• Born: 1796, Frindsbury, Kent, England
• Christened: 10 Apr 1796, All Saints, Frindsbury, Kent, England ¹
• Married: 14 Sep 1819, St. Nicholas, Rochester, Kent, England ²
• Died: 13 Jan 1862, Rochester, Kent, England ³

  Research Notes:

At the time of the 1841 England Census Henry Burage, aged about 45, fisherman, and wife Catherine Burage, aged about 35, born in the county, were living in Cock Court, Rochester St. Nicholas Kent. With them were children: Henry (15), Gregory (13), William (10), Thomas (7), Catherine (5) and Margaret (2).

At a meeting of the Rochester Town Council on Wednesday, 7 Nov 1849, Henry Robert Burrage was one of those re-appointed as corn meter. ⁴

At the time of the 1851 England Census H. R. Burrage, age 55, born in Frindsbury Kent, widower, corn . . . . . . . , was living in Cock Alley, Rochester St. Nicholas, Kent.

At the time of the 1861 England Census Henry Burrage, age 63, born in Frindsbury, Kent, married [sic], able seaman, was aboard the vessel Wellesley moored in the River Medway at Chatham Kent.

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DETERMINED SUICIDE.—On Monday evening an Inquest was held at the Carpenters' Arms, Delee-lane, Troy-town, before B. Marsh, Esq., deputy coroner, on the body of Henry Robert Burrage, aged 70, a seaman pensioner from the Wellesley, 72, who committed suicide that day under the circumstances detailed in the evidence. David Tapping stated that he had known the deceased some time, and lived in the same house as that in which he was a lodger. Witness observed the deceased that morning moving about in a very excited state, as if mad. He had a razor in his hand, and kept shouting that he intended making away with himself. Witness endeavoured to calm him, as he had done on two or three previous occasions, and partially succeeded in doing so. On the previous Saturday morning deceased got up, and having lighted his fire, went to his ship, but returned during the day in a very excited state, and made use of threatening language to the landlady, Mrs. Kettle. The same evening deceased went to his club, but returned home drunk about 11 o'clock. On the following day (Sunday) he was in a state of drunken excitement all day, and witness heard him say more than once that he would make off with himself and the woman (the landlady) too. About 10 o'clock that morning witness saw deceased enter the washhouse with his throat cut, and a razor in his hand. He fell on the floor and the landlady took the razor away. Witness then ran for a police-constable, and on returning with one found the deceased hanging in the water-closet, quite dead. He had often seen deceased drunk, during which time he was quite mad.—Maria Evenden deposed to having seen the deceased cut a piece of a clothes line and enter the house with it. She had known him to be very frequently drunk, when he was always very excited.—Mary Ann Kettel said the deceased formerly belonged to the Wellesley, 72, guardship at Chatham. During the whole of the morning he had been in a very excited state, and once attempted to cut his throat, but she persuaded him to compose himself and partake of some dinner. This he consented to do, and sat down with her to dinner. Witness had occasion to leave the room for a minute or so, and on returning saw the deceased lying on the floor with a razor by the side of him. At that time she saw no blood on it, and to prevent his again attempting his life she took the razor away and hid it in the water-closet. The deceased then rose and began to walk about, using the most abusive language towards her. Witness then sent for assistance, on which deceased went out of the house, and she saw no more of him till he was cut down dead. In answer to questions put to her by the deputy-coroner and jury, the witness said deceased had lodged with her about a fortnight, and during nearly the whole of that time he had been drunk. He frequently complained of being discharged from the Wellesley, and stated that he was a ruined man. On the morning of his death witness saw him drink half a pint of gin. He had previously threatened her life. After a few words from the deputy coroner, the jury returned a verdict that deceased destroyed himself in a fit of temporary insanity, brought on by excessive drinking.

South Eastern Gazette, 14 January 1862, p. 6