Re: Bunnett family of Kent, U.K
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In reply to:
Re: Bunnett family of Kent, U.K
debra smith 12/25/03
Hi Debra!
I think my g.g.g.grandfather, Simon John Bunnett, b.c. 1800, in Holt, Norfolk, is the older brother of your John, b.c. 1823/24. I have yet to prove this.
My reasons for this speculation are as follows: According to Simon John's Marriage Certificate, his father's name was John Bunnett whose occupation was that of 'Painter'. Simon John was born in Holt, Norfolk. I have studied the entire Census Records for that town in 1841. There is only one John Bunnett, still resident in Holt, who is the 'right age' to be Simon John's father. This John's occupation is 'Painter'.
John, b.c.1774 is married to Mary, b.c.1780. There are four children still resident in the house. (That is, the named people are possibly children - the 1841 Census does not state a 'Relationship to the Head of the Household'. However, they all have the surname Bunnett.)
These other residents - possibly children of John and Mary, are: Jane (aged 30), Elizabeth (aged 25), James (aged 21) and John (aged 17). This would mean that 'John the younger' was born c.1824.
The 1841 Census was conducted on the 7th June. Perhaps John had a birthday later that year and became 18. This would mean that he was born in 1823.
Simon John was born c.1800 which means that he was about 41 in 1841. This means that, if my speculation is correct, Simon John is c.11 years older than Jane, the eldest sibling still living at home. I think that this age gap is feasible because parents John and Mary would have been c. 26 & 20 when Simon John was born and, in the tradition of 'large families' it is quite possible that there were children born between Simon John and Jane who had also left home before 1841.
If any of the above is true,it would also be my guess that Simon John is the first son. There is definitely a later tradition of first-born Bunnett boys being named John, or Simon John. Perhaps this was also an 18th and 19th century tradition?
And perhaps all of the above speculation is misguided! However, it is not entirely without substance.
If my g.g.g.grandfather, Simon John Bunnett, b.c. 1800, is an older brother of your John Bunnett, b.c.1823, then I would be very interested to learn more about your John. I would also be very happy to share information about Simon John and his descendents. It is evident that he had at least nine children with his wife, Rosetta Bell. I have tracked aspects of the lives and descendents of three of these children.
The youngest child is Rosa. When she was c.17/18 years old in 1878 she gave birth to an illegitimate child and named him Simon John, after her father. This boy is my g. grandfather.
I am informed that Rosetta may be Simon John's second wife. I wonder if there are children from this first marriage - if so, who are they!?! Perhaps this explains the proliferation of Bunnetts in Holt in the 19th century.
It is hard to believe that, in such a small town, families of the same name were not closely related in some way. And Holt is a small town - very small. I visited there earlier this month and enjoyed the experience.
Please contact me direct if we have something in common. [email protected]
Thanks!
Wendy