"For over 250 years the name of Bunce in Hartford has been synonymous with integrity,loyalty to God and country, suggestive of the highest order of citizenship and of greatest usefulness in the various callings of life".

he immigrant ancestor was Thomas Bunce, a sturdy Puritan, who was at Hartford in 1639, a landed proprietor. He came from Saybrooke(Seabrook,Kent??),England and settled in Mass in 1632. Thomas Bunce and his wife, Sarah, were amoung the earliest settlers who in 1635 had special permission of the Court to take their cow, horses, swine from Mass to Conn where they settled in an Indian village Pyquag; village name later changed to Weathers- field. He later removed to Hartford and was made a "Proprietor" as a curtesy by the town. He is not considered as one of the "Original Settlers of Hartford. He served in the Pequot War in 1637, and was rewarded for good service with 110 acres of land. He drew another 264 acres in the land division of 12 Jun 1666.

Inventory of his estate reflected 767 pounds in Hartford and 257 pounds in Weathersfield. He was obviously a person of wealth and stature. He held a number of important offices. He and his wife were original members of the South Church. Thomas was a stalwart figure in the emergencies of early Colonial service, a companion of Hooker, Ludlow, Haynes, Walcott, and others who laid the foundations of the State of Connecticut. Ref:Commerative Biographical Record, Hartford Co.,Conn.p.1398-99; PH42:403-404,FH29:658-665.

The above Thomas Bunce, b1612, m Sarah (--) was perhaps, the son of Stephen Bunce who m Ann Barnham; Stephen was the son of James Bunce and Elizabeth Rayner who in turn was the son of John Bunce and Katharen. John Bunce was the son of Edward Bunce who m Katheren, Edward being the son of Richard Bunce of Malmesbury who removed to County Kent. Ref:FH29:658-665, PH157:378,PH20:109-110, PH18: V1:369.

Ens. Thomas Bunce, son of the above Thomas and Sarah, was b 1645, married Susanna Bull 1669, and d 1711 with WD 25 Apr 1709, WP 25 Apr 1712. He was a man of large estates in land. His wife Susanna b approx 1653 at Hartford, d 1683 at Hartford. Ref:PH20:109-110, FH29:659.

Susanna Bunce, 6th child and 3rd daughter of Thomas and Susannah was b approx 1676 and BP 11 Sep 1681 at Hartford. She married 15 Feb 1705 Caleb Stanley of Hartford. PH20:109-110, FH28:237-238.