Abm Bunbury, Captn, his signature from a regimental paylist dated Bradford, England, 20 February 1783
Nationality: Irish
Born: Kilfeacle, County Tipperary, Ireland, 1745
Regimental commission dates:
Ensign, 31 December 1769
Lieutenant, 17 September 1773
Captain, 21 December 1775
Wounded: Battle of Freeman's Farm, 19 September 1777
Captured: Saratoga, New York, 17 October 1777 (Convention Army)
Retired: 27 February 1788
Died: Edinburgh, Scotland, 1 September 1799
One of three surviving children born to Matthew (1702-1766) and Elizabeth Bunbury (life dates unknown), Abraham Charles Bunbury had a relatively late start in the British Army officer corps at the age of 24.
In 1777, Captain Abraham Bunbury commanded a battalion company of the 62nd Regiment during the entire Northern Campaign, which included ferocious fighting in the Battle of Freeman's Farm on 19 September 1777, in which battle he was wounded. Later historians attributed his wound to having occurred in the Battle of Bemis Heights instead (7 October 1777), but contemporary officer casualty enumerations clarify that error.
Bunbury surrendered with the rest of Lieutenant-General John Burgoyne's Army at Saratoga on 17 October 1777, and he remained with the regiment during its period of captivity. Bunbury was one of three officers of the regiment to apply for his parole in May 1778, but the rebels were in no hurry to grant it. Upon the exchange and promotion (into another regiment) of light infantry company Captain Alexander Campbell in 1778, Bunbury assumed the command of that elite flank company, remaining as its commander for the rest of the war. He rejoined the repatriated regiment in England by August 1781.
An issue of the London Magazine, Enlarged and Improved (printed for R. Baldwin, London: 1784), announced Bunbury's marriage: “Abraham Bunbury, Esq. captain in the 62d regiment of foot, to Miss Christy Innes, daughter of Mr. Innes, of Cathlaw.” Their nuptials took place at the Kirk of St. Nicholas in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 21 June 1784. Christian (1761-1847) and Abraham had seven children: Christian Elizabeth (b.1786), Harriet (1787-1841), twins Margaret Isabella (1791-1867) and Matthew Alexander (1791-1841), Anna Maria (1793-1879), Abraham (1796-1851), and Isabella (1799-1882). The youngest, Isabella, married Sir Abraham Roberts (1784-1873) in 1830. They were the parents of famed Field-Marshal, the Right Honourable Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Baron Roberts of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Born in Cawnpore, India (30 September 1832), this most impressive military officer won a host of medals, accolades, titles, and the Victoria Cross for ability, bravery, and gallantry during the course of his life. His successes earned him many top commands, including the position of commander-in-chief in India (1885-1893), commander-in-chief in Ireland (1895-1899), and the last commander-in-chief of the Forces (1900-1904). He died in 1914 and remains one of Britain's most celebrated military heroes.
Our thanks to Turtle Bunbury of Ireland, Bunbury family historian, for his assistance and generous sharing of Bunbury family history. Additional biographical information on the Bunbury family, including Abraham Bunbury himself, can be found here.