8. | Joseph Bonham was born in 1735 in New Jersey (son of Hezekiah* Bonham, Jr and Martha* Runyon); died before Feb 1804 in Wythe Co (now Grayson Co), Virginia. Other Events and Attributes:
- Residence: Between 1750 and 1760, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey; with Uncle Cornelius Anderson
- Residence: Between 1770 and 1774, Loudoun Co, Virginia; tithables
- Census: Between 1775 and 1781, Loudoun Co, Virginia; tithables
- Residence: Between 1775 and 1781, Loudoun Co, Virginia; tithables
- Will: Feb 1804, Wythe Co, Virginia
Notes:
Joseph was living in Loudoun Co as early as 1775 (tax record). In 1795 he moved to Wythe Co and died there in about 1804. His will mentions his wife Naomy, sons William and Hezekiah, daughters Cathy Howell, Zilphy Davis, Rachel Weiss, Betsy Woods, and another son or grandson Ephraim. The will is probated in Feb 1804. "The Bonham Family" does not show a son Ephraim.
-------------------
The parentage of Joseph Bonham is a vexed question, as is the year and location of his birth. Within this context, he has commonly been regarded by many researchers as a son of Jacob and Polly Warford Bonham, born about 1751 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which lies in the extreme southeastern corner of the present state. Even so, this birth year seems too late and appears to derive primarily from the work of E. B. Hazie in the various editions of his book on the Bonham family, which was itself a revision of an earlier work by E. L. Smith.
Moreover, according to research published more recently by Howard E. Bonham, and also cited by Ms. Cecilia B. Parke, a historian of the Parke family, in the 1750s and 1760s Joseph Bonham was resident in the household of his uncle and aunt, Cornelius and Catherine Runyon Anderson, in Hunterdon County. Of course, such an arrangement would be indicative of a close family relationship. This is further supported by archived New Jersey civil records confirming that Joseph Bonham was a witness to the will of Cornelius Anderson, which was made in Hunterdon County on December 6, 1765, and proved August 19, 1768.1 Clearly, according to English common law as it then prevailed in the American colonies, this implies that Joseph must have been at least twenty-one years of age in 1765. Therefore, his birth could have been no later than 1744 and was probably earlier, perhaps, 1740 or before. Accordingly, this suggests that he had been taken in by his aunt and uncle after the deaths of his parents and that rather than a grandson, Joseph was actually a younger son of Hezekiah, Jr., and Martha Runyon Bonham. Indeed, such a presumption is clearly consistent with "family lore", again, included in H. E. Bonham's excellent work, which asserted that Joseph Bonham was born the same year that his Grandfather Bonham died, i.e., about 1732. Concomitantly, it would seem almost certain that he must have been born in New Jersey, probably in Hunterdon County, although, the period 1735 to 1740 is, perhaps, marginally more plausible.2 In any case, there can be little doubt that Joseph Bonham was a direct descendant of Nicholas Bonham, who as a child was an immigrant to New England and as an adult was an early settler of the East Jersey Province. Subsequently, through his son, Hezekiah, he became the common ancestor of a very large extended family, which according to documentary sources as well as family tradition, moved in stages south and westward through New Jersey into Pennsylvania, Virginia, and beyond.
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Bonham_Joseph.htm
------------------
Early VA Woods - Wythe Cty, VA
Jehu Woods m Elizabeth Bonham 17 Sept 1801 Alexander Bonham had 1787 Survey made in then Montgomery County. Records also mention a Robert..
Early Wythe Cty, VA Woods Marriages
Nancy Woods and George Rice 179??
Sally Woods and John P. Currin 9 Jul 1845
Thomas Wood and Martha Crockett 26 Nov 1840 d/o John Crockett
Robert Woods and Martha White 2 Dec 1839/ do Thomas White
Bonham/Bohanan Wythe Marriages
Alsa Bonham and James Wallace 16 Mar 1809
Elizabeth V. Bonhanan and James M. Seacat 27 Jul 1848
Polly Bonham and Noah Greer 15 Apr 1813
Hezekiah Bonham and Sarah Kinser 12 Oct 1824
Hezekiah Bonham and Esther Scott 15 Aug 1799
John Bonham and Julia Ann Hoppess 3 Jun 1824
Martin Bonham and Isabella Calhoon 6 Jul 1802
Nehemia Bonham and Rachel Kaar 6 Sep 1791
Nehemiah and Regina Kinser 7 Nov 1833
Nehemiah Jr and Isabel Scott 12 Apr 1798
William Bonham and Betwey Williams 12 Dec 1794
Residence:
According to research published more recently by Howard E. Bonham, and also cited by Ms. Cecilia B. Parke, a historian of the Parke family, in the 1750s and 1760s Joseph Bonham was resident in the household of his uncle and aunt, Cornelius and Catherine Runyon Anderson, in Hunterdon County. Of course, such an arrangement would be indicative of a close family relationship. This is further supported by archived New Jersey civil records confirming that Joseph Bonham was a witness to the will of Cornelius Anderson, which was made in Hunterdon County on December 6, 1765, and proved August 19, 1768.
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Bonham_Joseph.htm
Residence:
1770-1774 Loudoun Co Tithables: Stephen Jones -1; 5 scalps; Benjamin Pool -1; 5 scalps
(A List of Tithables taken by Stephen Donaldson for the year 1770. Tithables, Wheel Carriages & Squirrel Scalps)
Also listed: John Palmer & Samuel Palmer -2; 10 scalps
Peter Ackley, Barnett Ackley -2; 10 scalps
Bonhams listed: Aaron-, Amariah-, Benjamin-, Elijah-, Hezekiah- -, Joseph-, Nehemiah-, Nehemiah Jr-, Nehemiah Sr-, Peter-, Samuel-.
HEZEKIAH BONHAM sons (2nd wife):
(sons of Hezekiah/Runyon)
- Joseph 1735
- our Samuel
Nehemiah Sr. c 1702
- Benjamin
- Nehemiah Jr. c 1722
-- Aaron c 1741
-- Elijah c 1746
-- Nehemiah c 1748
- Hezekiah 1741
Amariah
-- Peter
Residence:
1775-1781 Loudoun Co Tithables:
Jones: Daniel Jr, Enos, George, Henry, Isaac, Isaiah, Jabez, James, John, John Jr, John Sr, Joshua, Mary, Miskell, Philip, Richard, Robert, William.
Bonham: Aaron, -Ameriah, -Benjamin, ?John, -Joseph, ?Josias, -Nehemiah, -Peter, -Samuel, ?William
HEZEKIAH BONHAM sons (2nd wife):
(sons of Hezekiah/Runyon)
- Joseph 1735
- our Samuel
Nehemiah Sr. c 1702
- Benjamin
- Nehemiah Jr. c 1722
- Aaron c 1741
- Amariah
- Peter
note: only one Nehemiah listed. Unk if Sr. or Jr.
Will:
In the name of god, amen, this 22d day of June in the year of our lord 1803 I Joseph Bonham of Wythe County and the State of Virginia, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given, to god then for calling unto mind the mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this last will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul into the hands of god that gave it to me for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a christian like and deacent (sic) manner at the discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of god and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form
Item It is my will and I do order in the first place that all my Just debts and funeral Charges be paid and
Item I give and bequeath unto well beloved wife Naomy The land whereon I now live containing seventy acres to be for her support as long as she lives, or remain single, but if she marries to belong to the proper heirs
Item I give to my son Hezekiah Bonham the above mentioned Tract of land containing seventy acres which I have William Bonham?s obligation for which I do order that the sd William Bonham do make to the above Hezekiah Bonham a good deed agreeable ... to the before named obligation
Item I give and allow my single daughters Each one bed and one Cow and six sheep one spinning wheel and chest
Item I give ... to my two grandaughter Nancy and Sarah Ball if they stay till of age each one bed and one cow and six sheep one spinning wheel and a chest
Item I give to William Bonham Caty Howell Zilphy Davis Rachel Whise Betsey Woods and Ephriaim Bonham each the sum of one Dollar
Item I give and allow all the rest of my goods chattels and moveable property to my wife Naomy as long as she lives single and she is to have no power to dispose of any of sd property If she marries for it is my will and desire that it shall be equally divided among all my children
I do appoint and allow my well beloved wife Naomy to be my sole Executor of this my last will and Testament and do hereby utterly disallow Revoke and disannul (sic) all and every other Testaments, Wills, legacies and executors by me in any wise before named wills and bequeaths Ratifying this my last will and Testament in Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written
Enterlined before signed /s/X Joseph Bonham his mark (seal)
signed sealed published pronounced and declared in the presence of /s/Jonathan Henderson /s/John Carr /s/James Wallis
(Will Bk. 1, Wythe Co., VA, pg. unk., Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - City and County Records #13). (cited in Trula Fay Parks Purkey, Genealogy of William Bonham, Pioneer Settler of Grayson County, Virginia, 731 Rockbridge Rd., Trout Dale, VA, 1984: pgs. 29-30.))
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Bonham_Joseph.htm
Joseph married Naomi Parke (Parks) about 1767 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania. Naomi was born on 20 May 1751 in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey; died in 1797 in Grayson Co (Wythe Co), Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
|