Silas Bunker Sr. (abt. 1746 - 1829)

Born about 1746 in Durham, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Foss) Bunker — married 21 Nov 1771 in Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine

Descendants

Died 15 Feb 1829 at about age 83 in Blue Hill, Hancock, Maine, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Bunker [send private message]

Biography

Private Silas Bunker Sr. served with Capt. Nathaniel Fales' Company, Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolution.

Silas Bunker Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A016958.

Silas Bunker Sr. was a pioneer settler of Sedgwick.

Notes on Silas Bunker on being in revol. War - Silas was born 1746. He married 21 Nov. 1771 Scargboro, Me., the widow MARY (FOSS) SMITH (Rec. 2nd Congregational Church, Scarboro, Me.: Maine Hist. and Gen. Recorder 4:87; Sedgwick T.R. 1:422), Mary was born 16 Oct. 1743 (Me. Hist. Gen. Rec. 1:169) and married for the first time 17 Dec. 1759 to Lemuel Smith (Me. Hist. Gen. Rec. 4:31) who died 17 June 1768 at age 32 (Sedgwick T.R.). After marrying Silas Mary lived to be 92 and died 8 June 1831 at Sedgwick (Portland, Maine, Press Herald, "100 Years Ago" column in issue 8 June 1931).

At Cranberry Isle, Me., when "Silas bunker of Cranberry Isle, County of Lincoln, Province of Massachusetts Bay," was sued by John Williams of Lee, N. H., on a note signed at Dover, N.H., 21 Oct. 1773, case settled 10 May 1775 (Strafford County, N.H., Superior Court 1:146), and when he was sued by Thomas Bunker of Durham, N.H., on a note signed at Durham, N.H., same day, case settled 10 May 1775 (Strafford County, N.H., Superior Court 1:147). At Mt. Desert, Me., 1776 when he contributed one shilling for a Town Book (Street's Mt. Desert 178).

Gaylen Bunker's Notes on the War Before 22 Oct 1776 (date of birth of son William in Sedgwick) he moved to Sedgwick, Me. One of first proprietors and settlers of Sedgwick (Centennial of 1st Baptist Church Sedgwick---June 1905---p 10). Enlisted 2 Aug. 1779 in Captain Nathaniel Fales' Company, served in Majorbagaduce Expedition, discharged 15 Aug. 1779 (Mass Soldiers and Sailors of Revolution 2:809).

During the American Revolution, Maine found herself sandwiched between two warring parties. With Montgomery and Arnold's failure to capture Quebec, new America found that it would be unable to carry Canada along with it to independence from Britain. Less settled, less established and perhaps less civilized, Maine was in a precarious position at the edge of a new nation. The British took advantage of the opportunity to invade eastern Maine in June 1779 with 750 troops under Francis McLean and a small squadron of three sloops under Capt. Henry Mowat. The purpose of this invasion was to build a fort at Castine on the Majabagaduce Peninsular and lay the ground work to establish a new colony for their loyalist supporters. It would be called New Ireland, sandwiched as it was between New England and New Scotland (Nova Scotia).

Massachusetts saw this as a whittling away of its territory. Without so much as a by your leave from the Continental Congress, Massachusetts raised an army of 1000 militiamen, as well as 20 transports and 19 armed ships, many privately owned and not a few manned by sailors impressed for this duty. The ill-fated attack on the new British Fort George in July 1779 known as the Penobscot or Bagaduce Expedition was masterfully bungled. In the end the militia was abandoned, the ships and transports were sunk or run aground, and Massachusetts was all but bankrupt.

Maine residents from Sedgwick and surrounding areas enlisted in Captain Nathaniel Fales's company, August 3, 1779. This company marched on an expedition to Majabigwaduce by order of General Lovell. After harassing the British they were discharged August 15, 1779.

After Bagaduce, the reputation of almost every American officer or ship's captain involved was impugned. Commodore of the fleet Dudley Saltonstall was court martialled and dismissed from Continental service. Lt. Col. Paul Revere, commander of the artillery, was court martialled and acquitted but not before his reputation was ruined. Perhaps the only bright spot in the American leadership was Brig. General Peleg Wadsworth who returned to eastern Maine as commander of the militia. The British held Bagaduce until the end of the war, but were occasionally harassed. General Wadsworth leading one successful challenge in 1780. (Boston Gazette, July 10, 1780; Almon, x, 227.)

http://www.imaginemaine.com/mainestories/Wadsworth.html

The "List of Settlers at No. 4 (now Sedgwick) district of Maine, taken 16 Nov. 1865" lists "Silas Bunker, 10 souls" and states he had ten (1785) been settled there "18 years" (Maine Hist. Mag. 9:158), which if true would mean he came to Sedgwick in 1767 which does not appear from foregoing items to be correct.

Listed 1790 census Sedgwick, Me. Sworn in as surveyor of highways at Sedgwick 6 Apr. 1792 (Sedgwick T.R. 1:40). As of Sedgwick, "Taylor," deeded the 100 acres of land "on which I now live" in Sedgwick, to his son Benjamin Bunker, in consideration of agreement by grantee for support of grantor Silas Bunker "and his wife Mary" in event of "disability, sickness or old age" (Hancock Deed 2:31). The church of Christ in Sedgwick, with 22 original members including Silas Bunker and his wife Mary Bunker, constituted 8 July 1793 (Centennial 1st Baptist Church of Sedgwick---June 1905---pp 29-30). As of Sedgwick, sued Sylvester Pierce, case running from April 1793 to 21 April 1, 1795 (Hancock County court common Pleas 2:100). Listed on 1798 Sedgwick tax list (Sedgwick T.R.). Listed (also Silas Bunker Jr.) on 1799 Sedgwick tax list (Sedgwick T.R.).

Listed 1800 census Sedgwick. Was deeded back 50 acres plus money consideration by his son Benjamin Bunker in consideration of release of maintenance obligation, 12 Aug. 1800 (Hancock Deed 24:392). On Sedgwick tax lists 1802-1805 (Sedgwick T.R.). Deeded land in Sedgwick by and mortgaged it to Isaac Smith Bunker 1 April 1807 (Hancock Deeds 24:393, 394). Both he and Silas Bunker Jr. on 1807 Sedgwick tax list (Sedgwick T.R.). Listed 1810 Census Sedgwick. Probably he and wife are the older individuals shown living with Isaac Smith Bunker 22 Sep. 1827 (Hancock Deeds 51:134, 135). On his way home from Williamsburg, Me., he stopped at David (or Daniel) Osgood's at Bluehill; in the morning, opening the wrong door by mistake he fell into the cellar and died about 10 days later. Died 15 Feb. 1829 at 83 years, at Bluehill, Maine. (Fisher's Bluehill Church Rec. 1:217).

Had Seven Children:

Benjamin Bunker born 18 Sep. 1772

Thomas Bunker born 3 Jul. 1774

William Bunker born 22 Oct. 1776

Silas Bunker, Jr. born 26 Oct. 1778

Abigail Bunker born 28 May 1782

Isaac Smith Bunker born 10 Apr 1785

Jennie Bunker (adopted) born 13 Mar. 1789

Birth

Birth:

Date: 1746

Place: Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA

Source:

Note: Probably Durham

Mother reportedly named Abigail Adams - no authoritative source

Sources

• Bunker Genealogy : Descendants of James Bunker, v.3. by Edward Carleton Moran. Dover Branch. Silas Bunker D-21
• Payroll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 171-72 of 628.
• Muster roll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 118 of 628.