Family:Richard Bunnager and Mary Griffiths (1)

Richard and Mary were married in Bridgnorth but appear to have lived in Broseley most of their lives. All their children were born in or near Broseley which was located on the Severn River near the historic Ironbridge. This area of England is said to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in England.

The name Bunnager seems to have evolved from vaious spellings including Bonegar, Bunnegar, Bonaker, Bonacre, and most of the surviving family use the spelling Bunnagar.

Of the twelve children born to Richard and Mary, only two: Susanna and Emma died in infancy. George, Henry, Richard, and Thomas remained in England and their descendants still reside there today. William emigrated to Colorado where he worked as a baker in Denver. James emigrated to Philadelphia abut 1883 and Mary Ann and her husband, Herbert Walker, emigrated about the same time and eventually settled in New Jersey, just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. Lucy married a fellow named Charles Fullaway in Delaware and according to the 1900 Census for Philadelphia, she emigrated in 1881. By 1910 Charles had a different wife so I presumed that Lucy died but I have been supplied with a death date of July 9 1929 so more research on Lucy is obviously needed! Rebecca and her husband, Bagot Arnold, both settled in Alberta, Canada about 1912.

I was told that the mother, Mary Griffiths, moved to the U.S.A. with her youngest son, James, and died there but I have found a ships manifest for Richard and Mary "Bannagher" ages 64 and 60 who arrived in Philadelphia May 1884 aboard the vessel Indiana. The 1990 Philadelphia City Directory has a Richard Bunnagar, bricklayer, living at the same address as James Bunnagar, goldbeater. Mary was found living with Mary Ann and Herbert Walker in 1900, she was a widow.

Considering that Richard and Mary had twelve children, there are very few Bunnagar/Bunnager in the world today.

1. ↑ Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage.

   1846. Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St. Mary Bridgnorth in the County of Salop. June 2nd, 1846 Richard Bunnagar, full age, Bachelor, Bricklayer, Listley Street, Richard Bunnagar, Labourer and Mary Griffiths, full age, Spinster, --, Listley Street, John Griffiths, Sawyer Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, after Banns by me, W.K. Marshall, Minister. This Marriage was solemnized between us, Richard Bunnagar, the mark X of Mary Griffiths in the Presence of us, the mark X of Thomas Bunnagar, Ann Griffiths