One member of the Witheridge BURGESS family who emigrated to Australia in 1840 was newly married MARY (1819/1889) with her husband JAMES FORD BORN (1813/1889), who was a cooper.
This family traces back to Coleridge, Devon where a THOMAS BOURNE was married in 1665 to MAGDALEN TUCKER. Three generations later, Robert BORNE (1744/1809) from Coleridge married SARAH FOLLAND at Dolton, Devon in 1770. ROBERT and SARAH moved around the local parishes of Dolton, Iddesleigh and Winkleigh after their marriage as evidenced by the christening places of their children. Their son JOHN (1792/1829) married MARY FORD and similarly moved around Winkleigh, Witheridge and Chulmleigh. JOHN and MARY were the parents of JAMES FORD BORN.
Upon arrival in Australia, JAMES set up in business as a cooper in Melbourne and prospered, JAMES AND MARY were joined in Australia by his two sisters and by MARY'S mother and siblings. JAMES bought many properties and became interested in local politics, becoming Mayor of Fitzroy in 1866.
I have researched the BORN family in Devon and three descendants with whom I correspond have continued the research in Victoria.
Click to return to the MAIN PAGE