Robert Bunyan

Born in about 1775, son of Robert Bunyan, and baptised at St. Peter at Arches 28 Feb 1775. Died in Lincoln 27 November 1855, and buried in the Canwick Road cemetery. He was allegedly a descendant of John Bunyan, though this may or may not be correct.

Our obituary this day records the death of Mr. Robert Bunyan, a gentleman who, for many years, held the office of coroner for this division of the county, as well as for the city of Lincoln. Mr. Bunyan was, to a great extent, the architect of his own fortune, and he has died possessed of considerable wealth, and a character for sterling honesty and iron firmness of purpose. It may not be known to many of our readers that Mr. Bunyan was the last male descendant, in a direct line, from the famous John Bunyan, the celebrated author of "The Pilgrim's Progress," &c. This wonderful man was the son of a travelling tinker, and for some time followed his father's occupation. Mean, however, as was his origin, and dissipated as his early habits confessedly were, he abandoned the latter, and attached himself to the Anabaptists, among whom he soon became distinguished as a preacher. Being imprisoned for contravening the laws against Dissenters, he employed the twelve years of his confinement in writing the most popular allegory our language, known as "The Pilgrim's Progress." He was at length released through the interposition of the Bishop of Lincoln, and resumed his ministry at Bedford, in the gaol of which town he had been imprisoned. He was born in 1628, died in 1688. This celebrated man married his first wife, Mary, in 1646, and by her had issue; Thomas, the eldest son, born 1646 died 1718 ; his eldest son, John, was born 1670, and married in 1692, having issue, Robert, the eldest son, born 1693, married 1713 ; Robert (1st) had five children, John, the eldest, died soon after birth, and the second son, Robert, was born 1715, and died in 1794 ; Robert (2nd) had issue. Susannah, born 1743, died 1771 ; Robert (3rd), born 1745, died 1825 ; Henry, born 1748, died at Lincoln 1813 ; John, who died at Nottingham ; and Samuel, who died at Wisbech ; Robert (3d) had issue, Elizabeth Bunyan, born 1769, died 1800; Robert (4th), born 1775, and now dead; Susannah, born 1773, died 1839. The late Mr. Bunyan had only one child, Elizabeth, who is the wife of our respected neighbour, T. M. Keyworth, Esq. Our subscribers cannot do better than copy the above pedigree upon the blank leaf of their "Pilgrim's Progress," as we can vouch for the authenticity of the document. Lincolnshire Chronicle, Friday 30 November 1855

He was a silversmith by trade, taking over from his Father in 1800; in the same year he was elected a sheriff of Lincoln. The silversmith business continued until 1826, while he did all his other things. In 1803 he entered into a partnership with John Spyve as a wine and spirit merchant; the partnership lasted until 1806. In 1817 he was advertising turnip-seed for sale, and he seems to have continued as a wine, spirit and seed-merchant until 1836, in the Cornhill from 1826-1836. At the same time he was a farm owner; he sold all the stock from his farm at Short Ferry in 1812, and later owned farms at Nettleham and Canwick. In the 1851 census he was described as "Farmer of 190 acres employing 4 labs"; in 1824 ("silversmith"), 1841 ("farmer") and 1852 ("farmer") he votes as a freeholder of Fiskerton.

On Monday Mr. Robert Bunyan, jun. and Mr. William Woodall, jun. the new Sheriffs of this city, held their first court at the Guildhall, when Mr. John Spyve was appointed foreman of the city juries: At the same time the undermentioned, by appointment of the Mayor, were appointed to be Chamberlains for the year ensuing: Mr. George Steel, . . South Ward Mr. Robert Foreman, . West Mr. Thomas Huddleston, East Mr. John Lund, . North The present Mayor of our city, the two Sheriffs, and the four Chamberlains, are all enrolled in the Lincoln Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Rich. Ellison, Esq. M. P. Stamford Mercury, Friday 10 October 1800

Cornhill, LINCOLN, 5th July, 1826 ROBERT BUNYAN, in declining the Silversmith, Jewellery, and Watch business, begs leave to offer his grateful acknowledgments to his friends for the distinguished patronage with which himself and his late Father have been honored for a space of 60 years, and respectfully informs them that he has removed to a more eligible situation on the Cornhill, lately occupied by Mr. LUPTON; and, in order that the interest of his friends may be more closely attended to, he has taken into Partnership his relative, Mr. C. Seward, who, in conjunction with himself, will continue to carry on the Wine, Spirit, and Seed trade, and, being determined to import the very best articles, they hope to receive a continuance of those favors hitherto so liberally conferred upon R.B.- N.B. The remaining modern small stock of Jewellery and Watches to be disposed of at very low prices.- Flockton, Silkstone, and other Coals. Warehousing for Corn, &c at their Yard in Newland. Stamford Mercury, Friday 07 July 1826

Meanwhile, he was coroner for the City and County of Lincoln. He was appointed to the county post in 1815, but had apparently been doing the city job for a time before that. He resigned the positions in 1838.

To the Nobility, Clergy, Gentry, and other freeholders, of THE. COUNTY of LINCOLN. MY LORDS ANDS AND GENTLEMEN, THE office of Coroner for this county having become vacant by the death of Mr. John Drury, I am induced, through the recommendation of many friends, to offer myself a Candidate for the honor of succeeding him. Lincoln, as the county town, has always been the residence of one of the Coroners for the county, and the office has generally been filled by the Coroner for the city of Lincoln, which office I have now the honor to hold, and being, as such, acquainted with the duties of the situation, and anxious to perform them with credit to myself and to those Gentlemen who may think proper to give me their support, will, I trust, have some weight, and induce you to honor me with your suffrages, for which I shall ever retain a due sense of obligation, I have the honor to be, My Lords and Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servant, Lincoln, July 1st, 1815. ROBT. BUNYAN, Jun. Stamford Mercury, Friday 07 July 1815

Married on 20 August 1800 at Owmby (near Market Rasen) to Sarah Haldenby. She was born 31 March 1770 at Luddington, Lincolnshire, and died 15 January 1842 at Lincoln.

Issue two daughters:

Married secondly, at St Peter in Eastgate, Lincoln, on 21 October 1845 to Mary Theresa Brocklesby. They resided at Grecian (Greestone) Terrace, Lincoln.