Person:James Bunyan (9)

James Bunyan was baptised on 24th January 1830 at Caddington in Bedfordshire, son of a straw plaiter called Ann Bunyan, formerly Fensome, and her husband James Bunyan, an agricultural labourer. James appears in the 1841 census living with his parents and siblings in the part of Caddington parish which at that time was in Hertfordshire. In 1851, James was working as a farm labourer and living with his mother and siblings in Caddington, who were all lodging with another James Bunyan, who was presumably a relative (probably his father's cousin). His father was living alone elsewhere in Caddington.

On 2nd March 1857, aged 27, James married Mary King. She had been living with her family next door to James in the 1851 census. She already had two young sons to whom James became stepfather. Both boys adopted Bunyan as their surname, and it is entirely possible that James was their father too.

After their marriage, James and Mary went on to have another ten children at Caddington between 1858 and 1878, although three died young. In 1861 the family was living at Tipple Hill and James was an agricultural labourer, whilst Mary was a bonnet sewer.

In 1868 James appeared in court to prosecute a man who had cut the rope for the well which served the row of cottages in which James lived.

By 1871 James, Mary, their children and a servant were living at Mill Field in Caddington, with James described as a farmer of 151 acres employing eight men and a boy. James's prosperity did not last; by 1881 he was described as an unemployed farm bailiff.

In 1886 James was working for a Mrs Deacon, when he was involved in an altercation with two men who were trying to steal a hen from Mrs Deacon's farm. He had to give evidence in court against them.

Some time between 1886 and 1891 the family left Caddington and moved over forty miles north to Barton Seagrave in Northamptonshire, where James worked as a farm labourer. They moved again between 1891 and 1901 to the neighbouring village of Burton Latimer, where they lived on Finedon Road.

James died at the age of 78. He was buried at Burton Latimer on 4th April 1908. Mary survived him by nearly nine years.

1. ↑ England. Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. (FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, Findmypast).

   ch. 24 Jan 1830, Caddington, Bedfordshire: James son of James & Ann Bunyon

   Needs to be confirmed at Bedfordshire Archives.

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 440; Book 10; Folio 19; Page 2, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Caddington, Hertfordshire
   James Bunyan, male, 40 [1796-1801], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], not born in county
   Ann Bunyan, female, 34 [1801-6], born in county
   Thomas Bunyan, male, 15 [1821-6], born in county
   Ann Bunyan, female, 12 [1828/9], born in county
   James Bunyan, male, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   William Bunyan, male, 8 [1832/3], born in county
   Eliza Bunyan, female, 6 [1834/5], born in county
   Samuel Bunyan, male, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   Edith Bunyan, female, 3 [1837/8], born in county
   Charity Bunyan, female, 1 [1839/40], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1757; Folio 341; Page 8, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Caddington, Hertfordshire
   James Bunyan, head, widower, male, 34 [1816/17], Farm Labourer, b. Caddington, Bedfordshire
   Ann Bunyan, lodger, married, female, 43 [1807/8], Platter of Straw, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   James Bunyan, lodger, unmarried, male, 20 [1830/1], Farm Labourer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   William Bunyan, lodger, unmarried, male, 18 [1832/3], Farm Labourer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Josiah Bunyan, lodger, unmarried, male, 16 [1834/5], Farm Labourer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Samuel Bunyan, lodger, unmarried, male, 15 [1835/6], Farm Labourer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Edith Bunyan, lodger, female, 12 [1838/9], Platter of Straw, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Mary Bunyan, lodger, female, 7 [1843/4], Platter of Straw, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Ruth Bunyan, lodger, female, 5 [1845/6], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 1015; Folio 88; Page 2, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Tipple Hill, Caddington, Hertfordshire
   James Bunyan, head, married, male, 30 [1830/1], Ag[ricultural] lab[ourer], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Mary Bunyan, wife, married, female, 26 [1834/5], Bonnet sewer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Arthur Bunyan, son, male, 7 [1853/4], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Alfred Bunyan, son, male, 4 [1856/7], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Henry Bunyan, son, male, 2 [1858/9], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire

5. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 1568; Folio 14; Page 20, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: Mill Field, Caddington, Hertfordshire
   James Bunyan, head, married, male, 40 [1830/1], Farmer of 151 a[cres] employing 8 m[en] & 1 b[oy], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Mary Bunyan, wife, married, female, 36 [1834/5], Farmer wife, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Alfred Bunyan, son, male, 14 [1856/7], Farmer son, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Henry Bunyan, son, male, 12 [1858/9], Farmer son, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Sidney Bunyan, son, male, 9 [1861/2], Farmer son, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Emily Bunyan, daughter, female, 6 [1864/5], Farmer dau[ghte]r, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Ruth Bunyan, daughter, female, 4 [1866/7], Farmer dau[ghte]r, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   George Bunyan, son, male, 1 [1869/70], Farmer son, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   George Arnold, servant, male, 16 [1854/5], Horse keeper, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire

6. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1653; Folio 137; Page 5, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Aley Green, Caddington, Hertfordshire
   James Bunyan, head, married, male, 50 [1830/1], Farm bailiff (unemployed), b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Mary Bunyan, wife, married, female, 46 [1834/5], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Sidney Bunyan, son, unmarried, male, 19 [1861/2], Blocker, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Emily Bunyan, daughter, female, 16 [1864/5], Bonnet sewer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Ruth Bunyan, daughter, female, 14 [1866/7], Bonnet sewer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   George Bunyan, son, male, 11 [1869/70], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Alexander Bunyan, son, male, 7 [1873/4], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Francis Bunyan, son, male, 5 [1875/6], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire

7. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 1215; Folio 68; Page 5, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: Barton Seagrave, Northamptonshire
   John [sic] Bunyan, head, married, male, 52 [1838/9], Farm Labourer, employed, b. Hertfordshire
   Mary Bunyan, wife, married, female, 56 [1834/5], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Alexander Bunyan, son, single, male, 17 [1873/4], Finisher Boot trade, employed, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Francis John Bunyan, son, single, male, 15 [1875/6], Finisher Boot trade, employed, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Clara Isabel Bunyan, daughter, female, 9 [1881/2], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

8. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 1446; Folio 85; Page 47, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: Finedon Road, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire
   John Bunyan, head, married, male, 70 [1830/1], Farm Labourer, worker, b. Hertfordshire
   Mary Bunyan, wife, married, female, 66 [1834/5], b. Hertfordshire
   Alexander Bunyan, son, single, male, 27 [1873/4], Shoe Finisher, worker, b. Hertfordshire
   Clara Bunyan, granddaughter, single, female, 18 [1882/3], Shoe Machinist, worker, b. Hertfordshire

9.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. James BUNYAN, June Quarter 1908, Kettering Registration District, Volume 3b, page 91, aged 78 [1829/30]

10. ↑ Burials register, in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, England. Parish Registers (Northamptonshire Record Office).

    BURIALS in the Parish of Burton Latimer in the County of Northampton in the year one thousand nine hundred and eight
    No	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
    86	James Bunyan	Finedon Street	April fourth	78 [1829/30]	A.B. Wilson Woodhouse

11.   Herts Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 1 Aug 1868.

    DAMAGING A WELL-ROPE.
    Amos Burgess, of Caddington, was charged with damaging a well-rope, the property of James Bunyan and others, on the 18th inst., at Caddington.
    James Bunyan, of Hailey Green, deposed: There is a well in my yard for the joint use of the seven cottages belonging to Mr. Sams. All the cottages have a right to it. Those who do not live in the cottages pay 2s. a year each for the use of the well. Defendant would not pay, and cut the rope. I found the rope cut in 39 places, and assunder in two places. Last night defendant came to me and asked me what I wanted to make it up, and I said "I shan't say any price." I told him if he would say what he would give me, I would see about making it up. He afterwards came to see me again and offered to pay just for the value of the rope, and no expenses.
    Fined 14s.

12.   Bucks Herald, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 5, 3 Apr 1886.

    PETTY SESSIONS, MONDAY, MARCH 20.
    "A DEAR OLD HEN." - Benjamin Barker and Arthur Pakes were charged on remand with stealing a fowl, the property of Mrs. Deacon, of Caddington, on the 16th ult., in conjunction with William White, who at the last Sessions was fined £1 and costs. - James Bunyan, foreman for Mrs. Deacon, stated that on hearing the report of a gun his little boy and he ran out and saw these two men putting the white fowl produced, which he identified as belonging to his mistress, into White's pocket. He demanded the fowl, and snatched at it in White's pocket, but could not get it. Pakes put the muzzle of his gun to witness's chest, and swore that he should not have the fowl, and threatened to "bash his brains out." Barker called out "No, no," and took the gun from Pakes. Barker wanted to know if witness would take money for the hen, and said they were on a spree. Witness told him he could not take any money, and sent for the police. - In reply to Mr. Ewen, of Luton, who defended, witness said the bird was shot accidentally, and defendants said they would see Mrs. Deacon and pay her. - Mr. Ewen said the witness now said "they," but he had first said that Barker and then Pakes put the hen in White's pocket. - P.C. Woodward proved apprehending Barker, and said Pakes surrendered. - Ezra Bunyan, son of the first witness, gave corroborative evidence. - P.C. William Chamberlain said he had information, and watched and saw the two prisoners and White get out of a train from Dunstable at 9.45 p.m. on the 16th. The resided at Luton. He took the fowl from White's pocket. He at first resisted, but Pakes said "Tip it up, and we'll go and see Mrs. Deacon." - Defendants pleaded not guilty, and Mr. Ewen contended that the fowl was shot by mistake, and the accused were not guilty at all. - They were each fined £1, and costs £2: 9: 9, which was paid, one of the men saying it was a "dear old hen."