monday, 15 August 1864 [via GenealogyBank]
COPY OF DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS JACKSON ARTILLERY,
West Point, August 12, 1864.
Massenburg & Son: -- Inform Judge Artope that Lieut. Burgess was killed to-day by the explosion of an ammunition chest. Tom will take his remains home to-morrow. T. L. MASSENBURG.The funeral of Lieut. Burgess will take place at the house of Mrs. Burgess, corner of 1st and Plumb streets, on Sunday morning at 9 A.M. The friends of Judge Artope and Mrs. Burgess are invited to attend.
Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Saturday, 27 August 1864 [via GenealogyBank]
OBITUARY.
Death in any form is sad, but to be suddenly snatched from earth while in the enjoyment of health and usefulness is sad indeed. Lieut. R. G. BURGESS, the subject of this notice, while examining an Ammunition Chest in Massenburg's Battery, was almost instantly killed by the explosion of the chest, on the 12th inst. He lived about four hours after the accident occurred, and death came and relieved him of the intensest agony.Lt. Burgess was born in England, but lived in New York from his childhood until the year 1856, when he came South and settled in Macon. He enlisted in the Jackson Artillery in May, 1862, and was appointed a Sergeant. By his prompt attention to his duties he received a promotion to Ordnance Sergeant of Palmer's Battalion of Reserve Artillery, when a vacancy having occurred in his company of 2d Lieutenant, he was appointed to fill it, which he did with honor to himself and to his command. Devoted to the country of his adoption, the South has lost an able officer and a good soldier, one who was ever ready to bare his breast to the storm of battle, in her defence. [sic] The writer of this article has often heard him say, "If I could only live to see our independence gained I would willingly die."
But alas, the shaft of death came whilst the longed for haven shone brightly, and snatched him from its view. Whilst we his brothers in arms grieve for him as one we esteemed as an officer, and loved as a man, what must be the feelings of an aged mother, a young and devoted wife, an affectionate brother and sisters. Not one word to the absent ones was he able to utter after the dreadful accident occurred. Let them console themselves, "That the ways of the Lord are inscrutable. He hath given and He taketh away." THE JACKSON ARTILLERY.
Rebecca, widowed at age 24, never married again. She lived with family for the rest of her days, passing away from pneumonia on 5 January 1925. The 94th anniversary of her death was just five days ago.
Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Tuesday, 6 January 1925 - pg. 12 [via GenealogyBank]
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Mrs. Rebecca Artope Burgess
Mrs. Rebecca Artope Burgess, widow of Lieut. Robert G. Burgess, who was killed in battle near Chattanooga in the war between the states, died yesterday afternoon in her 84th year.Mrs. Burgess had been a life-long resident of Macon. She was the daughter of the late J. B. Artope, one of the pioneer citizens of Macon, who in his day, was well-known in the monumental business.
Mrs. Burgess is survived by six nieces and one nephew: Mrs. LeRoy Fuss, of Macon; Mrs. J. W. Fielder, of Atlanta; Mrs. C. H. Megrath, of Macon; Mrs. M. R. Meadows, of St. Augustine, Fla., and Miss Mary Hodgkins and Miss Leila Artope, of Macon, and T. E. Artope, of Macon…
Robert and Rebecca were buried in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery at Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.
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