Betham’s Abstracts, Series 9-10, Film # 592946, Image # 525. This seems to be a court case involving Piers Butler vs Thomas Cashell and John Bunbury. Who was this John Bunbury in Ireland as early as 6 December 1627. Was he the colonel or the clergyman, or perhaps he was another man entirely!?
This is a lesser known branch of the Bunbury family, connected to Ballyseskin in the barony of Bargy in County Wexford. The founder of this branch may have been a Cromwellian officer, even if other Bunburys fought for the king, and its descendants include Walter Bunbury, MP for Clonmines in the reign of Queen Anne, and his formidable wife, Dame Elizabeth.
John Bunbury – A Colonel Or A Clergyman?
In about 1644, John Bunbury – a grandson of Thomas Bunbury of Lismore, son of Sir Henry Bunbury by his second wife Martha (Norris) and uncle to Benjamin Bunbury of Killerig – either went to Ireland as a chaplain or became a Colonel in Cromwell’s army.
As well as being a brother to the Thomas Bunbury was in Oxford in the 1640s, this John Bunbury’s sisters Elizabeth (1595-1612) and Anne, were married to John Richardson, Bishop of Ardagh, and Sir John Keningham, both key players in the new post-Elizabethan Ireland. Another sister Mary Bunbury married Thomas Draper of Walton while another Martha Bunbury died in 1664.
This is confusing terrain as there is almost certainly two John Bunburys …
1) Colonel John Bunbury, who was registered as a Clerk of the Crown & Peace in Wexford in 1649. See below.
2) The Rev. John Bunbury, aka Johannes Bunbury, who became Protestant minister of Clonmany, north-west Inishowen, County Donegal, on 20 May 1636, in succession to William Paton, and remained rector until 1672. [1] In 1655 his salary was recorded in a State Paper Office as £50, equivalent to about £500 today. According to a list of salaried Ministers of the Gospel compiled from the Commonwealth volumes in the Public Record Office, Dublin, he ‘stated in 1661 that before the Rebellion he was legally entitled to the titles of parishes in Donegal, but in the year 1650 was outed of his rightful possession ‘by what law or cause your petitioner to this day knoweth not’. [2]
Colonel John Bunbury & the Cheevers Family
‘On the 15th of October [1649, shortly before the siege of New Ross] Cromwell left Wexford. Ballyhaly castle [in the parish of Kilturk and barony of Bargy], the residence of the Cheevers family, was besieged; it was destroyed with the exception of the towers, of which there were formerly four. It was given to Colonel Bunbury, the Cheevers family being obliged to transplant to Killyan, in the county of Galway. The castle and estates were sold by the Bunbury family early in the 18th century. Only one of the towers remains.’ [3]
Family historian Max Chevers observes that the Cheevers (or Chevers) family who fetched up at Killyan (aka Killian) in County Galway descended from Walter Chevers, of Monkstown Castle, Dublin, whose estate was awarded to the regicide General Edmond Ludlow in December 1653. The Translations in Connacht name Walter as holding lands in the Baronies of Loughrea, Dunkellin and Killian, whilst John Chevers of Macetown was transplanted to Turpanmore, Co Roscommon. [4] That said, there was also a John Cheevers who served as Mayor of Wexford in 1403.
In any case, during the Cromwellian Plantations, Colonel Bunbury appears to have been granted Ballyseskin Castle. In 1656, he was also gifted 1500 acres the Cheevers estate in County Wexford at Killiane Castle in the parish of Piercestown in lieu of pay. He may also have received lands connected to Ballyhealy Castle, although this requires further study. Killiane Castle had been taken from George Cheevers by Cromwell’s forces back in 1641. George Chevers, a former Mayor of Wexford, was related to the Martyrs through his brother, Didius Cheevers. The Chevers family, or some of them, had signed up to the Quaker religion at about this time.
Having received 1500 acres in lieu of pay, Colonel Bunbury seems to have sold some of his acreage at Killiane to his friend Francis Harvey (of Lyme Regis, Dorset), a fellow officer in the Parliamentary army. In 1649, Francis obtained a grant of land in County Wexford under the Act of Settlement, which were confirmed to him by Charles II; he was under threat of dismissal as a Capital Burgess of the Borough Lyme Regis, 1662, if he did not soon resume his residence there. [5] Francis Harvey was M.P. for the Borough of Clonmines (1661), Mayor of Wexford (1671) and High Sheriff of County Wexford (1673, 1674). He was buried in St Iberius’ Church, Wexford, on 23 November 1692.[6] His son John Harvey would also serve as Mayor of Wexford.
According to The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (1864, p. 319):
‘The castle of Ballyhaly was besieged by Cromwell, and, after its surrender, was along with the estates attached to it, granted to Col. Bunbury, and property on Galway assigned to the dispossessed family of Cheevers. Ballyhaly Castle was almost destroyed during the siege, with the exception of the towers, of which traditions of the neighbourhood say there were four; two of which were taken down by Col. Bunbury, and used in building Ballyhaly House. Of the two other towers, one is still nearly perfect; the other, part of which was standing when I first resided in the neighbourhood, was subsequently carted away by the peasantry. The square tower, still extant, is in wonderful preservation. Beneath the first landing, on the staircase, is a deep pit, which may have been a dungeon, or else the draw well of the castle. The descendants of Colonel Bunbury sold it and the estates early in the last century.’
This appears to be the burial record of a Wexford-born John Bunbury, son of John Bunbury, in 1641, aged thirteen. Betham’s Abstracts Vol 5, Series 9-10, Film # 592946, Image # 426.
And yet, as Max Chevers notes: ‘The TCD released Down Survey maps make no mention of John Bunbury under Landowner.’
One also must ask how long he was in the Wexford area as a John Bunburye [sic] was witness to a bond of 30 October 1640 between of Powldarig, Co Wexford, gent., and Dame Alice Colclough of Tyntern [aka Tintern Abbey], of £60 for performance of covenants in a lease for 90 years of the John Colclough parsonage of Killmore, County Wexford. His four fellow witnesses were Nicholas Devereux, Arthur Creed, Robert Sympson and Jo: Griffith. [7]
The name of John Bunbury’s wife is unknown but he is thought to have left seven children – Walter (who died in the autumn of 1690 [8] , Elizabeth (who married Mr Hatch), Ellie (who married Mr. Moore), George (no further information), Anne (no further information), the Rev. Thomas Bunbury (1628–1682) and Henry (who died unmarried in Dublin in 1682. [9]
A document emerged in November 2014 suggesting that brothers George and Henry Bumbry purchased land in the Carlow-Wicklow area from John Richmond, an officer in Cromwell’s Parliamentarian Army in the 1650s. Were these John Bunbury’s sons?
We also find mention of a George Bunbury who married Ann Green in Dublin in 1668 and may have been father of Walter Bunbury, MP for Clonmines, see below.
Rev. Thomas Bunbury of Ballyseskin (1628–1682)
The Rev. Thomas Bunbury (1628–1682), son of John, lived at Ballyseskin and was married in 1668 to Anne Codd, daughter of Nicholas Codd of Castletown, Co Wexford. He died some months after his brother Henry in 1682. [10] According to one account, Nicholas Codd was “not only a Protestant but a Cromwellian as well. At the outbreak of the rebellion in 1641, he fled to Wales with others, leaving his house, goods and corn in the charge of his brother William. William Esmond, who was one of the Confederate leaders, and others came armed with muskets and forced themselves into the house and seized a third of Nicholas Codd’s corn for the use of the Irish. Colonel Nicholas Codd was the last of his family to hold the Castletown estate, which was sold in 1712 to Colonel Thomas Palliser for £3,597.8/-.”
Thomas and Anne were the parents of six sons – John, Richard, Thomas, Walter, Nicholas, Henry – and two daughters, Sarah and Anne.
The eldest, John Bunbury, died unmarried.
The third son the Rev. Thomas Bunbury of Balesker [sic] was married in 1699 to Margaret Tench (née Hatch) and had a daughter, Anne Bunbury, who married Colonel Philip Savage of Kilgibbon, Co. Wexford.
The fourth son Walter Bunbury (1664-1749) was MP for Clonmines during the first Parliament of Queen Anne and married Dame Elizabeth Irwin in 1719. To him, I return below.
The fifth son Nicholas was a Major in Sankey’s Regt, later the 39th Dorsets. He may be the fellow referred to in the Registry of Deeds for a lease on Ballyseskin in 1722.
The sixth son, Henry Bunbury was father to Lettice Bunbury (who married Henry Archer of Ballyhoge), Anne Bunbury (who married Cadwallader Edwards of Ballyhire) and Sarah Bunbury (who married Benjamin Hughes of Hilltown). Sarah and Benjamin Hughes had two daughters , another Sarah and another Anne. The younger Sarah, who was married in 1768 to William Todd Blake of Ballharn, Gorey, and Mary. A son of Captain Daniel Blake, William Todd Blake was amongst those named in the will of Lieutenant-Colonel William Eyre, chief engineer of America, who was cast away on the rocks of Gilli, on his passage home, in November 1764. As for the names Hughes and Archer, they were also intertwined the Lockwoods. The youngest daughter Anne married Colonel William Hore, of Harperstown.
The Bunburys descendants lived in Ballyseskin for many years. A valuation of Tenements from 1853 lists H.K.G. Morgan as lessor of a house, offices and land totalling 101 acres to Bunbury Archer.
Walter Bunbury (1664-1749) & Dame Elizabeth Irwin
Born in 1664, Walter is thought to have been the fourth son of the Rev. Thomas Bunbury (1628–1682) of Ballyseskin by his marriage to Ann Codd. Confusingly he appears to have lived at Moyle in County Carlow which was later home to a different branch of the Bunbury family. Moreover, when he died in 1749, his place of death was given as Lisnavagh!!
Walter was MP for Clonmines (with James Butler) during the first Parliament of Queen Anne. He may have been connected to the Bunbury Cup, the oldest surviving Irish racing trophy, a silver cup presented to the winner of a race that was apparently “run for on ye Heath of Ballycolloe (ie: Portlaoise) in Ye Queen’s County (ie: Co Laois), Ye 7th may 1702’. The silver cup and cover were made in Dublin by Christopher Waggoner and, like the first Epsom Derby, was won by a member of the Bunbury family. It was gifted to the New York Metropolitan Museum of History by Irwin Untermeyer.
In 1705, he was listed as a member for Bannow in Co. Wexford, appearing in ‘the Commons of Ireland [which] assembled in Parliament in the Third Year of Her Majesty Queen Anne’. [11]
He was a government supporter in the early days but by 1711 would appear to have gone to the Whigs. Certainly a report of that year indicated Tory relief that Walter would lose his seat “but there will be a “good man” (ie: a Tory) in his stead”. He lead an active life, being listed on 28 committees between 1703 and 1709. He voted against the Money Bill of 1709.
One wonders was he this chap:
‘Walter Bunbury was given an LLD honoris causa in the summer of 1709, but was not issued with the certificate until 31 May 1712’. [12]
Report of William Borrett to the Lord High Treasurer on the petitions of Walter Bunbury and Jane Roseingrave (the widow and executrix of Daniel Roseingrave deceased) and of George French and Richard Oglethorpe, as to the allowance due to Daniel Roseingrave, deceased, a witness for her Majesty against Thomas Kirby. Calendar of Treasury Papers, 14 December 1713.
And is he the man referenced in the Calendar of Treasury Papers, 14 December 1713, with a connection to Antigua, as per the image opposite:
‘Report of William Borrett to the Lord High Treasurer on the petitions of Walter Bunbury and Jane Roseingrave (the widow and executrix of Daniel Roseingrave deceased) and of George French and Richard Oglethorpe, as to the allowance due to Daniel Roseingrave, deceased, a witness for her Majesty against Thomas Kirby.’
Shortly after Christmas 1719, Walter Bunbury of the City of Dublin became the fourth husband of Dame Elizabeth Irwin, alias Broughton, widow, also of the City of Dublin. Amongst the witnesses to their marriage was Walter’s brother Major Nicholas Bunbury of Sankey’s Regiment.[13]
Dame Elizabeth’s brother is named as Sir John Murray in a 1720 will (below), suggesting she was born a Murray, although Walter Bunbury is named as a son-in-law in the 1727 will of Lady Rebecca Peyton of Great Britain Street, Dublin, widow of Sir John Peyton, while a Hannah Murray, widow, of Dublin, is named as Lady Peyton’s niece in the same will. [14]
Dame Elizabeth was a much married lady. Her first husband appears to have been Sir Gerard Irwin of Castle Irvine, and Lowtherstown, who served in the Jacobite army in the 1689-1691 conflict. [15]
“Finding that the overtures made on his behalf to the Enniskillen men were rejected, Sir Gerard went to Dublin and was made Lieutenant-Colonel to the regiment of horse that the Earl of Granard was about to raise in the interest of King James. Being empowered to raise a troop in Fermanagh, he came down to the town of Cavan with such a number of pistols, carbines, swords, and other necessary equipments for the men whom he was about to enlist, that he alarmed the Protestant inhabitants. The fact having become known, Daniel French and Henry Williams set out from Belturbet with sixty horse, captured the arms at Cavan, and sent Sir Gerard himself a prisoner to Lord Blayney. His lordship did not retain him, but sent him on as a prisoner to Enniskillen. He told the Enniskilleners that he never meant to serve King James, and that his journey to Dublin was only a scheme to obtain accoutrements for a troop which he wished to raise in the service of the Prince of Orange. If he spoke the truth about himself, he was a traitor great and mean as Lundy. As the fortunes of King James waned, he threw himself heartily into the winning side; and after the siege of Derry was raised, he collected a troop of horse, with which he joined General Schomberg, and subsequently died, where so many brave men perished, in the camp at Dundalk”. [16]
Following the death of Sir George Irwin, Elizabeth appears to have married Dr Dudley Loftus. He had previously been married to Frances Nagle, with whom he had a daughter, Lettice Loftus. [17]
Anonymous portrait reputed to be the Earl of Clarendon (Lord Cornbury), Walter Bunbury’s employer, in his preferred attire. This portrait is held by the New York Historical Society.
By 1716, Dr Loftus was also dead. That same year, Elizabeth obtained a decree against a Thomas Bolton. Two years later, she obtained a judgement against Robt Adair, Kt, in her name of Elizabeth Broughton and claimed part of the Irwin estate of her late husband. [18] This suggests that she now had a third husband, Mr. Broughton.
According to a document from 1734, she managed to squeeze in another husband between Mr. Broughton and Walter Bunbury, namely Robert McNeal. [19]
Dame Elizabeth had considerable personal estate by the time of her marriage to Walter Bunbury. As such it was agreed that her property would be made over to a James Kennedy as trustee.
In 1721, Walter and Dame Elizabeth were involved in a chancery case against Dr John Bolton, Thomas Bolton, Charles and Lettice Bladen, which was to be heard before the House of Lords’ on 24 November. The Bladen researcher Karen Proudler says this was part of ‘a two generation “feud” between the Bunbury and Bladen families in Ireland, spanning 1690s – 1730s.’ Perhaps Walter was seeking a share of Elizabeth’s endowments from her previous marriages.
Karen also alerted me to a complaint registered in the House of Lords on 17 July 1721, four months before the chancery case took place, which presumably relates to the same Walter Bunbury:
“Complaint that Walter Bunbury, a menial servant of the Earl of Clarendon was arrested and imprisoned in Ireland at the suit of one Adams who, as also the attorney had used expressions derogatory to the honour and privileges of the Peers of Great Britain ….” [20]
Upon further investigation, it emerged that Walter Bunbury ‘of the City of Dublin’, husband of Dame Elizabeth Irwin, was ‘a menial servant’ of the Earl of Clarendon, the cross-dressing cousin of Queen Anne and former governor of New York an New Jersey. Lord Clarendon’s influence had waned since the accession of King George I. In April 1721, Walter was arrested and detained in custody in Ireland on the behest of Samuel Adams, attorney, ‘of Symons Court in the County of Dublin’. On 4 May, Clarendon ordered Adams to release Walter, which was complied with, but in July it emerged that Adams had arrested Walter again “as he was coming on Shipboard for this Kingdom.” Samuel Adams was accused of committing a ‘Breach of Privilege’ and ’taken into the Custody of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.’ The case of ‘Bunbury & Ux. versus Bolton & al’ was first presented to the Committee of the House of Lords in London on 4 August 1721 (as per this report). The following day, Samuel Adams told the Lords he had arrested Walter ‘in Behalf of himself and Seven fatherless Children of the late Captain Philip Wilkinson, who was killed in Spain, in the Service of the Crown.’ Another record indicates that Philip Wilkinson was killed at Almanza, which I suspect may refer to the Battle of Almanza, a decisive engagement fought just south-west of Valencia during the War of Spanish Succession on 25 April 1707. The battle did much to secure control of Spain for the Bourbons. However, I don’t yet know what the link is between Walter and the late Captain Wilkinson.
The case was pushed off until 29 November 1721 but I am stumped because there is no record of either Adams or Wilkinson on that day … instead, the committee focused on a case that had come before the High Court of Chancery in Ireland. (See here) referring to an appeal by Dame Elizabeth Irwin, plaintiff, who had sued Alderman Thomas Bolton, Doctor John Bolton, Charles Bladen and Lettice his Wife, five years earlier, on 21 November 1716. It’s quite confusing and this precisely why I gave up law, as I don’t understand these things, but it looks like the judgement went against Dame Elizabeth, as the decree was affirmed, with costs. How was this connected to the arrest of her husband by Samuel Adams!?! (See Appendix 1 below for more).
Lord Clarendon died in Chelsea, London, in March 1723.
Walter Bunbury died in 1749. In October 2021, I was somewhat derailed when this death notice from the Dublin Journal arrived in my inbox via a friend, as this clearly places Walter ‘at Lisnavagh’!?
‘Last week, died at Lisnevagh in the County of Carlow, Walter BUNBURY, Esq, formerly one of the Six Clerks, and Member of Parliament in King William’s Reign, for Titmore, in the County of Wexford, who though he died at the age of 85, retained his senses to the last, so as to be able to read and write without spectacles.’
Mind you, given that I don’t see any place called Titmore, County Wexford, it’s possible the correspondent was mistaken or mixing his facts … to be continued!
Notice relating to Walter Bunbury, apparently ‘of Lisnavagh’, from the Dublin Journal of 18 July 1749. The notice also appeared in the Penny London Post or Morning Advertiser on 28 July 1749, pg. 2. (With thanks to A. D-R.)
I don’t know the names of his descendants but the late Peter Bunbury advised that they married into the Fonnerau family but the line became extinguished.
Dame Elizabeth died in 1753. Her will states that she was by then the wife of the mysteriously named Saint George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey. [21] A member of the St George family perhaps?
Dame Elizabeth made a will at this time, with a codicil, dated 20 February 1720 (1720/21) which she signed as ‘Eliz. Irwin’. She mentioned her husband Walter Bunbury, her brother Sir John Murray, her sister Lillias Byrne, her niece Hellen Fox, her daughter-in-law Lettice Bladin (sic) alias Loftus, her late husband Mr. Broughton. ‘She desires to be buried in the parish church in Lambeth’. [22]
Acknowledgments
With thanks to Grayson Thornton, Max Chevers, Peter Bunbury, Padge Reck, Karen Proudler, Hilary Jarvis, Hugh Murphy, Paul Hoary, Alexander Durdin-Robertson & others.
FOOTNOTES
[1] William Shaw Mason, A Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland, Volume 1, (1814, J. Cumming and N. Mahon) p. 192.
[2] Seymour, the Rev. John D., Oxford Historical and Literary Studies, Vol. XII – ‘The Puritans in Ireland.’ (Oxford: Clarendon press, 1921). Clinmany (Donegal), 1654. ( A /i, f. 58.) The same book says he was associated with Clinmany (Donegal) in 1654
[3] Murphy, Rev. Dennis, “Cromwell in Ireland; a history of Cromwell’s Irish campaign” (Dublin: Gill & Son, 1890), p. 179. See also Kilkenny Arch. Journal (1863), p. 319.
[4] For further details, see ‘The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland‘ by John Patrick Prendergast. ‘As far as the Chevers of Ballyhealy are concerned,’ wrote Max in July 2019, ‘I cannot find any connection of them with Killyan.’
[5] History and Antiquities.
[7] Ainsworth, John F., and Edward MacLysaght. “Survey of Documents in Private Keeping, Second Series.” Analecta Hibernica, no. 20, 1958, p. 13.
[8] Walter’s will was dated 2.8.1690, and proved 12.9.1690. This Walter may have been a son of George Bunbury and Ann Green who married in Dublin in 1668.
[9] Henry Bunbury’s will was dated 19.7.1682 was proved 7.8.1682. (Dublin Deed 83 23 57387)
[10] The will of Thomas Bunbury of Ballyseskin, Co: Wexford was dated 16.11.1682 and proved 9.2.1683. (Dublin Deed 83 23 57387)
[11] ‘The antiquities and history of Ireland, by Sir James Ware, printed by A. Crook for E. Dobson and M. Gunne, 1705, p. 164. See here.
[12] Register of Testimonials, 1712–49 (TCD MUN/V/17/1), fo. 2r. Thanks to Michael Potterton.
[13] 30 388 18923 28th/29th December 1719 Dame Elizabeth Irwin als Broughton widow of City of Dublin is a marriage agreement between Walter Bunbury also of Dublin.
[14] PEYTON, REBECCA LADY, widow of Sir John Peyton, Dublin, Bart. 19 Feb. 1727. Narrate, J p., 28 Jan. 1730. Her niece Mrs Jane Cooper. Her nephew Rev. Archdeacon William Williamson. Her niece Mrs Catherine Cayer. 1 Her cousin Mrs Dorothy Mortimer. Her son-in-law Mr Walter Bunbury. Her niece Hannah Murray, then of the city of Dublin, widow, extx. Legacies to poor of St. Mary’s and St. Audeon’s parishes, Dublin. Her dwelling house in Great Britain Street, Dublin, and real and personal estate. Witnesses : John Ford, John Curtis, grocer, William Crowe, gent., all of Dublin. Memorial witnessed by : William Crowe, John Lyons, servant to John Maddison of Dublin, gent. 65, 202, 45097 Hannah Maddison (seal) Abstracts of Wills: 1708-1745 (Stationery Office, 1984).
[15] Aberdeen Journal” Notes and Queries, Volume 2, Aberdeen Daily Journal” Office, 1910, p. 28.
[16] CHAPTER VI, Derry and Enniskillen in the Year 1689 – The Story of Some Famous Battle-Fields in Ulster, by Thomas Witherow.
[17] Notes and Queries, William White (Oxford University Press, 1910), p. 28, 76.
[18] 33 18 19491 31st October 1721.
[19] 83 23 57387 – 18th May 1734 indicates she was married to Sir Gerrard Irwin, then to Dr Dudley Loftus, thirdly to Robert McNeal, and fourthly to Walter Bunbury.
[20] Journal of the House of Lords 1660-1724. Edward Hyde (3rd Earl of Clarendon 1661-1724) was a colleague of Martin Bladen’s – being appointed Envoy Extraordinary to Hanover in 1714.
[21] Dame Elizabeth Bunbury’s Will is listed with the London National Archives under PROB 11/804 and is dated 16.11.1753. She is listed as being Elizabeth Bunbury commonly called Dame Elizabeth Irwin formerly Broughton, wife of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey.
[22] Aberdeen Journal” Notes and Queries, Volume 2, Aberdeen Daily Journal” Office, 1910, p. 28.
Appendix 1: Bunbury & Ux. versus Bolton & al
On 4 August 1721, the House of Lords in London met to consider the case of ‘Bunbury & Ux. versus Bolton & al’ as per this report:
This Day was brought in the several Answers of Thomas Bolton of the City of Dublin Alderman, the Reverend Doctor John Bolton Dean of Derry, and Charles Bladen and Lettice his Wife, to the Petition and Appeal of Walter Bunbury of the City of Dublin Esquire and Dame Elizabeth Irwin his Wife.
E Clarendon’s Privilege: Bunbury his Servant arrested.
A Complaint was made to the House, of a Breach of Privilege committed in Ireland by Samuel Adams, by causing Walter Bunbury, a menial Servant to the Earl of Clarendon to be arrested, and detained in Custody.
And thereupon the said Earl acquainted the House, That notwithstanding he had, upon the Submission of the said Adams, desired the Order last Session, for attaching him for the like Offence, might be discharged; yet the said Adams had caused the said Servant to be again arrested, as he was coming on Shipboard for this Kingdom.”
Ordered, That the Matter of the said Complaint be referred to the Lords Committees for Privileges.
The following day, the Lords were presented with this update:
Adams’ Petition concerning E. Clarendon’s Complaint.
Upon reading the Petition of Samuel Adams of Symons Court in the County of Dublin Esquire, complained of Yesterday for a Breach of Privilege committed in Ireland, in causing Walter Bunbury, a menial Servant to the Earl of Clarendon, to be arrested and detained in Custody, in Behalf of himself and Seven fatherless Children of the late Captain Philip Wilkinson, who was killed in Spain, in the Service of the Crown; praying to be heard, by his Counsel, before any Order be made for discharging the said Bunbury, or taking the Petitioner into Custody; and that the Petitioner may have an Order for Witnesses to attend, on hearing the Matter of this Complaint.
¶Ordered, That the Lords Committees for Privileges do meet, to consider of the said Complaint, on Thursday next; and that the said Petition do lie on the Table.
On 9 August, the Lords reached this conclusion:
E. Clarendon’s Privilege.
Ordered, That the Lords Committees for Privileges, to whom the Matter of the Complaint of a Breach of Privilege committed in Ireland, by Samuel Adams, in causing Walter Bunbury, a menial Servant to the Earl of Clarendon, to be arrested and detained in Custody, was referred, do meet on Monday next.
We then shift to 26 October 1721:
Bunbury & Ux. versus Bolton & al.
The House being moved, on the Behalf of Thomas Bolton, Doctor John Bolton, Charles Bladen and Lettice his Wife, Respondents to the Appeal of Walter Bunbury and Dame Elizabeth Irwin, “That a Day may be appointed, for hearing thereof:”
It is Ordered, That this House will hear the said Cause, by Counsel, at the Bar, on Friday the Twenty-fourth Day of November next, at Eleven a Clock.
And onwards to 24 November 1721:
Bunbury et Ux. versus Bolton et al.
Whereas this Day was appointed, for hearing the Cause wherein Walter Bunbury and Dame Elizabeth Irwin his Wife are Appellants, and Thomas Bolton, Doctor John Bolton, Charles Bladen and Lettice his Wife, are Respondents:
It is Ordered, That this House will hear the said Cause, by Counsel, at the Bar, on Wednesday next; and that the other Causes be removed One Cause-day in Course.
Until finally, on 29 November, a verdict was reached:
Bunbury & Ux. versus Bolton & al.:
After hearing Counsel, upon the Petition and Appeal of Walter Bunbury of the City of Dublin Esquire, and Dame Elizabeth Irwin his Wife, complaining of a Decree of the High Court of Chancery in Ireland, on the One and Twentieth of November 1716, in a Cause wherein the said Dame Elizabeth Irwin was Plaintiff, and Alderman Thomas Bolton, Doctor John Bolton, Charles Bladen and Lettice his Wife, were Defendants; and praying, “That the same may be altered and amended:” As also upon the several Answers of the said Thomas Bolton, Doctor John Bolton, Charles Bladen and Lettice his Wife, put in to the said Appeal; and due Consideration had of what was offered on either Side in this Cause:
Decree affirmed, with Costs.