Father: Nicholas Bonham
Mother: Hannah Fuller
Spouse:-1: Edward Slater - b: ~1644
d: 28/Jan/1702(1703) - Piscataway, Middlesex
Co., NJ
m: 9/Jan/1684(1685) - Piscataway, Middlesex
Co., East Jersey Prov.
Child-1: Philoreta - b: 6/Nov/1685 - Piscataway,
Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
d: 2/Sep/1687 - Piscataway, Middlesex Co., East Jersey
Prov.
2: Elizabeth
- b: 14/Mar/1686(1687) - Piscataway, Middlesex Co.,
East Jersey Prov.
d: 17/Sep/1687 - Piscataway, Middlesex Co., East Jersey
Prov.
3: Philoreta
- b: 23/Feb/1690(1691) - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
d: ~1760
m: Benjamin Martin, Jr. - ~1707
4: Phoebe
- b: 28/Jul/1693 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
m: James Doty - 16/Sep/1712 - Piscataway, Middlesex Co.,
NJ
5: Caleb/Edward
- b: 10/Aug/1695 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
6: Elizabeth
- b: 8/Aug/1697 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
4: Phoebe
- b: 28/Jul/1693 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
m: Judge Benjamin Hull
7: Abraham
- b: 8/Sep/1699 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
8: Aleathea
or
Aleeshia - b: 28/Oct/1702 - Piscataway, Middlesex
Co., NJ
m: Henry Skibow
Spouse-2: Rev. John Drake
m: ~1705 - Middlesex
Co., NJ
Biographical Details:
Elizabeth Bonham would seem to be the first child of Nicholas and Hannah Fuller Bonham to be born outside of New England, perhaps, on Long Island about 1665 or 1666, but nothing definite is known.1 In any case, it is clear that she accompanied her family when they settled in Piscataway Township in the New Jersey Province about 1670. Naturally, it can be safely assumed that Nicholas and Hannah were already well acquainted with earlier setttlers since they all seem to have been Baptists, many of whom had come from Dover Township in the Province of New Hampshire, as well as other places in New England, e.g., Barnstable. Of course, Elizabeth accompanied her parents and siblings to Piscataway. Accordingly, she married Edward Slater on January 9, 1685 N. S. and eight children are attributed to them, six of which appear to have survived into adulthood. Edward Slater was prominent in early New Jersey society.2 In additon, he appears to have been excitable and forceful as indicated by being named as defendant in a court case for inciting a riot in November of 1681. (He was subsequently pardoned by the Governor four months later at the beginning of the new year, i.e., March 25, 1782.) Edwatd Slater died January 28, 1702 (1703 N. S.) and as he was dying, it is reported that he requested that son, Caleb, change his name to Edward (which he seems to have done).3 Subsequently, Elizabeth married Rev. John Drake. They had no children of their own. Concomitantly, it is reported that on December 12, 1715, Elizabeth Drake, "late wife of Edward Slater", acknowledged that on January 26, 1682 (1683 N. S.), she and her deceased husband had witnessed a deed by Thomas Higgins of Piscataway. Accordingly, it is believed that Elizabeth Bonham Slater Drake died about 1718.Source Notes and Citations:
1. Howard Eugene Bonham and Jean Allin, Bonham and Related Family Lines, Bonham Book(s), 5104 Bridlington Ln., Raleigh, NC, 27612, printed by Genie Plus, Bradenton, FL, 1996: pgs. 53-4.
"NOTE: Mayflower Families in Progress, p. 24, states that Elizabeth Bonham was born in Barnstable, however, we found only Hannah b 1659; Mary b 1661; Sarah b 1664; all daughters of Nicholas & Hannah (Fuller) Bonham, recorded in Barnstable. The birthplace of Elizabeth, Nicholas, Jr., Hezekiah and Elijah is unknown. Birth dates of Samuel (7 Sep 1672); Jane (29 Jan 1675/6); Priscilla (b 11 Nov 1677) are all recorded in Piscataway Twsp., Middlesex Co., N. J. [Piscataway NJ Town Register, From 1668 to 1805, p. 17.]"
"1681, Nov 10. Affidavit of Edward Slater, about 37 years old, concerning a statement, made by Amois, alias Poutchmouth, an Indian, about the sale of land to Samuel Edsall and Captain Cornelis (van Langfeld). [NJ Archives, Vol. XXI, p. 45.]"
"NOTE: Edward Slater, Sr. had a son by his first wife, named Edward Jr. He died in 1702/3 as did the father, therefore the request for the name change."
back to bio.2a. William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. Part I: East Jersey Records. Part II: West Jersey Records), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Press Printing and Pub. Co., Paterson, NJ, 1899: Vol. 21, pg. 49.
Nov. 9, 1681. "Information adainst Edward Slater, taken at Piscataway by Justices Robert Vicars and Henry Geenland."b. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 48.
Nov. 9, 1681. "Piscataway. Sentence of Edward Slater of Piscataway for rioting and causing people to assemble and riot."c. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 45.
Nov. 10, 1681. "Affidavit of Edward Slater, about 37 yrs. old, concerning a statement, made by Amois, alias Poutchmouth, an Indian, about sale of land to Samuel Edsall and Captain Cornelis (van Langfeld)."d. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 48.
Mar. 25, 1682. "Woodbridge. Pardon of said Slater by the Governour, remitting 8 months imprisonment, but upholding fine of ten pounds."e. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 202.
Nov. 30, 1687. "Do. Edward Slater of Piscataway, and wife Elizabeth, to La Flower alias Renipiatt, for 200 acres in Piscataway, in the rear of grantee, John Pond, Benjamin Hull and John Langstaf."f. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 288.
Mar. 5, 1697 (1698 N. S.). "Deed. Edward Slater of Piscataway and wife Elizabeth to John Royse and thomas Higgins of the same place, for his right, title, etc. in and to a stream, running betw. their resp. properties with the priviledge of building a dam and erecting a grist mill."
back to bio.3. William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills. Vol. I: 1670-1730), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Press Printing and Pub. Co., Paterson, NJ, 1901: Vol. 23, pg. 422.
Feb. 11, 1702 (1703 N. S.). "Slater, Edward, of Piscataqua, Inventory of the personal estate of (£94.6.10); made by Geo. Drake and Thos. Grub."
May 29, 1704. "Administration on the estate of, granted to his widow Elizabeth Slater."
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
4. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. III: 1751-1760), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1924: Vol. 32, pg. 216.