Fourth Generation

James Burger (1830 - 1906) - son of Robert Burgher (1781- ?) son of John Burgher (born about 1750) son of ?

To Parents page

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.

See Census returns

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:

		Elizabeth Burgess was born on 30 June 1858 in Dunrossness.16,22,29  and died on 22 July 1877 at the age of 19 in South Scousburgh.26
		Jane Burger - Details will be added in due course
		Andrina Burger - Details will be added in due course
		William Burgess   (Ancestor of Jack & Robbie Burgess)
		Robert Burger was born on 3 April 1866 in Dunrossness, 18,22,26,29  and was baptized on 3 September 1866.  Robert died on 15 May 1884 at the age of 18 in Chicago USA.26  He was in Farm Labourer in 1881.18
		James Andrew Burgess - Details will be added in due course
		Mary Burger - Details will be added in due course
		Grace Burges was born on 22 July 1874 in Noss Dunrossness.18,19,22,26,29  In the 1891 Census, she was living in South Scousburgh and was a Knitter.19
		Margaret Burges was born on 22 December 1876 in Dunrossness,18,19,26,29  and died on 19 July 1930 at the age of 53 in South Scousburgh.26 In the 1891 Census, she was living in South Scousburgh and was unmarried and a Knitter.19
		John Laurence Burgess - Details will be added in due course
		George Burgess was born on 24 November 1878 in South Scousburgh, 26  and died on 6 December 1878 at the age of 0 in South Scousburgh.26

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