The Burden family, though originally from Durham, England, has a long and interesting presence in Scotland going back to the middle of the 13th century and it is a known and respected sept (or subgroup) of the highland Clan Lamont. We see documents going back to this time when William de Bourdon witnessed a charter of Scottish King Alexander III, Sir Walter Burdone, no doubt reluctantly, swore fealty to Edward I in 1291 by the banks of the River Tweed, and Rogier de Burghdone of Blackadder (yes, an actual barony) also agreed to pay homage to the English king. John Burdoune is recorded as being the reader at Balquhidder (i.e. Blackadder) in 1567.
Depending on which sources you believe, the family’s connection with the Clan Lamont goes back to a younger son of King Robert III of Scotland in the late 1300’s, though other accounts describe how a Lamont, fleeing the persecution of his clan, sought refuge with and assumed the name of Burden at their castle in Feddal.
According to The Red Book of Perthshire, the Burdens “…of Auchingarrich and Feddall claimed descent from the family of Lamont of Inneryne, in Argyllshire. James Burden, 4th of Auchengarrich submitted an account of his family to the Lord Lyon which was attested and verified by the then Chief of the Lamonts.”
In the 16th century the Burden’s owned estates in Auchingarrich but by 1659 had extensive lands including a mill in Feddal, near Braco, Perthshire. Here the Burdens would remain until the late 1800’s. Contemporary accounts indicate that comprising almost 1000 acres and with almost 1000 pounds annual revenue, Feddal was one of the most productive estates in Perthshire.
When James Burden died in 1710, his son, the younger James took possession of Feddal. A colourful character, he was known to be a crack swordsman and once challenged the famous Scottish outlaw, Rob Roy.
James Burden was no doubt a Jacobite, sympathetic to the Stuart claim to the throne of England and Scotland. We do know that his son-in-law, Archibald Menzies, who was married to his daughter Margaret, went off to join Bonnie Prince Charlie as the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The following obituary in the 1833 edition of The Gentleman’s Magazine explains his fate:
“Scotland-August 18. (die) At Muthill, aged 90, Miss Mary Campbell, sister to the late Mrs. Graham Burden of Feddal. She was led, while a child, to see the retreating forces of Charles Edward (i.e. Bonnie Prince Charlie) pass from Falkirk to Culloden. Her uncle, the Laird of Feddal and Shawn, in whose house she was brought up followed the fortunes of the Prince to battle, was never more heard of, alive or dead.”
Other branches of the Burden family achieved the status of nobility in Sweden for service to King Charles X and in France as well. The word “bourdon” means pilgrim in French and for all branches of the family the coat of arms is the “Bourdon Or” depicted as one of more golden pilgrim staves. For example this same motif is found in the arms of the Bourdon de Plessix family in Brittany, France.
Interestingly, Scottish court records of the 1800’s show that members of the Burden family were involved in an acrimonious legal dispute.
Perhaps as a result of this in 1878 George S. M. Burden, the last recorded Laird of Feddal, sold his estates for the then very handsome sum of 32,500 pounds and emigrated to the colonies. He is reported as having died in 1902 in an Adelaide, Australia newspaper, the last Lord of Feddal.
However, George Marshall in The Genealogist reports that the Burden “…family seems to have had a tendency to scatter, for in the West Indies were a governor of the Bermuda Islands 1622 and Colonel John Bourden, a member of Assembly of Jamaica 1675.” Henry Burden left Perthshire, Scotland in the early 1800’s and emigrated to Canada, then the United States. He subsequently becoming a wealthy steel magnate and was the first to invent a machine to mass produce horseshoes. Two of his grandsons married into the Vanderbilt family.
My great uncle, Captain Eugene “Gene” Burden was an Antarctic explorer who surveyed some of the last unexplored coastline in the world in the 1940. The Burden Passage at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula was named for him.
The Cecil Jr.
My grandfather, Captain George Burden, sailed three masted tern schooners all over the world in the early 1900’s. His adventures and misadventures included being rammed by a steamship in the Mediterranean, sinking in the mid-Atlantic and running aground at Cape St. Mary, Newfoundland. The remnants of the schooner, “Robert J. Dale” can still be seen there to this day. Once while in Spain, Captain Burden treated himself to front row seats at a bull fight. Apparently the bull jumped over the barricade and ended up almost on top of him causing him to scramble up and into the private box of King Alfonso XIII. Captain Burden received only the 9th certificate for a Master of a Coastwise Vessel issued in Newfoundland. It was received in 1929 after he ceased going to sea.
The Robert J. Dale
The Burden Museum and Gardens in Baton Rouge, Lousiana was once the Windrush Plantation belonging to the Burden family from the mid-1800’s until donated to Lousiana State University by the family.
Burden House, Burden Gardens: Louisiana State University
Despite Vanderbilt descendant Wendy Burden’s book, Dead End Gene Pool, the Burden family still appears to be alive and kicking.
Who knows where we’ll turn up next?
Please visit the Burden Family Association Facebook group started by George Burden and Zee Finley. All of our worldwide Burden family members are welcome.
REFERENCES
- The Genealogist: Volume III pp.145-150 – by George W. Marshall, LL.D., Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries London, George Bell and Sons, Covent Garden, 1879
- The Gentleman’s Magazine, Volume 103, Part 2; Volume 154, 1833
- The Red Book of Perthshire, 2014 by Gordon MacGregor
- Dunblane Traditions : Being a Series of Warlike and Legendary Narratives, Biographical Sketches of Eccentric Characters, &c. (1887) by John Monteath E. Johnstone, Bookseller MDCCCXXXV
Photo Credits
All photos courtesy of George Burden
This is the link to our Burden Family Association Facebook group started by George Burden and myself. Please check us out. All of our worldwide Burden family members are welcome.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/798126830895977/?multi_permalinks=870461606995832¬if_id=1638193455880677¬if_t=group_activity&ref=notif
Hi George, great article, I am a Norfolk/Suffolk,England Burden. My father was born to Richard Burden who I believe was 1 of 14 burdens, my grandfather Richard married Sylvia Jolly and both are buried in Kirkley Cemetary, Suffolk.
Hi Matt, thanks for the information. I am amazed at how many Burdens have responded and contacted me regarding this article. You may want to join the Burden Family Association Facebook page. Please check it out!
Hey George, I’m married into the Burdens. I’ve done some research and found that they are descents of James Burden and his father James Borden. What I’ve found out is that James Burden was highly respected during the revolutionary war. Is it possible that this is the same Burdens? Thank you in advance God bless.
Hi Aaron,
Here is a US based Burden FB page that has good information. All Burdens are welcome!
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20borden%20%2F%20burden%20family%20connections
Good luck!
George
Hello there.
George – Kudos for the research. thanks so much, it’s such an interesting sirname because it’s not that common. Love your efforts.
My name is Jonathan Burden. I now live in Adelaide SA – coincidence!
I’m originally from Holyhead North Wales in the UK.
My grandfather/father’s dad moved here (Holyhead) from London I believe. I never met him, he moved back to London before I was born in 1977 – I think. He married a woman called Jesse (deceased) she was my beloved Nain (welsh for Gran). They had 2 sons and 2 daughters – who i won’t name out of respect. The youngest son is my Dad 🙂 ❤️ All brilliant characters, very much salt of the earth and working class. Don’t see them too much/at all sadly, we’re far away from each other.
My father hasn’t seen his dad since he left, which makes me sad. He doesn’t talk much about him. I believe his Dad did try and make a connection, sending 2 watches years and years ago for the boy’s christmas. His relationship with my Nain was terrible by all accounts and it wasn’t the best for my Dad growing up, who is of a gentle and sensitive disposition. No blame game though, these things happen and still happen,
on another note:
My father told me he had a relative who owned a mill (many years before he was born) but lost the business due to liking the drink too much.
I’ve worked hard, done well, but often wondered about my grandfather who I never met. Maybe one day someone will read this and a connection will be made, who knows.
Jon, thanks so much for sharing your history. Good luck in finding out more about your Burden roots and I hope my article was of some help. You could also check out the Borden/Burden FB page. There is a host of information there on our family from all over the world: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20borden%20%2F%20burden%20family%20connections
Thanks so much! really appreciate it 🙂
Aaron you may enjoy both the Burden Family Association and Borden/Burden FB pages to conncect and trace your family. Good luck!
I happened upon your article by accident. I am a descendant of one of two Burden brothers that emigrated to South Africa in the 1800’s. A very interesting read. Thank you.
Diana, you are welcome to join the FB groups Burden Family Association and Borden/Burden to find out more
Looking for info on the Burden family out of salvage/ Eastport area in Newfoundland CANADA. Due to church fires, in that community all the records are now lost. Not able to trace my family back any further than Henry Burden in the 1860’s If you have any leads I would appreciate it. Thank you
Andrew Burden
Hi Andrew, I don’t have any information to help you specifically. The name Henry was common among the Burdens out of Perthshire, Sotland. Henry Burden founded a large steel factory in upper New York state.
No prob, I knew that it was a shot in the dark… thank for replying.
My name is John Seymour
Millington. My grandfather on my mother’s side was Joseph Thompson Burden born 4/10/1869 in lief near Edinburgh Scotland he was an Instrument Maker and his wife was Alice Maude Burden born 3/9/1879 in Cornwall England. Her maiden name was Harry. I live in Australia.
Interesting! Our Clan is Lamont and the Burdens are a branch that goes back to 1400 when the Lamont chief’s son married into the Burden family. You may want to investigate the Clan Lamont Society of Australia as the clan chief, Father Peter Lamont, currently lives near Sydney.
Hi Andrew I am George’s wife I found your ancestor Henry Burden a fisherman in Salvage Newfoundland in 1871 happy to help your search if you have more info
Burdens are a family name from the Purbeck area of Dorset. I have traced my direct line back to 1650at Woodbridge manor farm Dorset.
Yes, the Scottish Burdens came from that part of England in the 13th century Leslie.
Wow! What a great article, I have recently started my search into my family roots and am very fascinated! But I have a few questions.. how do I find out the kind of information Melanie did? I’m not sure how to go about finding out. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time!
Hi Lindsey!. Thanks for your kind comments. Tracing family can be a fun and educational exercise. Sources of information include sites like Ancestry.com of course. The Ellis Island site for immigrants coming into New York can be helpful if your ancestors came to North America via that portal. My grandfather had several listings on this site as he was a ship’s captain. Also 23andme can track down genetic info and introduce you to distant and sometimes not so distant cousins. They require a saliva specimen to do this. Most people of European extraction have 1-4% Neanderthal genes! Good luck! G
Hi George!
What an excellent and great article!!
I have more of a request for information/question that you may be able to help with or clarify.
My Mother’s maiden name is Bourdon originating from Normandy (prior to New France circa 1664).
I have acquired and traced much information as far as my maternal “New World” roots!
We are from Normandie, descending from Jacques Bourdon (b. 5/jun/1645) of St-Godard, Rouen, Normandie, who arrive in New France prior to 1664 and worked as a “royal notary” (forgive me if this is the wrong translation for “Notaire Royal”) for for several “Seigneuries” (not sure how to translate that… Lords Lands/parcels/regions?) and is listed as a “Bourgeois” (often added to his last name) as was his father (still verifying this), Jean Bourdon (m. Marguerite Legris). Jacques also held various other government-like positions throughout his life in New France.
It is said that Mom is a descendant of a younger son of a Scottish Chieftain of the Clan Lamont, who married & took the name of a Norman heiress, (hiding from British authorities as the story goes) of the Bourdon of Feddal… I have run into a wall at this point and can’t seem to find more information. It seems our histories might be intertwined somehow and perhaps you can help clarify?
My desire to uncover and/or set straight this possible family history is more than hobby…
I am currently studying for 3 separate accreditation as a Genealogist (French-Canadian, French & Scandinavian Specializations ) and studying also Genetics (lighter courses offered through my Genealogy and History program) to hopefully work in the field of Genetic/Forensic Genealogy. I’ve got my own genetic profile up on 23andMe.ca and though, still a young science especially regarding genealogy, my maternal “Ancestry Composition” seems to match the stories but the gap in records connecting the names leaves me without real physical “proof”, as well as very curious and strongly motivated to uncover as much as I can!
Any information would be so greatly welcomed!
Thank you for all you’ve shared so far!
Bonjour Melanie,
There are a number of articles about the Burdens on the Life as a Human site. Just enter the name Burden in the search engine for the site. You may enjoy the photo of me in a kilt(the Lamont tartan)! lol I was just contacted by Dutch gentleman who lives part of the year Scotland and who is a fount of information on the Burden family. I do not have much information on the link of your ancestor to the Lamont family exept of course that it is the reason the Burdens are a sept of the Clan Lamont. So you can claim highland descent yourself and wear the Lamont tartan. If you want I have other photos and documents that may be of interest. I prefer not to make my email public but if you send a query to the editorial staff with you email address I would be happy to contact you.
Cheers
George
Interesting news for a Swedish Bordon – my ancestor John came to Sweden ab 1623.
Could you send me the emailadress to the Dutch researcher?
Aron Bordon
Hello, Aron. What is you email address? I can forward it to the Dutch researcher. If you don’t wish it to be public send it to administration at this site and ask them to forward it. George
My email adr. aronax@telia.com
Intersted of all about Bodon/Burden (of Feddal) especially before 1660. Aron
My 2nd Great Grandmother is Burden. I am looking for James Burden 1740-1806. I think this might be them.
What was your Great Grandmas name? I have traced my heritage to a James C Burden who was born to a John Borden 1712-1798
Hi Mary. I’m Bob Burden, a direct descendent of James Burden, 1740-1806, originally from Road Island. But it seems to stop there, he was born to a Bordon,. The story goes like this. The Borden’s were Quakers, and James wanted to fight in the American Revolution, so he changed his name to Burden. I would like to find out more about this story. And the names of the Bordon families.
My ancestral burden family are from around Airth Stirlingshire, I wonder if we have any connections.
Quite possibly. Do you have any roots in Braco/Feddal? Burden is not a common name in Scotland.
My ancestor is John Bordon of Auchinggarich and Feddal who came to Sweden in 1623,
I think he was born ab. 1600. Do not know for safe who is his father, threr are different
names presented in different texts. In Sweden he married Regina Sinclair.
Aron, I am afraid I don’t have much information on the Burden branch that went to Sweden except that they ended up as members of Swedishi nobility. Thank you for this information.
Interesting article.
Glad you enjoyed it!