John Burden

  General Notes:

John junior and Maria were married by G.W. Kershaw, curate, witnesses were Stephen Burden, Ann Burden, John Burden, Esther Burden, Susannah Osbourne and Elizabeth Burden.
John Junior was a founding member (1859 ) of the 3rd Herefordshire (Ledbury) Rifle Volunteers and was presented with a sword for his services, the following is the inscription on the sword.

Presented to Quartermaster Sergeant J. Burden by the Right Honorable the Earl of Somers, Colonel Fieldin, Majors Heywood and Peploe and the past and present Officers and members of The 3rd Herefordshire (Ledbury ) Rifle Volunteers in token of their appreciation of the great service he has rendered to the Volunteer service in general and The 3rd Herefordshire in particular during a period on nearly 14 years. July 1873.
There is also a framed address.
The Sword and address is in the possession of the writer.
Frank Rosevere Burden, 7th October 2003.

John also composed a song which was dedicated with kind permission to Lieutenant-Colonel Heywood and sung at a dinner given to the 3rd Herefordshire Reserve Volunteers by G.H. Piper, Esq at Court House, May 5th 1876 and sung by J.H. Frowde Esq. ( tune, "The British Grenadiers" )

List to the burden of my song
All Commoners and Peers
I sing of men of Valor strong
The Ledbury Volunteers
For with the rifle and in drill
They act like Grenadiers
May number three maintain their skill
"The Ledbury Volunteers"

Not number "three" but number "one"
Amongst their brave compeers
The "Pride of place" with Honor won
"The Ledbury Volunteers"
List while I sing of earliest days
Of these bold pioneers
Who of their country earned their bays
"The Ledbury Volunteers"

First in the van of fifty nine
Moved by nation's fears
Well Officered at Duty's Shrine
Vowed the Ledbury Volunteers
Somers Right Honourable Earl
First "Commandant" appears
Nobly did he the flag unfurl
Of The Ledbury Volunteers

Heywood "Lieutenant" soldier brave
Late of the "Carbineers"
in discipline first lesson gave
The Ledbury Volunteers
Promoted thence to "Captain" next
As "Major" mounted rears
Now "Colonel"proudly he inspects
The Ledbury Volunteers

Aynsley as "Ensign" none forget
His name evokes our tears
His memory's fragrant to us Yet
The Ledbury Volunteers
Let's toast the "Memory" I recall
E're the wine cup disappears
Pledge it in "Solemn Silence"all
Ye Ledbury Volunteers

These were the men in days of yore
Enrolled in bygone years
Who raised and formed the gallant corps
The Ledbury Volunteers
These were the men the theme renew
Who gained old England's cheers
As they "Marched Past" in grand review
The Ledbury Volunteers

In passing vainly we regret
Resigned good Cavaliers
Their names are cherished by us yet
The Ledbury Volunteers
Lo" Thorold Lewis" Wynniatt's twain
Each on the roll appears
And "Griffin" too did appertain
To The Ledbury Volunteers

Of "Surgeons" one we still retain
A"Wood" whose office veers
Now here now there in battles train
With The Ledbury Volunteers
And come we now to present time
No "Captain" Gazetteers
Yet two Lieutenants in their prime
Head the Ledbury Volunteers

May "Mason" lead the daring band
With "Smith" for many years
Through many bright campaigns command
The Ledbury Volunteers
And should the war-wolf really come
So threatened oft with sneers
First to defend at "beat of drum"
You'll see your Volunteers

They'll march with ardor to the fore
And join "The Bombardiers"
To keep the invaders from our shores
Will England's Volunteers
They stop the crowing and the boast
Of "Gallic Chanticleers"
Keep undefiled dear Albion's coast
Will Albion's Volunteers

They'll keep our homes inviolate still
And all that life endears
And death alone shall quench the will
Of England's Volunteers
And unimpaired shall Britan stand
Throughout all future years
If Britain's sons will guard her stand
Like the present Volunteers

With a "Burden" I began my song
A"Burden" still adheres
As Father he appears among
The Ledbury Volunteers
And proud he is to call them sons
Where none are mutineers
None duty shirks or barely runs
Of Ledbury's Volunteers

And now let's sing "God save the Queen"
Who always perseveres
To please her subjects and to lean
On England's Volunteers
"God save the Queen" we sing again
And Empress of the Spheres
"God bless the Queen and Throne Amen"
Pray all her Volunteers

Ledbury April 1876 Viuat Regina John Burden.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Fact 1: Fact 1. Excerpts from a diary of Walter Pitt, a friend of John Burden

• Fact 2: Fact 2, 28 Jun 1849. Butt, Meacham, John Burden & self at Davies' dinner

• Fact 3: Fact 3, 12 Feb 1852. Down at the Feathers,met Robert Ballard & the two Burden's

• Fact 4: Fact 4, 21 Apr 1852. I was sworn in as Constable for Ledbury Parish also John Burden

• Fact 5: Fact 5, 23 Jul 1852. Drove John Burden to Colwall, dined at the Horse & Jockey

• Fact 6: Fact 6, 28 Jan 1854. Drove John Burden to Worcester & back

• Fact 7: Fact 7, 20 Oct 1854. Hereford Fair,Deakins(landlord of Feathers) drove John Burden & me there

• Fact 8: Fact 8, 7 Mar 1857. Drove John Burden to Worcester & back in new Carrage

• Fact 9: Fact 9, 3 Sep 1857. Drove John Burden to Ross to hear Spurgeon preach

• Fact 10: Fact 10, 13 Jan 1858. Dined with Traherne, John & James Burden & others good dinner,plenty wine

• Fact 11: Fact 11, 18 Jan 1858. Ill with gout, John Burden sent glass of brandy

• Fact 12: Fact 12, 24 Jan 1859. Dined with Terherne, Dr Tanner John Burden & others plenty wine, all drunk

• Fact 13: Fact 13, 24 Nov 1859. Drove John Burden to Ross to witness Rifle Corps meeting

• Baptism, 13 Dec 1809. Independent Church, Ledbury by the Rev Grey

• Occupation, 1841. Woollen Draper & Tailor, High St Ledbury.

John married Maria Roberts Burden on 18 May 1837 in St Nicolas, Worcstershire, England. (Maria Roberts Burden was born in 1806 and died on 21 Dec 1883 in 4 Upper Woburn Place, St Pancras, Midlesex, London.)