The Richardson-Bunbury Baronets

Lineage of Bunbury

The family of Bunbury derives its name from the Manor of Bunbury, in the parish of Nantwich, Cheshire. Its pedigree is said to be derived from a cadet of the house of St Pierre in Normandy. HENRY DE BONEBERI, who lived in the reign of KING STEPHEN, was reputedly the ancestor of THOMAS BUNBURY, of Bunbury and of Stanney, Cheshire.

THOMAS BUNBURY (1605-68), youngest son of Sir Henry Bunbury, Knight, of Stanney, married firstly, Eleanor, daughter of Henry Birkenhead, of Backford, by whom he had four sons and six daughters.

He wedded secondly, Margaret, daughter of William Willcox, by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

He was succeeded by his third son, by his first wife,

BENJAMIN BUNBURY, of Killerig, County Carlow, who settled in Ireland with his younger brother, Joseph, and two of his sisters.

He espoused Elizabeth, widow of Matthew Sheppard, of Owles, Leicestershire, and had issue, with a daughter,

JOSEPH, of Johnstown, ancestor of BUNBURY, of that place;

Benjamin, of Killerig, ancestor of BUNBURY, of that place;

Thomas, of Croghna;

William;

MATTHEW, of whom hereafter.

Mr Benjamin Bunbury obtained Killerig and other lands from the Earl of Arran, 1669. His will was proved in 1711.

His fifth son,

MATTHEW BUNBURY, of Killfeacle, County Tipperary, married Anne Blount, and had, with other issue, two sons,

BENJAMIN, his successor;

Thomas.

Mr Bunbury died in 1733, and was succeeded by his elder son,

BENJAMIN BUNBURY, of Kilfeacle, who wedded, in 1724, Mary, daughter of John Kelly, of Clonreher, Queen's County, and had with three sons, issue,

ELIZABETH, of whom hereafter;

Diana, married Sir J Tydd Bt.

Mr Bunbury died in 1765. His three sons dsp.

His eldest daughter,

ELIZABETH BUNBURY, of Kilfeacle, espoused St George Richardson, MP, and had issue (see below).                                                                                                           

                           

Lineage of Richardson

THE estate of Drum in the parish of Kildress, County Tyrone, was in the possession of ALEXANDER RICHARDSON, at the time of Pynnar's Survey of Ulster, 1618-19.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON, of Drum, County Tyrone, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1662, acquired Augher by marriage with Mary, daughter and co-heir of the Rev Archibald Erskine, of Augher Castle, County Tyrone, Rector of Errigal Keerogue, son of Sir James Erskine MP, and grandson of Sir Alexander Erskine, of Gogar.

By her he had, with other issue,

ARCHIBALD, of whom presently;

Alexander, of Drum.

The eldest son.

ARCHIBALD RICHARDSON (ante 1660-post 1693), of Castlehill, Augher, and Springtown, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1680, MP for Augher, 1692-3, was attainted by JAMES II, 1689.

He wedded Jane, daughter of James Galbraith, of Rathmoran, County Fermanagh, and had, with other issue, an eldest son,

WILLIAM RICHARDSON JP, of Castlehill and Springtown, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1716, who married Lettice, daughter of William Wray, of Castle Wray, and Ards, County Donegal, by Angel his wife, second daughter of Colonel James Galbraith, MP, and had, with other issue,

1. James MERVYN, of Castlehill and Springtown, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1734, assumed the name of MERVYN, and espoused firstly, in 1733, Arabella, daughter of Thomas Edwards, of Castlegore, County Tyrone; and secondly, in 1739, Anne, widow of Hugh Edwards, of Castlegore; and thirdly, daughter of Audley Mervyn, MP, of Castle Mervyn, County Tyrone. Mr Mervyn died in 1753, having by her had an only child.

2. ST GEORGE, of whom presently.

The second son and eventual heir,

ST GEORGE RICHARDSON (post 1711-77), of Augher, MP for Augher, 1755-60, Captain, 6th Dragoon Guards (the Carabiniers), married Elizabeth, third daughter of Benjamin Bunbury, of Kilfeacle, County Tipperary (see above), and had issue,

WILLIAM RICHARDSON (c1749-1830), of Augher, County Tyrone, MP for Augher, 1783-90, Ballyshannon, 1798-1801, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1789.

Mr Richardson was created a baronet in 1787, designated of Augher, County Tyrone.

He married firstly, in 1775, Eliza, daughter of the Rev Galbraith Richardson, and had issue,

JAMES MERVYN, his successor;
Anne; Letitia.

Sir William wedded secondly, Mary, daughter of William Newburgh, and had further issue,

Maria Isabella.

He was succeeded by his son and heir,

SIR JAMES MERVYN RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 2nd Baronet (1781-1851), of Castle Hill, County Tyrone, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1831, who espoused, in 1810, Margaret, daughter of John Corry Moutray, of Favour Royal, County Tyrone, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
William, great-grandfather of 5th Baronet;
Alfred;
Diana; Catherine; Caroline; Isabella; Mary; Emily; Letitia Augusta.

Sir James assumed, in 1822, the additional surname and arms of BUNBURY.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE REV SIR JOHN RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 3rd Baronet (1813-1909), who married, in 1838, Maria, daughter of William Anketell, of Anketell Grove, County Monaghan, and had issue,

Mervyn Matthew (1841-89), father of  4th Baronet;
Matilda Anne; Olivia Emma.

Sir John's eldest son predeceased him, and he was succeeded by his grandson,

SIR MERVYN WILLIAM RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 4th Baronet (1874-1952), who died unmarried, when the baronetcy devolved upon his cousin,

SIR (RICHARD DAVID) MICHAEL RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 5th Baronet (1927-2017), Lieutenant-Commander RN, who married, in 1961, Jane Louise, daughter of Colonel Alfred William Pulverman, and had issue,

Roger Michael (1962-94);
THOMAS WILLIAM.

Sir Michael was succeeded by his younger son,

SIR THOMAS WILLIAM RICHARDSON-BUNBURY, 6th and present Baronet (1965-), Headmaster, Papplewick School, who wedded, in 2001, Sally Ann, daughter of Rex Lofts, and has issue,

HARRY WILLIAM (b 2002);
Archie Oliver;
Mollie Olivia; Lily Charlotte.

SPUR ROYAL, or Augher Castle, near Augher, County Tyrone, is a square, three-storey, plantation castle with an unusual triangular tower in the centre of each of its sides.

It was built ca 1615 by Sir Thomas Ridgeway, afterwards Earl of Londonderry (1st creation).

Augher Castle was burnt in 1689; though it was restored about 1832 by Sir James Richardson-Bunbury, 2nd Baronet, who added two castellated wings; thus transforming the old castle into a late-Georgian mansion house.

The Gothic-Medieval-Revival style mansion is built onto the original tower house.

It comprises two storeys with corner bartizans, crenellated parapets and late medieval windows.

The central range is recessed with crenellated balconies over a central, tall, pointed, arch doorway.

The mansion house is set in it own grounds and perched at a height overlooking the Lake.

An estate stone wall abounds the village side, with two entrances to the estate.

On the north-east side of the lake sits the stable-yard with coach houses, a four bedroom cottage, and a large walled garden with hanger and further large storage barn.

The house commands a fine prospect over the garden and lake.

The estate manager’s house is accessed via a separate avenue and it sits amongst a copse of trees over looking the lake.

Spur Royal has passed through many hands in recent times and very little ground remains with the house.

During the Victorian era, the demesne comprised 635 acres.

A large portion of the present holding is taken up by the lake, which makes for a spectacular setting for the house.

It is surrounded by lawns and shelter trees.

Few mature trees remain of a once ‘tastefully wooded’ site.

The walled garden is concreted.

There is a gate lodge of ca 1840.

First published in May, 2012.