|
a.
|
Note: The First Generation CtabDThe Public Records Office at Kew, England reveal the first record found for our Richard Burbridge, and refers to his army service with the Royal Eastern Regiment of Middlesex Militia, in which he was a private. the date is December, 1812; he is some 22 years of age, and stationed in Dublin, Ireland. CtabDOn April 5, 1814, he transferred / joined the then famous 95th Infantry Regiment, commonly called the Rifle Brigade, and later to be known as the Green Jackets, from the color of their tunics which were dark green rather than the traditional red with crossed white webbing. He was in the first battalion. CtabDHe was promoted to Corporal, 12 October 1814 which rank he held at the Battle of Waterloo. He was wounded that day June 18, 1858 and convalesced at a hospital near Paris, France. CtabDWhile stationed at Bourden, near Cambray, France, he was promoted to Sergeant. The date was 11 December 1817. His promotion to Corporal, then Sergeant, would indicate he was literate. CtabDAnother entry in the army records show him at Carrick Fergus, near Belfast in Ireland. While there he joined the True Blue Lodge #253, of the Masonic Order and he was the 36th member. the year is 1824 and Richard is now about 34 years of age. CtabDThe first battalion of the Rifle Brigade arrived in Canada at Halifax, N.S. September 1, 1825 aboard three troop transports. Detachments were sent to Annapolis, P.E.I., Windsor, Cape Breton and York Redoubt. In 1829, aboard three transports, they arrived at Saint John, N.B. with detachments to Fredericton and St. Andrews. Presumably this is when Richard arrived in Fredericton, where on 31 Dec. at age 41 he received an honorable discharge, as a private, and received 27œ 7sh 6d, a large sum in those days. CtabDOn 27 Feb. 1832, Richard petitioned the Honorable Thomas Baillie, the Governor of the province, to be allowed to continue to live in a small house, and to cultivate a small plot of ground, on the riverside of the barracks on Queen St. in Fredericton. It is not known if his petition was granted, nor is it known if he was married at the time. CtabDSamuel Parr George Burbridge was born 25 April 1835 to Richard Burbridge, labourer, age 45 and Jane Burbridge. The Rec. Samuel Bacon of St. Mary's Chapel baptised the child on 10 May 1835. CtabDA record of Richard's marriage to Jane has not been found, as of this writing, nor is it known who she was or from whence she came. CtabDIntenture #305 at the Registry office in Newcastle, N.B. dated 5 July 1836, shows that Richard bought some property in Chatham from Francis Peabody and his wife Lydia. The property was located at the northwest corner of the intersection of King and Howard Streets. Peabody later became the founder of Chatham in 1896 when the town was incorporated. CtabDFour more children were to follow. They were John in 1836, Jane about 1838, Thomas about 1839 and Mary in 1840. CtabDOn June 3, 1839 Jane and Richard sold all or part of their property on Howard Street to a William Houd. This is recorded in Newcastle under Indenture #306. CtabDAt this time, about 1841 something happened to Jane, for on Oct. 20, 1840 Richard, at age 50 married Mary Ann Shank(s?). The 1851 census for Chatham lists Mary Ann as 38 years of age, and from Nova Scotia. Hence she was 27 or 28 at the time of her marriage to Richard. CtabDThere were seven children from this marriage, namely, Richard, Henry, William, Joseph, Susan, Sarah and Mary. CtabDIn the book, "David's Kingdom," by W.A. Spray of Chatham, regarding the history of St. Mary's Chapel, notes that Richard Burbridge was the first verger or sexton of that beautiful church. His first son, George, held the same position at a later date. The salary was 10œ per year. Richard Burbridge passed away June 30, 1866, age 75 years. His obituary was on the front page of the Northern Post and Weekly Advertiser, of Chatham, dated 4 Aug. 1866. It stated he was a native of Whistleton, County of Northampton, England, which place has not been located. A Whiston exists, although his army records show he was born in Cottingham, a village also in the same area. No mention was made of his wife or family, but it did proclaim his excellent standing in the community. CtabDIt is interesting to note that Mary Ann Burbridge stated, on every census, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1891 that she was from Nova Scotia. She was born about 1813, and presumably moved in 1828 to the Miramichi with her family when she was about 15. However in 1881 she recorded she was of German origin. CtabDIn the parish records for St. Mary's Chapel, Chatham, there is an entry for the birth or baptism of a daughter Sophia to Phillip and Ann Shank dated 11 Dec. 1831. a second entry is for a son, Phillip, who was baptised May 1, 1835. Further research may show that Phillip and Ann Shank were related to Mary Ann. Bibliography Private correspondence - Mr. A.J. McMillan, Dorking, England. Petition of R. Burbridge to Sir T. Baillie - Microfilm #1174/F 4214. Private correspondence - Mr.. and Mrs.. S. LeMarquand, Chatham, N.B. Private correspondence - Mrs.. Reginald Burbridge, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jackets of Green - Arthur Bryant. The Waterloo Roll Call - C. Dalton (1904). Private correspondence - Canadian Forces Records Centre, Ottawa, Canada. Private correspondence - the Grand Secretary - Masonic Lodge, Saint John, N.B. Northumberland Co. Registry Office - Newcastle, N.B. National Army Museum - London, England. Provincial Archives of Nova Scotia - Halifax, N.S. Census for Chatham, N.B. - 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881. Adventures in the Rifle Brigade - Captain J. Kincaid. Private correspondence - Worshipful Company of Masons, London, England. Records - St. Paul and St. Mary's Anglican Church, 1824 - 1869. The Northern Post and Weekly Advertiser, Chatham, N.B., August 4, 1866: DEATH CtabDAt his residence in Chatham, on Tuesday, the 30th day of June, RICHARD BURBRIDGE, in his 76th year. The deceased was a native of Whistleton in the County of Northampton, England. He enlisted as private in the Rifle Brigade stationed at Belfast (A.D.?) 1814, and was successively appointed to the grades of Corporal and Sergeant. He served three years in France, and was engaged at the battle of Waterloo, where he was wounded; afterwards, he served six years in North America, where he received his discharge on account of good conduct. He was, probably, the oldest Freemason on the Miramichi, and had attained the rank of the Royal (Arch?). For years past he officiated as Tyler in the Lodge at Chatham where he was ever "faithful to his trust." His remains were accompanied to the grave by the volunteer Company of Chatham, headed by the brethren of the Mystic Tie, and the last respects were paid to his body by burying it with Military and Masonic honors. He was a good friend, a fond father, and died, we believe, without leaving one enemy behind him. (Research):Fought in the Battle of Waterloo under the Duke of Wellington. He served 10 years with 4th Battalion 60th Rifles and was in the Battle of Waterloo where he was wounded in the foot. Being a mason, the members of that body followed his remains which were interred in St. Paul's Church Yard
|