I'm hoping some of you may be able to help me inregards to the identity of my ancestor, George Richard Burgess. I'll outline below what I know.
He was purportedly born in Whitchurch, Shropshire around 1819, he gives this as his birthplace on the 1851,61 and 71 censuses.
He married Ann Peacock some time prior to 1838, probably in the Stockport region. There is a marriage in Manchester of a George Burgess and an Ann Peacock in 1837, this marriage gives his occupation as a labourer of Didsbury though, and his father as George Burgess a surgeon. He also makes his mark, which seems very odd for a surgeons son, and his later occupations (if this is the correct marriage).
First daughter Sarah Ann is born in Stockport in 1838, followed by a son George in Newcastle, Staffordshire in 1841. The family are resident in Stockport in 1841, but the page is badly damaged
Another child Henry, is born in Sheffield in 1845, he seems to have died young, followed by a son John in Norwich in 1850. The family are lodging in Melton Mowbray on the 1851 census, mistranscribed as "Barges". Georges occupation is now Rope Maker.
The family settle, finally, in Boston Lincs after this, and the remainder of their children, Edwin born 1852, Joseph born 1853, Rosetta born 1857, Alfred born 1858 and Ellen born 1860 were all born here. However Sarah Ann marries in Stepney in 1857, to William Pinder Foster, giving her fathers occupation as Compositor. The two do settle in Boston though by the following year
1861 census gives Georges occupation as Grocer, presumably in partnership with his son in law William. However by 1871 the family has moved to Bethnal Green where George is employed as a Factory Manager. my understanding is that this was probably a Laundry Blue factory.
The following year George, Ann and the younger children all emigrate to New Zealand, Auckland specifically. I have the New Zealand lives of George and Ann reasonably well mapped, and the lives of their children who did emigrate as well (all bar George jr who disappears subsequent to the 1861 census). Both George and Ann died in 1892, neither left a will that went to probate.
The identities of George and his wife remain enigmas though, there is a family of Burgess's in Whitchurch but from a perusal of their wills there are no stray George's.
Also the constant change of occupations, and the incredibly varied locations for the birth of their children have caused confusion.
One thing to note is that I have been unable to find a single baptism for any of the children, possibly they were dissenters?
If this would be more suitable on another board feel free to move it, but the only constant in his life is his birthplace so I thought Shropshire would be the best place for it.
Thanks in advance and apologies for any errors, im typing this from memory on an ipad which is far from ideal.