- two sons, Samuel, Jr., and Ephraim, have been attributed to them, born about 1714 and 1716, respectively. Even so, there is no documentary evidence substantiating this chronology. Indeed, Mr. H. E. Bonham believed that it is more likely that these two sons were born ten to fifteen years later since they, respectively, apparently did not marry until 1747 and 1761.1 Similarly, he further believed that Samuel and Catherine also probably did not marry until later, perhaps, after 1720. There is no support for Monnette's claim that Samuel Bonham married a Stout and had a son Jacob.2
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. 91-108.
The birth dates of Samuel and Ephraim Bonham are unknown. If 1714 is correct for Samuel, he was age 33 when he married Ruth Bowyer, 29 May 1747. Ruth was called "spinster" in the marriage bond. [Marriage Bond, Burlington Co., NJ, Lib. B/B, p. 97.] Ephraim married Margaret Jarrett, 5 Mar 1761. If he was born in 1716, he would be age 45 at time of marriage. Not impossible, but doubtful for a first marriage. [Record of PA Marriages Prior to 1810, Vol. 11, p. 32.]
It is probable that all of the estimates of the above dates are wrong. Samuel Bonham, Sr. probably married later than 1713; Samuel, Jr. and Ephraim were probably born later than 1714 & 1716. We have found no proof of births of Samuel, Jr. and Ephraim, or marriage of Samuel, Sr. and Catherine
2. Orra Eugene Monnette, First Settlers of ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge, olde East New Jersey, 1664-1714, a period of fifty years, The Leroy Carman Press, Los Angeles, CA, 1930-35: Part 4, pg. 229.
Samuel Bonham, son of Hezekiah Bonham, Senior, b. Feb. 6, 1693, was presented in Jersey Genealogy, (see ante, p. 581). Samuel Bonham was a creditor in the estate of John Heath of Amwell, Hunterdon Co., along with John Severns, Philip Ringo, et al in the years, 1724-1729, (N. J. Arch., Vol. XXIII, p. 220). He was a debtor, 1732, to the estate of John Severns of Trenton, Hunterdon Co., together with Zedekiah Bonham, Jeremiah Bonham, and Nehemiah Bonham, his brothers. Did he m. a Stout and have a son, Jacob Bonham? Yes, I think so.
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Bonham_Samuel.htm#Note 1
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