Thomas Bunn

http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/biographical/b/bunn_thomas.pdf http://hallnjean.wordpress.com/sailors-worlds/the-red-river-resista... http://www.redriverancestry.ca/BUNN-THOMAS-1765.php

Fur trader.

Born at Hendon, Middlesex, England. He was a freeman of the city of London and of the Draper’s Company, He was married three times: first, to Jane, a daughter of William Roper, in 1789; second, to Sarah, a daughter of John McNab, by whom he had two children; and third, to Phoebe, a daughter of William Sinclair and Nahovway (Holden) Sinclair, in 1820. They had five children. He had been apprenticed to an oilman in Aldgate, London, and later established his own business in Bloomsbury.

He entered the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1797 as a “writer” at Albany Factory. For a short time during 1799 to 1801 he was in charge of Osnaburg House and Brandon House. In 1803 he transferred to York Factory in the capacity of a writer and served there almost continuously until 1819 with the exception of the winter years of 1812-1813, when he was inland master at Merry’s House. From 1814 to 1819 he was employed as accountant and storekeeper, and from 1819 to 1821 he was accountant at Rock Depot. In 1821 Nicholas Garry promised him a retired share after 25 years’ service on the understanding that he would retire to Red River. However, Bunn did not impress new governor George Simpson, who suspected him of dishonesty, and he soon headed for the settlement, arriving in November 1822.

Father of John Bunn.

Bunn retired to Red River in 1822 and died there on 15 January 1853. He is bured in St. John’s Cemetery.

Papers are at the Archives of Manitoba.

On Nov 17, 1795 wife Jane (ROPER) died in England. ** No evidence that there were any children from this marriage.

On March 21, 1797 Tom began his lifelong service with the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). He sailed aboard the Prince of Wales and spent the first six years of his career as a ‘Writer’ at Fort Albany on the west side of James Bay.

Not long after he arrived at Albany Tom began a connubial relationship with Sarah McNAB, daughter of a Cree woman and Governor John McNAB (1755-1820). In the spring of 1798 Sarah gave birth to a daughter (Mary) at Fort Albany.

In 1803 Tom was moved up to the York Factory District where he continued as an Accountant and Storekeeper for the rest of his Company career. His second child, John was born soon after he got there.

In 1806 Tom’s wife Sarah died. His mother-in-law, Mrs. John McNAB, (the Governor’s wife) then assumed the role as caregiver and surrogate mother to Toms children.

Around 1809 Thomas was ‘country wed’ to Phoebe SINCLAIR at York Factory, daughter of NAHOVWAY (Cree) and William SINCLAIR (1766-1818) from the Orkneys, an HBC inland trader.

On Nov 9, 1809 daughter Sarah was born.