He was born in 1808 the son of Thomas & Mary and christened in 1809 at St James, Clerkenwell. As Grimwade presumes he may have been the brother of Thomas Burtt (Grimwade p.455, 739)
The Forum topic “Some Known Journeymen Silversmiths” records that he was working for the silversmith Charles F Day in November 1827. Grimwade (p.739) records he was made apprentice to John William Blake, silversmith, in 1822. Bearing in mind the usual 7 years duration of an apprenticeship there appears to have been an unrecorded turn over to a new master or a failure to complete his term with Blake, the absence of a record of freedom noted by Grimwade suggesting the latter. Also recorded in the Forum note on his employment with Charles Day is reference to his trial in December 1827 at the Old Bailey for theft from his master, a charge on which he was found not guilty.
He married Eliza Smith at St Bride, Fleet Street in 1829; both were from that parish.
The christening record for their son Joseph Josiah in 1830 at St George in the East shows their address as Cannon Street Road and his father as a silversmith.
The christening record for their daughter Emily Eliza in 1835 at St Leonard, Shoreditch shows a change of address to “St Pancras” and a change in her father’s employment to jeweller.
The 1841 UK Census recorded his wife Eliza and their two children living at Northam Buildings, Somers Town but he was not resident. These records do not show her marital status.
By 1851 she was still living with her two children but had re-married
Although no formal death registration has been traced it appears her husband Joseph Josiah died 1835-41.