Looking for the Burnhams

[Lindsay]

I have Wills for Joseph Burnham of Eton, a bargemaster (1784) and his wife Mary (1798).

Joseph mentions his son Thomas, one of his executors; Mary mentions a deceased son John and daughters Elizabeth Mason, Sarah Gregory and Mary Pearce, but both imply there are other children.

I can't see baptisms for any of the family. Can anyone spot them?

I suspect Joseph and Mary are the parents of my 4xg-grandfather Joseph Burnham, a lighterman, who baptised 8 children at Eton 1803-1817 but I need to prove it - especially as googling brings up a lot of interesting links for Burnhams in the 1700s if only I can get back there!

[kiterunner]

FamilySearch:
Elisabeth Burnham christened 30 Jan 1757 Wooburn, Buckingham, parents Joseph and Mary
John Burnham christened 14 Feb 1759 Wooburn, Buckingham, parents Joseph and Mary

[kiterunner]

28 Mar 1780 Eton, Buckingham: William Mason married Elisabeth Burnham (also from FamilySearch)

[kiterunner]

31 Jan 1788 Upton cum Chalvey, Buckingham: Thomas Gregory married Sarah Burnham.

[kiterunner]

And 27 Mar 1780 at Eton, so the day before Elisabeth's wedding: Joseph Pearce married Mary Burnham.

[kiterunner]

Mary Burnham baptised 31 May 1752, parents Joseph and Mary. FamilySearch has the place name down as St Marlow but residence as Little Marlow, so I reckon they have mistranscribed "Lt" as "St".

[kiterunner]

Hmm, there is a baptism for a Sarah Burnham, daughter of Joseph and Mary, 6 Apr 1753 at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. Possible?

[kiterunner]

Joseph Burnham married Mary Beck 1 Jan 1749 at Great Marlow, Buckingham, so there should be another child or two before Mary jr; probably Thomas fits in there.

[kiterunner]

Ah, FamilySearch has the baptism of a Thomas Burkham 1 Jun 1750 at Wooburn, Buckingham, parents Joseph and Mary; maybe a mistranscription? Got to go and eat now.

[ElizabethHerts]

For the record, in my tree there is a Burnham family from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

John Patten Burnham married Mary Cox in 1720 at Thame, Oxfordshire. He was an attorney and coroner. His son James Burnham married into my Rose family from Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire.

I haven't come across many Burnhams in my research, which is why I mention this.

[Lindsay]

Thank you, those baptisms look interesting. I don't know why I didn't see them - I really struggle with FamilySearch since they 'improved' it.

Interesting that they seem to have moved around. I wonder if they were using the waterways? It gives me a clue where to look for more information, and perhaps the birth of Joseph.

There does seem to be a cluster of Burnhams in Buckinghamshire. Perhaps we'll find a connection, Elizabeth!

[Lindsay]

H'm, maybe those dates look a bit of a stretch. If Joseph and Mary were having children in the 1750s, it's possible one of the children could have children themselves in the 1800s but it's pushing it.

Off to look for more information...

[Lindsay]

Just to summarise, to make sure I don't end up going over old ground next time I look at this branch...

Joseph and Mary baptised 5 children 1750-1759. Possibly there are other children whose baptisms are not yet on line. There's no identifiable son named Joseph, for instance.

My 4G-grandfather Joseph could be a younger son, or he could be a son of Thomas (bap. 1750) or another, unknown son. The connection with boats and the use of family names make it very likely they are connected in some way.

Well, I haven't quite got there yet, but I've made more progress on this line in the last couple of weeks than I ever thought I would!