John Burden

   Cause of his death was Senile Decay as certified by J Loveridge.

  General Notes:

John senior was in the 86th Royal County Down Regiment of Foot, (formally known as the Shropshire Volunteers until 1806, and became the Leinster Regiment 1806 to 1812) for ten years, and was in India in 1799 with the Regiment marching to reinforce the army under General Baird besieging Seringapatam when the news met them that the city was taken and Tippoo Saib killed. They were afterwards ordered to Egypt to take part in the campaign there against the French " Army of the East ". The following is the story of their travel to Cairo.
They left India in December 1800 under the command of Lt-Col Llyod and arrived at Suez in May 1801. On the 6th June in the evening they commenced a march on Cairo. the distance from Suez to Cairo is 78 miles, an extra 12 miles - making it 90 miles had to be traversed to avoid a party said to be sent out by the French to intercept the the column. Water could only be found at one place, El-Khankha (12 miles from Cairo). Three pints of water per man were carried on camels, but it went bad. Salt pork rations had also been issued, but these the men threw away, as they knew if they ate them their thirst would be worse. The thermometer read 109 degrees at the commencement of the march, and rose eventually to 116 degrees. The Arab guides informed Colonel Lloyd that if the camels remained resting on the ground too long they would become so stiff that they would be unable to go on without water.
With very few halts the Company marched on and on, the officers and men suffered terribly from heat and the hot south wind which commenced to blow soon after the start, 17 men were too exhausted to proceed any further, and camels were left behind with them to bring them on after. About 4pm on the 8th of June, the springs of El-Khankah were reached, so that the troops had marched 78 miles in less than 48 hours on three pints of water and no food. Eight of the seventeen left behind joined at El-Khakah, but the others died in the desert.
The three companies joined the combined British and Turkish forces for a march on Cairo. the French there (14,000 strong) were led to believe that the forces from India (the six companies of the 86th) were much greater than they really were. In consequence, the French thinking that large forces from Europe and India were joining hands to attack him in Cairo, decided to offer surrender if he was allowed to withdraw his troops in peace to a seaport and from there be taken back to France. this surrender took place and the British troops entered Cairo on 11th July 1801.
John returned to England soon after and after being discharged from the army married and settled in Ledbury.
John and Mary Bigg were married by Ben Norris, curate, witnesses were Susan Bigg and Edward Tapp.
John was awarded the General Order medal with the Egypt bar in 1850 ( 49 years after he left the army ) and it was accompanied by a letter, as follows.

Lt General Lord FitzRoy Somerset is directed by The Commander in Chief to transmit to J Burden late of the 86 Regiment the Medal graciously awarded to him by Her Majesty, under The General Order of the 12th Feburary 1850, the receipt of which he is to acknowledge.

Horse Guards
19th Sept 1850



To Lt General, Lord FitzRoy Somerset
My Lord
I beg to inform your Lordship that I have this day duly received the Medal graciously awarded to me by Her Magisty, under the order of the 12th Feb 1850 and whilst I thus acknowledge its receipt I beg to express the satisfaction I feel in accepting such a token of my Soverign's approbation for such services.
I have the honor to be with respect, your Lordships humble servant
J. Burden
late of the 86th Reg
Ledbury
September 20th 1850.

This medal and letter are in the possession of the writer, Frank Rosevere Burden.
7th October 2003

  Medical Notes:

Loveridge was present at the time of John's death according to the death certificate issued on the 13th day of September 1872. John lost his sight some years prior to his death.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Military service, 1793. John was in the 86th Royal County Down Regement of Foot in India in 1799 and in Egypt in 1801

• Occupation, 1841. Mercer and Woollen Draper, High St Ledbury

• Baptism, 1 Apr 1777. Kidderminster Old Meeting House, Worcestershire

• Probate, 23 Dec 1872. Probate granted, with a codicil. Codicil added 1.7.1872

• Will, 30 Nov 1860. John's will witnessed by Miles. A. Wood, Surgeon. Chas' Edwards, Grocer. Bennett Blakeway, Clerk to Mr J.L. Smith, Solicitor, all of Ledbury.

• Will, 1 Jul 1872. Codicil added to will, witnessed by Jos. L. Smith, Solicitor and Miles A. Wood, F.R.C.S. both of Ledbury.

John married Mary Bigg, daughter of James Bigg and Elizabeth, on 8 Jun 1807 in St Swithins, Worcester, England. (Mary Bigg was born in 1780 in Worcester, England, died on 29 Oct 1856 in High Street, Ledbury, England and was buried in Oct 1856 in Old Churchyard, At The Top Of Church Lane, Ledbury, Top Left Corner.)