Joseph Bonham

Jacob married Mary "Polly" Warford about 1748 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania. Mary was born in 1730 in Washington Co, Maryland; died in 1795 in Chester, Delaware Co, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He purchased a farm adjoining his father-in-law, Thomas Runyon, in 1722. On the 1722 tax list, he was listed as owning 5 horses and/or cattle and 150 acres of land in Hopewell Township.
On 27 Jan 1733/4 Hezekiah Bonham, Jr., witnessed the will of Charles Stephens of Amwell Township, NJ.
By 1735 he and his brother Nehemiah fought and lost a court battle over repayment of land sold by agents of Coxe, Sr. They left Hopewell after refusing to pay a second time for land they had already purchased.

In the book "Bonham and Related Family Lines" by Howard E. Bonham 1996, page 232, he quotes from NJ Archives, Vol. XXX page 228: "April 6, 1747.
Int. probate of Richard Heath of Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co. Inventory made by Jno. Coats and Peter Schmuck. Mary Heath of Bethlehem posted bond as administratrix, Apr. 10, 1747. Daniel Ketcham, of same place, yeoman, surety. Witnesses: William Peirson, Joshua Howell, Mary Heath (a Quaker). Account of Mary Park, formerly Mary Heath, administratrix of the estate made 16 May 1757, wherein she mentions Hezekiah Bonham, Samuel Bonham and many others.
NOTE: (This account does not list Aaron and Daniel)
___________
Death Source: (from PKKratz@aol.com (Pat)

Hezekiah* married Martha* Runyon about 1722 in Hopewell Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey. Martha* (daughter of Thomas* Runyon and Martha* Dunn) was born about 1706; died after 1753. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Episcopal clergyman

Notes:

It it believed that he was born during his father's migration from Massachusetts to New Jersey. According to Jack D. Ross, Hezekiah was born in Barnstable Township, Barnstable, Maryland. At the death of his father he was made executor of thill along with his mother, although he was not of legal age. Thus, he surely had the confidence and respect of his father.
He was accepted as a townsman of Piscataway 2 Jan 1687/8 apparently on coming of age. He married in 1690 Mary Dunn, daughter of Hugh Dunn and Elizabeth Drake, one of the immigrant families of Mass. Hugh Dunn mentioned Hezekiah in his will. ry was born 19 Jan 1671 in Piscataway. They had four children: Mary, Samuel, Hannah and Sarah, their births being preserved in the Piscataway records." Family tradition indicates that he was an Episcopal clergyman. He was a farmer by trade.
During the period 1690 to 1699 there were numerous land transfers made by Hezekiah and his wife Mary, including receiving a patent for land at Piscataway in 1695. "Bonham's lot," also "Bonham's creeks," and "Nicholas Bonham's land" are spn of in different conveyances.
On 1 May 1697 Hezekiah Bonham received confirmation of a grant of 182 acres "in right of his late father Hezekiah Bonham, Thomas Ffarnewoorth and Daniel Lippington." Hezekiah Bonham and wife Mary later sold two of these tracts.
On 9 Oct 1697 Hezekiah Bonham of Piscataway and wife Mary sold land in Piscataway part of which was the "remainder of land held by Bonham in the right of Daniel Lippentone"
Hezekiah and wife Mary sold further land in Piscataway to Edward Slater on 27 Oct 1698. (Lippentone and Slater were brother-in-laws).
One Sunday in about 1697 or 1698 Hezekiah, who was credited with being a religious man and one of influence in the church, was found working by the very religious Edmund Dunham, his brother-in-law. Hezekiah's sister Mary had married Edmund Dm in 1681. Mr. Dunham was the first white child born in Piscataway township, and his father, Benjajah Dunham, is said to have settled here years before any other Englishmen arrived. Oliver B. Leonard in writing on "Piscataway Planters" says "Edmund Dunham grew to be an influential member of society, and became a lay preacher, helping to mold the tender consciences and direct the religiously inclined of the pioneer community." At that time Edmund was pastor of the Baptist Church of Piscataway. Because Edmund found Hezekiah working on Sunday he took him to account. To quote Morgan Edwards on the incident:
"Bonham put Dunham to prove that the first day of the week was holy by divine institution. How the debate was carried on is not known; but it is known that the above attack was the thing which set Mr. Dunham to study the subject; and that cing the seventh day of the week was the effect. In a short time after 17 people sided with Mr. Dunham which opened a prospect of having a Sabbatarian church in Piscataway; to prepare for it Mr. Dunham went to Westerly, (RI) and there received ordination at the hands of Rev. William Gibbons; and in 1705 he and his party were formed into a church," the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Piscataway.
Hezekiah was not among the organizers. He had moved to Hunterdon in West Jersey in about 1698 as he appears in no record of any kind in Piscataway after 1698, except the sale of further land in Piscataway to Edward Slater on 27 Oct 1698. (Lintone and Slater were brother-in-laws). Evidently the property was sold after their move since on 18 March 1698/9 he appears in a list of inhabitants of Maidenhead when Gov. Jeremiah Basse and others, as agents, sold 100 acres to the inhabitants of Maidenhead for 5 shillings, for a meeting house, school and burial ground, thus indicating that he had an interest in that section of New Jersey.
(my note: there is no evidence of this 2nd marriage and 15 children)
Mary Dunn died Nov 7, 1699 and he remarried in 1700 in Hunterdon Co. By his second wife he had 15 more children, some thirteen of whom bore names ending in the Biblical "iah". Hence they are called the"iah" BONHAMS. These children were Heze, Jr.; Nehemiah; Zachariah; Zedekiah; Amariah; Temperance; Malachiah; Amaziah; Jeremiah; Ephraim; Josiah; Isaiah; Obadiah; Zephamia; and Uriah.
On 28 Aug 1701 he is mentioned as an abutter in Middlesex Co,; on 26 Aug 1703 he was among those who consented to an agreement between Dr. Daniel Coxe, Esq. and Thomas Revell, on behalf of purchasers of land in Maidenhead and Hopewell Townsh
On 1 Jan 1712/3 he contributed money to organize a new county (in this document he is Hezekiah Bonham, Sr., indicating that a younger Hezekiah, not necessarily his son, was in the town).
On 24 Nov 1722 he witnessed the will of Jonathan Stout of Hopewell Township.
In 1723 he was a judge in Hunterdon Co.
On 6 Nov 1730 his original signature appears with others on an agreement to sell the town lot to the highest bidder.
On 21 April 1732 his bond is mentioned in the codicil to the will of Daniel Howell of Trenton.
On 9 July 1738 his signature appears on the will of Henry Merson, the last known recording of his name. The exact date of his death and burial place are unknown.
____________________
There is some debate as to the identity of his second wife. According to "Mayflower Families through Five Generations," Vol 4, p 37, "Hezekiah Bonham does not appear in the Hunterdon Co. court records but is mentioned in the following document, none of which mention a second wife or any other children." It also states "This claim may have originated in misinterpretation of the will of Samuel Hunt of Maidenhead, Hunterdon Co, dated 15 Jan 1717/8 in which he decreed that his real estate was to be partititioned among Samuel Hunt's heirs by son Samuel, by Hezekiah Bonham, and by John Prince."
According to "The Bonham Family" by Samuel J. Bonham, pg 9, she was Ann Hunt, daughter of Ralph or Samuel Hunt. This theory is derived from the will of Samuel Hunt, New Jersey Archives, Vol. 21, p 248.
According to "Bonham and Related Family Lines" by H. E. Bonham 1996, says on page 229, that Hezekiah's second wife was Mary Bishop, daughter of David & Mary (Alger) Bishop according to the will of David Bishop 07 Jan 1684 where he mentions a Hezekiah Bonham married to his daughter Mary. However, in 1684 Hezekiah, son of Nicholas, was 17 years old and it was four years later that he married Mary Dunn in 1690. There must have been another Hezekiah Bonham; although, according to references, there was no evidence of another Hezekiah Bonham.

Hezekiah* married Ann Hunt, (2nd wife?) in 1700 in Maidenhead, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey. Ann (daughter of Samuel Hunt and Mary Burroughs) was born in 1678 in Maidenhead, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey; died after 1724. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Some say 2nd wife was mary Bishop, daughter of David & Mary (Alger) Bishop, according to the will of David Bishop 7 January 1684 (source: "Bonham & Related Family Lines" by H.E. Bonham 1996, p 229.

Other sources say his Hezekiah's second wife was Ann Hunt, daughter of Ralph or Samuel Hunt, and that they were married in 1699 in Maidenhead, New Jersey.
The children listed are listed as the children of Hezekiah and Ann Hunt.

From Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Vol 4, p 38:
*Note: No evidence found to support Monette's claim that Hezekiah had second wife Ann Hunt. The claim may have originated in misinterpretation of the will of Samuel Hunt of Maidenhead, Hunterdon Co, dated 15 Jan 1717/8 in which he decreed tht his real estate was to be partitioned among Samuel Hunt's heirs by son Samuel, by Hezekiah Bonham, and by John Prince.
Monette lists the following as children of Hezekiah Bonham and his unproven 2nd wife Ann Hunt: Hezekiah, Nehemiah, Zachariah, Zedekiah, Amariah, Temperence, Malachiah, Amaziah, Ephraim, Jeremiah, Josiah, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Uriah & Obadiah.
(The ancestors of Ann Hunt were supplied by Foxlover@aol.com of Salt Lake City.)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Property: 18 Mar 1698, Piscataway, Middlesex Co, New Jersey
• Property: 1708, Piscataway Twp, Middlesex Co, New Jersey
• Other-Begin: 1722, Hopewell, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey
• Will: 16 Apr 1753, Hopewell Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey

Notes:

Thomas Runyon was a son of Vincent Rongnion (Runyon), the Huguenot immigrant, and was born about 1673 in the Province of New Jersey, which the English had taken from the Dutch in 1664 as a part of New Netherland.1 (Nevertheless, the Dutch temporarily recovered New Netherland, including New Jersey, in 1673 until on February 9, 1673 (1674 N. S.) under the Treaty of Westminster, all Dutch territory in North America was permanently ceded to the English.) It is reasonably certain that Thomas Runyon married Martha Dunn about 1698, probably in Piscataway, Middlesex County, East Jersey Province. Even so, on March 18, 1698 (1699 N. S.), Thomas and his brother, John, with a number of others, signed a deed to provide for a church, cemetery, and school in Maidenhead and Hopewell Townships in Burlington County in the West Jersey Province.2 Indeed, by 1700 Thomas and Martha Runyon had evidently moved to Hopewell Township and on March 12, 1712 (1713 N. S.), they reportedly purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land from Daniel Coxe for fifty pounds. This parcel lay along Titus Mill Road just below the village of Hopewell and was described in the deed as being next to William Hixson, by Stoney Brook, and next to Captain Hunt. The deed was witnessed by J. Basse, Edward Kemp, and Alex Lockhart. Subsequently, at a town meeting for Hopewell Township held on March 11, 1728 (1729 N. S.), Thomas Rugnion (Runyon) was elected as one of the overseers of Rodgers Road. Likewise, on October 31, 1732, a town meeting was held at the house of Thomas Runion (Runyon) at which it was decided to levy sixteen pounds for relief of the poor and to direct Thomas Reed and Joseph Reeder to erect a public pound during the following month of November. Concomitantly, on March 4, 1732 (1733 N. S.), Thomas Runyon was listed as one of the debtors to the estate of John Severns. Moreover, it is known that Thomas and Martha Runyon were members of the Old School Baptist Church both having joined by 1730. Thomas made his will on October 30, 1738; however, the will was not proved until April 16, 1753, which suggests that he survived until that year.3,4
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Runyon_Thomas.htm


Property:
on March 18, 1698 (1699 N. S.), Thomas and his brother, John, with a number of others, signed a deed to provide for a church, cemetery, and school in Maidenhead and Hopewell Townships in Burlington County in the West Jersey Province.

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. 626.
"VIII. THOMAS, b. 1673 or 1678, first entered in the land records, as "Tho; Runion," 1698-9, (ARCHIVES, Vol. XXI, p. 518), with his brother, John Runyon. He m. Martha Dunn, b. July 13, 1681, d. after 1738, daughter of Hugh Dunn and Elizabeth Drake, (supra). Lived in Hunterdon Co., N.J."


http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Runyon_Thomas.htm



Property:
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. 551-5.
"Ralph Ege in Pioneers of Old Hopewell, p. 22, stated 'Thomas Runyan, doubtless a son of Vincent, of Piscataway Township, Middlesex Co., NJ, purchased in 1708, the farm on which Enoch A. Titus now resides, on the west side of Stony Brook, two miles south of our borough, where he lived many years and reared a family among whom were Vincent, Aaron, Ephraim and others.'
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Runyon_Thomas.htm

Will:
Will dated: October 30, 1738
Will proved: April 16, 1753
"In The name of God Amen.
The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Runyon of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon and Province of West Jersey.
Being in Perfect Health and memory at the time of the making hereof Blessed be God for it But calling to mind the Mortality of man do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (?....)
First I give and Bequeath my Soul to God that gave it and my Body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named.
And as touching my temporal estate where with it have pleased God to bless me with all I give and bequeath in manner and form following:
First it is my will and mind that all my just Debts and funeral charges be paid and (..........?) out of my (......?) all Estate and after such payments be nade the One-half of what remains of my moveable Estate I give and bequeath to Martha Runyon my Good and Loving Wife in and or for her maintenance during the time of her life and whole Benefit of the plantation during the time of her widowhood but if she see cause to marry that then she shall have no further hold in my possession but remove forthwith.
And as touching my Land wherewith I now possessed will in my life time it is my will and mind that my wife should have the liberty to sell the plantation as she sees cause and divide it equally amongst our children only wife to have twelve shillings more than the rest or to stay upon it during her widowhood which she sees cause.
And one-half of my moveable estate. It is my will and mind should be equally divided amongst my children.
And lastly I do appoint my true and loving wife and my two elder sons Vinson and Thomas Runyan to be the Executors of this my last will and testament and no other. Ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament and no other, In Witness hereunto I have set my hand and my seal the thirtieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty eight-----------1738.
/s/Thomas hisXmark Runyon Witnesses: /s/Josiah Furman /s/Elizabeth herXmark Furman /s/Roger Woolverton

Josiah Furman and Elizabeth Furman two of the witnesses of the within Will being sworn on the Holy ...... of Almighty God did severally depose that the said Thomas Runyon the testator within named sign and seal the same and heard him publicly pronounce and declare the within imprissis to be his last will & testament and that as the doing thereof the said testator was of sound and dispossing mind & memory as far as the said deponents know and as they verily believe and that Roger Woolverton the other subscribing witness was present and signed his name as Witness to the said will together with the said deponents in the presence of the said Testator.
Sworn April 16th 1753 /s/Josiah Furman /s/Elizabeth herXmark Furman

Martha Runyon, Vinson Runyon & Thomas Runyon, Executors in this will and testament named being sworn on the Holy Bible of Almighty God did depose that the within Instriment contains the last Will and Testament of Thomas Runyon the testator therein named so far as they know and as they verily believe and that they will and truly perform the same by paying first the Debts of the said deceased and then Legacies the said Testator specified ...."
/s/Thomas Runyon /s/Vincent Runyon /s/Martha herXmark Runyon

"Final disbursements by the Executors were made to the Legatees and debts paid as follows:

Surrogate (?) paid by cash 2 pounds 10 shillings 0 pence
Jos. Reed, " " " 1 " 10 " 6 "
Jonah Beaks, " " " 1 " 18 " 0 "
Josiah Ellis, " " " 0 " 7 " 0 "
Ralph Hart, " " " 0 " 12 " 0 "
John Parker, " " " 0 " 5 " 2 "
Jos. Runion, " " " 1 " 0 " 0 "
Henry Wolsey, " " " 0 " 18 " 2 "
Timothy Smith, " " " 0 " 7 " 6 "
Wilson Hunt, " " " 0 " 7 " 6 "
Expenses at Trenton, pd. cash 0 " 5 " 10 "
Thomas Runyan, paid by cash 0 " 12 " 0 "
Edw'd Borrows, " " " 0 " 10 " 0 "
Aron Runion, " " " 27 " 17 " 07 "
Corn. Anderson, " " " 27 " 17 " 07 "
" " " " " 6 " 18 " 2 "
Ephraim Runyan, " " " 27 " 17 " 07 "
Hezekian Bonham, " " " 27 " 17 " 07 "
Jos. Runyan, " " " 27 " 17 " 07 "
Martha Runyan, " " " 194 " 19 " 03 "
Tho's Runyan, " " " 27 " 17 " 07 "
Vincent Runyan, " " " 27 " 17 " 07 "
The clerk, " " " 0 " 5 " 0 "
Total disbursements: 408 pounds, 5 shillings, & 5 pence" (Thomas Runyon of Hunterdon County; Account number 338.. (cited op. cit. (H. E. Bonham): pgs. 552-5.))
back to bio.

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. 277.
Oct. 30, 1738. "Runyon, Thomas, of Hopewell Hunterdon Co.; will of Wife, Martha. Children---only Vinson and Thomas spoken of by name and they with the wife, Martha, to be Executors. Witnesses---Josiah Furman, Elizabeth Furman, Roger Woolverton. Proved April 16, 1753."
Mar. 20, 1753. "Inventory, £402.2.8, incl. bills and bonds, £305.13.6; made by Wilson Hunt and Timothy Smith."
Nov. 12, 1753. "Account by the Executors."
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Runyon_Thomas.htm


Died:
The church records of Old School Baptist Church report that both Thomas and Martha are deceased by 1749, however, we believe that is in error. We know that Thomas made his will 30 Oct 1749, but it was not executed until 16 Apr 1753 - 15 years later - wherein he names his wife Martha as executor with sons, Vinson [Vincent] and Thomas, [Jr.]." Actually, this only proves that Martha Runyon was alive.
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Runyon_Thomas.htm

Thomas* married Martha* Dunn in 1698 in Piscataway Twp, Middlesex Co, New Jersey. Martha* (daughter of Hugh Dunn, (Immigrant) and Elizabeth Drake, (immigrant)) was born on 13 Jul 1681 in Piscataway Twp, Middlesex Co, New Jersey; died in 1738 in Hopewell Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]