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OUR BUNKER ANCESTRY

Taken from “Bunker Genealogy” by Edward Moran, Jr

JAMES BUNCKER

James was born about 1628 as he gave his age as 50 when in the history of Durham, New Hampshire, a statement was taken in 1678. He was christened in Slapton, England 10 Feb l633. Mis parents were James and Elizabeth Buncker. How he got to America is still a mystery and he apparently came without his parents. The first we hear of him, he served on a coroner’s jury in Kittery, Maine. This was in 1646, when he was about 18 years old. About 2 years later, he was living at the home of Mrs. Trueworthy and working for the widow Catherine Shapleigh in the Shapleigh Mills at Sturgeon Creek. In 1652, when he Was 24 years old, he moved across the border into New Hampshire, at Dover, only a short distance away. Here, with a partner, William follet, he took up 236 acres of land located between Bunker’s creek and Oyster River. We know he became a man of prominence as he was a Grand Juror; he was a signer on a petition to free New Hampshire from Massachusetts jurisdiction; he was on a list of persons qualified to vote for a representative. His wife’s name was Sarah, probably Nute. He didn’t marry until late, probably a fortified home that was known as the Bunker’s Garrison and on 12 July l694, the garrison was successfully defended against a devastating Indian attack. On May 22, 1707, two girls were carried away from this fort by Indians and carried into Canada. Again this same year, July 1707, John Bunker and Ichabod Rawlins were going with a cart from Field’s Garrison to Bunker’s for a loom and were assailed by many Indians and were slain. John was James’ 3rd son. The garrison stood until 1912 and was occupied by Bunker’s as long as it stood. It overlooked Bunker Creek and Oyster River where a bridge crossed to a tide grist mill that was owned by them. It also was situated on the first New Hampshire Turnpike from inches thick, the only Garrison that remained after the French and Indian attack of 1694. When James died in 1698, his property was taken over by his three sons. He also had one daughter, Mary.

JAMES BUNKER, JR

James was born in 1665 in Dover, New Hampshire. He married Anne Thomas when he was around 34 years of age. He participated, along with the other men of his family, in the defense of the Bunker Garrison against the Indian attack. His first wife died sometime between 1710 and 1720. Sometime during this period he remarried. He was the father of 7 children, 5 boys and 2 girls. He died in 1722, a fairly young man. He died a wealthy man for his time and as soon as he was dead, a court fight began.

BENJAMIN BUNKER

Benjamin was born in 1710, being only 12 years old when his father died. He married Abigail when he was 20 years old. In November, 1740, he sold his share in his father’s estate to his brother James, Four years later, 13 Feb. 1745, he enlisted as a private in Capt. Hale’s Company of Col. Moore’s regiment. He later became an ensign and on 10 Aug. 1745, he participated in the capture from the French of Fort Louisburg on Cape Breton Island which was the key to the St. Lawrence River. This was a great victory for the English. He didn’t make a permanent home until he was around 50 years old when they settled on Mt. Desert Island, off the coast of Maine. He had the distinction of being the first settler in the Mt. Desert region as well as the first settler on Great Cranberry Island. As for Great Cranberry Island, he deeded Little Cranberry Island to ‘my son John Bunker” 20 July 1768, and land on Great Cranberry Island to ‘my sons Isaac and Aaron Bunker” 1 August 1768. Probably due to the exposed position of Great Cranberry Island during the Revolutionary War, Benjamin and his sons Isaac and Benjamin Jr. took up on the main island of Mt. Desert. This was during the war years of 1775 and 1776. As he grew old, he lived with his son Benjamin and lived to be 108 years old, dying about 1818. His grandson later wrote of him; ‘My great grandfather Bunker settled at Mt. Desert. He lived to a great age, 108 years, and he had five sons, John, Aaron, Isaac, Benjamin, and Silas. Isaac settled at Gouldsboro, Silas at Sedgwick, and the others at Mt. desert in the vicinity of Norwood’s Cove. “Benjamin was the father of 10 children, 6 boys and 4 girls. One boy and one girl died in infancy.

SILAS BUNKER, SR

Silas was born in 1746. Married 21 November 1771 (age 25 years) to Mary Foss Smith. His early married life was probably spent on Cranberry Island but he moved to Sedgwick, Maine in the early years of the war, probably, as he was there in October 1776. He was sworn in as surveyor of highways at Sedgwick 6 April 1792. At one time he deeded his property to his son Benjamin in consideration for his son taking care of him and his wife in event of disability, sickness, or old age, but later he took it back. He lived to be 83 years old. On his way home from a trip he had taken, he stopped at Blue Hill over night, In the morning, opening the wrong door by mistake he fell into the cellar and died 10 days later on 15 February 1829. He was the father of 7 children; 5 boys and 2 girls.

SILAS BUNKER, JR

Silas was born 26 October 1778 in Sedgwick, Maine. At 22 years of age he married Hannah Berry on 15 Dec. 1800, They lived in Sedgwick for at least 12 years as their first 6 children were bom there. They moved to Trenton, Maine for a short time but were living in Atkinson, Maine when the last two were born. In 1838 he had moved to Charleston, Maine. But by the time he grew older he went to live with his son Martin in Trenton, Maine as he was listed in the census of 1850 and 1860 as living in Trenton with his son Martin. He died 30 Sept father of 9 children 7 boys and 2 girls. 2 of his sons never married. His last child was named Edward Bunker from whom we descend.

Source:Brent Bunker