Burt was a seven-year-old who felt abandoned by his parents, who migrated to England with the promise of sooner than later bringing their seven children, who had been scattered out to family members on both sides of the family. Along with his three younger siblings, he was placed under the care of his mother's half sister in the parish of Saint Catherine.

After enduring almost two years of hell, he was rescued by Aunt Edna, who found a home for him in Kingston with her cousin, thereby putting him on the course that would prepare him for the life he would later experience in America, that of a door-to-door salesman.