Burdett, Francis

Submitted by edpope on

GODWIN DIARY: R & Sophia Burdet 27.8.1804 at Tooke's

Robert son of Francis Burdett DNB 1770-1844 born 16.4.1796 died 1880 and his sister Sophia who married 23.10.1833 Robert Otway Cave and died 1849

B Jones 9.3.1806 at Tooke's

This may have referred to Sir Francis Burdett, who after the death of his aunt Lady Jones, "took the name of Jones by royal licence 5.4.1800 but only briefly affected it" (historyofparliamentonline) or possibly to his younger brother William Jones Burdett 1774-1840. Both have person records in the GD website, and Godwin had several times noted Burdet and 2 Burdets between 1800 and 1806, so if this did refer to either of the Burdett brothers it was a singular instance

CRABB ROBINSON DIARY: 23.6.1816 "I met a tipsy man whom I chatted with and as he was a labourer of the lowest class but seemingly of a quick mind I was glad to meet with so fair a specimen of mob feeling - He praised Sir Francis Burdett as the people's friend & only good man in the kingdom, yet he did not seem to think flogging either Sailors or Soldiers a very bad thing. He had been assisting in building the new Tothill Fields prison and said he would rather be hanged than imprisoned there seven years. He was somewhat mysterious on this head - he said he would never sing Britons never will be slaves, for Britons are akl slaves - yet he wished for war because there would be work for the poor. If this be the general feeling of the lower-classes, the public peace can only be preserved by a vigilant police & severe laws"