When I review our family tree in the form of a fan chart, there is one vast swath missing, a cone of “empty space,” expanding out from the center.

If I look, though, using the same format, with not me but my grandfather, Clarence Rodgers Burgin, at the center, the cone widens to consume fully half the page (see below). This glaring blankness reflects the mostly missing ancestry of my grandfather’s paternal grandparents, Thomas Burgin and Jane Skudder.

The explanation runs this way. My grandfather’s father, whose name was Clarence Burgin, was the first person in his nuclear family to be born in America, and his parents, Thomas Burgin and Jane Skudder Burgin, were the last people in our extended family to be born overseas–In England.

Each generation of our family, on the right hand side of the fan chart, has put at least some time into either preserving or rediscovering knowledge of their forebears. I suspect that that happened because, as a practical issue, the information was stored locally and could be researched with some degree of ease. But the net result was a trail of breadcrumbs was created, and so the result is what you see.

In the case of the Burgin family, however, whose recent past was recorded in England not America, almost no investigation went on, and I think the reason why is straightforward: in the pre-internet era, it was hard to do. Really hard.

This post will be devoted to laying out what little we DO know about the Burgins… in the hope that it can serve as a foundation, a jumping-off point, for someone, whether a family member, or a paid researcher, or a combination of the two, to take up the challenge and find out who these people and their ancestors were.

.

In thinking about how best to present this material, I’ve decided to go mostly in reverse chronological order– so that we can move from what we absolutely know to be true, to what we think we know to be true, to what can only be guessed at.

First, I will tackle the Burgin family. At the end of a long series of death records, census listings, and baptismal entries, I will then switch to the Skudder family, with a similar but shorter series of documents.

Burgin Ancestry

Let’s begin with Thomas Burgin’s death in Springfield in 1888.

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988

Name: Thomas Burgin

Event Type: Death

Birth Date: abt 1825

Death Date: 9 Jun 1888

Death Place: Springfield, Massachusetts

Death Age: 63

Father Name: John

Mother Name: Jane

Cause of death: Typhoid pneumonia

Then, let’s move to the gravesites of Thomas and Jane Skudder Burgin, in Springfield, MA.

Thomas Burgin

Family links:

Spouse:

•   Jane G. Skudder Burgin (1826 – 1911)*

Children:

•   Jane Burgin (1860 – 1884)*
•   Edwin Burgin (1863 – 1906)*
•   Clarence Burgin (1865 – 1943)*
• *Calculated relationship

Burial:

• Oak Grove Cemetery
• Springfield, Hamden County, Massachusetts, USA
• Plot: Heath Path Section 12-92

Find A Grave Memorial# 29575457

Jane Skudder Burgin 

Family links:

Spouse:

•   Thomas Burgin (1825 – 1888)

Children:

•   Jane Burgin (1860 – 1884)*
•   Edwin Burgin (1863 – 1906)*
•   Clarence Burgin (1865 – 1943)*
• *Calculated relationship

Burial:

• Oak Grove Cemetery
• Springfield, Hamden County, Massachusetts, USA
• Plot: Heath Path Section 12-92

Find A Grave Memorial# 29575455

The next document up is the US Census of 1880, which records the immigrant Burgin family living in Springfield, MA

US Census 1880

1880 United States Federal Census

Name Thomas Burgin

Age 55

Birth Year abt 1825

Birthplace England

Home in 1880 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

Race White

Gender Male

Relation to Head of House Self

Marital Status Married

Spouse’s Name Jane Burgin

Father’s Birthplace England

Mother’s Birthplace England

Occupation Upholsterer

Household Members Name Age

Thomas Burgin 55

Jane Burgin 53

Edwin Burgin 17

Jennie Burgin 20

Clarence Burgin 15

Citation Information

Transcript

Birth date: abt 1825 Birth place: England Residence date: 1880 Residence place: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States

Detail

Year: 1880; Census Place: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: 536; Family History Film: 1254536; Page: 139B; Enumeration District: 313; Image: 0281.

NOTE: THE MYSTERY OF THE BURGINS’ IMMIGRATION TO AMERICA HAS SINCE BEEN SOLVED. SEE  “The Burgins Arrive NYC: May 3, 1864” FOR DETAILS.

British Census 1861

1861 England Census

Name Thomas Burgin

Age 36

Estimated Birth Year 1825

Relation Head

Spouse’s Name Jane Burgin

Gender Male

Where born St Mary Somerset, Middlesex, England

Civil parish Southwark St John

County/Island Surrey

Country England

Registration district St Olave Southwark

Sub-registration district St John Horsleydown

ED, institution, or vessel 2

Household schedule number 68

Piece 317

Folio 44

Page number 16

Household Members Name 

Thomas Burgin

Jane Burgin

Thomas Burgin

Alfred Burgin

Jane Burgin

Elizabeth Pritchard

Citation Information

Transcript

Birth date: abt 1825 Birth place: St Mary Somerset, Middlesex, England Residence date: 1861 Residence place: Southwark St John, Surrey, England

Detail

Class: RG9; Piece: 317; Folio: 44; Page: 16; GSU roll: 542613.

Death of Jane, Thomas’ Mother, 1858

London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980

Name Jane Burgin

Record Type Burial

Age 72

Estimated Birth Year abt 1786

Death Date abt 1858

Burial Date 20 May 1858

Burial Place Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth, England

Parish or Poor Law Union Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth

Borough Lambeth

Register Type Bishop’s Transcript

Comments Reused graves at Norwood; see the database description for a link for more information.

Death of John, Thomas’ Father, 1855

London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980

Name John Burgin

Record Type Burial

Age 65

Estimated Birth Year abt 1790

Death Date abt 1855

Burial Date 26 Dec 1855

Burial Place Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth, England

Parish or Poor Law Union Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth

Borough Lambeth

Register Type Bishop’s Transcript

Comments Reused graves at Norwood; see the database description for a link for more information.

Thomas’ and Jane’s Children’s (British) Baptismal Entries , 1851-62

[Note: baptisms listed first/ top, and births second/ bottom; Clarence was, of course, born in America–LSL]

Thomas 1851

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Thomas Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 16 Apr 1851

Father’s name: Thomas Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

John 1852

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: John Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 16 Jan 1853

Father’s name: Thomas Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

Thomas 1855

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Thomas Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 22 Jul 1855

Father’s name: Thomas Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

Alfred 1857

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Alfred Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 15 Nov 1857

Father’s name: Thomas Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

Jennie 1860

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Jane Burgin (later known as “Jennie”)

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 29 Feb 1860

Father’s name: Thomas Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

Edwin 1862

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Edwin Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 20 Aug 1862

Father’s name: Thomas Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Register

[Note: Edwin’s baptism in England in August, 1862 establishes the earliest possible time for their emigration as late 1862.–LSL]

British Census 1851

1851 England Census

Name Thomas Burgin

Age 26

Estimated Birth Year abt 1825

Relation Head

Spouse’s Name Jane Burgin

Gender Male

Where born Strand

Civil parish All Hallows London Wall

County/Island Middlesex

Country England

Registration district London City

Sub-registration district London City North East

ED, institution, or vessel 8b

Household schedule number 51

Piece 1532

Folio 217

Page number 9

Household Members Name Age

Thomas Burgin 26

Jane Burgin 25

Thomas Burgin 10 Mo

Thomas Graves 16

Eliza Marlingell 20

Ann Richardson 45

Citation Information

Transcript

Birth date: abt 1825 Birth place: Strand Residence date: 1851 Residence place: All Hallows London Wall, Middlesex, England

Detail

Class: HO107; Piece: 1532; Folio: 217; Page: 9; GSU roll: 174762.

Marriage of Thomas and Jane 1848

Thomas Burgin

 in the London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921

Name: Thomas Burgin

Spouse: Jane Skudder

Record Type: Marriage

Event Date: 23 May 1848

Parish: St John, Horselydown

Borough: Southwark

Father Name: John Burgin

Spouse Father: John Skudder

Register Type: Parish Register

Source Citation

London Metropolitan Archives, Saint John Horselydown, Register of marriages, P71/JN, Item 023

1841 Census

1841 England Census

Name: John Burgin [Note shift to the father, John; Thomas is the son here.–LSL]

Age: 50

Estimated birth year: abt 1791

Gender: Male

Civil Parish: St John Horsleydown

Hundred: Southwark

County/Island: Surrey

Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: Victualer

Registration district: St Olaves

Sub-registration district: St John

Piece 1087

Book 2

Folio 6

Page number 4

Household Members Name Age

John Burgin 50

Jane Burgin 50

William Burgin 20 “Warehouseman”

Ann Burgin 15

Thomas Burgin 15    “Upholster” (sic)   [Note here Ann, Thomas, and Mary are all listed as being 15… Not sure how to explain that, other than the census taker was guessing.–LSL]

George Burgin 12

Mary Burgin 15

Citation Information

Transcript

Birth date: abt 1826 Residence date: 1841 Residence place: St John Horsleydown, Surrey, England

Detail

Class: HO107; Piece 1087; Book: 2; Civil Parish: St John Horsleydown; County: Surrey; Enumeration District: 2; Folio: 6; Page: 4; Line: 18; GSU roll: 474669.

Birth of Jane Skudder 1826

Jane

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Jane Skudder

Record: Type Baptism

Baptism: Date 20 Aug 1826

Father’s Name: John Skudder

Mother’s Name: Mary Skudder

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

John’s and Jane’s Children’s Baptismal Entries , 1813-30

John (mentioned in 1841 Census)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: John Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 6 Feb 1814

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Westminster St Mary Le Strand

Borough: Westminster

Register Type: Bishop’s Transcript

Jane (mentioned in 1841 Census)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Jane Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 4 Jun 1815

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Westminster St Mary Le Strand

Borough: Westminster

Register Type: Bishop’s Transcript

Thomas (died young)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Thomas Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 6 Apr 1817

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Westminster St Mary Le Strand

Borough: Westminster

Register Type: Bishop’s Transcript

Elizabeth (not mentioned in 1841 Census; probably died young)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Elizabeth Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 30 Aug 1818

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Westminster St Mary Le Strand

Borough: Westminster

Register Type: Bishop’s Transcript

William (mentioned in 1841 Census)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: William Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 24 Sep 1820

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Westminster St Mary Le Strand

Borough: Westminster

Register Type: Bishop’s Transcript

Ann (mentioned in 1841 Census)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Ann Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 23 Nov 1823

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Westminster St Mary Le Strand

Borough: Westminster

Register Type: Bishop’s Transcript

Thomas (mentioned in 1841 Census; our ancestor)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Thomas Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 1 May 1825 [Note the top of the page clearly reads 1824, but a third of the way down, 1825 has been scrawled into the middle of the entries, indicating a transition. The people who say he was born in 1825 are indeed correct.–LSL]

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: St Mary Somerset

Borough: City of London

Register Type: Parish Registers

Mary (not sure if mentioned in 1841 Census; see note for Mary, born 1930, below)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Mary Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 17 Jun 1827

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: St Mary Somerset

Borough: City of London

Register Type: Parish Registers

George (mentioned in 1841 Census)

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: George Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 7 Jun 1829

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

Mary [This Mary implies the first Mary died, but the 1841 Census lists one Mary as then 15 y.o., not 11; the occupation of John is no longer gold wire drawer but now milkman (it would be victualer in 1841); need to look further.–LSL]

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Mary Burgin

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 31 Oct 1830

Father’s name: John Burgin

Mother’s name: Jane Burgin

Parish or Poor Law Union: Bethnal Green St Matthew

Borough: Tower Hamlets

Register Type: Parish Registers

Marriage of John Burgin and Jane Boak 1816

London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921

Name: John Burgin

Spouse: Jane Boak

Record Type: Banns of Marriage

Event Date: Sunday 28 April, 5 May, 12 May 1816

Parish: St Marylebone

Borough: Westminster

Register Type: Parish Register

London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921

Name John Burgin

Spouse Jane Boak [Note it says she was a widow, so is “Boak” her maiden name, or the surname of her deceased husband?–LSL]

Record Type Marriage

Event Date 19 May 1816

Parish St Marylebone

Borough Westminster

Register Type Parish Register

Household Members Name 

John Burgin

Jane Boak

Citation Information

Transcript

Marriage date: 19 May 1816 Marriage place: St Marylebone, England

The *Possible* Birth Record of Jane Boak

{No image}

[I say possible because we don’t yet have proof, but the date and the neighborhood, as well as the father’s name of William (reflected in her son’s name), are suggestive this is right. Consider this a placeholder, subject to change.–LSL]

Name: Jane Boak

Gender: Female

Birth Date: 15 Jan 1790

Baptism Date: 14 Mar 1790

Baptism Place: Saint Clement Danes, Westminster, London, England

Father: William Boak

Mother: Dorothy

FHL Film Number: 574266, 574267

The *Probable* Birth Record of John Burgin

[I say probable because we can’t know, but the date – 1790 – and the neighborhood – St. Lukes –  and the parents’ names – Thomas and Mary, both reflected in John’s children’s names – are suggestive this is right. The kicker is that Thomas’ profession is “wier drawer” which would become John’s as well. All in all, it looks pretty tight.–LSL]

Name: John Burgin

Baptism Date: 27 Jun 1790

Parish: St Luke, Finsbury

County: Middlesex

Borough: Islington

Parent(s): Thomas Burgin “wier drawer” [sic], Mary Burgin

Record Type: Christening

Register Type: Parish Register

Also this record, which includes a DOB…

Name: John Burgin

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 9 Jun 1790

Baptism Date: 27 Jun 1790

Baptism Place: Saint Luke Old Street, Finsbury, London, England

Father: Thomas Burgin

Mother: Mary

FHL Film Number: 585440

_________

A transitional note: I’m now going to switch and cover the Skudders. Bear with me.

_________

Skudder Ancestry

Death of John, Jane’s Father, 1866

John Skudder

 in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915

Name: John Skudder

Estimated birth year: abt 1796

Registration Year: 1866

Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep

Age at Death: 70

Registration district: St Olave Southwark

Inferred County: London

Volume: 1d

Page: 46

John Skudder

 in the London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980

Name: John Skudder

Record Type: Burial

Age: 70

Estimated birth year: abt 1796

Death Date: abt 1866

Burial Date: 24 Jul 1866

Burial Place: Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth, England

Parish or Poor Law Union: Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth

Borough: Lambeth

Register Type: Bishop’s Transcript

Comments: Reused graves at Norwood; see the database description for a link for more information.

Death of Mary, Jane’s Mother, 1864

First name(s)	Mary
Last name	Skudder
Gender	Female
Birth day	–
Birth month	–
Birth year	–
Age	–
Death quarter	1
Death year	1864
District	St. Olave Southwark
County	London
Volume	1D
Page	47
Country	England
Record set	England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
Category	Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
Subcategory	Civil Deaths & Burials
Collections from	Great Britain, England

British Census 1861

John Skudder

 in the 1861 England Census

Name: John Skudder

Age: 65 [Note this estimated DOB would be 1796.–LSL]

Relation: Head

Spouse’s Name: Mary

Gender: Male

Where born: Crayford, Kent, England

Civil Parish: Southwark St John Horsleydown

County/Island: Surrey

Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: Grocer

Registration district: St Olave Southwark

Sub-registration district: St John Horsleydown

ED, institution, or vessel: 4

Household schedule number: 227

Piece: 317

Folio: 137

Page Number: 40

Household Members:

Name Age

John Skudder 65

Mary Skudder 59

Emma Skudder 16

A Curious Advertisement in an Australian Newspaper, 1855

From the The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Wed 10 Jan 1855; Page 1…

Apparently, John and Mary’s son John (b. 1835) had gone to Australia, leaving 29 Jun 1852 from London, arriving 25 Nov 1852 in Phillip Bay, New South Wales, Australia. His parents, like all parents everywhere, were worried… Did he stay there for the rest of his life? Did he have children? If you know of the subsequent history of John Skudder, b. 1835 in Horsleydown, Southwark, please drop me a line in the comments.

British Census 1851

John Skudder

 in the 1851 England Census

Name: John Skudder

Age: 53 [Note this estimated DOB would be 1798.–LSL]

Estimated birth year: abt 1798

Relation: Head

Spouse’s Name: Mary Skudder

Gender: Male

Where born: Kent, England

Civil Parish: Southwark St John Horsleydown

County/Island: Surrey

Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: Grocer

Registration district: St Olave Southwark

Sub-registration district: St Olave

ED, institution, or vessel: 02

Household schedule number: 115

Piece: 1559

Folio: 290

Page Number: 21

Household Members:

Name Age

John Skudder 53

Mary Skudder 49 [Note this estimated DOB would be 1802.–LSL]

John Skudder 15

Eliza Skudder 18

Emma Skudder 7

British Census 1841

Name: John Scudder

Age: 46

Estimated Birth Year: 1795

Gender: Male

Civil parish: St John Horsleydown, Southwark

County/Island: Surrey

Country: England

Registration district: St Olaves

Sub-registration district: St John

Neighbors

Piece: 1087

Book: 1

Folio: 7

Page number: 6

Household Members

Name: John Scudder

Age: 46

Name: Mary Scudder

Age: 46

Name: Jane Scudder

Age: 14

Name: Mary Scudder

Age: 12

Name: Ellen Scudder

Age: 10

Name: John Scudder

Age: 6

Name: Ann Scudder

Age: 11 Mo

John’s and Mary’s Children’s Baptismal Entries , 1813-30

Jane

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name Jane Skudder

Record Type Baptism

Baptism Date 20 Aug 1826

Father’s Name John Skudder

Mother’s Name Mary Skudder

Parish or Poor Law Union Horselydown St John

Borough Southwark

Register Type Parish Registers

Mary Ann

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Mary Ann Skudder

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 22 Mar 1829

Father’s name: John Skudder

Mother’s name: Mary Skudder

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

***

Name: Mary Ann Skudder

Estimated birth year: abt 1829

Age: 20

Spouse: George Marks Spencer

Record Type: Marriage

Event Date: 3 Apr 1849

Parish: St John, Horselydown

Borough: Southwark

Father Name: John Skudder

Spouse Father: Edward Marks Spencer

Register Type: Parish Register

Eliza

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Eliza Skudder

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 24 Jul 1831

Father’s name: John Skudder

Mother’s name: Mary Skudder

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

John

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: John Skudder

Gender: Male

Baptism Date: 31 May 1835

Baptism Place: Horsleydown, Surrey, England

Father: John Skudder

Mother: Mary

FHL Film Number: 254542

Henry

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Henry Skudder

Gender: Male

Baptism Date: 21 Jan 1838

Baptism Place: St John, Horselydown, Surrey, England

Father: John Skudder

Mother: Mary Skudder

FHL Film Number: 2214355

Ann

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Ann Skudder

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 19 Jul 1840

Father’s name: John Skudder

Mother’s name: Mary Skudder

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

Emma

London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Emma Skudder

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 23 Jun 1844

Father’s name: John Skudder

Mother’s name: Mary Skudder

Parish or Poor Law Union: Horselydown St John

Borough: Southwark

Register Type: Parish Registers

Marriage of John Skudder and Mary Russell

This is probably the entry for John and Mary’s marriage, which occurred, after banns in January and February of the same year, on the 19th of February, 1825, in St Mary the Virgin, Bexley, Kent. Mary’s maiden name was Russell.

Name:John Scudder

Gender:Male

Marriage Date: 19 Feb 1825

Marriage Place: Kent, England, Bexley

Chapelry: St Mary the Virgin

Parish as it Appears: Bexley

Spouse: Mary Russell [NB: this was mis-transcribed in several data bases as Mary Rupell or Ruppell (sic)]

Editor’s Note: The above document in and of itself is proof of nothing. There were of course many Scudders/ Skudders with largely similar names at this time, and in this part of England. A man named John Scudder marrying a woman named Mary was not necessarily a unique event. But… The place of the marriage matches Mary’s place of birth as listed in the 1851 Census (Bexley is a very small town).  And, subsequent research has shown that our John and Mary’s daughter, Emma (1844-1933), later married a John Kilby (1846-1899), and named her fifth child “Stanley Russell Kilby”–  presumably memorializing her mother’s maiden name as her son’s middle name. This is not conclusive proof either, but it does much in my mind to cement the idea that the married couple above, John Scudder and Mary Russell, are indeed our people.

The Possible Birth Record of Mary Russell

Clues:

Mary’s possible birth year according to census data are:

1861 Census 1802

1851 Census 1802

1841 Census 1801

Her place of birth in the  1851 Census was listed as Bexley, Kent, and in the 1861 Census it was listed as nearby Welling. Which Russells were hers? This is not yet known, but I will add it here if and when we find them.

The Possible Birth Record of John Skudder

Clues:

John’s possible birth year according to his death listing and census data are:

1866 Death listing 1796

1861 Census 1796

1851 Census 1798

1841 Census 1795

His place of birth was listed in the 1851 Census as Kent, and in the  1861 Census, more specifically, as Crayford, Kent.

For a continuation of this line of inquiry, and a truly deep dive into these and other issues, see this post here.

 

_________

.

Recent British  Ancestry of the Burgins of Quincy and Springfield, MA

Time to tie all these threads together. I’m going to finish with this summing up in in NEHGS Register Format…

First Generation

————————————————–

John Burgin. Born on about 1790 in England.

(John Burgin is possibly the son of Thomas and Mary Burgin, who was born on 9 June, 1790, and who was baptized in Saint Luke Old Street, Finsbury, London, England, on 27 Jun 1790.)

John died in 1855; he was 64. Buried on 26 Dec 1855 in Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth, England.

On 19 May 1816 when John was 25, he married Jane Boak in St. Marylebone, England.

(Jane Boak was possibly the daughter of William Boak & Dorothy, who was born on 15 Jan 1790, and who was baptized in Saint Clement Danes, Westminster, London, England, on 14 Mar 1790.)

They had the following children:

2           i.          John (27 Sep 1813-)

3          ii.          Jane (19 Feb 1815-)

4          iii.         Thomas (Died as Child) (22 Aug 1816-?)

5           iv.         Elizabeth (Died as Child) (5 Jul 1818-?)

6           v.         William (23 Apr 1820-)

7          vi.          Ann (30 Sep 1823-)

8          vii.         Thomas (7 Apr 1825-9 Jun 1888)

9        viii.          Mary (abt 1827-/)

10          ix.          George (12 Apr 1829-1866)

11           x.          Mary (6 Sep 1830-?) [SEE NOTE ON MARY ABOVE.–LSL]

Second Generation

————————————————–

2. John Burgin. Born on 27 Sep 1813. John was baptized in St. Mary, Le Strand, Middlesex, England, on 6 Feb 1814.

3. Jane Burgin. Born on 19 Feb 1815. Jane was baptized in St. Mary, Le Strand, Middlesex, England, on 4 Jun 1815.

4. Thomas Burgin. Born on 22 Aug 1816. Thomas was baptized in St. Mary, Le Strand, Middlesex, England, on 6 Apr 1817.

5. Elizabeth Burgin. Born on 5 Jul 1818. Elizabeth was baptized in St. Mary, Le Strand, Middlesex, England, on 30 Aug 1818.

6. William Burgin. Born on 23 Apr 1820. William was baptized in St. Mary, Le Strand, Middlesex, England, on 24 Sep 1820. On 8 Jan 1846 when William was 25, he married Sarah Margaret Brockelbank, daughter of James Brockelbank, in St. John, Horselydown, Southwark, Surrey, England.

7. Ann Burgin. Born on 30 Sep 1823. Ann was baptized in St. Mary, Le Strand, Middlesex, England, on 23 Nov 1823.

8. Thomas Burgin. Born on 7 Apr 1825 in St. Mary, Somerset, London, England. Thomas was baptized in St. Mary, Somerset, London, England, on 1 May 1825. Thomas died in Springfield, Massachusetts, on 9 Jun 1888; he was 63. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts. On 23 May 1848 when Thomas was 23, he married Jane Skudder, daughter of John Skudder (~1796-1866) & Mary  (1802-), in St. John’s Church, Southwark, Surrey, England. Born on 30 Jul 1826 in Southwark, Co. Surrey, England. Jane died in Quincy, Massachusetts, on 6 Apr 1911; she was 84.

Thomas and Jane had the following children:

         12            i.          Thomas (25 Mar 1851-7 Jan 1854)

         13           ii.          John (27 Dec 1852-8 Aug 1857)

         14          iii.          Thomas (3 Jun 1855-20 Oct 1898)

         15          iv.          Alfred (22 Oct 1857-1929)

         16           v.          Jane “Jennie” (1 Feb 1860-25 Feb 1884)

         17          vi.          Edwin (26 Jul 1862-1906)

         18         vii.          Clarence (27 Oct 1865-13 Apr 1943)

9. Mary Burgin. Mary was baptized in St. Mary, Somerset, London, England, on 17 Jun 1827.

10. George Burgin. Born on 12 Apr 1829. George was baptized in St. John, Horselydown, Southwark, Surrey, England, on 7 Jun 1829. George died in St. Olave, Southwark, Surrey, England, in 1866; he was 36. On 4 Oct 1857 when George was 28, he married Mary Ann Tomlin, daughter of James Tomlin (1804-) & Mary (1800-), in St Mary Magdalene, Southwark, England. Born abt 1836 in Bermondsey, Surrey, England. Mary Ann was baptized in St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, England, on 8 Feb 1835.

11. Mary Burgin. Born on 6 Sep 1830. Mary was baptized in St. Matthew, Bethnal Green, London, England, on 31 Oct 1830.

________

The same information in an Ahnentafel/ Ancestor Report format…

1 Clarence Burgin. Born on 27 Oct 1865 in Rutland, Vermont. Christened in Trinity Church, Rutland, Vermont. Clarence died in Quincy, Massachusetts, on 13 Apr 1943; he was 77. Buried on 16 Apr 1943 in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy, MA.

On 22 Jun 1898 when Clarence was 32, he married Minnie Morton Rodgers in Quincy, MA.

They had the following children:

i.Clarence Rodgers (1899-1990)

ii.Thomas Skudder (1902-1986)

2 Thomas Burgin. Born on 7 Apr 1825 in St. Mary, Somerset, London, England. Thomas was baptized in St. Mary, Somerset, London, England, on 1 May 1825. Thomas died in Springfield, Massachusetts, on 9 Jun 1888; he was 63. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts.

On 23 May 1848 when Thomas was 23, he married Jane Skudder in St. John’s Church, Southwark, Surrey, England.

They had the following children:

i.Thomas (Died as Child) (1851-1854)

ii.John (Died as Child) (1852-1857)

iii.Thomas (1855-1898)

iv.Alfred (1857-1929)

v.Jane “Jennie” (1860-1884)

vi.Edwin (1862-1906)

1 vii. Clarence (1865-1943)

3 Jane Skudder. Born on 30 Jul 1826 in Southwark, Co. Surrey, England. Baptized on 20 Aug 1826 in Bermondsey, St. John Horsleydown, London. Jane died in Quincy, Massachusetts, on 6 Apr 1911; she was 84.

4 John Burgin. Born about 1790 in England. John died in 1855; he was 64. Buried on 26 Dec 1855 in Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth, England.

On 19 May 1816 when John was 25, he married Jane Boak in St. Marylebone, England.

They had the following children:

i.William (1820-)

2 ii. Thomas (1825-1888)

iii.John (1813-)

iv.Jane (1815-)

v.Thomas (Died as Child) (1816-)

vi.Elizabeth (Died as Child) (1818-)

vii.Ann (1823-)

viii.Mary (ABT 1827-

ix.George (1829-1866)

x.Mary (1830-) POSSIBLY NOT PART OF THIS FAMILY ???

5 Jane Boak. Born about 1790 in England.

6 John Skudder. Born abt 1796 in Crayford, Kent, England. John died in Church Row, Southwaite, England, on 24 Jul 1866; he was 70. Buried in 1866 in Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth, England.

Possibly February 19, 1825 when John was 29, he married Mary in Bexley, England.

They had the following children:

3 i. Jane (1826-1911)

ii.Mary Ann (1829-1885)

iii.Eliza aka “Ellen” (1831-1885)

iv.John (1835-)

v.Henry (1838-1838)

vi.Ann (1840-1845)

vii.Emma (1844-1933)

7 Mary. Born in 1801 in Middlesex, England.

8 Thomas Burgin. [POSSIBLE]

Thomas married Mary.

They had one child:

4 i. John (1790-1855)

9 Mary. [POSSIBLE]

10 William Boak. [POSSIBLE]

William married Dorothy.

They had one child:

5 i. Jane (1790-)

11 Dorothy. [POSSIBLE]

_________

OK. That’s it, and while it’s not a lot, it’s a good deal more than we had. I have to say, data aside, I really enjoy seeing these two-hundred year-old (!) slips of paper certifying life events like the baptism of a new child, or wedding banns promised on three successive Sundays, or a bride’s lovely  signature on her wedding certificate. Just another reminder of what I have often mentioned here: these people were as real as you and me, they had as many hopes, fears, satisfactions, misgivings… We are all just passing through.

On a more tactical note, this effort comes close to making me want to actually hire a British genealogist, a well-recommended pro, who knows this stuff like the back of her/ his hand and see what more can be learned.

Otherwise, if some highly motivated relative in the future wants to take up the challenge, this would be the place to start.

Good Luck!