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"Genealogy", or family history research, is nothing new as Henry Burgum found to his great cost in the 1700's. I suggest it contributed to his downfall. His true and remarkable story is a tale of rags to riches, a fake pedigree, of prison, and the suicide of a boy poet. Henry Burgum was born at Littledean, a small village in the Forest of Dean, in 1739. Henry came from humble beginnings, but his move from the Forest of Dean to the City of Bristol early on in his life had a more dramatic effect on him than he could have otherwise imagined. He was apparently aided by one of Edward Colston's charities, and became apprenticed to Allen Bright, a Pewterer on 27th August 1752. He was thirteen and the apprenticeship was to last seven years. The apprentice records indicate that Henry's father was also called Henry Burgum. |
Neither of Henry's parents left a Will, and both died intestate. On 22nd December 1759, shortly after completing his apprenticeship, Henry was granted an Administration on the Goods and Chattels of Henry Burgum (senior) and Elizabeth (Philips) Burgum. Before their deaths, it seems they had been living in the Forest village of Ruardean. Perhaps this inheritance was enough to set Henry up in business.
Bristol was a seething, successful city at this time and one of the principal gateways to Africa, America, and the Far East. The Slave Trade was one of Bristol's most successful industries. According to Richard Smith's "Chattertoniana", Henry is also said to have pounded the mortar for old William Dyer, an Apothecary, who lived on Bristol Bridge. If this were so, it was most likely before his apprenticeship.
It is said that he "rose by his own industry" and the next we hear of young Henry is in 1764 when he was about 25. He placed an advertisement in Felix Farley's Journal, a leading Bristol newspaper of the time; it reads........
HENRY BURGUM, Pewterer, Worm Maker, etc. Being removed from near the Bell in St Thomas Street, to his new house at the corner of St Thomas Street and Redcliff Street, facing the new Bridge; takes this first opportunity of acquainting all persons in general, and his friends in particular, that the merchants trading to Africa and Carolina may be reasonably supplied with every kind of goods in their respective trades; as may also the West India merchants, and Distillers at home, with all sizes of worms; and Country Braziers with Pewter for sale. He likewise sells all sorts of pewter, brass, and copper wares for kitchen furniture. Those who please to honour him with their commands, may depend on every article as cheap and good as can be desired. He likewise returns his thanks to those Gentlemen, who have already been so kind as to favour him with their orders, and hopes (not doubting to give satisfaction) a continuance of their future favours, which will always be gratefully acknowledged. The house he has now left is to be either lett, or sold.
Henry was evidently successful as a Pewterer and entered into a partnership with George Catcott, son of the Master of Bristol Grammar School, A.S. Catcott. They worked as pewterers at No.2 Bridge-place, later named Bridge-parade, facing Bristol Bridge. Bristol Bridge was a wide, public thoroughfare supporting several buildings. By the 18th century, the density of these buildings had increased substantially and pressure of traffic, both across and under the bridge, had compelled the civic authorities to modernise it. All the buildings on the bridge were demolished and the base of the bridge was widened and strengthened.
This modernisation was actually taking place just outside the premises of Henry Burgum and his partner, George Catcott. Indeed, a year before the bridge was completed, George Catcott (who always wanted to be the centre of attention) paid five guineas for the privilege of riding his horse over loose planks that had been temporarily laid there.
Here are two advertisements, promoting the wares of Burgum and Catcott. The first, in Felix Farley's Journal dated 23rd March 1765, reads - BURGUM and CATCOTT, Pewterers, Worm-Makers, etc. At the corner of St Thomas and Redcliff Street, Fronting the New Bridge, Bristol. Take this first opportunity of acquainting all persons in general, and their friends in particular, that they may be reasonably supplied with every kind of goods in the above Businesses; as may also the Merchants trading to Africa and North America; the Distillers at home with Worms of all sizes; and Country-Braziers with pewter for sale. They likewise sell all sorts of Pewter, Brass, and copperwares, for kitchen furniture. Those gentlemen, merchants, or others, who please to confer their favours will be gratefully acknowledged. The second, dated 10th August 1765, reads- OVAL PEWTER DISHES best superfine hard metal and newest fashion, are made and sold 25% under the old price, by Burgum and Catcott, Pewterers and Worm-Makers, at their warehouse, the corner of Redcliff Street, facing the New Bridge, Bristol.
Just along from Bristol Bridge is St Thomas' Church. Although it still stands, it is no longer a parish church. Here, in 1765, Henry married Betty Copner. The parish register indicates that the witnesses were Sarah Tucker and George Symes Catcott.
Amongst the Chatterton papers, a picture exists showing Henry and his wife on a set of miniatures. A date of 1759 is shown on the back of the picture and relates to some other papers - possibly lost. It is not known if these miniatures still exist today. In Felix Farley's Journal for 7th December 1765, an entry read - "Saturday last was married at St Thomas's Church, Mr Henry Burgum, an eminent pewterer, to Miss Betty Copner, who besides a handsome fortune, is rich in every requisite that makes the honourable state amiable.
Thrice happy they in nuptial bonds conjoined, Where the man's prudent and the woman's kind, Long may their torch by winds unruffled burn Then late, yes very late, fill up one urn."
Henry's business, and his standing in local society, appear to have progressed by leaps and bounds and by 1767, he had become Deputy-Governor and Treasurer of the Corporation of the Poor and President of the Grateful Society.
The Grateful Society was founded about 1757 and its task was the placing out of "poor Bristol boys to trades, with a view of rendering many who are deserted by their parents, and unable to work, useful members of society." Henry had experienced, first hand, the Apprenticeship system and the considerable influence it could have on one's life. In 1767, with Henry Burgum as President, the Society had 36 boys in their apprenticeship. On 13th November 1767, the Society met at All Saints' Church to hear divine service and a sermon, before adjourning to Hooper's Hall in King's Street for dinner. £70 was raised in a collection made after dinner.
Also in 1767, Henry Burgum had his portrait painted by John Simmons, a well-known Bristol Artist. He sits large and pompous holding one of his prized music books. Music was to play a significant part in Henry's life.
I learned of the existence of this painting, from an article written by William George, in 1879. It had been reprinted from "Gloucestershire Notes and Queries" in the Stroud Journal, and stated that the painting had once hung in the Picture Galley of Mr Davey, Printseller, of Broadstreet (later to become the Daily Press offices). The same Mr Davey found a lady contemplating the portrait, and later in much distress and crying. She claimed to be a descendent of the family, that the picture had once been in their possession, and that she still owned the waistcoat. Today the painting hangs in the Georgian House - part of the Bristol Museum.
As an aside to his article, William George also discussed a large map of Gloucestershire, made by Taylor, dated 1777. One house, at Yate, was annotated "Mr Burgum" and evidence suggests, as William George had speculated, that this house had indeed belonged to Henry Burgum.
A pewter plate, made by Henry Burgum in 1767, sits in the Powerhouse Museum, in Sydney, Australia. The inscription reads:- The Gift of HENRY and BETTY BURGUM to SARAH BATT on her Marriage with JAMES GAITE at FLAX-BOURTON Somerset, the 6th September 1767. (Records show that the plate was donated to the Powerhouse Museum by a Mr J. S Gaite, of Hurstville, NSW, Australia in 1926).
Henry Burgum living a very comfortable life in one of the most prosperous cities in Europe. He must have felt quite secure, living amongst the wealthy merchants and businessmen of Bristol. He could not have guessed just how dramatically his life was to change.
One character who was to influence Henry's life was one Thomas Chatterton. Chatterton was born in the School House, Pile Street, on 20th November 1753. The building was actually part of Pile Street Free School, where his father had been a Master. Chatterton never knew his father, who died before he was born. The young boy was considered a failure, both in temperament (for he was moody and introverted) and at school (where he was considered dim-witted). Although sympathetic towards Sarah Chatterton, Thomas' mother, the school masters of Pile Street School returned her young son as a lost cause. He spent his early years living close to St Mary's, Redcliff. (Queen Elizabeth the 1st had once called this, the fairest church in her realm.) The church had a great influence on his life and within its shadow, and with some assistance from his mother and sister, he learned to ead.
Eventually, at the age of eight, Chatterton was nominated to Colston's, the Blue Coat School, in Bristol. Chatterton was delighted at this opportunity, for he had developed an insatiable appetite for reading, to the extent that his mother worried that it might affect his health. His enthusiasm, however, was short lived. The regime was strict, and heavily oriented towards religious orthodoxy. The boy did not suffer fools gladly, pupils and masters alike, and instead of being a spring-board to greater things, Chatterton began to regard Colston's School as a strait jacket.
At 14, Chatterton left school, and on the same day became apprenticed to Mr John Lambert, a scrivener. Once again, he found himself confined and restricted. His work hours were from 8am to 8 pm, six days a week, with just two hours to himself before bed at ten. He was paid no money, just given food and lodging which involved eating with the servants, and sharing a bed. The job was not demanding, however, and Chatterton spent more of his time reading, or writing.
On Sundays, Chatterton would rush home to his mother and sister, or rather to his attic room where he could continue with his own studies. On one visit, he came across some old scrap paper, used by his mother as threadpapers. Whether this is discovery was made while he was at school, or later, when he was working for Lambert is not known for certain. Anyway, he examined the paper with interest, noting that the writing was both old and in a different language style to the one he was familiar with. His mother had two boxes, full of the old papers, considered worthless, and originally brought into the home by Chatterton's father. To the young boy, these papers were a treasure, and he took them away to study them.
The papers had come from the Muniment Room, above the porchway in St Mary's Church. Some of the papers were hundreds of years old and had been stored in old chests. The church authorities had broken into the chests after the keys were lost, and much of the contents were considered worthless. There they laid, inside the chests, some scattered on the floor, until the sexton, a relative of the family, removed some of them.
Chatterton found the papers fascinating, and studied in detail the style and language of English used centuries before. He developed a knowledge of ancient documents and records, and invented an imaginary medieval monk named Thomas Rowley. Using antique spelling and vocabulary, he created poems ostensibly written by Thomas Rowley. Amongst those deceived were William Barrett, who was collecting historical data for his "History of Bristol". Although pronounced forgeries later, the Rowley Poems were contested for nearly a hundred years.
Chatterton's first fabrication, published in Felix Farley's Journal in 1768, was an account of the mayor's first passing over the old bridge in 1248. It caused quite a stir in Bristol, and prompted interested readers to seek out the author.
Click here to continue with Chapter One ->
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