1800s
THE LATE MR WILLIAM BUNTING
Mr Bunting was born on the 15th June 1800, of Nonconformist parents, in the town of Long Buckby. When he was eleven years old his father and mother removed to Spratton, where, after leaving school he entered into his father's business as a woolstapler and operated a drapery business from Spratton during the 40 years that he lived here. Later he became a grazier as well.
Mr Bunting and his wife joined the church at Creaton on 31st March 1826, towards the close of the Rev T Aston's ministry there, became one of the chief supporters of the place, for many years holding the office of deacon. Though a strict Dissenter all through his life, he was at no time a bigoted one, but always lived on friendly terms with a good number of churchmen - particularly with the Rev J Cobb, formerly incumbent at Spratton. In 1851 Mr Bunting moved with his family to Northampton, and rented out the house as described in an advertisement in Northampton Mercury
"22 March 1851 - Spratton, near Northampton. Business Premises to Let, with an excellent Family House attached; consisting of two sitting rooms, with six bed rooms, with attics; kitchen and offices, chaise house, stable, laundry, and all out offices, with good garden, and orchard. Also two wool warehouses, easily convertible for a Brewery, Malting, or any extensive business. Apply to Mr Bunting, Spratton."
The business part of the premises are (2013) the kitchen, dining room and games room. this advertisement was repeated on 19 April 1851, when he also offered for sale 81 acres of grass keep, 51 sheep, 5 cows and one horse. In the 'Mercury' 7 June 1851, he reminds his friends that he has moved to Sheep Street, Northampton.
The features described in the listing (the sash windows etc) were here at this time, described by an incident in the village in 1845. Northampton Mercury 18 January 1845 - "On Saturday last, about two o'clock, some boys having provided themselves with an old horse pistol to shoot birds, were in the act of loading it in front of the house of Mr Bunting, of Spratton, when it went off, and shattered six or seven large squares of glass in the parlour window. On the dining table in the middle of the room was found a quantity of glass and a number of large shots, and it is very remarkable that the family, who had been going to dine in this room ?(owing to a trifling incident)? had just sat down to dine in an adjoining one, or it is more than probable some life would have been lost."
William was the son of Thomas Bunting of Long Buckby and his wife Martha Brown. He married Elizabeth Lantsbery and had a large family.
Image Reference: 1920
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