Abm Bunbury, Captn, his signature from a regimental paylist dated Bradford, England, 20 February 1783
Nationality: Irish
Born: Kilfeacle, County Tipperary, Ireland, c1749
Regimental commission dates:
Ensign 31 December 1769
Lieutenant 17 September 1773
Captain 21 December 1775
Wounded: Battle of Freeman's Farm, 19 September 1777
Captured: Saratoga, New York, 17 October 1777 (Convention Army)
Retired: 27 February 1788
Died: Edinburgh, Scotland, 1 September 1799
Captain Abraham Bunbury commanded a battalion company of the 62nd Regiment during the entirety of the Northern Campaign of 1777, including during the ferocious fighting of the Battle of Freeman's Farm on 19 September 1777, in which battle he was wounded. Later historians attributed his wound to having occurred in the Battle of Bemis Heights instead (7 October 1777), but original casualty lists clarify that error.
Bunbury surrendered with the rest of Lieutenant-General John Burgoyne's Army at Saratoga on 17 October 1777, and he remained with the regiment during its period of captivity. Bunbury was one of three officers of the regiment to apply for his parole in May 1778, but the rebels seemed in no great hurry to grant it. Upon the exchange and promotion (into another regiment) of light infantry company Captain Alexander Campbell in 1778, Bunbury assumed the command of that elite flank company and remained as such through the rest of the war. Bunbury rejoined the repatriated regiment in England by August 1781.
An issue of the London Magazine, Enlarged and Improved (printed for R. Baldwin, London: 1784), announced Bunbury's undated marriage: “Abraham Bunbury, Esq. captain in the 62d regiment of foot, to Miss Christy Innes, daughter of Mr. Innes, of Cathlaw.” They had at least three daughters, one of whom was Isabella (born 19 January 1799) who in 1830 married Sir Abraham Roberts (born 26 August 1784). They were the parents of famed Field-Marshal, the Right Honourable Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Baron Roberts of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Born in Cawnpore, India (30 September 1832), this most impressive officer won a host of medals, accolades, titles, and the Victoria Cross for ability, bravery, and gallantry during the course of his life. His successes earned him many top commands, including the position of commander-in-chief in India (1885-1893), commander-in-chief in Ireland (1895-1899), and the last commander-in-chief of the Forces (1900-1904). He died in 1914 and remains to this day one of Britain's most celebrated military heroes.