Family talk:Benjamin Bunker and Mary Chickering (1)

evidence coming? [14 June 2012]

Looking forward to seeing a source for this marriage. From Mary's page, Jacobus thought the marriage to William Symmes was Mary's first. Symmes Memorial by Vinton said no record of births but estimates first Symmes child b. 1676, while widow Mary Bunker signed deed in Jan 1676/77 so not yet married. Certainly plenty of wiggle room (and it would even explain some things) here for this marriage to be squeezed in, but most Bunker sources seem unwilling to identify wife as more than Mary ----, and don't seem to know things after her signing deed in Roxbury in early 1677. --Jrich 09:55, 14 June 2012 (EDT)

You've got it. It would be more satisfying if there were words like "my honoured father" in the quoted text, but apparently it was enough to convince Anderson. The abstract of Francis' probate (NEHGR 9:346) doesn't provide much detail, but it does indicate that after a payment to the widow of £350, the rest of the "houses, land, debts and goods" were to be divided among the five daughters (only son John died an infant) of whom Mary was the youngest. Torrey (TAG 17:70-71) completely missed this apparent first marriage.--jaques1724 12:16, 14 June 2012 (EDT)

Thanks. Don't know why the other sources all fixate on the deed to Jonathan Bunker, and ignore the one Anderson cites. Same date, one would assume they would find both, and this is far more informative. --Jrich 12:19, 14 June 2012 (EDT)