John Davidge, believed to have been born between 1824-1830 +/- 3 years in England. He "came to Burgeo (Newfoundland, Canada)as a servant to 'Uncle John' Matthews". Joseph Small wrote this, but did not give any age for him and the only description was that John was a 'jerseyman', a general term indicating he was born in England.

In one genealogy, there is a John Davidge, 6th child of William Davidge and Harriet Bugden in Cann, Dorset. In this family, the forenames of the children are a close match to the names of our John's children and grandchildren.

Our John Davidge d. Apr 1867, when he and his eldest son died by drowning while trying to rescue shipwreck victims between Wreck Island and Connoire Bay, about 17 km west of Burgeo.

We have a great descendancy book that has kept track of all Davidge-related families.
The earliest families shown in our book to settle in Burgeo are Anderson, Bagg (by marriage), Davidge, Caines, Rose, Vacher/Vatcher, Matthews, Guy, Keeping, Pink, Dicks, Organ, Windsor, Northcotte, Jordan, Ford, Collier, Evans, Cluett, Kendall, Buffet, Stewart, Bowdridge, Strickland/Stickland, Harris.

There is a large cluster of surnames from Wincanton to Salisbury, then south to the coast, which turn up again on the South Coast of Newfoundland.

John's family was likely illiterate, as was common in those days. We do not know his age at marriage (15 Sep 1848) or at death. He m. Sarah Jane Guy, daughter of William Guy and Ann Matthews.

Please feel free to contact me at envisage88@gmail.com if you have any connections to the above families or, if in the UK, you know of children or families who emigrated.

Thanks for any help you can give; willing to share what I have.

Sharon W