2. JAMES 12 BUNKER (JAMES1) was born Abt. 1628 in Slapton Devonshire, England, and died January 24, 1697/98 in Dover NH, Strafford County. He married SARSH NUTE/PEPERELL, daughter of JAMES NUTE and SARAH. She was born Bet. 1632 - 1641 in Durham NH, Strafford County, and died Aft. 1697.
Notes for JAMES 1 BUNKER:
**************************
Dover Branch
The earliest knowledge we have of James Bunker, sometimes spelled Buncker, is the record of his christening on February 10, 1633/34 in the parish church of Slapton, Devonshire, England. His christening is the earliest record of the name James among the Devonshire Bunckers.
Given the Bunker designation D-1, James in 1678 stated in a court deposition that he was 50, hence born in 1628. James served on a jury in 1646 in Kittery, Maine, and it is not likely he would have been called for such duty at the age of 13. We have no "positive proof" that James of Devon and James of Kittery is the same man but "circumstantial evidence is very strong," according to Henry Bunker III in his Bunker Family History.
James Bunker apparently came to New England without parents, arriving in Kittery in 1646. Sometime between 1649 and 1652 he moved to Dover, New Hampshire, where he was granted land on August 10, 1653. He built a fortified home known as Bunker's Garrison in the Oyster River Plantation area. Sources disagree on the date of the garrison's construction. One states shortly after 1652 (probably too early) and another states it was built in 1675. In any case it was the last remaining garrison of the Oyster River Plantation area attacked by Indians in 1694. The Oyster River Plantation area became the town of Durham, New Hampshire in 1732; the garrison was torn down in 1927. In the Bunker genealogies, references to Dover in the early years of the family really refer to territory now designated as Durham, New Hampshire. After 1732, a reference to Dover is most likely not a reference to the Oyster River Plantation area, but to the city.
The above information is generally summarized from Henry L. Bunker III's 1984 Bunker Family History. The most recent and complete Dover branch genealogy is the 1971-83 Bunker Genealogy, Volume III, updated and compiled by Ruth Bunker Christensen, Ward Bunker and Henry L. Bunker III.
*************************
1. JAMES 1, b @ 1628 as age 50 in 1678 deposition; in Kittery, Maine, 1646; included in Crowners Jury 24 Mch 1646/7; removed to Oyster River (Dover), N. H. @ 1651; Witness there 1652; Oyster River land grant 8/10/53; signed Dover petition 1654; took oath of fidelity before end of 1655; appears on Dover tax lists 1657, 1659, 1661, 1663; grand juror 30 June 1657 and 4/28/1659; juror 11 Nov 1659 at inquest on death of James Murray; signed petition 26 July 1665 praying to be freed from Massachusetts jurisdiction; admr est William Roberts 29 Mch 1676; on list of persons to vote for representative 16 Feb 1679; married SARAH ..... who was included in coroners jury Dec 1692 and who visited John Knight during his last illness witnessing his will 11 Nov 1694; signed petition to Massachusetts to set up temporary government 20 Feb 1689; Bunker's Garrison successfully defended against Indian attack 17 July 1694; signed petition for Oyster River to be a township 1695; was paid for boarding soldiers for periods 25 July to 24 Nov 1694, 2 Nov 1695 to 6 Mch 1696, and 24 May to 4 Oct 1697. His will dated 14 Oct 1697 proved 24 June 1698 names wife SARAH and sons JAMES JR., JOSEPH and JOHN. (Authorities: Hist Durham 1:10,64,83,103,240,351; 2:31; Spencer's Pioneers on Maine Rivers 112; Maine Province and Court Rec 1:108,164; N. H. Province Deed 1:86; 2:15A, 23,128B; 5:220,221,243; Savage's Gen Dict 1:299; Thompson's Landmarks Ancient Dover 33; Libby's Genealogical Dictionary 52,119; N. H. State Papers 1:212; 17:513,645; 19:660; 31:170,397,432; N. E. Hist Gen Reg 4:247-8; 5:452; Quint's Hist Memoranda Ancient Dover 59,276,356,357; Wadleigh's Notable Events Hist Dover 47, 51, 60; Scales' Hist Dover 238,239,247; Proc Dover Hist Soc 5:240; N. H. Province Probate Rec 2:15,47,49.)
****************************
Children of JAMES BUNKER and SARSH NUTE/PEPERELL are:
