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Dr Sylvanus “Col” Bunton

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Birth	:	8 Mar 1812 Allenstown, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA
Death	:	13 Aug 1884 Mont Vernon, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA
Burial	:	Valley Cemetery, Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.9849300, -71.4606500
Plot	:	1084-2
Description	:	Surgeon Sylvanus Bunton was born in Allenstown, NH March 8, 1812, and was the son of Andrew and Lavinia (Holden) Bunton. His family was of Scotch-Irish derivation, and was undoubtedly represented among the stalward defenders, in the early times of Londonderry, NH. The grandfather of Dr. Bunton enlisted as a soldier early in the Revolutionary War and was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was afterwards killed at the battle of White Plains, in 1776. Doctor Bunton's mother was the daughter of David Holden, who served as a first sergeant during the French and Indian War,... Read More	Surgeon Sylvanus Bunton was born in Allenstown, NH March 8, 1812, and was the son of Andrew and Lavinia (Holden) Bunton. His family was of Scotch-Irish derivation, and was undoubtedly represented among the stalward defenders, in the early times of Londonderry, NH. The grandfather of Dr. Bunton enlisted as a soldier early in the Revolutionary War and was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was afterwards killed at the battle of White Plains, in 1776. Doctor Bunton's mother was the daughter of David Holden, who served as a first sergeant during the French and Indian War, before the Revolution, and who settled in Townsend, Mass., but afterwards was removed to Hollis, NH. Dr. Bunton acquired his early education in the common schools of Goffstown, NH and at the age of seventeen went to Quincy, Mass. and learned the trade of stonemason, during his apprenticeship he taught in district schools in winter. About this time a severe attack of typhoid fever prostrated him so that he was obliged to abandon the hard manual labor incumbent upon the stone-mason's trade, and in the fall of 1833 he attended Pembroke Academy for the purpose of preparing himself for college. In 1836 he entered Dartmouth College, and was graduated in 1840. Impaired health and at that time necessitated a change of climate, and in 1841 he went to Georgetown, DC and for several years was a teacher in select classical schools at Georgetown, Elkridge Landing, and Queen Anne, Anne Arunal County MD. While at the latter place he commenced the study of medicine, attending lectures at the Washington University of Baltimore. Here he graduated and was elected as a resident physician to their hospital, fulfilling these duties for more than a year. Returning to NH in 1846 he was married to Clara E Conant of Hollis NH and located in Manchester, NH where he established a large practice and also held many of the responsible offices of the City until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion. While residing in Manchester he became connected with the State militia and as early as 1848 was commissioned as surgeon of the Nineth Regiment, with the rank of Major, which position he held for two years. At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, his patriotism led him to volunteer his services to the national cause; he was commissioned by Governor Berry, July 29, 1862, as assistant surgeon of the Second NH Volunteers, with the rank of 1st Lieutenant and at once started for the front but on reaching Washington he was detained by the surgeon general and was put on duty at Mount Pleasant General Hospital where he remained for several months caring for the wounded from the battlefields of Antietam and South Mountain. In December 1862 he finally joined his regiment near Fredericksburg, and was closely identified with the active service of the Second New Hampshire, until June 1864. After the battle of Gettysburg he remained at that place for a number of weeks on detached hospital duty, finally rejoining his regiment at Point Lookout, MD where a large prison camp for Confederate prisoners of war had been established. Dr. Bunton was assigned the organization of the hospital and for months he was its surgeon in chief. A small pox epidemic of a virlent form broke out about this time amount the prisoners and by reasons of his previous experience, a speciality with that disease while in Baltimore, Dr. Bunton was relieved from duty at the prison camp and placed in charge of the small pox hospital, where he continued until the ravages of the disease had ceased. In May of 1864, he joined his regiment in Virginia, participating with them in the battle of Cold Harbor, and upon the expiration of the three years' term of the regiment he was mustered out of service and returned to New Hampshire. He was immediately appointed by Governor Gilmore as assistant of surgeon of the Seventh New Hampshire Inf. on June 24, 1854 and upon the resignation of Surgeon William W. Brown, fag # 7883612, he was promoted to surgeon with the rank of Major, to date from August 24 1864. He was with the regiment during the remainder of its service and was mustered out of service with his regiment, July 20, 1865 at Goldsboro, NC. Upon returning North after the war, he located in Hollis, NH where he resided for about two years and then removed to Mont Vernon, NH where he continued in active practice of his profession until failing health and disability, occasioned by his army service, compelled him to retire. His wife died at Mont Vernon on July 3, 1873 and he subsequently married in 1874 to Miss Sarah Jane Trivitt, of that town who survives him. A son also survives him Henry S. Bunton, who served as hospital steward of the 7th NH during the latter part of its service, and who resides at Hyde Park, Ma (as town treasurer) Dr. Bunton was a man of humane and benevolent dispositon, which qualities were marked in his conscientious discharge of his duties during his army service. Every member of the 7th New Hampshire will remember the kind and fatherly devotion shown by him in administering to their wants, and his self sacrifice and kindness shown in behalf of the sick and wounded will never be forgotten. To them he was invariably displayed the utmost devotion. While at Point Lookout, MD, he was highly respected and beloved by the Confederate prisoners who came under his care, and for years after the war, and in fact during the remainder of his life, he was in constant receipt of letters from different parts of the South expressive of the affection and regard in which he was held by those who he had befriended in a professional way, and whom he had so kindly cared for in sickness, while they were prisoners of war. He was a man of sincere religious convictions and of unquestioned integrity. Indeed the estimation in which he was held by those who knew him best may be fully expressed in the words, "He was a true, Christian Gentleman." THIS BIO IS FROM THE BOOK WRITTEN BY CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL RECEIPIENT HENRY W LITTLE OF COMPANY D, NH's 7th Infantry. LT LITTLE FAG# 7146702 Dr. Brown's and Lt Little's graves are within a few yards of each other.. Dr. Bunton also had a brother Henry Sylvanus Bunton who was a Hospital Steward in the NH 7th Regiment, his FAG # is 181370260. He is buried in Hyde Park, Suffolk Co, Mass

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Dr Sylvanus “Col” Bunton's memorial?
Dr Sylvanus “Col” Bunton's memorial is located at: Valley Cemetery, Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA.
When did Dr Sylvanus “Col” Bunton death?
Dr Sylvanus “Col” Bunton death on 13 Aug 1884 in Mont Vernon, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Dr Sylvanus “Col” Bunton's memorial?
Latitude: 42.9849300
Longitude: -71.4606500

Family Members:

Spouse

Clara Conant Bunton

(1814 - 1873)

Children

Leonard Jewett Bunton

(1858 - 1859)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Valley Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9849300, -71.4606500

2. Cathedral of Saint Joseph
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9933970, -71.4592030

3. Piscataquog Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9792900, -71.4786600

4. Saint Augustin Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9681015, -71.4582977

5. Manchester Hebrew Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9671830, -71.4567040

6. Hall Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9768350, -71.4367100

7. Pine Grove Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9625854, -71.4625778

8. Amoskeag Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0042300, -71.4797600

9. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9761009, -71.4910965

10. Huse Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9761400, -71.4289200

11. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0043700, -71.4862200

12. Stark Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0142000, -71.4709500

13. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Bedford, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9681015, -71.4991989

14. Saint Hedwig Cemetery
Bedford, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9682388, -71.5010605

15. Saint Leanders Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9857780, -71.5111030

16. Merrill Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9507600, -71.4345430

17. Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Cemetery
Goffstown, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0134100, -71.5102800

18. Moore Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9354450, -71.4525030

19. Old Bedford Cemetery
Bedford, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9345680, -71.4842310

20. Bedford Center Cemetery
Bedford, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9455605, -71.5208817

21. Hillsborough County Cemetery
Goffstown, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0100200, -71.5348280

22. Stowell Cemetery
Manchester, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9491997, -71.3930969

23. Martins Cemetery
Hooksett, Merrimack County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0463982, -71.4464035

24. Hillside Cemetery
Goffstown, Hillsborough County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0210991, -71.5453033