George Bunston and Bessie Owen

The second child of William Bunston and Ellen Vickery, George was born on May 7^th 1867 in Yeovil, South Petherton. He was christened two months later on July 7^th. His mother Ellen made her mark on his birth certificate as an “X”.  Due to this, it is likely that Ellen could not read or write.

At the time of the 1871 census George is listed as being three years of age.  George worked as a labourer and lived in Pontyclownfach, Wales. On February 2^nd 1889 in Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales George married his first wife Elizabeth “Bessie” Owen.

Bessie was the daughter of Ephraim John Owen and Ann Ward.  She was born in 1868 in Great Bridge, Stafford.  The 1881 census shows Bessie living with her parents and three brothers in Llantrisant, Wales.  At the time of her marriage to George, Bessie lived at Brynsadler. Her father was working as a Checker. George and Bessie had their banns read in the church. The witnesses for the ceremony were Henry George Owen and Mary Bunston. The marriage was officiated by Mr. Davis, Curate. Rumour has it that the Owen’s were very rich family.

George and Bessie had 10 children together: Lily (1889); Mary "Emmy" (1891); Wilfred G (1892); John (1893); Flossie (1894); Elsie (1895); Wilfred O (1897); Gladys (1898); George "Baden" (1900) and Phyllis (1906).

George; Bessie; Lily; Wilf; Gladys; Elsie; Flossie; Emmy; Baden; Phyllis

The 1901 census shows George was working as a pipe layer, but was not living with his wife and family. I have been unable to find Bessie and the children in this census, but have found George and the children in the 1911 records.  Bessie had died on December 30 1909 aged 42. 

About four years after the death of Bessie, on November 24 1913 George married Mary Elizabeth Bunston. Mary was born in 1883. She was the daughter of James Bunston, William’s brother and Mary Ann Vickery, Ellen’s sister, making Mary, George’s cousin.

Mary and George had at least six children: Cyril (c.1915); Clifford (1917); Ronald (1919); Audrey (1920); Harold (1922) and Irene (1929).

George died in 1954 on May 5^th. Mary died in Wales ten years later on November 23^rd 1964.

George with three of his four brothers - missing is John