Mr Arthur Peckham Burroughs was born in Lewisham, London, England on 13 October 1877.

He was the son of Arthur Burroughs, a draughtsman, and Mary Jane Peckham (1857-1918). His parents appear never to have been married and his father's background and true identity remain uncertain.¹

His mother Mary Jane was born in Lymington, Hampshire in 1857, the daughter of brewer's labourer William Peckham and Mary, née Phillips. Following the birth of her seemingly illegitimate son Arthur in 1877 she was married in Southampton in 1879 to Tom Harry Rickman (b. circa 1853 in Boldre, Lymington; d. 1911), a carpenter. Together they would have two children, Harry (b. 1878) and Rose (b. 1880). 

Arthur—listed as Arthur B. Peckham—is shown with his mother and his stepfather on the 1881 census as 55 Melbourne Street, Southampton; curiously his mother and stepfather appear on the same census twice, they as residents of 6 Bullar Street, Southampton with their other children. The family appear together on the 1891 census when they were living at Radcliffe Road, St Mary, Southampton and 13-year-old Arthur was described as a scholar. Arthur was absent by the time of the 1901 census but his family are listed at 65 Northumberland Road, St Mary, Southampton. 

Burroughs was married in St Denys, Hampshire on 15 August 1903 to Harriett Jane Howells (b. 5 November 1877 in Lyndhurst, Hampshire); he was still a resident of Northumberland Road and was described as a seaman. He and Harriett went on to have three children: Arthur John (b. 28 February 1904), Harry (b. 14 November 1906) and Gwendoline Agnes (b. 30 June 1910).

Burroughs was absent from the 1911 census but his wife and children were listed as living at 73 Adelaide Road, St Denys, Southampton.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 Burroughs gave his address as 73 Adelaide Road, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Philadelphia and as a fireman he received monthly wages of £6.

Arthur Burroughs died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. He is remembered on a family headstone in the Old Cemetery, Southampton.

Arthur's widow Harriett was remarried in 1915 to Albert Edward Mullins (b. 1890), a dock policeman from Wimbledon, Surrey; with him she had two children, Edward and Edna. She remained in Southampton for the rest of her life and predeceased her husband when she died on 17 June 1949. Her husband Albert died on 25 October 1969.

Arthur’s sons Arthur (left) and Harry as young mariners

Burroughs’ son Arthur began a career at sea and was later married to Phyllis Butcher (b. 1905), with whom he had one son and one daughter; he died in Southampton on 4 September 1970.  Son Harry also went to sea and was as later married to Elizabeth Batt (b. 1912) and had two sons; he died in Southampton on 22 August 1985. His daughter Gwendoline later married George Alfred Bannister (d. 1983) and they had two sons; she died in Shirley, Hampshire on 13 August 1985.