The Burgar/Burgess families in Shetland
Fourth GenerationJames Burger (1830 - 1906) - son of Robert Burgher (1781- ?) son of John Burgher (born about 1750) son of ? James Burger was born on 14 January 1830 in Hillwell Dunrossness,7,14,16,18,19 and died on 29 October 1906 at the age of 76 in South Scousburgh.26 He appears in the 1841 to 1891 Censuses. In the 1851 Census he was living with Uncle John Marshal in Hillwell Dunrossness, but from 1861 to 1891 he was living in South Scousburgh as a Fisherman and Crofter.18,19 It is possible that he had a Seamans Tickets in 1853-1856. (Details to be checked) In 1889 The Crofters' Commission visited Shetland to sort out fair rents for the crofters. James Burgess, along with every other crofter in Shetland, applied for a reduction in rent. The evidence to the Commission was reported in the Shetland News.67 See report in Shetland News concerning evidence of James Burgess of South Scousburgh Months later the outcome was that his rent was reduced from £7 to £5. He was also in arrears to the amount of £1-4s-1d and this was cancelled. The outcome of the Commission was presented in the Shetland News.68 See summary of the findings of the Crofters' Commision James Burger and Elizabeth Henderson were married on 11 December 1856 in Dunrossness.23,26,29 Elizabeth Henderson, daughter of William Henderson and Elizabeth Smith, was born on 16 September 1836 in South Scousburgh.7,16,26 Elizabeth died on 3 December 1878 at the age of 42 in South Scousburgh.26,29 James Burger and Elizabeth Henderson had the following children:
After Elizabeth's death in 1878, James Burger married Ellen Gilbertson in 1882 in Lerwick.26,29 Ellen Gilbertson was born in 1837 in Braemire Dunrossness,19 and died on 12 June 1926 at the age of 89 in Scousburgh.26 |