May Burdett was my great-grandmother. She was born in 1884 in Spixworth, St. Faith’s, Norwich, South Norfolk, England. Her parents were William Burdett and Susannah Elizabeth Willimott.
She married Harry Frederick Potter, my great-grandfather.
She died Sept, 1964 at age 81 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England.
Burdett Surname
According to surnamedb.com:
This interesting and uncommon name is of Old French origin, introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066, and distinguished by being first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. It has two possible interpretations; firstly, it may be a diminutive form of an Old Germanic personal name, “Burdo”, of now obscure origins, which has also generated the surnames Burditt, Burden, Burdon, Burdoun and Bourdon.
The personal name is recorded in Norfolk in 1166: Hamo filius (son of) Burdun. The second possible derivation is from the Old French “bourdon”, a pilgrim’s staff, where Burdett is again a diminutive form of the surname. The term was used as a nickname for a pilgrim, or for one who carried a pilgrim’s staff.
Recordings of the surname from London Church Registers include: Frances Burdytt (1579); Joane Burditt (1583); the christening of Richard Burdett at St. Giles’ Cripplegate, on December 26th 1594; and the marriage of William Burdett and Frances Pindlebury, at the same church, on May 21st 1620.
A Coat of Arms granted to a Burdett family of Surrey depicts, on a blue shield, two gold bars, on each three red martlets. The Crest is a black lion’s head erased, langued red.
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Burdet, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Leicestershire, during the reign of King William 1, known as “William the Conqueror”, 1066 – 1087.
http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Burdett#ixzz2agLEFbUz
‘of Burdet’
This surname is derived from a geographical locality. ‘of Burdet.’ Invariably without prefix, with one exception. But this one instance is valuable. Probably, as Hugh and Robert Burdet occur in Domesday, the family hail from some spot in Normandy, and ‘came in with the Conqueror.’
Hugh Rurdet, and Robert Burdet, occur as tenants in Domesday. The former, who was ancestor of the baronets of Bramcote, was settled in co. Leicester. The baronets of Burthwaite seem to be of another family, and bear different arms. The origin of the name is unknown; that it is not local is shown by the non-existence of the territorial Be in the earliest records.
From <http://forebears.io/surnames/burdett>
Robert Burdet, Prince of Tarragona
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_d’Aguil%C3%B3
Robert d’Aguiló (c. 1100 – c. 1159), also known as Robert Bordet, was a Norman knight who moved from Normandy to Catalonia in the early 12th century. He was a native of Cullei (modern Rabodanges in Orne, France), as reported by Orderic Vitalis, and his name d’Aguiló is a catalanized form of “d’Aculley” or “de Culley” that he adopted after marrying the daughter of a Catalan noble.
From <http://thesaurus.babylon.com/Robert%20d’Aguil%C3%B3#!!TMEVPV7M3X>
Horsham St Faith
Records of settlement at Horsham St Faith date back to Saxon times. In 1186 the Domesday Book records William Malet, who fought beside William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, as Lord of the Manor. He oversaw a settlement that consisted of two water mills, several homesteads and a population of about 200.
Many buildings in the parish contain reused medieval stonework from the priory. The main entrance to the 19th century Mission Room, now the village hall, is built of reused masonry and there is a Norman arch and a sedilia inside. Gildencroft, a 17th century brick house, has a freeze of ashlar blocks on its main façade and during the 1990s decorated pieces were removed from a barn at Mill Farm. Mill Farm gets its name from a watermill that stood nearby during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and was demolished in the 1930s. The site of a windmill is marked on late 18th century maps to the north of Horsham village. It was rebuilt in 1849, was last used in 1882 and stood alongside the St Faith Union workhouse. This workhouse was constructed during the 18th century, rebuilt in 1805 and extended during the 19th century. No trace of it remains and there is now a crematorium on the site.
http://www.broadland.gov.uk/leisure_and_tourism/1176.asp
Burdetts in Horsham St Faith
Most of my relatives on the Burdett side came from Horsham St Faith, Norfolk. More than a few were farmers.
Horsham was known for its annual agricultural fair, where dealers would come from as far away as Ireland and Scotland to trade.
On 17 October from the early 12th century until 1872 it played host to one of the country’s largest cattle fairs. This fair was held to the south of Spixworth Road around Bullock Hill and Calf Lane.
In the 1891 England Census, she is listed as age 7, , living in St Faith, Sprowston, Spixworth, Norfolk. Household members included her parents William, 39, Elizabeth, 38, older brothers George W., 13, Harry, 12, Walter, 9, and younger brothers Frank, 4, Jessie, 2, and sister Kate, 1/12.
In the 1901 England Census, she is listed as age 17 living in East Wymer, Norwich, with the Pilgrim family. She worked as a servant for the wealthy Pilgrim family.
Household members were Henry J, 56, Catherine (nee Bird), 55, Ernest, 19, Frank, 17, May Pilgrim, 15, and May Burdett.
The Pilgrims were married 25 Dec 1865, St. Augustine, Norwich.
HITCHIN NEWSPAPER
AUGUST 20, 1965
I met this week a grand old lady aged 90 who must be one of the oldest members of Hitchin’s Brand Street Methodist Church.
Mrs Pilgrim, who has been a widow for 38 years, lives with her neice, Mrs Jessie Wilson.
I found this grand Scots lady sitting downstairs busily chatting to her neice and a neighbour when I called at Mrs Wilson’s home.
Mrs Pilgrim, who is blind and deaf, obviously enjoys a nice long talk because her handicaps make it impossible for her to watch and hear television.
She has lived with her neice for 26 years – 19 of them in Hitchin at the Heathfield Road house.
Mrs Wilson has twin sons and a daughter, and now the boys are living away from home, Mrs Pilgrim misses their lively company. She often gets up for meals, and until last march, she was a regular attender at the Brand Street Church, where she has been a member for 18 years.
And, Mrs Pilgrim shares the distinction of being, surely, one of the few people left who are drawing the widow’s pension from the 1814-18 war.
“My aunt has always been active and independant, and it makes a difference now she is confined to the house” said Mrs Wilson.
The Burdett Family
The Burdett family and their ancestors have many generations living in the areas around Horsham, St. Faith’s.
May’s father, William, was born in 1851, Newton, St Faith, Norfolk. He married Elizabeth Willimott.
William’s father (My 3rd Great Grandfather) was Simon Burdett. He was married to a “Mary Ann”.
Simon Burdett’s Father…
My 5th Great Grandfather was Francis Burdett (1760-1815). (Not the famous Sir Francis Burdett).
His wife was Ann Adams, 1762 – 1849.
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818de99e93790eca3fcdce2?search_id=5a76dffef493fd77191c7002&ucf=false
Children of Francis and Ann
Nimrod Burdett 1723 – 1814
Mary Wasey 1732 – 1814
Mary Adams 1782 – 1859
Elizabeth Burdett 1784 –
Jonathan Burdett 1785 – 1866
Simon Burdett 1787 –
William Burdett 1790 –
Elizabeth Burdett 1794 –
My 4th Great Grandfather, Jonathan Burdett was born 28 Mar 1785, baptized 10 Apr 1785, in Norwich, Norfolk.
He married Martha Broom. They had a son, Simon, born in 1831. Simon’s wife, Mary Ann, was born in 1835.
They had another son, James Burdett.
In 1845, James Burdett (son of Johnathan Burdett and Martha Broom) marries Maria Larwood bet Apr – Jun 1845 in St. Faiths.
Martha was the daughter of Simon Larwood and Charlotte Osborne.
They had 5 children, though they lost their first at age 2.
Charlotte 1848-1850
James 1853
Charlotte 1855
Rebecca 1860
Ruth 1864-1871
George R. Burdett (born 1850) was the son of Robert Burdett and Mary Ann Larwood.
In 1851 Census Robert Burdett, a Farmers labourer, was living at Lower Hellesdon Lane, Hellesdon, Coslany, son George; and lodger George Rosebeach.
In the 1851 Census, Jonathans occupation was given as a Market Gardener. Their address was Cooks Farm, St.Faiths.
Another Jonathan Burdett was bap. 09 Oct 1853, son of Robert, labourer and and Mary Ann.
Elizabeth Willimott born 1855 in St. Faiths, Norwich, Norfolk
George Broom (1855-1942) born to William Broom (St Faiths) married Ellen Broom (born Baker) had 15 children.
Henry Burdett, blacksmith, born 1856, Hellesdon, Norwich, Norfolk.
http://blacksmiths.mygenwebs.com/norfolk-1.php
In 1861 Census Robert , Wife and six sons were living at Killerdon, Horsham St.Faiths, Norfolk
In 1865, the Post Office Directory of Norfolk & Suffolk had him on Dereham Road along with a few neighbours.
John Hill, John Middleton, Rev. John Joseph James Kempster, Rev Richard Hayward Kidd, George Parke, Edward Shalders, Henry Shaw, Henry Bassett, Charles James Watts, John Johnson Whaltes, J. Muskett, E. Short, J. Youngs, John Burcham, corn dealer, Francis Chiddick, shopkeeper, Abraham Coleman, photographer, James Coldham, Barn, Henry Coldham, budtcher, Alfred Coldham, cooper, Martha Copeman, seminary, George Lovett, builder, Thomas Mason , shoe maker, William Mason, shopkeeper, William Mortimer Reindeer, Norwich New Cemetery, Dereham Road. John Sheldrick, Crystal Palace, Sarah Gostling, Robin Hood, Francis Ames, Robert Bacon, Swiss Cottage, William Pratt, clock maker, William Lake, academy, O. Osborne, John Winkel, machinist, Anne Jeffries, tea dealer, John Street, Dereham Road. Sarah Turner, shopkeeper & post office, William Turner, boot & shoe maker, Palace Street, Pitt Street, tailor , George Back, James Stubbings, James Harwin, tea dealer
Jonathan Burdett died in 1866 at age 80.
Charlotte Burdett marries Walter Paul on Sept 1873, children William, Frederick, Arthur, Sophia, Laura, Walter, May, Amelia, Percy, Herbert.
1873 was the year the Twinnings tea family helped to restore The Church of St Mary and St Andrew.
Jonathan Burdett was buried 30 Jul 1874 in Lower Hellesdon, St Mary.
Walter Burdett (son of Simon) married Alice Bayer on Bet. Oct – Dec 1877
William White’s History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883 has Benjamin Burdett as a farm-steward.
Laura Burdett was b. Abt 1881, daughter of Walter Burdett and Alice Bayer.
In 1881 Census, Robert is described as a Farm Bailiff aged 56, living with his wife Mary Ann, Family of five and George Holman 60 Blacksmith at Cross Farm, Hellesdon.
The 1881 UK census lists Henry (Harry) as 25yrs,living at 5 Canns Buildings, Hellesdon Rd, Norwich, with wife Fanny 22yrs(born Hellesdon) and son George.R. Burdett 2mths infant.
Additional Families
Some other family names of relatives are Paul, Bayer, Smith, Florence, Osborne, Larwood, Turner, Swash, Buck, Grint, and Broom.