Billy's Genealogy Homepage

The Burgess Heritage

The Burgess Family History

Edward Burgess, William John Burgess, Sr. great grandfather, was not very tall and worked as a silk weaver in his own house. He was also a Parish Clerk, just like his father was. He was very ingenious in many ways. Edward had a large oak backed clothes brush of black bristles made by him with the initials E. B. 1794 in white bristles, it was used for many years. (Edward Benjamin Burgess had it after his father’s death.) Edward’s death date is not known, but it has been believed that it was around 1800. He died by blood poisoning or mortification through cutting corn. He was warned by his doctor that he must either loose his leg or his life, but would not consent to amputation, saying he could not part from one of his oldest friends, after it had supported him all through his life, and he died with it on.

Edward’s wife was a very fine and clever woman and well educated. She was one of the finest women in Canterbury. She was over 6 feet high. She was recognized by the literary world as worthy of record. Her name is in a list of well known authors and authoresses of that time. Her name was also in the “Dramatic Mirror” or “History of the Stage” by Thomas Gilliland, London, 1808. She is named as “Burgess, Mrs. - Is the author of a comedy called the Oaks or Beauties of Canterbury in 1780.” She had acted several times in Canterbury where she kept a shop on St. Georges St. William John Burgess had seen a noticed of her as “writer of 2 plays, Maid of the Oaks, a satire on a military officer’s at the Barricks.” It had a long run and was performed at the T.R. Drury Lane. The play was published in 1780. She had made a little money off of those plays, but her principal work was the “Life of Betty Bolaine, A mister of Canerbury, written from her own personal knowledge of her and published in 1805. The book was sold out and the copyright ran out. Some 30 years later it was republished in London and also sold out fast. There are copies of the original edition in the British Museum Library and also at Oxford.

William John Burgess, Sr. quoted from the Memories of the Burgess Family of Canterbury, Kent, England:

“I possess one copy of the first edition, now lying before me, which value as my father was only able to get that one. It is very interesting work written in prose and verse. It has been quoted from in various lives of misers. My great grandfather was an excellent woman, good as well as talented. I have heard many pleasing anecdotes of her and have two letters dated 1822 written by her to my father. He could remember many cases where she had done great services to poor children, taking them in and training and fitting them for a respectable life. Several succeeded well and in after years wrote or called on her to thank her and in some instances further acknowledged it by handsome presents.

I have two curious composite pictures of flowers made by her from cutting of flock wallpaper, a material not common at that period. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Carter. She had a brother, Phillip, who fought on board the Ramilies in the celebrated battle of June 1, 1794, under Lord Howe. They had a sister who died in old age as near as possible about the same minute as himself in different parts of the city. The messengers from each to the other meeting or crossing on their way. His death was sudden; he had got into bed, asked his wife to read a chapter, bid her goodbye, saying he was dying. My great grandmother was privately a very charitable woman as far as her means would allow. Among other cases I have heard, that she was so kind to the poor French prisoners of war, that when they were released by exchange, they desired to be marched past her house and cheered her calling out in both languages “God Bless Mrs. Burgess”. I believed my father witnessed the above. Being a good cook she knew how to make French soups and also provided them with soup and the ingredients for them to make that and other French dishes. She used to entertain some of the officers on parole at her house and kept good society. My father told me a lot of anecdotes about her most of which have escaped my memory and other I have not room to write here. He was very found and proud of her and often at her house and used to escort some of her lady visitors home at night if they walked, as the poor sperm or fish oil lamps gave so little light that “link” boys with torches were requested to accompany sedan chair or carriages. She was a great reader and had considerable knowledge of the Bible, Shakespeare, and other poetry and literature. I cannot now recollect the date of her age. I know she was living in 1822 and must have been over 80 when she died. She was witty herself and humorous in her style of writing and above all a sound practical Christian, as her letters prove.”

******************

William John Burgess, Sr. quoted from the Memories of the Burgess Family of Canterbury, Kent, England:

“When I was a child I can remember living in the old Archbishop’s Palace of which Ancient Building my father rented a part with a large garden in the precincts or close to the Cathedral. I had to go to bed at the ringing of Bell Harry or the Curfew. I also remember the large Rookery on the left side of the garden, many of our neighbors retained the old French names. Next door was “LeFebre”, then “Clements”, etc. The Cathedral close was a very quiet place except for the cawing of the Rooks and the click of the Weavers’ shuttle and looms.

The histories being lost I can not go further back for anything reliable than my great grandfather and only know that he was a silk manufacturer. The chief seats of which were Canterbury, Derby, and Spitalfield, London. Some of the manufacturers in those days were wealthy. As the prevailing fashions then were rich silks for full suits for gentleman, very handsome and bright, with colors as Salmon, Plum, Apple Green, and all shades and tints, embroidered with Gold Lace. Long coats, waistcoats and breeches, mostly heavy silk or silk velvet, with stockings to mach or harmonize. Diamond buckle shoes, powdered bar wigs, etc.

My father would remember such old and fashionable gentleman and the change of fashion after the French Revolution, at the end of the 18th century, the new fashion going to the other extreme, ruined the silk trade. Tho’ many stuck for some time to the cocked or three corner hats, powdered hair and tie wigs. Also pig tails. For several years the Spitalfields weavers struggled on and while high duties protected them, lived respectably, but by degrees the work decayed as French silks from Lyons, etc. were the rage. When about 16 I have seen many houses with long horizontal window draped in garrets thro’ which I saw the weavers at their hand looms and could hear also the screeching clicks of the flying shuttle, before the general use of machine came in vogue, in Mills of Derby. My father believed all his ancestors were in the Silk Trade as far and further than he could trace them, some as manufacturers.”

Burgess Timeline

Uncertain Previous to 1593
Lost Between 1593 and 1685
No certain record extant from 1685 to about 1763.
Edward’s mother was born about 1740 and died 1823.
Edward Burgess was born about 1763 and died 1837.
Edward’s son:
Edward Burgess was born 1787 and died 1849.
Edward’s children:
Burgess was born December 2, 1814 and died about 1888.
Edward Benjamin Burgess was born December 2, 1814 and died January 17, 1888.
William John Burgess was born March 24, 1826 and died November 1920.
Sarah Ann Burgess was born July 31, 1830 and died December 1917.
George Hawkesworth Burgess was born July 7, 1833 and died February 22, 1903.
Edward Benjamin’s children:
Edward William Burgess was born July 24, 1839 and died February 19, 1891.
Marion Burgess August 18, 1852 and died February 1921.
Walter William Burgess was born November 16, 1854 and died June 9, 1907.
Edward William’s children:
Edward Charles Burgess was born February 22, 1863.
Flossie (Florence) Burgess was born 1865 and died 1907.
Emily Burgess was born 1867.
Gertie Burgess was born 1871.
Edward Charles’s children:
Alfred Burgess was born 1883.
Ethel Florence Burgess was born August 29, 1884.
Edith Gertrude Burgess was born April 4, 1889.
Amy Burgess was born April 4, 1889.
Alfred Burgess was born January 9, 1891 and died as an infant.
Nellie Burgess was born November 8, 1895.
Albert Burgess was born July 5, 1897.
Bessie was born July 29, 1899.
Children of Marion (Burgess) Durndell:
Winnifred Durndell was born October 12, 1880.
Ethel Durndell was born June 26, 1882.
Mary Durndell was born December 15, 1885.
Alexander Durndell was born January 15, 1888.
Clara Durndell was born December 6, 1888 and died March 24, 1889.
Nora Durndell was born August 30, 1890 and died February 14, 1903.
Children of Walter Burgess:
William Burgess was born July 35, 1883.
Flossie Burgess was born January 27, 1885.
Arthur Burgess was born December 27, 1886.
Charles Burgess was born April 16, 1888.
Gertie Burgess was born January 5, 1892.
Ernest Burgess was born June 13, 1897.
Harry Burgess died young.
Children of William John Burgess:
Frederic William Burgess was born November 23, 1869 and died October 10, 1953.
Frances George Burgess was born January 15, 1872 and died July 31, 1958.
William Edward Burgess was born October 18, 1873 and died at age 6 weeks.
William Edward Burgess was born January 23, 1875 and died at age 13 months.
William John Burgess was born December 29, 1976 and died March 28, 1973.
George Edward Baldwin Burgess was born January 18, 1879.
Frederic William’s son:
William John Burgess was born February 25, 1899 and died October 4, 1961.
George Edward Baldwin’s daughter:
Frances Ellen was born April 3, 1897.
George Hawkesworth’s children:
George Frederic Burgess was born September 29, 1855 and died September 1930.
Emily Burgess was born December 22, 1881.
Mabel Burgess was born March 26, 1884 and died April 1, 1945.
Mabel ‘s children:
John Cole Burgess was born April 17, 1917.
Ivor George was born September 23, 1917