John Walter Burgin was born on the 20th October 1896 and was baptised at St Thomas Church Kimberworth on the 8th July 1897, there is no fathers name or mothers name on the church baptism record only the surname Burgin. There is a note stating an address which is 3 Joiner Street, unable to find a Sarah Burgin living at this address, did her parents throw her out when they found out she was pregnant, something we will never know. I think that John Walter Burgin was probably an illegitimate child, father unknown
I found a Sarah Burgin who was born in Worsborough during 1873 and baptised at St Thomas Church on the 17th August 1873, parents John & Mary Burgin living at 29 Grove Street in 1881, Sarah is age 8, on the 1891 Census Sarah would be age 18 but is not shown on the Census.
In the fourth quarter of 1898 Sarah Burgin was Married to Tom Armitage, they did not change John’s surname to Armitage.
1901 Census:- John age 4 is living with his mother Sarah Armitage (nee Burgin) age 27 born in Worsborough, and his stepfather Tom Armitage age 24 born in Huddersfield, occupation Underground Labourer at Coal Mine. They are living at 4 Parkinson Road, Worsborough.
1911 Census:- John now age 14 occupation Door Keeper in Coal Mine (Underground Worker) is living with his parents Tom Armitage (Tom has now added the Christian name Ellam to the Census Record) age 31 occupation Coal Miner Hewer and mother Sarah – no occupation, brother Arron age 9, born Worsborough Common – Scholar, Fred age 3, born Pontefract sister Emily age 7 born in Pontefract – Scholar and Maria age 1, born in Pontefract.
They are now living at Tan Hill, Pontefract .
On the 29th March 1919 John was married to Mary Mason at Allerton Bywater Church (His stepfathers name is shown on the marriage cert as just Tom Armitage) Both John and Mary were living at Middle Pit Yard and the wedding was witnessed by brother Arron Armitage and sister Emily Armitage.
1921 Census:- John Walter Burgin has now moved to Thornley, Co Durham with his wife Mary and are living with her parents John & Christina Mason, John’s occupation is General Labouring for Messrs Stevens Eastern, Builder. On the Census Record his place of birth looks like Westerdale (Possibly should be Worsborough Dale), Yorkshire.
In 1939 John and Mary Burgin are living apart and John has returned to Yorkshire and is working as a Underground Coal Miner – Hewer.
1939 Register:- John Walter Burgin is living at 17 Coronation Avenue, Garforth, there is no mention of his wife on this record.
1939 Register: Mary Burgin nee Mason is living at 2 Chapel Street, Easington, Co Durham with her sons John W Burgin born 1921 and Donald Burgin born 1926. There is no mention of her Husband on this record.
On the 11th May 1944 John Walter Burgin was killed whilst working at Airedale Colliery Ltd, Allerton Bywater colliery, he was buried at St Mary’s Church, Kippax on the 15th May 1944.
1921 Census for Tom & Sarah Armitage, they are living in the Great & Little Preston, Tom is a Colliery Plate Layer on the surface but out of employment, Sarah – Home Duties, Arron age 19 – underground worker for T & RW Bowers but unemployed at present time, Emily age 17 – Home Duties, Fred age 13 and George age 4.
1901 census
1911 census
1921 census John Walter Burgin
1921 census Tom Armitage
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