Father: Hezekiah Bonham, Jr.
Mother: Martha Runyon
Spouse: Mary (Polly) Warford - b: 1730
d: 1795 - MD or PA
m: 1748 - MD
Child-1: Jacob, Jr. - b: 1749 - MD or
PA
d: 1786 - Washington Co., MD
m: Nancy Mason - 1770 - PA
2: Moses
- b: 1750 - MD or PA
d: Nov/1782 - VA
m: Rebecca Parke - 1769
Biographical Details:
It has been a longstanding family tradition that Jacob Bonham, Sr., originally lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania; however, verifiable details of his life are essentially nonexistent. Likewise, tradition identifies his wife as Mary or Polly Warford, who has been further attributed by some researchers as a daughter of John and Elizabeth Stout Warford of Kingwood Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. However, she was not mentioned in the will of John Warford made June 9, 1761, which does mention five married daughters by name, viz., Abigail Warne, Elizabeth Colvin, Rachel Quimby, Jane Allen, and Ann Fox.1,2 Moreover, Absalom and Malachiah Bonham, but not Jacob, were among the witnesses to the will. Therefore, it seems very unlikely that Polly Warford, the putative wife of Jacob Bonham, was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Stout Warford and, hence, her parentage must be properly regarded as unknown. It is further believed that Jacob and Polly were married about 1748. The location of their wedding (as well as her birth) has commonly been given as Washington County, Maryland. However, this cannot be the case because Washington County was not even organized until 1776 and, as such, claims the honor as the first county anywhere within the United States to have been named for George Washington. Moreover, if Polly Warford was in any way related to the family of John Warford it seems much more likely that she would have been born in New Jersey and, similarly, would have married Jacob Bonham there. Unfortunately, no documentary evidence has ever been found in support of any such presumption. Hazie and others have commonly asserted that Jacob Bonham, Sr., was a son of Hezekiah, Jr., and Martha Runyon Bonham born about 1726 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and that he and his wife had at least two sons, viz., Jacob, Jr., and Moses.3 Again, there is little objective evidence to support such a hypothesis. In addition, Joseph Bonham, husband of Naomi Parke, has been frequently attributed as a third son; however, it is much more likely that he was also a son of Hezekiah Bonham, Jr., and, therefore, younger brother of Jacob, Sr. Furthermore, association of Jacob and Polly Bonham with Chester County ultimately seems to derive from a single Revolutionary War muster roll in which the name of Jacob Bonham appeared on a roster of Captain Edmund Baxter's Company of Chester County Militia.4 Accordingly, this would seem to provide strong circumstantial evidence of Jacob's residence in Chester County at the time of the American Revolution. Even so, further research reveals that most of the listed members of the company were actually from the frontier area of southwestern Pennyslvania or northwestern Virginia (now West Virginia) and, concomitantly, that this unit may have been attributed erroneously to Chester County either by contemporary officials or later archivists. (Virginia and Pennsylvania had conflicting claims of western lands resulting in overlapping counties and jurisdictional disputes that were not entirely settled until some years after the Revolutionary War.) This is further supported by a pay roll of Captain George Brown's company of Washington County militia associated with the "Sandusky Expedition" that occurred between May 18th and June 10, 1782, and which included the name of Sergeant Jacob Bonham.5 Of course, in 1781 Washington County had been organized from Westmoreland County in far western Pennyslvania and Sandusky corresponds to a location on or near the southern shore of Lake Erie in the present state of Ohio. Moreover, George Brown had previously held the rank of Lieutenant under Baxter which indicates continuity of these military units. This situation becomes further confused because Sargeant Jacob Bonham of the Sandusky Expedition can be confidently identified as the son of Amariah Bonham, a younger brother of Hezekiah Bonham, Jr. Therefore, although not certain, it is probable that the name on the putative Chester County muster roll also refers to him. Elsewhere, however, Jacob Bonham was identified as a "frontier ranger" in Eleazar Williamson's company serving between the years of 1778 and 1783. It is possible that this is a reference to Jacob Bonham, Sr., however, this unit was also from Westmoreland and Washington Counties, which, as asserted previously, describes a location in Pennsylvania far to the west of Chester County. Therefore, one must conclude, however reluctantly, that there is no significant evidence of Jacob and Polly Bonham in Chester County other than family tradition, which further indicates that they died and were buried in the Great Valley Baptist Church Cemetery between 1795 and 1800; however, no markers seem to exist. Alternatively, it is possible, even likely, that instead they lived in Westmoreland County and/or Washington County, Pennsylvania.Source Notes and Citations:There is somewhat better evidence for the families of the sons of Jacob and Polly Bonham.6 Within this context, it is believed that Jacob Bonham, Jr., married Nancy Mason about 1770 and, subsequently, they lived in Maryland where he died in 1786. It has been further reported that his widow then moved with eight children to Washington County, Pennsylvania. Concomitantly, there is good evidence that Moses Bonham married Rebecca Parke. She was probably born in Cumberland County, New Jersey, since her father's estate was settled there in 1767. Geographically Cumberland County lies relatively close to Chester County, which could provide some coincidental support for the latter as the locality in which Jacob, Sr., and Polly Bonham lived. Moses Bonham died in Virginia in November of 1782 reportedly as a late casualty of the Revolutionary War and his widow then settled with, perhaps, some of their children, in the Rye Valley in Wythe County, Virginia, near relatives Joseph and Naomi Bonham. Consequently, Rebecca Parke Bonham has often been identified incorrectly as a sister of Naomi Parke Bonham, but rather, they seem to have been cousins.
1. Laurence Lee Hill, Warford, Fisher, Kaes-Kuhl, Stout, Pinckney Families, privately published, Hallandale, FL, 1996.
"PROBATE RECORDS: John Warford - WILL - Made will 9 June 1761, proved 3 Jan 1770, Inventory made 23 December 1769 (Liber 15, folio 18)
In the name of God Amen on the ninth Day of June in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty One - I John WARFORD of Kingwood in the County of Hunterdon And Western Division of the Province of New Jersey, Yeoman being in perfect health of body and of perfect mind and Memory Thanks be given unto God Therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing it is appointed for Men once to Die do made and ordained this my last Will and Testament That is to say principally and first of all: I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in manner at the Discretion of my Executor nothing Doubting but at the General Resurection I shall receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give and dispose of the same in the following Manner and Form Viz. Imprimis it is my will and I do order that my Just Debts and funeral Charges be paid and Satisfied out of my moveable Estate. Item I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my dearly beloved Wife all the moveable Estate for Her own proper use during Her natural Life and at her decease my Will that according to Her Discretion She divide the Said Moveable Estate which may remain among my deare Daughters Abigail WARNE, Elizabeth COLVIN, Rachel QUIMBY, Jane ALLEN and Ann FOX to them their heirs and assigns and further my Will is that my said Wife shall have the Whole and Sole property of and in my Dwelling house and use of one third part of the old orchard during her Widowhood and that my Son James WARFORD shall provide all other necessarys for a comfortable support for Her during her Widowhood. Item I Give to my Well beloved Son James WARFORD and to his Heirs and Assigns forever all my Lands and Tenements which I now Stand Seized of or have any right unto Bounded as followeth West by Delaware River North by land late of James BRAY's East by land that was William FOWLER's south by land of Joseph HOWELL be the same or less. Item I Give to my Well beloved Son Joseph WARFORD twenty pounds current Money to be paid him by my son James WARFORD in four years after my decease in such payments as shall best suit my Son James WARFORD. Item I give and bequeath to my Son John WARFORD twenty pounds current Money to be paid him by my Son James WARFORD after my decease in such payments as shall best suit my Son James WARFORD. Lastly I constitute made and ordain my beloved son James WARFORD my only and Executor of this my last will and Testament; and I do hereby utterly disallow revoak and disanul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies and Executors by me in any ways before this time named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament in Witness whereof I have here unto set my Hand and Seal the Day and year above written; Signed Sealed published and declared by the said John WARFORD as his last Will and Testament in the presents of us the subcribers. Malakiah BONHAM, Isaac LEET, John WARFORD, Absalom BONHAM
Malakiah BONHAM & Isaac LEET two of the Witnesses to be within being Duly Sworn Evangelists of Almighty God Did severally depose that they saw John WARFORD the testator within Named sign & seale the & Heard him Publish Pronounce & Declare the within Instrument to be his last will & Testament and that at the Doing thereof the Testator was of Sound & Disposing Mind & Memory as these Deponants Know & as they Verily Believe and Absalom BONHAM the other Subscribing Witness as Present and Signed his Name as a Witness to the Said will together with these Deponants in the Presents of the Said Testator. Sworne at Trenton this 3rd Day of Jany 1770 before me Malakiah BONHAM." (Kelly Mankin & Vickie Beard Thompson; databases - kellymankin & popfraley; worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com, 2005.)
back to bio.2. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. IV: 1761-1770), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1928: Vol. 33, pg. 465.
Jun. 9, 1761. "Warford, John, of Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., yeoman; will of. Wife, Elizabeth, my moveable estate, and, at her death to my daughters, Abgail Warne, Elizabeth Colvin, Rachel Quimby, June Allen and Ann Fox. Son, James, my lands, and he is to provide for my wife. Son Joseph, £20. Son, John, £20. Executor---son, James. Witnesses---Isaac Leet, Malakiah Bonham, Absalom Bonham. Proved Jan. 3, 1770."
Dec. 22, 1769. "Inventory, £82.8.0, made by James Stout and Malakiah Bonham."
back to bio.3. Elmer Burt Hazie, Bonham, 1631-1973: letters, quotations, genealogical charts, military records, directory index, privately published, Los Angeles, CA, 1973: pgs 142-3. & pg. 217. (rev. of Emmet Lincoln Smith, Smith-Bonham, 1631-1908, privately published, Chicago, IL, 1911; also Emmet Lincoln Smith, rev. by Elmer Burt Hazie, Bonham, 1631-1959: letters, quotations, genealogical charts, illustrations, military record, directory, privately published, Los Angeles, CA, 1959 & Elmer Burt Hazie, Bonham, 1631-1975: letters, quotations, genealogical charts, military records, directory index, privately published, Los Angeles, CA, 1975.)
"JACOB BONHAM (son of Hezekiah, Jr.-Martha Runyon) b 1726 d 1798 in Chester Co. Pa. Served in the Revolution. Mar; Polly Warford (1730-1795) lived and died in Chester Co. Lived in Westmoreland Co. Va. between 1777-1783. Children were:
1. JACOB Jr. (1749-1786) lived and died in Washington Co. Md. Mar; Nancy Mason (b 1751 d after 1790) left Md. for Washington Co. Penn. 1790.
2. Moses (1750-1782) died in Va. in the war. b Chester Co. Mar; Rebecca Park (1751-1803) Mar; 1769" (italics indicate text that appears to have been added later.)
These notes by Hazie appear to derive from family tradition rather than documentary sources and to be the source of almost all that is known about Jacob and Polly Warford Bonham. To be specific, Hazie extensively quotes an unidentified grandchild of Warford Bonham (who was the putative grandson of Jacob Bonham, Sr.) as follows (Hazie's paragraph indenting and added comments omitted):"This Bonham family lived in Chester County, Penn. but is not clearly known where their ancestors came from, nor who they were. In the list of Pilgrims to America, 1600 to 1700, 'George Bonham' 31 is registered as passing from the port of London, June 20, 1635, on the boat Phillip to Virginia. We quote from 'The Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth' the following: 'George Bonham appeared early in Plymouth, and in 1644 married, as his second wife, Sarah, daughter of George Morton. His children were Ruth, Patience, and George.' 'Nicholas Bonham' who was perhaps a brother of George, is in the list of persons admitted to inhabit Barnstable in 1663 to 1666. He married Hannah Fuller, daughter of Samuel Fuller, the second, their children were Hannah, Mary, and Sarah. This proves that some of the name came early to the Colonies to make their homes in the new country; their pioneering spirit was one of the strong characteristics in those who later bore the name. Whether these men were our ancestors has, so far as we know, not been proven but tradition in many branches of the family carries the idea that only one family came to the Colonies, and that all who bear the Bonham name are descendants of this one family. How true this is we do not know.
The head of the family line from which we are descended was Jacob Bonham who lived and died in Chester Co. Penn., close to the N. J. line where many Bonhams lived. Jacob was born in 1726 and died in 1798. He was a Revolutionary War soldier. Records show he was a private in Captain Edmund Baxter's Co. from 1778 to 1783 he was a Ranger on the Frontier in the Company of Captain Eleazor Williamson. Jacob Bonham in 1748, when he was twenty-two, married Miss Polly Warford who was then eighteen years of age; she was born in 1730, and died in 1795 at the age of sixty-five. They spent their lives in this county, and were buried there. Jacob and Polly Bonham had so far as is known, only two sons; Jacob, Jr. and Moses, one of whom was a Revolutionary War soldier.
Moses was born in 1750, died in Virginia in Nov. 1782. His wife was Rebecca Park, born in 1751 and died in 1803; they were married in 1769. Moses was a member of Moylan's Cavalry, 4th Reg. of Light Dragoons. Records of the military service of Moses and his father Jacob are found in Penn. Archives ... Moses drew in settlement for his service, 200 acres of land in Va.
The other son Jacob Jr. was born in 1749, dying in 1786 in Washington County, Maryland; in 1770 he married Nancy Mason, he being twenty-one and she nineteen years of age. We know nothing of her family, nor when she and Jacob moved to Maryland. Four years after his death which occured in 1786 she took her family of eight children to Washington Co. Penn. perhaps because some of her Warford relatives lived there. We know the names of the eight children of Jacob Jr. and Nancy Mason Bonham, but we do not know the order of their births, so, do not know who was the youngest or the eldest. Their were four sons and four daughters, the sons were John, Jeriah, James and Warford.
The daughters were Rebecca, Mary, Elizabeth and Nancy. This data is from the records written by our Jeriah Bonham, only a part of which is now in existence. He says the oldest daughters married brothers, Rebecca marrying William Haver, and Mary, Jacob Haver, both of these families moved to Greene County, adjoining Washington Co. Elizabeth married a Methodist minister, the Rev. Jacob Myers, Nancy married Thomas Rees. Later all families moved to Ohio.
Of the sons John, was perhaps the oldest, married Rebecca Laycock in Penn. and moved to Licking Co. Ohio, about 1800, he was accidentally killed in a log rolling near Newark in 1832. One of his descendants Scott Bonham of Cincinnati, whom we once had the pleasure of meeting at Cousin Sarah Teagarden's in Boulder, Colo. spent some time in research on the Bonham lines; in early life was a school teacher and later a prominent attorney of Cincinnati, a 32nd Degree Scottish-Rite Mason, a fine and cultured gentleman with the very look and type of features which we knew so well in the sons of Warford Bonham; the same kindly blue eyes, the fine forehead, the clear skin, the same pleasant expression our father and uncles had. We all felt a sense of kinship with him at once. He was a bachelor, and had spent much time in travel at home and abroad. He passed away in 1915.
Jeriah Bonham, one of the sons of Jacob Jr. and Nancy Mason, was quite a revivalist Baptist preacher; he lived in Jackson Co. Ohio; was a bachelor, and said to be odd. Of James, the fourth son the record is missing. The children of Jacob Jr. and Nancy of whom we know the most are Warford our grandfather, and Mary who married Jacob Haver; she was sometimes called Polly; the names of these two bring to mind their grandmother Polly Warford. Mary was seven years older than Warford, and at eighteen married Jacob Haver, living to be eighty-three. Both she and her husband are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Zanesville, Ohio. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, respected and loved by friends and neighbors. Two of their several children are living, Edward B. Haver of South Bend, Ind. and Samuel of Redlands, Calif.
Warford Bonham, your grandfather and mine was born in Washington Co. Md. Nov. 18, 1781; his father Jacob Jr. died when Warford was five years old; in his tenth year his mother removed to Washington Co. Penn., on the southwest border of the state; perhaps as said before because she had relatives there. Warford remained with his mother on the farm until 1799; being then in his nineteenth year, he set out for the west to seek his fortune, going down the Ohio River from Ft. Duquesne-now Pittsburg, on a flat boat to the mouth of the Sciota River; then up the valley of that river to the town of Chillicothe, in Ross Co. Ohio. A new town Bainbridge, 18 miles south-west of Chillicothe, on Painted Creek, was being laid out. Here he went and decided to remain ..."It is clear from internal evidence that this account could not have been written earlier than 1915; however, it would seem to have been written relatively soon afterward, perhaps, no later than 1925. Within this context, it must be noted that Edward B. and Samuel Haver can hardly have been sons of Jacob and Mary Bonham Haver. According to the 1900 census they were fifty and fifty-four years of age, respectively, which implies that they were far too young and, hence, were probably their grandsons instead.
Moreover, it would seem evident that E. B. Hazie was the first to assert that Jacob Bonham was a son of Hezekiah, Jr., and Martha Runyon Bonham, which may well be true; however, his justification for such a conclusion is not clear. Similarly, Hazie also appears to have been the first to attribute Joseph Bonham as a third son of Jacob and Polly Warford Bonham. Again, his basis for such a presumption is not evident and, moreover, the work of Howard E. Bonham strongly disputes this. In addition, Hazie further asserted that Rebecca and Naomi Parke were sisters. However, more recent research definitively refutes this. Instead, they were cousins. Rebecca Parke does appear to have originated in Cumberland County, New Jersey, which geographically lies relatively close to Chester County, Pennsylvania, and, thus, does provide some weak, but indisputable circumstantial evidence that Jacob and Polly Warford Bonham may have lived in southeastern Pennsylvania.
back to bio.4. Thomas Lynch Montgomery (ed), Pennsylvania Archives - Fifth Series, Harrisburg Pub. Co., Harrisburg, PA, 1906: Vol. 5, pgs. 681-2.
"A LIST OF EDMUND BAXTERS, CAPT., COMPANY AND A TRUE RETURN OF THERE (sic) CLASSES. (c.)
Captain. Edmund Baxter.
Lieutenant. George Brown.
Ensign. Thomas Wells.
Sargents. Nicolas Levene. James Nalor. Hartley Sappington. Richard Levine.
1st Class. Samuel Ramzey. Alexander Willon. Stephen Treele. Beniamin Davie. Beniamin Nalon. Robert Robbertson. James Robbertson. Jacob Walcer. Joseph Fouler.
2nd Class. John Gratehouse. Samuel Leper. Landan Barber. John McGarrah. Edward Wiggins. Richard Wells. John Baxter. Joshua Hazelrig. Thomas West.
3d Class. Zacceriah Fouler. Henry Wells. Robert McCrade. Joseph Huggel. John Simon. Jonas Armspocer. Moses Deccer. John Rile. Isaac Rile. David Davis, Jr.
4th Class. William Hazelrig. Thomas Selby. Henry Bolin. Thomas James. Jacob Bonham. Joshua Yoman. George Oller. George Wells. Alexander Wells.
5th Class. Netheniel West. Beachum Roade. William Clark. James Watson. Jonathan West. Luke Deccer. William Gratehouse. Richard Elson.
6th Class. Thomas Bartan. Edward Logsdon. Josiah Con. Joseph Deccer. Richard Fouler. Samuel Marshal. Charles Selby. Thomas Treele.
7th Class. John Sappington. George Nalor. Matthew Fouler. Thomas Lannum. Jeremiah Fouler. Richard West. James Leaper. Richard Wells, Sr.
8th Class. John Sapp. James Sappington. William West. John Morrison. William Holms. Lennerd Reed."
back to bio.5. Thomas Lynch Montgomery (ed), Pennsylvania Archives - Sixth Series, Harrisburg Pub. Co., Harrisburg, PA, 1906-7: Vol. 2, pg. 228.
"PAY ROLL OF CAPT. GEORGE BROWN'S COMPANY OF WASHINGTON C'Y MIL'A ON THE SANDUSKY EXPEDITION COM'D BY COL. WILL CRAWFORD COM'G 18TH MAY, 1782 & ENDING 10TH JUNE '82 BOTH DAYS INCLUDED. (c).
Names Rank. Time of entry. Time of service (days).
George Brown, .......................Capt., ........ May 18, 1782, .............. 24
Jacob Bonham, .......................Sergt., ....... May 18, 1782, .............. 24"
back to bio.6. A partial descendancy for the Jacob Bonham family has been extracted from information published by E. B. Hazie and H. E. Bonham and appears as follows (additional information in italics):
First Generation
Jacob Bonham, born 1726 in NJ, died 1798 in MD or PA, close to the NJ line where many Bonhams lived;married in 1748, at age 22, Polly Warford, age 18; born 1730, died in 1795, aged 65. Reportedly, both Jacob and Polly are buried in the Great Valley Baptist Church Cemetery, Chester Co., PA.*
1. Jacob Bonham, Jr., born 1749.*As noted elsewhere, the connection of Jacob Bonham to Chester County, Pennyslvania seems tenuous at best. Indeed, it is true that many other members of the extended Bonham family lived across the Delaware River in southern New Jersey, particularly in Hopewell and Stowe Creek Townships in Cumberland County. However, the identification of Jacob Bonham as a "Ranger" on the frontier seems more consistent with a location in western Pennsylvania. Moreover, although Hazie and others have stated that Jacob and Polly Bonham were buried in Chester County, no definite grave site seems to be known.
2. Moses Bonham, born 1750Second Generation
1. Jacob Bonham, Jr., born 1749; died 1786 in Washington Co., MD; married Nancy Mason, born 1751.
1-1. Rebecca Bonham, born 1767 in PA; married William Haver and resided in Perry, OH. They had George Haver.2. Moses Bonham, born 1750 in Chester Co., PA, died 1782 in VA in the Revolutionary War; married in 1769 Rebecca Parke**.
1-2. Elizabeth Bonham, born 1769 in PA; married Rev. Jacob Myers.
1-3. Mary/Polly Bonham, born 1771 or 1774 in PA, died 4 Oct 1852, buried Woodlawn Cem., Muskingum Co., OH; married Jacob Haver, born 1765, died 17 Aug 1829, buried Woodlawn Cem., Muskingum Co., OH. They lived in Zanesville, OH, and he was Commander of Company A in War of 1812.
1-4. Nancy Bonham, born 1773 in PA; married Thomas Rees. Resided in Franklin Co., OH.
1-5. John Bonham, born 1775; married Rebecca Wycock or Laycock. John was killed in a log rolling in Newark, Licking Co., OH in 1832. They had Samuel, Joseph, John, Warford, Burdine, and Sally Bonham.
1-6. Jeriah Bonham, born 1777; a Baptist preacher, unmarried.
1-7. James Bonham, born 1779.
1-8. Warford Bonham, born 18 Nov 1781 in Washington Co., MD, died 23 Jul 1869, buried Bonham Cem., Marshall Co., IL; married in 1808, Rebecca Mason/Mayson, born 28 Nov 1789 in NJ, died 17 Feb 1878, buried Bonham Cem., Marshall Co., IL.**There is no known documentary evidence that Moses and Rebecca Parke Bonham had any surviving children. However, Hazie asserts that they did have one son, Moses Bonham, Jr., who married Ann Morrison about 1804. She was reportedly an Irish immigrant. He served in the War of 1812 after which they lived in Knox County, Ohio, where he died about 1815. Hazie further attributed two sons to Moses and Ann Morrison Bonham, viz., Thomas Morrison Bonham and Rev. Moses Bonham, Jr., from whom issued a substantial group of descendents. Concomitantly, Thurtle and King stated that, "The widow of Moses Bonham, Rebecca Park Bonham, came with five sons and daughters to the Rye Valley" in Wythe County, Virginia. If true, with the exception of the putative Moses, Jr., none of these sons and daughters are known to history. Alternatively, in his work Howard E. Bonham, in referring to Moses Bonham, Jr., stated that he was "reluctant to accept him as a son of Moses & Rebecca."
a. Thomas Lynch Montgomery (ed), Pennsylvania Archives - Fifth Series, Harrisburg Pub. Co., Harrisburg, PA, 1906: Vol. 3, pgs. 838 & 845-6 & Vol. 4, pg. 201.
Revolutionary War service of Moses Bonham has been confirmed by archived Pennsylvania military records in which he was listed as a private in "Col. Stephen Moylan's Fourth Regiment, Light Dragoons, in the service of the United States." This was a cavalry unit. It is further indicated that he enlisted on June 5, 1778, and "died in Virginia, November, 1782; left a wife Rebecca." Moreover, he received "depreciation pay", which was paid in 1781 to compensate soldiers who had served between 1777 and 1780 and who had been paid previously in paper currency that had quickly lost most of its value. Consequently, to make amends each line soldier who remained in service in 1781 received a substantial sum from the state of Pennsylvania in "Depreciation Pay Certificates", which were both interest bearing and negotiable. It is not clear that the notation of Moses' death indicates that he was a casualty of war as asserted by Hazie and others, but it is quite possible. Even so, this would have been more than a year after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown after which, presumably, hostilities had substantially ceased. Concomitantly, it has been reported by Ms. Trula Purkey that "Moses Bonham died in Virginia while on an expedition to Georgia to join General Anthony Wayne." (Pennsylvania State Archives, "The Revolutionary War", www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/military/revwar.htm, 2005.)b. op. cit. (E. B. Hazie): pg. 354.
"Though we have never found any records of them (Moses and Rebecca Parke Bonham) having had any children we think it is possible and quite probable that they had at least one child, a son Moses.
After Moses was killed in the Revolutionary war in a battle in Virginia, his widow Rebecca was appointed Adminstrator of his estate, which as far as we have found consisted of a Government check for $212 and in order to cash it she had to apply for and was made administrator of his estate. (I have a photostat of her papers.) At that time she made no mention of children as at that time she was interested only in getting legal right to cash his service check. If she had mentioned a child or children she would have had to apply for Guardianship papers also which would have been additional expense, and being human, as you and I she took the easy way and made no mention of having a son if she did as we now think, have the son Moses. A conclusion by E. B. H.
It is reported that when Moses signed for service for the duration of the war that the government settled 200 acres in Virginia on him for his services. However the U. S. Land Office wrote that Virginia was never part of the public domain they had not granted any lands in that state to Moses Bonham. They referred us to the Virginia State Library who wrote 'We do not locate the name of Moses Bonham among those men who received bounty land for Revolutionary War Service.' They also reported no record of a grant to the widow of Moses, Rebecca Park Bonham. Fredrick Co. Va. reports of Rebecca Bonham having owned land in that county where she had resided near Winchester, are incorrect according to the records of that County."
Howard Bonham did not accept Hazie's reasoning as to Rebecca Bonham avoiding any mention of children. Indeed, allusion to cashing checks is anachronistic because the modern banking system as it now exists was not in place at that time. Moreover, legal proceedings were not as formal and expensive as one might think, since in the eighteenth century they were essentially a local matter handled among relatives and neighbors. The present complicated American legal system has evolved gradually over the last two centuries. Accordingly, it seems more probable that Rebecca did not mention any children because she had none living. Likewise, Hazie found that received family tradition regarding land grants was also erroneous.c. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. IV: 1761-1770), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1928: Vol. 33, pg. 319.
Mar. 13, 1764. "Parke, Thomas, of Greenwich, in Cohansey, Cumberland Co., shoemaker; will of. Daughters: Sarah Isley, Martha Wolston, Prudence and Anna Parke, 5 shillings each. Son, Annanias Parke, £5, to be paid to him when my 2 children come of age, viz., Rachel and Rebecca. Son, Annanias, 1,000 acres, which was bought of Benjamin Firman, in Philadelphia, and which was formerly the property of Anna Salter, dec'd, Daughter Miriam Parke, 5 shillings. Wife Sarah, my daughter Rachel, and youngest daughter, Rebecca, the rest of my personal and real estate, when the children are of age. Executors---my wife and my friend, Thomas Ewing. Witnesses---Jacob Noble, James Talbott, Jeremiah Bishop. Proved Feb. 2, 1767."
Dec. 24, 1766. "Inventory, £178.19.3, made by William Carll and Jeremiah Bishop. Includes 'Purse and armor, valued at £23.15.0."d. Robert Glenn Thurtle and Lillian S. King (eds), Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, pub. by Edwards Bros., Ann Arbor, MI, for The Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, Lancaster, MA, 1976: pg. 617.
e. Woodlawn Cemetery, Muskingum County, Ohio (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=44167&CScn=Woodlawn&CScntry=4&CSst=37&CScnty=2099&, continuously updated).
f. Bonham Cemetery, Marshall County, Illinois (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=104821&CScn=Bonham&CScntry=4&CSst=16&CScnty=751&, continuously updated).
Third Generation
1-8. Warford Bonham#, born 18 Nov 1781 in Washington Co. MD, lived in Maryland until 1790; in Washington Co., PA until 1800; then OH until 1834, then to Illinois until his death 23 Jul 1869 aged 88 years, the father of 12 children, grandfather of 83 and great-grandfather of 27; married in 1808, Rebecca Mason/Mayson, born 28 Nov 1789 in NJ, died 17 Feb 1878, d/o a New Jersey Quaker.
1-8-1. Mahala Bonham, born 24 Mar 1809 in OH, died 3 Mar 1883, Marshall Co., IL, buried Bonham Cem.; married (1) Joseph Taylor; married (2) on 22 Feb 1832 in Pickaway Co., OH, James Tanquary, born 1809 in Pickaway Co., OH, died 21 Jan 1849 in Marshall Co., IL, buried Bonham Cem.; married (3) Abraham Tanquary, born 1819 in OH, died Marshall Co., IL, buried Bonham Cem., bro/o James.# "In Whitefield, July 23d, at the residence of H. D. Bonham, father Warford Bonham, at the age of 88 years." (death notice: Henry Republican; Henry, IL, Thur., Aug. 5, 1869.)
1-8-2. Sarah Bonham, born 24 Oct 1810; died 1831; married Mr. Henderson at Circleville, OH. He died of pneumonia shortly after the wedding day.
1-8-3. Eliza M. Bonham##, born 17 Dec 1813 in OH; died 1904; married on 10 or 21 Aug 1834, John Smith Hoskins#*, born 12 Jan 1814 in Ross Co., OH, died 3 Nov 1877 in Marshall Co. IL.
1-8-4. George Washington Bonham, born 30 Dec 1815 in OH; died 1898; married (1) on 1 Oct 1840, Lucrecia Ann Lowrey, born 23 May 1823, died 4 Nov 1854, buried Bonham Cem., Marshall Co., IL; married (2) Mrs. Amanda Frisby Cook. They had Willard Bonham.
1-8-5. Jeriah Bonham§, born 27 Feb 1818 in Ross Co., OH; died 1 Jun 1895 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL, buried Bonham Cem., Marshall Co., IL; married (1) on 24 Jan 1839, Sarah Atwood, born 5 Aug 1821, died 30 Jul 1846, buried Bonham Cem., Marshall Co., IL. They had Edward, Eliza Ann, and Hardin Bonham; married (2) on 27 Jan 1850, Ellen W. Bodley, born 1829, died 24 Feb 1870 in Marshall Co., IL, buried Bonham Cem.They had Eben, Ada, Frank J., Annette, Florence A., Emily Louise, Sadie Ellen, Francis, and Frederick J. Bonham; married (3) on 25 Oct 1873 in Jackson Co., IL; divorced in Feb 1877, Mrs. Catherine Hiller Sykes, born 6 Nov 1838 in Jackson Co., IL, died 3 Aug 1888, buried Hiller-Crab Orchard Cem., Jackson Co., IL. They had one son, Ernest Bonham.
1-8-6. William M. Bonham, born 6 Mar 1820 in OH; died 1895; married on 28 Apr 1844, Amanda M. Webster.
1-8-7. Warford Bonham, Jr., born 20 Apr 1822 in OH; died 28 Jun 1894, buried Bonham Cem., Marshall Co., IL; married on 1 Jan 1845, Lucy Ann Swift, born 1 Apr 1829 in Madison Co., NY, died 26 Feb 1893 in Marshall Co., IL, buried Bonham Cem. Lucy was the sister of Luana Swift, who married Henson Davis Bonham. They had Sarah Ann Bonham.
1-8-8. Clayton Mason Bonham§*, born 4 Dec 1824 in OH; died 1 May 1872 in Marshall Co., IL, buried Bonham Cem.; married on 14 Oct 1852, Esther Bodley, sister of Ellen W. Bodley, who married Jeriah Bonham.
1-8-9. Mary Ann Bonham, born 26 May 1827 in OH; died 1908; married on 25 Dec 1846, Henry F. Hoskins#*. He was the bro/o John Smith Hoskins, who m Eliza M. Bonham.
1-8-10. Henson Davis Bonham§§, born 30 Jun 1831 in Pickaway Co., OH, died 1904, buried Henry Cem., Marshall Co., IL; married on 14 Oct 1852, Luana S. Swift, born 1831, died 1908, buried Henry Cem., Marshall Co., IL.
1-8-11. Emily Jane Bonham, born 10 Jan 1834 in OH; died 1857; married James Timmons.
1-8-12. infant, who died young.#* An obituary as well as census records of 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900 for Marshall County, Illinois, indicate that the correct surname was Hoskins rather than Hopkins as reported by some later researchers. Likewise, these records further indicate that the wife of Henry Hoskins was Mary Ann Bonham rather than Ann Eliza/Elizabeth Bonham
## "John S. Hoskins, the subject of this sketch, died of consumption, Nov. 3, 1877. Was born Jan. 12, 1814, near Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio. Was married August 10, 1834 to Eliza Bonham, daughter of Warford Bonham, deceased. Emigrated to Illinois the same year with the family of his father-in-law, landing in Tazewell county October 24. In the spring of 1835 came to Marshall county; settled and improved a farm two miles north of Sparland. In the spring of 1850, removed to his late residence, where he lived until his death. He was a good and useful citizen, filling offices of church and township with fidelity and trust. Was a member of the M. E. church 35 years, and labored earnestly in its support. He leaves a wife and six children, who are bereft of a kind companion and indulgent father. The funeral services were conducted at the Bethel church, by the Rev. A. Beeler, after which the remains were conveyed to the cemetery near Sparland, followed by many sympathizing relatives and friends." (obituary: Henry Republican; Henry, IL, Thur., Dec. 6, 1877.)
§ "Died at Lacon, February 24, Mrs. Ellen W., wife of Jeriah Bonham of Chicago, publisher of the Rural Messenger. She leaves a family of 8 children and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss." (death notice: Henry Republican; Henry, IL, Thur., Mar. 3, 1870.)
§* "At Lacon, May 1, of congestion of the bowels, Clayton M. Bonham, aged 48 years.
Death of C. M. Bonham Suddenly, yea we can hardly realize that the cold clods of the valley today cover the earthy form of Mr. Clayton M. Bonham. Ten days ago he was in the prime of life, attending to his business at Varna. Inflammation of the bowels brought him suddenly low, and cut him off in the prime of an exalted manhood. The funeral took place on Thursday under the auspices of Odd Fellowship, to which fraternity he had belonged many years, members being present from Lacon, Henry, Sparland, and elsewhere, the attendance being very large of mourning friends, neighbors and citizens. The Baptist minister preached the sermon and the body was conveyed to the family cemetery in Whitefield township, where a father, mother, and other members of this large family lie.
Mr. Bonham had been postmaster of Lacon, member of the county republican committee, a sincere, earnest member of the Baptist church, and a gentleman widely known and respected. He had been a lumber dealer for many years. He was a contestant two years ago against W. E. Cook, Esq., for the office of supervisor of Lacon, and his popularity as a citizen is shown in the fact that he lacked but a few votes of being elected, and was far ahead of all who had previously ran for the same office against 'a life lease candidate.' The Sparland lodge was named after him - Clayton lodge I. O. O. F. - for valuable service he had rendered it. Mr. Bonham was upright in word and deed, active in public affairs, and was a very excellent citizen. He is a great loss to the family and the county, and to friends far and near. All the brothers, five living, were present at the funeral - Jeriah, George, Warford, Henson and William." (obituary: Henry Republican; Henry, IL, Thur., May 9, 1872.)§§ Anonymous, The Biographical Record, Bureau, Putnam and Marshall County, Illinois, The S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., Chicago, IL, 1896, pgs. 367-9.
"Henson D. Bonham is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Marshall county and is one of the leading farmers of the county. His residence is on section 36, Whitefield township, while his farm, consisting of two hundred and ten acres, lies in both sections 35 and 36. He is a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, born June 30, 1831. His father, Captain Warford Bonham, was born in Maryland, near the Potomac river, while his mother, Rebecca (Mason) Bonham, was a native of New Jersey. At the age of twenty years his father removed to Ohio from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and his mother from her native home at the age of eighteen years. In that new country they became acquainted and were married in Ross county. For ten years he worked for one man in a still, finally purchasing it, and also ran a hotel on the main pike road, which was the regular stopping place for stage coaches.
Shortly after commencement of hostilities between this country and Great Britain in 1812 Warford Bonham raised a company and served until the close of the war, with the rank of captain. Returning home, he remained in Ross county until about 1824, when he removed with his family to Pickaway county, where they resided for about ten years. At that time there was considerable emigration to Illinois, and he determined to try his fortunes in that new country. On coming to the state they first made their home in Tazewell county, where they remained one winter, but, not liking the location, in April, 1835, the captain removed with his family to Marshall county and entered a tract of government land in Whitefield township, which now comprises a part of the farm on which our subject now resides. The land was secured at the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre.
At the time of his removal here Captain Bonham had about eighteen hundred dollars in money, together with a good supply of stock. The family consisted of father, mother and nine children, among them being two married daughters with their husbands--James Tanquary and John S. Hoskins. The latter settled on land adjoining, in Steuben township. James Tanquary was the father of Cornelius and Addison Tanquary, who are now prominent citizens of Steuben township.
On the farm onn which he originally settled in Whitefield township, Captain Bonham spent the remainder of his life, passing peacefully away July 23, 1869, at the ripe age of eighty-eight years. His remains were interred in the family burial ground on the home farm, a plat of ground set off by himself for that purpose. There his wife who died February 17, 1858, at the age of sixty-eight yeasr, was also interred, and side by side they lie at rest, waiting the resurrection morn.
The tract of land secured by Captain Bonham comprised about one thousand acres, which he extensively improved, and his children went out from the old home he gave them such assistance as seemed best or as they were entitled to. In this way he adminstered on his own estate and in a more satisfactory way, the division as being perfectly satisfactory to every member of the family. Everything was perfectly harmonious, there being no dissatisfactionexpressed by any one. The old homestead was given to our subject, with whom he made his home the last years of his life.
In early life Captain Bonham was politically a whig, the principles of the party being dear to him, and its great leaders--Webster and Clay--reverred. A liberty-loving man, when the whig party ceased to exist, he identified himself with the new republican party and voted its ticket and advocated its principles to the end. His interest in political affairs never wavered, and, while never an office seeker, he was duly honored by his fellow citizens in a number of local offices. For about twnety years he was justice of the peace and was well known throughout the county as Squire Warford Bonham.
While he was a self-educated man, having had little opportunity for an education, either in public or private schools, he was a great student and well versed in general history and current events of the day. He was very fond of good reading, especialy of a theological nature, and was well versed in the Bible. For many years he was a member of the Christian church, being converted under the preaching of Alexander Campbell. He was never bigotted in church matters, although a warm supporter of the church. The same right to hold and advocate his religious views he was wiling to concede to others. In a discussion of religion or politics he could hold his own with the best. As a republican he was an earnest supporter of Lincoln during the war and was a great admirer of that pure and honest statesman.
Of the children born to Warford and Rebecca Bonham, George is now residing in Chicago, at the age of eighty-four years; Henson D. is our subject; Mary Ann is now the widow of Henry Hoskins, and resides in Sparland; Eliza is the widow of John S. Hoskins, who came to Marshall county with the family, and some years ago removed to Iowa and latre to Nebraska; Warford died in June, 1894, and his son Harrison R., lives on the old farm, which was part of the original homestead.
Squire Bonham was a resident of Marshall county for more than a third of a century. He was a well-preserved man, physically and mentally, and had then happy faculty of making friends, which friendship he always maintained. His death was a sad loss to the communit, and few persons were generally mourned as they passed to the other shore.
Henson D. Bonham, of whom we now write, was but four years of age when his parents located in Marshall County. On the old farm where he now resides he grew to manhood and faithfully served his parents until after he attained his majority. His education was obtained in the public schools, his attendance being usually limited to the winter months of each year. As he grew to manhood he determined to follow as his life work the calling of his father, that of a farmer, and to that end bent all his energies, so that when called upon to leave the parental home he would be fully equipped for the battle of life.
On the 14th of October, 1852, Mr. Bonham and Miss Luana Swift were united in marriage. Six children came to bless this union--Alice R., at home; Roscoe LeRoy, an employee of the Great Northern railroad at St. Paul, Minnesota; Millard Fillmore, who was a storekeeper for the Iron Range railroad, and died February 11, 1893, at Two Harbor, Minnesota; Carrie M., wife of Frank E. Duncan, of Des Moines, Iowa; Emily N., book-keeper and stenographer in the office of F. E. Duncan, at Des Moines; and Lillie, who died at the age of eight months. Each of the children have received liberal educations and have been well equipped for life. For four years, or from the time he was seventeen until he was twenty-one years of age, Millard was engaged in teaching in the public schools. He then entered railroad employ and was so engaged at the time of his death.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Bonham commenced farming on his own responsibility. In due time his father let him have one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead, on which he has continued to reside. From the other heirs he purchased fifty acres, giving him a nice farm of two hundred and ten acres. This he has ever kept under a good state of cultivation and his improvements have kept pace with the times.
Politically Mr. Bonham is a stanch republican, the principles of the party being born and bred in the bone. He has never sought office, but has shown his interest in the party by attending the primaries and local conventions and serving on township committees. For thirty years he has been an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs in both subordinate lodge and encampment. He has served the local bodies as a delegate to the Grand Lodge and grand encampment. He is now chief patriarch of the encampment at Sparland. A strong temperance advocate, he is decidely in favor of the total annihilation of the liquor traffic. An almost life long resident of the county, having spent some sixty-one years within its borders, he is well and favorably known throughout its length and breadth."g. Immogene Brown, Articles Appearing in the Indianapolis Sunday Star, 1926-1933, privately published, Alexandria, IN, 1976: pg. 27.
"Warford Bonham was born in Washington county, Maryland, November 1781, and died Marshall, Ill., 1869. His father died when he was 5 years old, 1786, and 1790 his widow and eight children removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where she settled; in 1800 Warford Bonham went West and settled in Ross county, Ohio, where, 1808, he married Rebecca Mason, daughter of a New Jersey Quaker. He served in the war of 1812. In 1832 he removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, and 1834 to Illinois. His brothers and sisters were John, James, Jeriah, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Nancy and Mary.--Mrs. E. B. Haver, 2029 Elizabeth street, Pueblo, Col."h. The family of Warford Bonham can be confirmed from census records. (1850 US Census Population Schedule for Marshall County, Illinois, National Archives, Washington DC: pgs. 99B, 126B, 135A, 137B, & 142B, (microfilm roll - M432_120; imgs. 37, 91, 108, 113, & 123) & 1860 US Census Population Schedule for Marshall County, Illinois, National Archives, Washington DC: pgs. 64 & 137, (microfilm roll - M653_210; imgs. 65 & 138).)
i. Hiller-Crab Orchard Cemetery, Jackson County, Illinois (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1992559&CScn=Hiller&CScntry=4&CSst=16&CScnty=728&, continuously updated).
j. Henry Cemetery, Marshall County, Illinois (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=106115&CScn=Henry&CScntry=4&CSst=16&CScnty=751&, continuously updated).
This extract has been reformatted, numbered, and obvious typographical errors have been corrected, which do not affect content. (unpublished notes)
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Additional Citations:
7. William Henry Egle (ed), Pennsylvania Archives - Third Series, Harrisburg Pub. Co., Harrisburg, PA, 1898: Vol. 23, pg. 309.8. 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. 244-50.
9. Trula Fay Parks Purkey, Genealogy of William Bonham, Pioneer Settler of Grayson County, Virginia, 731 Rockbridge Rd., Trout Dale, VA, 1984: pgs. 24-5 & 32-4.