Joined: Oct 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 123 Location: Christchurch UK
DUNN-BOSANKO marriage, 1783? « Thread Started on Sept 27, 2009, 5:58am »
In the CRO on-line catalogue, AD894/1/36, there is the settlement examination of Richard DUNN, Phillack, dated 12 Apr 1786, to establish his residence in Crowan.
He is described as aged 23 years, now residing in Phillack but born in Crowan and 3 years ago married Grace BOSANKO in Crowan. (They had a child named Grace which gives some support to the bride's name). The trouble is I can't find the Richard/Grace marriage, although there are records of baptisms of their two girls, Grace and Mary, in Phillack in 1784 and 1786 respectively. There is one marriage in Crowan in 1783 between a Richard DUNN and a Sarah BOSANKO but she is described as a widow in Phillimores, and I rather think that they are another couple altogether.
Hi Roger, Could the settlement paper have the wrong Christian name.? Grace when it should have been Sarah. The 2 baptisms at Phillack for Mary and Grace (on the IGI) have parents as Richard and Sarah. Roy
Well, white is right that the Phillack baptism transcriptions of Grace and Mary DUNN record Sarah as the mother, so it's unlikely that both instances have the mother's name wrong - perhaps they named their first daughter after Richard's mother Grace as indicated by newlyn. If so, I must assume that it's the catalogue summary of the settlement examination which is in error (I haven't looked at the original document) in stating Richard's bride was called Grace.
A few other events. The baptisms in Crowan to John BOSANKO and Sarah WILLIAMS (m. 1761 from CT) seem to stop in 1778, so it's possible she was widowed then, although I've found no burial for John BOSANKO. Also in Phillack, a Sarah DUNN was buried 15 Jan 1837, aged 95, giving a birth date of 1742. If this is Sarah WILLIAMS/BOSANKO/DUNN she would have been 19 when she married John BOSANKO and 41 when she married Richard DUNN - not unbelievable but rather an elderly bride for a 20-year old.
In absolute terms, a spring chicken from where I am, but certainly 'elderly' in the sense 'old enough to be his mother'! Mind you, rooting around in the Phillack burials comes up with Richard DUNN buried 26 Aug 1819, aged 57, so she might well have seen him out.
It is certainly not altogether unusual for a younger man to take an older bride althought probably children from such a marriage might not be so common.
However the burials you have found are consistent with the current informaton and at 41 Sarah would certainly still be able to have children.
And as there appear to have been only two, Mary and Grace, then the scenario is beginning to look quite acceptable.