The National Archives

Trafalgar Ancestors

Details


	William Bunce aged 55 born in St Mary's Pembroke, Pembroke, Wales. Ship: HMS Victory Rating/Rank: Carpenter
	Personal details
		Born	1750
		Died	6 May 1832
		Family	Married: Sarah Harrison, a widow, (born 1752, [St Mary's Pembroke, Pembroke, Wales?]; died 15 March 1835) on 28 November 1791, St Mary's Pembroke, Pembroke, Wales.
		Notes	No death duty record is extant for William Bunce in TNA catalogue reference IR 26/1280 folio 523. William Bunce's will, TNA catalogue reference PROB 11/1803 LH 265, was proved in London, England, 10 August 1832. Document reference ADM 1/4391 (PRO B336) is a letter from William Bunce's widow Sarah dated 19 May 1832 sent from Stoke near Devonport informing the Admiralty of the death of her husband 'on the 6th instant', that is the 6th May 1832. Also she asks to be placed on the widow's pension list and makes reference to having sent 'my marriage certificate and burial certificate (in regards to William)'. Further letters from Sarah Bunce to the Admiralty in regards to this widow's pension claim can be found in ADM 1/4391 (PRO B 405); ADM 1/4391 (PRO B 415); ADM 1/4391 (PRO B 435); ADM 1/4392 (PRO B 666). This last document, an application form for a widow's pension, ADM 1/4392 (PRO B 666), records that 'Sarah Bunce now residing at Plymouth lawful wife of William Bunce, late a carpenter who died on 6 June 1832 on the superannuation list'. This date of death conflicts with that given above (which I believe to be more reliable). Moreover this records that Sarah made 'oath that she lawfully married William on 28 November 1791 at St Mary's Pembrook [Pembroke] he being at that time in or about 41 years of age, and she 39 years of age, and she maketh further oath that her said husband died on 6 June 1832'. This would place William's year of birth as 1750, and his age at the Battle of Trafalgar as 55. Confusingly this application records that William was buried on 10 May 1832, Stoke Damerel, Devon (before he died !). Furthermore this application records that 'William Bunce and Sarah Harrison (widow) both of the parish of St Mary's Pembroke in the county of Pembroke, Wales were married in the parish church of St Mary's aforesaid on 28 November 1791'. Document reference ADM 22/226 records that William Bunce died on 6 June 1832, whilst Sarah Bunce's death is recorded in ADM 22/236 (widow's pension payment record, pension being paid from Portsmouth) as 15 March 1835 with letters of administration being granted to Elizabeth Vaughan.

	Service details
		Plymouth Yard 6 March 1780 to 31 January 1782 Rank/rating: Shipwright HMS Bustler Ship's pay book number: (SB 14) 14 April 1782 to 7 June 1782 Rank/rating: Acting Carpenter HMS Nemesis 2 September 1782 to 19 March 1794 Rank/rating: Carpenter HMS St Fiorenzo 22 March 1794 to 14 July 1794 Rank/rating: Carpenter HMS L'Aigle 15 July 1794 to 16 March 1797 Rank/rating: Carpenter HMS Culloden 17 March 1797 to 22 December 1800 Rank/rating: Carpenter HMS San Josef 23 December 1800 to 31 March 1803 Rank/rating: Carpenter HMS Victory 9 April 1803 to 15 March 1805 Rank/rating: Carpenter Gibraltar Yard 16 March 1805 to 31 August 1805 Rank/rating: Builder HMS Victory Ship's pay book number: (SB 958) 1 September 1805 to 26 September 1806 (Was at Trafalgar) Rank/rating: Carpenter HMS St Vincent 27 September 1806 to 28 November 1806 Rank/rating: Carpenter Bermuda Yard 29 November 1806 to 31 December 1810 Rank/rating: Master Shipwright

	Sources used
		Catalogue reference: ADM 29/1 Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15900 Catalogue reference: PROB 11/1803 Catalogue reference: ADM 36/8195 Catalogue reference: ADM 1/4391 Catalogue reference: ADM 1/4391 Catalogue reference: ADM 1/4391 Catalogue reference: ADM 1/4391 Catalogue reference: ADM 1/4392 Catalogue reference: ADM 22/226 Catalogue reference: ADM 22/236
	Last updated: 11 October 2004

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