John Durrant was born in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, England, in Budge Row, known by the locals up until the 1940's as `Bugs Row.' It is now known as Church Lane. 

John was born before the national registration of births was introduced in England, but his birth is recorded when he was baptised by his parents along with his sister, Mary, on the 2nd July 1837 in Bovingdon's St. Lawrence parish register  as being April 8th 1837. <Click here or on the images for enlarged copy of images from this page>

Like its sister village of Flaunden, Bovingdon is a hamlet and chapelry in the parish of Hemel Hempstead. It is situated on the edge of the Chiltern Hills near Hemel Hempstead. It is just inside Hertfordshire but is right on the Buckinghamshire border. It is near the present western railway and the Grand Junction canal and two and one half miles southwest of the Boxmoor railway station. The villagers seem to have been staunchly independent of their neighbours down the hill in Hemel and were to all intents and purposes a separate village, with their own church, shops, pubs, workhouse and village officers although they had no vicar. Bovingdon is comprised of 3,958 acres, with the property divided among a few. The population in 1831 was 945. The village still numbers less than 5000 (1999).
 
 
 

John Durrant was the fifth son and eighth of ten children born to William Durrant (5 September 1796 to 17 March 1845) and his wife, Mary Steward (4 April 1800 to 19 June 1865).
 

Joseph was born 6 November 1820 and married Ann Steward. He died 25 December 1848.

John who was buried as an infant in the Bovingdon church yard 11 Apr 1822. No christening date has been found.

Sarah was born 10 January 1823 and married William Final. She died 1 May 1881.

Henry [known as Harry] was born 23 January 1826 and married Emily Puddephatt. He died 2 February 1897.

James was born 16 May 1828 and died aged fifteen on 14 December 1843. 

Charlotte was born 14 October 1831. She married Matthew Elbourne and died 3 March 1911.

Mary was born 14 February 1835 and was burned to death. She was buried 8 February 1841 - just a week before her sixth birthday.

John was born 8 April 1837 and christened in St. Lawrence's Church in Bovingdon on 2 July 1837 - the same day as his older sister, Mary.

Edward was born 24 September 1839, was sealed to Elizabeth Philpott 8 August 1863 in Salt Lake City Utah and died in American Fork, Utah, 23 July 1865.

 
Reuben was born 12 March 1842 and died as an infant on October 1842. He is buried in the Bovingdon church yard with other family members.