QUESTIONS SOLVED – QUESTIONS CREATED

Since writing the short biographies below, I have authored in-depth coverage of current findings and speculations concerning both the family of James Beal Bunyard and my of own father’s Bunyard line. These histories can be found on the pages of  FAMILY CHRONICLES and the DNA summaries located on the pages of DNA RESEARCH. 

Visit The Bunyard DNA Project at Family Tree DNA for a comparison of the Y-DNA results of the descendants of Dora Brockmann Bunyard’s two sons.

HISTORY

James Beal Bunyard’s parentage is unverified. A James Bunyard family lived in East End, London, England since before 1678. This family baptized their infants, James and Jane, at St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, London. There is another Bunyard family who marries at All Saints Church in Maidstone, Kent County, some 22 miles southeast of London. Are these two lines connected? The Maidstone Bunyard’s say James Beal is not related. Without verification, I suspect the London Bunyard’s are the ancestors of James Beal and they could be linked in some way to the Maidstones.

On the 14th of September, in the year of 1763, one first meets James Beal Bunyard who is soon to become one of His Majesty’s Seven-Year Passengers. James Bunyard was indicted for stealing one man’s hat, a value of 10 s. and 10 s. in money, the property of Edward Jones, on September 1. He is approximately 20 years old and single. John Smith was called up and deposed that he had brought him up from six or seven months old till he was fit to go apprentice; that he was then an apprentice to Francis Stedman, in Clerkenwell; and that he never heard any ill of him in his life. James Beal was found guilty of a felony and on 22 February 1764 received the sentence of transportation.

James Beal along with other felons-convicts walked from Newgate to Black-fryars, and thence into a close lighter to board the ship Tryal. Under the command of Capt. W. McGachin, the Tryal transported 166 passengers in total, including 75 convicts from London, Middlesex and Surrey. The Tryal sailed in March 1764 to the colonies in the west. The trip would take approximately two months and not all convicts would survive the voyage. Because most convicts arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, or Hampton Roads on the James River in Virginia, it will be assumed this was the fate for James Beal.

James Beal Bunyard resurfaces in July 1774 with a wife and living in Surry County, North Carolina. It is months before the Revolutionary War divides Loyalists and colonists during the years 1775-1783. The following are brief histories of the James Beal Bunyard ancestral line in America.

FIRST GENERATION – JAMES BEAL BUNYARD

SECOND GENERATION – SAMUEL B. BUNYARD

THIRD GENERATION – LOYD M. BUNYARD

FOURTH GENERATION – WILLIAM WASHINGTON BUNYARD

FIFTH GENERATION – EDWARD DURWOOD BUNYARD

SIXTH GENERATION – RUSSELL EDWARD BUNYARD

The history of Dora Brockmann’s eldest son William Carl Bunyard can be found under MY RESEARCH and Loncar Family History –  WILLIAM CARL BUNYARD

SEVENTH GENERATION – BUNYARD

A resource for Bunyard history is the “Bunyard Family Research” compiled by Mary Cole, Sharon Cox and Eileen O’Neil published in 1995. The book follows the history of James Beal Bunyard and allied families (Alley, Fitzwater, Foster, etc.). The pdf file can be found and downloaded from the Lauderdale County Department of Archives & History, Inc. A link is added below.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY ARCHIVE

25 Comments

Pat · May 31, 2022 at 12:46 pm

Good to hear from you, Len. I hope you find the information included on these pages of some interest. The Bunyard family has an interesting history.

Len Bunyard · May 31, 2022 at 11:59 am

the knowledge I have is very limited my grandad was Oka Noy Bunyard , his first son of five is my father Len C. Bunyard then Cork, Delta,
Betty, and Glen (AKA Babe). Brothers and sisters.
I have brother Charles R. and sister Stephanie, and baby brother Fred
(AKA) Sean …..I dont have dates but i was born feb. 7, 1941 in Denver Colorado

Pat · November 21, 2019 at 1:12 pm

Hi Lizzy,

You came to the right place with my web page. If you follow the links back, you will trace the entire history of your family back to the very interesting patriarch, James Beal Bunyard. All this information is here

After reading that, go to the individual cards of YOUR ancestors.

Your ancestry would be: James Beal Bunyard > Ephraim M. Bunyard > James Bunyard > John Gilbert Bunyard > Oka Noah Bunyard > Len Cecil Bunyard > Len Edward Bunyard > John Bunyard then you.

The write up for James Beal is online and will give his history. I just ask that you don’t just copy it verbatim for your paper.
I have done several DNA tests and the Ephraim line is well represented and several cousins have matched using DNA.

If you follow the family cards, there is additional information for Ephraim (a preacher) and James who fought in the Mexican War; then John Gilbert who served on Union side in Civil War. Several of his cousins and brothers were Confederates.

You can click through the family cards and find whatever information you might need.

I will post your request and possibly someone from your line will respond with further information. However, what you need is contained within the James Beal bio and the individual cards. I have done research for years on the family and everything I have is pretty much online. If you click on the links everything is there. Have fun discovering your ancestors.

Kind regards,

Pat

Lizzy Bunyard · November 20, 2019 at 12:41 pm

Hey everyone,
So my college professor has given us an assignment to learn more about our family for a presentation and I came across this site. So my grandfather is Len Bunyard and my dad is John Bunyard. My dad was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and my grandfather is from Denver, Colorado. I was wondering if anyone has any correlation to either of them. It is very hard to find info out about our family lol so if you guys know anything please let me know!!

William Patrick Bunyard · January 30, 2019 at 10:25 am

Just google my grandfather, Claude Bunyard, Oklahoma Cherokee Strip . A Mayor in Weweoka Oklahoma or Enid Oklahoma, yet he was a very good smart such a caring man understands the strife of a humans life suffering. He was an Owner of the Young blood HotBanks , Car Dealership, land of oil rights. My grandfather Claude Bunyard has his name in Enid Oklahoma as a mayor and we all are going to find the town of his mayorship,. Claude Bunyard was just hoping for the best life for his family all of the many mistreatment of so many years of experience of seeing evil people do too cruelly such harm of mankind , in race , gender and a difference of life to seek of a new world.. A very smart man Claude Bunyard kept his wise work for his wife and grand children too understand the world and the way of giving back to the Oklahoma’s that suffer. His son William C Bunyard 11 a tall man of his era with the eyes of the blue sea A great father and other kids with no dad always helped them out and he said it’s not a easy world with no father and poverty of a women raising children in this era . Then a few days his only granddaughter was born at 6 months , only was one pound. Wilian Bunyard 11 said nope my kid has a will and he was told no your daughter Joan Marie will never live prepare to bury her now. He bought a casket and had the priest at the hospital too give her the last rights . Nope in the next few days his only daughter was not dead and still alive . Our father William C Bunyard 11 never would put his only daughter too give up and stayed with my sister for months at the hospital . It’s a very good father and name from the Oklahoma Cherokee Strip and Hobart Oklahoma lone wolf saw a genuine guy and his wife too seek a good life education and hope . Trying too pass on the wise way too never help the person you can help in a life of more good than bad .

Pat · July 20, 2018 at 3:03 pm

I will add that you will find reference to William S. Lyon with a Google search. He also qualified for U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872 for William Lyon; this is on Ancestry. He received a 20 month allowance so he is recognized as a veteran. I do not see a Bunyard in the list (B’s are around pages 298-299) however he died in 1817. Congress first offered service pensions to officers in 1781, in order to prevent mass desertion but whether James would be part of this is a question as his rank was not very high. Unfortunately, Congress did not pass pension legislation for indigent veterans until 1818, and service pensions for all veterans in 1832. I again mention that your best bet may be shown that Wm Lyon applied and qualified and in his sworn statement states that James Bunyard served with him. William is serving in the right area, around Wilkes Co., NC in 1781-1782 under Col. William Nash, Capt. Larkin Cleveland, Lieutenant Martin Gamble. The other bit of info that I have that helps support that this is your James Bunyard is that in the early county government of Wilkes Co., James Bunyard was a constable for the district of Bugaboo and Swan Creek. Also on that council was a William Gamble, unknown if related.

Pat · July 20, 2018 at 2:32 pm

I have an indication that James Beal is in the “1812 War of 1812 Service Records 1812-1815” – cited on Ancestry but I have not seen the original paper. James Beal would have been a little old for the War of 1812. However, I am pretty sure he served in the American Revolution, as you have asked about.

I found some years ago a statement (I believe it was on Fold3) which said:

According to a sworn statement by Private William S. Lyon on 12th day of March 1834 in Lawrence Co. Kentucky, he served in the American Revolution between 29th March 1781 to 29th July 1781 and again “After Gen Greene had passed into South Carolina the Governor of the state ordered a company in each place in the state, orders being received, he engaged for nine months in the service of the state on the 5th Sept 1781 in Wilkes County, at the CH (court house) under Col. William Nash, Capt. Larkin Cleveland, Lieutenant Martin Gamble, Ensighn James Bunyard, a frenchman by birth. The true object of Company was to subdue the tories and to march where ever they were, he states that he scouted in Surry, Iredell, and Mecklenburg county….” James Bunyard was not a Frenchman, but he did serve in the Revolutionary War and see battle. Private Lyon engaged “under Colonel Branham the former Colonel this was in Wilkesboro North Carolina in July 1782. This Company was militia in the State establishment and he served under his same Lieutenant and Ensighn (Bunyard?) again he marched to Mecklenburg….” Lyon’s “best impression is it was between the 15th and 20th of July 1782, and he well remembers that he was disbanded on the 4th of July 1783, for there was a barcue and the company was at that by invitation, in the evening the Commander discharged the men.”

Lyon’s statement describes his service, battles with the Tories, and marches into other counties of NC. By naming James Bunyard, it should mean that his descendants would qualify for S.A.R.

You might look for this statement by Lyon. I would look at the National Archives or Fold3. Good luck and would love to hear if you find the record and share.

Michael Bounds · July 20, 2018 at 8:51 am

Hi Pat,

James Beal Bunyard is my 6th great grandfather. I am currently processing information to join the Sons of the American Revolution.
Do you have the information that shows James Beal Bunyard being an ensign during the Revolutionary War?

Pat · May 27, 2018 at 11:29 am

Hi Pamela, glad to hear from you. First, do I need to correct the spelling of your father’s first name? There is a lot of DNA work being done trying to link the various lines of the James Beal Bunyard sons. Of those I am aware, there are DNA results for Patriarch’s James Beal’s son James 1781 using lines James M 1814 and Isaac Ransom 1822. Are you aware if any of your Bunyard line via Pitman have taken any DNA tests?

Pamela Bunyard · May 26, 2018 at 3:39 pm

My father Murl (Mearl) D. Bunyard, son of Floyd Woodville Bunyard son of Riley Madison Bunyard, son of Larkin f Bunyard, Pittman l Bunyard, son of James Bunyard son of James Beal Bunyard.
I have living male cousins from Floyd’s brothers Marvin and Bugs (Riley) sons Charles Bunyard, Reggie and Bobby Bunyard.

Pat · August 7, 2017 at 3:39 pm

What a wonderful history you share by remaining on the homestead. I have most of the history to Wiley R. but have no son Marx. Could you fill me in? I will email you

Trevor L. Bunyard · August 5, 2017 at 4:43 pm

I am a descendant of James Beal Bunyard myself. James Beal 1 to James Beal 2 to Isaac Ransom to George G. to Wiley R. to Marx R. Sr. to Marx R. Jr. to Marx R. III to Trevor L. I am Trevor L. Bunyard living on the same piece of property in Lauderdale Co. MS that George first settled.

Pat · November 1, 2016 at 12:23 pm

To clarify, my mother is a Shinabarger descended from John 1764>Jacob>Simon Peter>Ernest>Riley>Vera May Shinabarger Bunyard. Much of the history contained in the Shinabarger pages is the research she and her friends compiled 1960s-1990s. I’ve written and distributed the information as much as possible and further the research into trying to find the parents of John 1764. Pat

Yvonne Mccready · October 11, 2016 at 2:41 am

Can someone please explain to me how the bunyard and shinabarger lines meet? I can’t seem to figure this out. My great grandmother was Hazel Mae shinabarger

Pat · July 20, 2016 at 7:44 am

Welcome. Hope you find the information helpful. Please let me know if there is data I can add or correct about your family. It is a big help to others doing research.

Russell vincent bunyard · July 20, 2016 at 1:54 am

Im russell bunyard from ada ok and my grandfather fred bunyard grew up in roff ok..where he and 13 brothers and sisters were raised so the bunyard name has came a long way…i loved finding the crest.

Elizabeth Garner · April 5, 2016 at 8:03 am

My 4th great grandmother was supposedly Eveline Bunyard, daughter of James Bunyard and Martha Jonea. She married John Adkins on 14 September 1876 and had 2 children, Millard (3gg) and Robert. Anyone done DNA that I can compare to? My father, John Bower, did DNA through Ancestry but I can find no matches with the surname Bunyard except for a first cousin and that’s because it’s been family history but I do realize that family history can be wrong. Eveline and John Adkins are both mentioned in the kith and kin book. My dad is on Ancestry DNA and gedmatch. Please contact me at bitaelb@gmail.com.

Thank you

Elizabeth

Pat · October 24, 2015 at 4:01 pm

Please send along further information. I am sure there is a connection as research shows Bunyards in Oklahoma.

Jennifer Brown · October 22, 2015 at 8:30 pm

This is a very interesting page. I was born Jennifer Lyn Bunyard. My father and grandfather both named Claud Bunyard. Both were born in Oklahoma. I wonder if there is a connection to any of the eight generations of Bunyards.

Marie Bunyard · June 22, 2014 at 6:10 am

My grandfather is William Claude Bunyard he came from Great Britton and Scotland. He came to America through New York Harbor with his father Franklin Bunyard and they lived in Mississippi for many years. Then moved to Oklahoma when the oil boom hit and land run. My great grandfather Franklin Bunyard’s wife passed away at an early age and he raised his five children alone, Claude, WC, Mamie, Lucille, and Wiilla-lee. My Grandfather Claude ( William Claude) served in WW1 and married Katharine I Murphy, they had a son named William Claude Bunyard 11 and Edward Bunyard(Murphy). My grandfather was a savvy business man in Oklahoma. Owned The Young Hotels, Banks, Car Dealerships, Oil Land Rights, and many buildings in Enid Ok. My grandmother Katharine Bunyard worked as a state secretary for Oklahoma for 22 years. The Bumyard ‘s are roman. Catholic and very generous people. The men in the family in that era 1900 were tall 6 foot two plus our Great Grandfather Franklin was 6 foot 4 and lived a long happy life and known as a good father, devoted Roman Catholic and most all of his children were born and died at St. Anthony’s Hospital. His grandson my father was tall, 6 foot four? After serving in the Korean War my dad went to OCU and got his bachelors degree in Business. My dad married the love of his life Ellen O’Brien. My dad William Bunyard worked for Farm Bureau Insurance Co. 45 years, was the Vice President of Farm Bureau and Arbitrator.

(According to my records: Franklin born 1858 was the son of Isaac Ransom and great-grandson of James Beal Bunyard who came to the U.S. on the Tyral in 1764. For further information about the William Claude Bunyard family, contact writer at mariebunyard@yahoo.com)

Shawnee bunyard · September 15, 2013 at 3:19 am

Hi I am trying to find out more about my family. No one alive knows much. All I know is my grand father is ken bunyard and his moms name was pat bunyard. And we all use to live in Utah where my grandpa and grandmother owened a trucking companie. I was wondering if anyone new anything on here. My grandpa did have a brother who was killed as a teenager on a motercycle
Thanks for your time
Shawnee bunyard

Jarrod Bunyard · May 2, 2012 at 8:44 pm

Hi there. I am trying to find out more about my grandfather, Furman Pate Bunyard from Oklahoma. He passed away in 1989 and I am looking to see if there is a connection here. Thanks

cathy bush · June 30, 2011 at 3:55 pm

I have just aquired an old Bunyard family bible and it doesn’t have the daughter Betsy listed, but it does have a daughter Jane listed. I would like to know how I could see a copy of the will of James Beal Bunyard. Thank you.

david james bunyard · February 22, 2011 at 10:07 pm

this site really caught my eye i thought i was the only bunyard ever haha then googled it and now im here time to do more research ahah

Nancy Bunyard Fyfe Roberson · September 16, 2010 at 4:05 am

Hello,
You have a great website! My direct line is that of James Bunyard of Kent, England. My grfather came to the USA in 1893 and lived in NYC. In 1960 he died believing he was one of the only Bunyard families in the US. The WEB has changed that…
TTFN,

Nancy

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *