Photo’s courtesy of “Have Paws will travel !” – Findagrave website. Many thanks to a stranger’s generosity.
William E. Burdett was the only son of Francis J. & Lizzie Burdett (nee Roberts). Their wedding was recorded in the Overton Parish Register of St Mary’s Church. On the 22nd February 1887 Francis John Burdnett, a 34 year old Gamekeeper who was the son of William Burdnett – also a Gamekeeper, married Lizzie Roberts the 25 year old daughter of Edward Roberts, a labourer.
The 1891 census recorded William aged 2, living with his parents and sister Emma, 3, at Dee Bank, Overton, Flintshire. Francis, 38 was a Gamekeeper and had been born in Buxton, Norfolk. Lizzie, 30, had been born at Overton, as had the children.
The 1901 census recorded the family living at the Gamekeepers House, Alveley, Shropshire. Francis’ s age was listed as 40 (which does not tally with previous evidence. It should have said 48). Lizzie was 38. Their listed children were William 13 and Margaret 11. (Again, this does not tally with the previous census) It is possible that the daughter’s full name was Margaret Emma. It is also possible that Emma, the eldest child had died. We learn in 1911 that 3 children had died to these parents.It would seem that this is the correct family but the census does not make a lot of sense.
William by the 1911 census, had moved far away, to 12, Sheet Street, New Windsor, Berkshire. He was in the employ of Frances S. Fyfe, 32, a single lady of Private means. He was one of 3 servants and was the ‘Carman’. He was 21, single and had been born in Overton, Flintshire.
The 1911 census tells us a little more about the rest of the family. Francis was by then, a widower. He and and his unmarried daughter Margaret, 23, were recorded on the 1911 census living at Northwood, Ellesmere, Shropshire. Francis, 58, was still a Gamekeeper and had stated on the form that he had been married for 18 years and that 5 children had been born Three of them had sadly died. (The Enumerator had actually crossed out this information as Francis was a widower but it gives us some important family history).
William’s mother Lizzie had died in 1906 in Flintshire. (Thanks to the Whale Family Tree on Ancestry).
UK Soldiers who Died in the Great War 1914-19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for William Burdnutt. It confirms his regimental details at the top of this page and tells us that he was born in Overton-on-Dee and enlisted in Keighley. His residence at the time of enlistment was Sedbergh, Yorkshire. It also tells us that he was formerly Private 3715 of the W. Riding Regiment.
The UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for William. His sole Legatee was his father Francis who was paid £16 9s 3d on the 27th September 1919, this included his War Gratuity of £12 10s.
There is a Flintshire WW1 Index Card (Overton F 3) in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Record Office at Hawarden. It gives his address as Maeslewis, Knowlton, Ellesmere and tells us that his Period of Service was from Feb. 1916 tio April 1918. He served in France and was killed on the 26th April 1918. The card was signed by Francis Burdnett on the 11th April 1919.
William Burdett’s sister Margaret married Harry Morgan who was also killed in the war and is listed on the Overton memorial.