John Burden

  General Notes:

Stephen Lea was a witness to the marriage of John and Elizabeth Lea in 1774. Did Elizabeth have Mary as a second name?

The following is a story transcribed from a hand written copy of a letter written by John Burden's (1724 - ?) great great grand daughter Maria Burden wife of John Burden junior and is transcribed verbatim.
Reminiscences of my Great Grand Mother, Mary ?(maybe this is her second name), and of Great Grandfather John Burden of Kidderminster.
One day that my Great Grandmother was taken ill her, daughter-in-law (my Grandmother) and her son Josiah's wife were sent for, and then the doctor was sent for, whom ordered her to bed and to take a composing draught, she wished some mulled elder wine and my Great Grandfather, who was very fond of his wife would mull it for her. My Grandmother (his son Stephen's wife) observed him while doing it that his hand shook very much and wished to do it for him, but he would not consent, he took it up to her. Grandmother went upstairs to her, she was always inclined to make a great fuss when ill, and told my Grandmother she was very ill, the latter said yes mother no doubt you are, but I think just now that poor father is a great deal worse than you are "oh yes" she said thats always the way you are, just like one of Job's comforters. She took the wine he brought her and than he went and sat down in an armchair by the bedroom fire.
While he sat there his wife went to sleep, but he became very restless and unbuttoned the belt he always wore, and than buttoned it . Seeing him so unwell those who were with him advised him to go to bed, and they laid him down beside his wife. After a little while he raised himself to look at her and kissed her cheek, and then lay down with an expression of countenance which my Grandmother felt was like "farewell, I shall see you no more ".
He then turned over in bed and very gently repeated the words
"A guilty meek and helpless worm
On thy kind arms I fall
Be Thou my strength and righteousness
My Jesus and my all "
He died very soon afterwards.
He has always been spoken of as a most amiable, affectionate man, very tall fine man, with fresh colour, a handsome nose, and a very mild expression of countenance, with snow white hair and beard.
My Grandmother was also a very fine handsome woman but of a fidgety irritable disposition, in which her son Benjamin Burden much resembled her. She always dressed in the old style and had a drab satin stuff petticoat very thick, with a dress of the same material open down the front, long waist with point behind and before, close sleeve to the elbow with a large cuff turned back, thick mob cap with the border crimped and hair turned quite back from the forehead with a black ribbon round the head pinned on each side, the ends brought down and tied with a bow under the chin.
My Aunt Sarah from whose lips I wrote down these particulars used to store all her treasures, sweets etc in her Grandmother's large cuffs. She sat in a lone chair, with a number of soft cushions under her, and a green curtain drawn around her chair which was an old fashioned straight backed one, with the green curtain falling from the ceiling and drawn around, according to the season of the year. She was a very indulgent Grandmother. A man and his wife dwelt with them who did the work of the house and waited on them. She would never leave that home in which all her children were born.
Aunt Sarah remembers sitting on a low stool by her mother (my father's mother) reading hymns, and read the hymn, "A debtor of mercy alone" and when she came to the verse "My name from the palms of his hands eternity never cease" her mother stopped her and said "her name was engraved there, she was quite assured of it " and she hoped mine would be there too.
One day during her long illness she rose from her chair in her sick room, and looked out at the window over the green fields and said " Do you think I shall ever walk in those meadows again ? " I said I don't know mother. She said " sometimes I think I shall, but I'd rather go up (pointing upwards) and then repeated "Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood etc.
On the evening of her death when the church meeting had been held a young man of the name of Stockwell called in and she asked him to pray which he wished to decline, but she said " I must hear you pray before I die ". Then she said " do sing and I will join you, she then set the tune herself and sang with them all through the hymn. " Come we that love the Lord" etc.
In the middle of the day she repeated the words " then when ye hear my heart strings breath, how sweet my minutes roll " A mortal paleness in my cheek, But glory in my soul.
She was borne to the grave, and the Deacons of the church walked by the side of the carriers, their names were Mr Best, Mr Butler and the Rev Steele was her esteemed Minister.
This description was written by Aunt Maria ( Mrs ) John Burden Jnr, of Ledbury, Herefordshire. (date unknown)

John married Elizabeth Lea on 12 Nov 1744 in Old Swinford, Worcestershire, England. (Elizabeth Lea was born about 1724 in Unknown.)