COAL RIVER HISTORY

MARK BUNKER
1786-1868

Convict.  Born circa 1786 at Millbrook, Bedford.  Convicted at Bedford in July 1817 to transportation for life for sheep stealing.  Arrived per Lord Castlereagh on 11th June 1818.  Married Sarah Goodwin.  They had eleven children: Elizabeth (b. 1821), Margaret (b. 1821), Edward (b. 1824), Ruth (b. 1826), Lucy (b. 1828), Maria (b. 1828), Hannah (b. 1833), Caroline (b. 1834) & others.  On 17th June 1830, Bunker was granted 100 acres in the Parish of Hartington with the condition of "residence imposed."  The following month, on 7th July 1830, Bunker was fined £5 for "Having in his possession on 3rd July in a certain Cart upwards of one Gallon of Spirits without a Permit for the same."1 

In 1842, Bunker owned and lived on a property at Jerusalem.  The house was constructed of wood, and housed 12 people, all free, and all Anglican.  The household included four children, all female.  Apart from the proprietor, there were also four agricultural labourers and seven "others".  Died 25th December 1868 aged 80 years.  Buried in St. James' Cemetery, Colebrook.


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1 AOT CON 31/1 p.26, no.103.

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