George Bunker and Elizabeth Godfrey / Jane
George Bunker was baptized either 6 April 1617 in Tingrith, Bedfordshire, England, the son of Francis Bunker and Tabitha Davey or 25 April 1621 in Tingrith, the son of Timothy Bunker and Elizabeth Hawkins (For more on the parentage of George Bunker, click here). George married Elizabeth Godfrey 5 May 1644 in Maulden, Bedfordshire, England. Elizabeth was baptized 6 March 1631 in Cardington, Bedfordshire, England to Thomas Godfrey and Elizabeth Mead.
The Bunkers arrived in America before 1652. Here, George’s wife is referred to as Jane. The Bunker Family Association tends to refer to his wife as Elizabeth (Jane) Godfrey. Henry L. Bunker suggested that her name was really Elizabeth Jane, that she was called Elizabeth in England but dropped it for her other given name upon arriving in America. He also admits that Elizabeth Godfrey could have died and George could have remarried to Jane —. I have treated Elizabeth and Jane as two separate women in my records for clarity. In the case that they were two different women, George’s eldest children, Elizabeth and William, would have been Elizabeth’s and the others, Mary, Ann, and Martha, would have most likely been Jane’s.
George and Jane lived in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts and then Topsfield in the same county, where George became a freeman in 1655. George died 26 May 1658 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, drowned while driving his team across a river. His ten-year-old son, William, escaped with the team. Jane married second Richard Swain 15 September 1658 (see chapter on Swain family for more information). Two years later, Richard and Jane and the children moved to Nantucket Island. Jane died 31 October (or 31st 10 mo) 1662 in Nantucket, Massachusetts in childbirth. Hers was the first recorded death on the island and she was said to have been buried by Richard under the door stone.
George and Elizabeth's children:
1. Elizabeth Bunker, born in 1646 in Tingrith, Bedfordshire, England, married Thomas Look in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
2. William Bunker, baptized 17 June 1648 in Tingrith, Bedfordshire, England, married Mary Macy 11 April 1669 in Nantucket, Massachusetts, died 26th 7 mo 1712 in Nantucket, Massachusetts, will dated 22 June 1712 and probated 5 Aug 1712, raised sheep in Nantucket.George and possibly Jane's children:
3. Mary Bunker, born 5 mo 1652 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, married Stephen Coffin (daughter of Tristram Coffin and Dionis Stevens) 8 Oct 1668 in Nantucket, Massachusetts, died 18 May 1724 in Nantucket, Massachusetts, will probated 10 Jul 1724.
4. Ann Bunker, born about 1654 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, married Joseph Coleman (son of Thomas and Susanna Coleman) in 1672.
5. Martha Bunker, born 1 Nov 1656 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, married Stephen Hussey 8 Oct 1676 in Nantucket, Massachusetts, died 21st 9 mo 1744 in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Sources:
1. Moran, Edward C., Jr., Bunker Genealogy, volume 2, Salem, MA: Higginson Book Company, 1965.
2. Bunker, Henry L., Bunker Family History, Bunker Family Association, 1984.
3. Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, Vols. 1 & 4, Boston, MA, 1860.
4. Database of the Eliza Starbuck Barney Genealogical Record, Nantucket Historical Association (created from records collected by Eliza Starbuck Barney (1802-1889)).
5. International Genealogical Index (extracted from original source by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
6. Town Records of Topsfield, Massachusetts, Vol. I, Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, 1917.
7. Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. I—Births (A-F), Boston: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, 1925, p. 149.
8. Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. III—Marriages (A-G), Boston: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, 1927.
10. Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. V—Deaths, Boston: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, 1925.
11. “Our Burial Grounds”, Inquirer and Mirror, 6 Nov 1877, Nantucket, MA, at Nantucket Historical Association Research Library.
GEO. BUNCKER Extracted Christening Record
Christening: 06 APR 1617
Tingrith, Bedford, England
Father: FRANCIS BUNCKERGEO. BUNCKER
Christening: 25 APR 1621
Tingrith, Bedford, England
Father: TIMOTHY BUNCKERELIZABETH GODFRY
Christening: 06 MAR 1631
Cardington, Bedford, England
Father: THOMAS GODFRY Mother: ELIZABETHWM. BUNKER
Christening: 17 JUN 1648
Tingrith, Bedford, England
Father: GEO. BUNKERGEO BUNKER Extracted Marriage Records
Spouse: ELIZ GODFREE
Marriage: 05 MAY 1644
Maulden, Bedford, EnglandSource: International Genealogical Index (records above extracted from original source by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Marriage records: (Batch # M003921, Dates: 1558 – 1812, Source Call #0599351, Type: Film, Printout Call #6905937, Type: Film); Christening records: (Geo. Buncker (both) & Wm. Bunker: Batch #P003721, Dates: 1572 – 1812, Source Call #0599350, Type: Film, Printout Call #6905859, Type: Film) and (Elizabeth Godfry: Batch #P003461, Dates: 1572 – 1812, Source Call #0599354, Type: Film, Printout Call #6905836, Type: Film).
Page 137
Nantucket Births
BUNKER
Ann, wife of Joseph Coleman (son of Thomas), daughter of George and Jane Godfrey, —, 1654, P. R. 38.[1]Page 142
Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Look (son of Thomas), daughter of George and Jane Godfrey, —, 1646, P. R. 38.Page 152
Martha, wife of Stephen Hussey (son of Captain Christopher and Theodate), daughter of George and Jane Godfrey, —, 1656, P. R. 38.
Mary, wife of Stephen Coffin (son of Tristram 1st and Dionis), daughter of George and Jane Godfrey, —, 5 mo. 1652, P. R. 38.Page 164
William, husband of Mary (daughter of Thomas Macy), son of George and Jane Godfrey, —, 1648, P. R. 38.Source: Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. I—Births (A-F), Boston: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, 1925.
Page 148 Nantucket Marriages
BUNKER
Martha and Stephen Hussey, October 8, 1676.[2] [Martha, daughter of George and Jane Godfrey, and Stephen Hussey, son of Capt. Christopher and Theodate (Bachelder), P. R. 38.]
Mary, daughter of George and Jane Godfrey, and Stephen Coffin, son of Tristram 1st and Dionis Stevens, —, 1669,[2] P. R. 38.Page 160
Will[ia]m and Mary Macy, April 11, 1669.[2] [William, son of George and Jane Godfrey, and Mary Macy, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hopcot [duplicate entry, 11th, 4 mo.], P. R. 38.]Source: Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. III—Marriages (A-G), Boston: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, 1927.
Page 95 Nantucket Deaths
BUNKER
William, husband of Mary (daughter of Thomas Hussey[3] and Sarah Hopcot), son of George and Jane Godfrey, 26th, 7 mo. [duplicate entry, June 6] 1712, P. R. 38.Page 170 COFFIN
Mary, wife of Stephen (son of Tristram 1st), daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey, —, 1724, P. R. 38.Page 368 HUSSEY
Martha, wife of Stephen (son of Capt. Christopher and Theodate), daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey, 21st, 9 mo. 1744, P. R. 38. [widow of Stephen, aged 87 years, 10 months, P. R. 63.[4]]Page 568 SWAIN
Jean (Swaine), wife of Richard, October 31, 1662. [Jane (Godfrey) Swain, second wife of Richard, formerly wife of George Bunker, 31st 10 mo., P. R. 38. Jane Swain, 31st, 10 mo. 1663, P. R. 63.]Source: Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. V—Deaths, Boston: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, 1928.
At a Lawfull meeting ye (4th) of 5th month; 1656 it is herby ordered and Granted that there shall be a way of foure Rod wide from the forde nigh to the House of William towne: Through the Lands of the sd William Towns, William Howard, Jacob town, Edmund Towne and George Buncker as it is layd out by Francis Pebody, John Redlington, Edmund town, and William Howard: at the Request of the sd. Town.
Source: Town Records of Topsfield, Massachusetts, Vol. I, Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, 1917.
The first recorded death on the island is that of Jane, wife of Richard Swain, who died Oct. 31, 1662. Tradition says she was buried by her husband under the door stone.
Source: “Our Burial Grounds”, Inquirer and Mirror, 6 Nov 1877, Nantucket, MA, at Nantucket Historical Association Research Library.
GEORGE, Ipswich, son of William, a Huguenot in England, living at Topsfield after marriage with Jane Godfrey, and there was drowned 26 May 1658. His widow gave inventory of ?300. 20 June following. At the date of his death the children were Elizabeth aged 12; William, 10; Mary, 6; Ann, 4; and Martha, 1 and ½. His widow soon married Richard Swain, went to Nantucket with those children and she died 31 Oct. 1662, the earliest, in record of deaths on that island. Elizabeth married Thomas Look; Mary married Stephen Coffin, Ann married Joseph Coleman; and Martha married 8 Oct. 1676, Stephen Hussey… Savage’s Register, Volume I
BunkerSTEPHEN, Newbury, son of the first Tristram, married Mary Bunker, had at Nantucket, Dinah, born 21 September 1671; Peter, 14 November 1673; Stephen, 20 February 1676; and several more, perhaps, among them Paul, 15 April 1695. Coffin
JOSEPH, Nantucket, son of Thomas, married Ann, daughter of George Bunker, had Joseph, born 17 November 1673, drowned in youth; and Ann, 10 November 1675; died 1690. Coleman
THOMAS, Nantucket, son of the preceding (Thomas Look of Lynn), married Elizabeth Bunker, sister I think, of William, not daughter as the Nantucket Mirror of 22 March 1856, makes it, had Experience, born 22 November 1672; Elizabeth 28 November 1675; Jane, 24 December 1680; and others; removed to the Vineyard, where the name was perpetuated. Volume 3
LookSource: Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990 (originally published Boston, 1860-1862).
George Bunker (M) Records from the Eliza Starbuck Barney Genealogical Record
d. 26 May 1658, #7700
George Bunker was the 1st of Nantucket. He married Jane Godfrey circa 1645. George Bunker died on 26 May 1658.
Children of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey:
Elisabeth Bunker (1646)
William Bunker (1648 - 06 Jun 1712)
Mary Bunker (1652 - 1724)
Ann Bunker (1654)
Martha Bunker (1656 - 21 Sep 1744)Jane Godfrey (F)
d. 31 Oct 1662, #7701
Jane Godfrey married Richard Swain Sen. before 1633; His 2nd wife. They had one child, but note at Vol. VI, p. 170 2 chn. are listed. Jane Godfrey married George Bunker circa 1645. Jane Godfrey died on 31 October 1662; Written date format was "31 Oct. 1662."
Her married name was Swain. Her married name was Bunker.
Richard Swain Sen. (M)
b. 1601, d. 1682, #7702
Richard Swain Sen. married an unknown person; Richard, Sen. had two sons by a former marriage. He was born in 1601; the 1st of Nantucket. He married Jane Godfrey before 1633; His 2nd wife. They had one child, but note at Vol. VI, p. 170 2 chn. are listed. Richard Swain Sen. died in 1682; Written format was "Ap. 14-1682."
Children of Richard Swain Sen.:
Richard Swain Jun. ( - 1708)
John Swain (1633 - 1715)Elisabeth Bunker (F)
b. 1646, #7707
Elisabeth Bunker married Thomas Look Jun.; At the Vineyard. Elisabeth Bunker was born in 1646. She was the daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey.
Her married name was Look.
Children of Elisabeth Bunker and Thomas Look Jun.:
Experience Look (1672 - 17 Apr 1759)
Elisabeth Look (1675)
Sarah Look (1678)
Jane Look (1680)
Thomas Look Jun. (M)
b. 1646, #7708
Thomas Look Jun. married Elisabeth Bunker, daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey; At the Vineyard. Thomas Look Jun. was born in 1646; Of Martha's Vineyard.William Bunker (M)
b. 1648, d. 06 Jun 1712, #7703
William Bunker was born in 1648. He was the son of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey. William Bunker married Mary Macy, daughter of Thomas Macy and Sarah Hopcott, in 1669. William Bunker died on 6 June 1712.
Children of William Bunker and Mary Macy:
Mary Bunker
Daniel Bunker
Abigail Bunker ( - 13 Sep 1776)
Jane Bunker ( - 07 Jun 1754)
Christian Bunker
George Bunker (1671 - 24 Oct 1744)
John Bunker (1673)
Jonathan Bunker (1674 - 1721)
Peleg Bunker (1676 - 01 Apr 1730)
Jabez Bunker (1678 - 5-1750)
Thomas Bunker (1680 - 1722)
Benjamin Bunker (1683 - 10 May 1721)
Ann Bunker (1686 - 18 Jan 1767)
Mary Macy (F)
b. 04 Dec 1648, d. 10 Mar 1729, #7704
Mary Macy was born on 4 December 1648; Date of "1649" given at Vol. I, p. 163. She was the daughter of Thomas Macy and Sarah Hopcott. Mary Macy married William Bunker, son of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey, in 1669. Mary Macy died on 10 March 1729 at age 80.
Her married name was Bunker.Mary Bunker (F)
b. 1652, d. 1724, #1711
Mary Bunker married Stephen Coffin, son of Tristram Coffin and Dionis Stevens. Mary Bunker was born in 1652. She was the daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey. Mary Bunker died in 1724; At age 72.
Her married name was Coffin.
Children of Mary Bunker and Stephen Coffin:
Susanna Coffin ( - 11 Jun 1740)
Judith Coffin ( - 1760)
Mahitabel Coffin
Daniel Coffin ( - 1724)
Anna Coffin ( - 22 Apr 1740)
Hepsabeth Coffin
Dinah Coffin (1671)
Peter Coffin (1673)
Stephen Coffin Jr. (1675 - 1725)
Paul Coffin (15 Apr 1695 - 1729)
Stephen Coffin (M)
b. 1652, d. 18 May 1734, #484
Stephen Coffin married Mary Bunker, daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey. Stephen Coffin was born in 1652. He was the son of Tristram Coffin and Dionis Stevens. Stephen Coffin died on 18 May 1734.Ann Bunker (F)
b. 1654, #479
Ann Bunker married Joseph Coleman, son of Thomas Coleman and Susanna ?. Ann Bunker was born in 1654. She was the daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey.
Her married name was Coleman.
Children of Ann Bunker and Joseph Coleman:
Joseph Coleman (1673)
Ann Coleman (1675 - 01 Jul 1739)
Joseph Coleman (M)
b. 1642, d. 1690, #478
Joseph Coleman married Ann Bunker, daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey. Joseph Coleman was born in 1642. He was the son of Thomas Coleman and Susanna ?. Joseph Coleman died in 1690.
NOTE for Thomas & Suzanna: "His wife's name (Suzanna penciled in original volume) is not known here. There is record of only five chn, one of whom Tobias, m. and lived abroad. Isaac was drowned with John and Bethia Barnard. Benjamin, unknown" (Also penciled in: Isaac born 1647, died 1669.).Richard Swain Jun. (M)
d. 1708, #36779
Richard Swain Jun. was the oldest. He was the son of Richard Swain Sen.. Richard Swain Jun. died in 1708. Settled at Cape May, N.J.Martha Bunker (F)
b. 1656, d. 21 Sep 1744, #7336
Martha Bunker was born in 1656. She was the daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey. Martha Bunker married Stephen Hussey, son of Christopher Hussey and Theodate Batchelder, on 8 October 1676. Martha Bunker died on 21 September 1744; "A. 88."
Her married name was Hussey.
Children of Stephen Hussey and Martha Bunker:
Puella Hussey (10 Oct 1677)
Abigail Hussey (22 Oct 1679 - 26 Apr 1763)
Sylvanus Hussey (13 May 1682 - 19 Feb 1767)
Batchelder Hussey (18 Feb 1684)
Daniel Hussey (20 Oct 1687)
Mary Hussey (1689 - 08 Jan 1771)
George Hussey (1694 - 21 May 1782)
Theodate Hussey (1700 - 23 Sep 1744)
Stephen Hussey (M)
b. 1630, d. 02 Feb 1718, #1455
Stephen Hussey was born in 1630. He was the son of Christopher Hussey and Theodate Batchelder. Stephen Hussey married Martha Bunker, daughter of George Bunker and Jane Godfrey, on 8 October 1676. Stephen Hussey died on 2 February 1718.Source: Database of the Eliza Starbuck Barney Genealogical Record, Nantucket Historical Association (created from records collected by Eliza Starbuck Barney (1802-1889)).
George Bunker (N-1) who is credited with founding our Nantucket Branch never visited Nantucket, only his wife and children made the journey when they settled there in 1659… George Bunker of Topsfield and Nantucket
...On the 5th of May 1644, George married Elizabeth Godfrey in the Parish Church of Maulden...There is some confusion concerning George’s wife’s name when they arrived in America. In Topsfield, she was known as Jane. We have found no information to clarify this apparent inconsistency. Two alternatives appear: first, Elizabeth died just before they left England or more possibly en route to America, and George married a Jane shortly afterwards so that Elizabeth never reached America and was not buried in Tingrith either. The second possibility is that she was Elizabeth Jane Godfrey and chose to drop the Elizabeth in America where she had no friends to continue her former name. We do know that George and Elizabeth had two children born in Tingrith, namely Elizabeth in 1646 and William baptized 17 June 1648. George and Jane had three children born in Topsfield, namely Mary in May 1652, Ann about 1654 and Martha born 1 November 1656. The uncertainty involving Jane/Elizabeth has no bearing on William (N-2) and his descendants, as he was definitely the son of Elizabeth Godfrey Bunker.
George Bunker (N-1) is first recorded in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Whether he arrived there directly from England or via Salem or Boston, we do not know…
…We do not know how long George, Jane and their children lived in Ipswich or why they decided to move a few miles west to Topsfield, but by 1652 they were there. George was made a freeman in 1655…
…About a year later Capt’ Pendleton (in about 1649) sold the land to George Bunker, who moved his family onto the property from Ipswich. The land extended from what is now Common and Main Street to Perkins Street on the south and was bounded on the west by a nameless brook that enters the river below the Agricultural Fair Grounds and rises the west of the village and flowing under Prospect and South Main Street. There are records in the Registry of Deeds of land transactions involving relatively small parcels of this land for a “way” (now the turnpike) and to neighbors. In 1656, it was “ordered and Granted that there shall be a way foure rod wide from the forde nigh to theHouse of William Towne, through the land of William Towns, Wm. Howard, Jacob Towne, Edmund Towne and George Buncker as it is layd out by Francis Peabody, John Redington, Edmund Towne and William Howard, at the request of the Towne”.
Also in 1656 “Sary Barnes…was presented for speaking reproachfully against the minister and people at Wells”. Witnesses were the wives of George Bunker, John and Abraham Redington. George Bunker was paid for the time or travel of Jane Bunker to attend this hearing according to certain records.
In 1658 George Bunker was drowned while driving his team through the river, presumably swollen by recent rains. His son William, then 10 years old, escaped death with the team. His widow Jane married Richard Swain on September 15, 1658 and moved to Nantucket in 1659, where Swain became one of the ten original proprietors deeded land there in 1659. In July 1660, the Swains sold the land that was formerly George Bunker’s in Topsfield, in various lots. At the same time, John Redington, who was living nearby, bought a 100 acres of the Bunker farm. Others who purchased the remainder of this land were John Wildes, one hundred acres; Thomas Browning, thirteen acres; Jacob and Edmund Towne, twenty six acres. It is probably that George Bunker sold, prior to his death, the balance of the six hundred acres of the original grant which he bought of Capt. Pendleton and the deeds were not recorded. In one instance, William Howard states in a deed that he sells the right “I have or ought to have” in land he bought of George Bunker. The Bunker-Perkins House is believed to be one that stood on Perkins Street, not far from the junction of High and Central Streets, which was taken down in 1887. It adjoined the farm of his brother-in-law, John Redington.
The inventory of George Bunker’s estatewas taken on June 29, 1658, and the appraised value of £300, a goodly sum, but his debts totaled £158. Mr. Bunker’s wearing apparel was valued at £3; 6s, bedding, linen, woolen, and cotton wool at £8; table, chairs, trays, tubs and barrels were worth £2: 3s; bras & pewter £3. His farm stock included: working cattle £36; coes, heifers & calves £16; swine £2. His carts, plows, and other implements (tackling) £3: cowes pelt skines & wheeles, a Rop and bandalers, gun and sword £4. The crop of corn upon the ground £9.
An orchard was mentioned as being on George Bunker’s farm when he died in 1658…Source: Bunker, Henry L., Bunker Family History, Bunker Family Association, 1984.
[1] Note in Vital Records: “P. R. 38—private record, from the William C. Folger genealogical records in possession of the Nantucket Historical Association (This compilation has been used because of the valuable clues it affords, but its statements should be received with caution, as it is not free from errors. It should also be understood that in many instances the events recorded did not take place in Nantucket, and in a few cases attention has been called to the question of residence.)” Footnotes
[2] Note in Vital Records: “Intention not recorded.”
[3] Probably should read Macy, not Hussey. I typed it as it was written in the Vital Records. MB
[4] Note in Vital Records: “P. R. 63—private record, from a copy of a manuscript kept by Hon. Isaac Coffin, Judge of Probate, in the possession of the Nantucket Atheneum.”
© 2014 by Michelle Boyd, All rights reserved.Last updated 4 Jun 2003.