Son of Thomas Burch and Mary Burch (nee Shipwash), Thomas was a farmer of 25 acres.

James was born on 22nd October 1828 in Wye, Kent.

He married Emma Adela Coney on 16th September 1854 at St Lawrence Church, Hougham, Kent, and they had 8 children.
C1. Adela Emma Burch born 22/7/1855
C2. Florence Ellen Burch born 12/7/1857
C3. James Ernest Burch born Jun 1859 (see attached memorial)
C4. Blanche Ada Burch born Sep 1861
C5. Bertha Augusta Burch born Sep 1863
C6. Gertrude Alice Burch born 6/2/1865
C7. Henry Edwin Burch born Sep 1866
C8. Arthur Rodney Burch born 27/8/1871

Their wedding was witnessed by George Henry Haisell and M Haisell.

James was Clerk of Blean Union, Superintendant Registrar, Secretary of the Gas and Water Company and Clerk of the Home Highways Board.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 01 April 1916
Death of Mr James Burch
At the ripe age of 87, Mr James Burch, of St Sepulchre's, Oaten Hill, Canterbury, passed away on Saturday. He had been confined to the house for some months, and had been unable for upwards of a year to take his daily walk down to the club. Mr Burch had led a very active life, and had enjoyed remarkably good health. He only finally gave up work in December 1913, when he relinquished the position of Secretary of the Canterbury Gas and Water Company, which he had held for 47 years. For 52 years, from 1846 to 1898, he was Clerk to the Blean Board of Guardians and Rural District Council, or the Rural Sanitary Authority as it was then called. He was also Clerk to the old authority known as Home Highway Board, which had jurisdiction over a very large number of parishes in East Kent.
He was Superintendant Registrar of Births and Deaths in Blean from 1861 to 1898. He was also Clerk to the Blean Assessment Committee and the School Attendance Committee. Upon resigning the Office of Clerk to the Blean Board of Guardians 18 years ago, Mr Burch was entertained at a complimentary dinner and was the recipient of a handsome gold watch, which was presented to him by Mr W.J Russell, the Vice Chairman of the Board, in commemoration of his long and faithful services. James was always regarded as the leading authority on the Poor Law in the County of Kent.
In the offices to the Clerk to the Blean Board of Guardians and Clerk to the Blean Rural District Council he was succeeded by his son Mr J. E Burch, who held the appointments until two years ago, when he was obliged to resign them on account of ill health, and Mr W.T. Brooks was appointed in his stead.
Mr Burch leaves a family of 3 sons and 5 daughters namely; Mr J.E Burch, Dr H.E Burch of Portsmouth, Mr A.R Burch M.I.C.E-engineer of the Bombay Gas Company, Miss A.E Burch, Miss F.E Burch, Mrs Carver (Hove), Mrs Potter (Tunbridge Wells), and Miss G.A Burch.
The Funeral
The funeral took place at Canterbury Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, when the principal mourners were Mr J.E Burch and Dr H.E Burch (sons), Miss A.E Burch, Miss F.E Burch, Mrs Carver, Mrs Potter, and Miss G.A Burch (daughters), others present being Mr Silas Williamson J.P (Chairman of the Gas and water Company), Mr Frank Amos and Mr George Mount (Directors of the Gas and water Company), Mr Cooper Wacher (Chairman of the Blean Board of Guardians), Mr T Wood (Vice Chairman of the Blean Board), Mr W.T Brooks (Clerk to the Blean Board), Mr W.J Russell (former member and Vice Chairman of the Blean Board), Mr S.A Collard, Mr Joseph Russell, Mr H.C Page (engineer to the Gas and Water Company), Mr Wood (Chief Clerk Canterbury Gas and Water Company, representing the Secretary Mr W.A King), Mr T.E Dilnot and Mr E.G Wood (registrars of births and deaths in the Blean union).
The funeral service was conducted by the Rev P.A.L. Clarke (St Alphege). The inscription of the coffin was as follows:-
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JAMES BURCH
Died 25th March 1916
Aged 87 years.
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