Frances Johnston1

#13, (circa 1792 - 15 July 1869)
FatherWilliam Johnston1 b. s 1750
MotherJane Home2 b. s 1755
Frances Johnston|b. c 1792\nd. 15 Jul 1869|p13.htm|William Johnston|b. s 1750||Jane Home|b. s 1755||||||||David Home|b. 25 Jun 1711\nd. 21 Aug 1779|||||
BirthFrances Johnston was born circa 1792 in Scotland.3,4
 
Residence In 1812, Frances Johnston lived in St Andrews parish [part of Edinburgh].1 
MarriageShe married Richard Henry Bonnycastle, son of John Bonnycastle and Bridget Newell, on 6 Aug 1812 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.
The parish register reads: "Richard Henry Bonnycastle Esq. and Miss Frances Johnston, St. Andrews Parish, Daughter of Capn Willm Johnston Edinr."1
Marriage record of Richard Henry Bonnycastle & Frances Johnston
Edinburgh parish church register
Newspaper Published 14 Aug 1812 in the Edinburgh Advertiser.
Marriages - At Edinburgh, Richard Henry Bonnycastle, Esq; of the Royal Marines [sic], to Frances, second daughter of Capt. Wm Johnson.5
 
Newspaper Published 15 Aug 1812 in the Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh)
Married - On the 7th current, by special licence, by the Right Reverend Bishop Sandford, Richard Henry Bonnycastle, Esq. of the Royal engineers, to Frances, second daughter of Captain William Johnston of this place.6
 
Newspaper Published 19 Aug 1812 in the Aberdeen Journal
Married - By special licence, by the Right Rev. Bishop Sandford, Richard Henry Bonnycastle, Esq. of the royal engineers, to Frances, second daughter of Captain William Johnston of this place.7
 
Anecdote"Frances, Lady, Bonnycastle, the second daughter and only surviving child of Capt. Wm. Johnston and Jane Hume of North Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, is extremely well connected." [source unknown]8 
(Son) BirthSon Henry William John was born on 24 Jul 1813 in New Brunswick, Canada.9 
(Son) BirthSon William Henry John was born on 27 Jul 1815 in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada.10 
(Dtr) BirthDaughter Jane Hume was born on 10 Jun 1817 in France.11 
(Son) BirthSon John was born on 16 Jun 1819 in Island Bridge, Ireland. He died at the age of three months.2 
(Son) BirthSon Charles was born on 31 Aug 1820 in Pigeon House Fort, Dublin, Ireland.2 
(Son died) DeathSon Charles died 25 Jan 1822 in Ireland.2 
(Dtr) BirthDaughter Frances was born on 27 Jun 1822 in Island Bridge, Ireland.2 
(Dtr died) DeathDaughter Jane died 29 Jul 1822 in Ireland.2 
(Dtr) BirthDaughter Charlotte was born on 21 May 1824 in England.12,3 
(Son died) DeathSon William Henry John died 16 Aug 1824 in Kent, England. He was 9 years old.2 
(Son) BirthSon Murray was born on 9 Jul 1825 in Plumstead, Kent. He died in Plumstead at the age of eleven months.13 
Passenger ListThe family was listed on a manifest dated 20 Sep 1826 for the bark Vibilia which left London 31 July under the command of Master Corbitt and arrived at Quebec with Colonel Figg, Royal Engineers & lady & children and Captain Bonnycastle, Royal Engineers & lady & children on board. Cargo included stores and bricks consigned to the Government.14 
(Dtr died) DeathDaughter Frances died 28 Nov 1826 in Ontario.2 
(Dtr) BirthDaughter Henrietta was born on 10 Jul 1827 in Kingston, Ontario.2 
(Dtr) BirthDaughter Catharine Anne was born on 18 Dec 1829 in Kingston.2 
Newspaper
Fancy ball given by Hon. Mrs. Byng on April 1st [1830]

Captain Bonnycastle, represented 1st a Magician, and afterwards Earl of Sussex, accompanied by Mrs Bonnycastle, in the most superb dress, we ever beheld; 'twas indeed truly magnificent.
The whole scene was like one of fairyland, most brilliant and imposing; the splendour of the spectacle was much increased by numerous uniforms and regimentals.
 
(Dtr) BirthDaughter Georgiana was born on 19 Jul 1832 in Kingston. She died in York (now Toronto) in August 1833.2 
(Dtr) BirthDaughter Louisa was born on 11 Nov 1833 in Ontario.2 
(Heir) WillFrances was named an heir in the will of her husband Richard Henry Bonnycastle dated 17 Jul 1837 in London. She was the sole heir and upon her death the estate was to be divided amongst their four daughters.15
(Dtr died) DeathDaughter Catharine died 27 Jun 1845 in York, Ontario.2 
(Widowed) DeathHer husband Richard died on 2 Nov 1847.4 
1851 CensusFrances Bonnycastle appeared on the 1851 Census of St Heliers, Jersey, at 2 Drayton Place, enumerated 30 Mar 1851. She was a widow, age 50, and born in Scotland. Her children Charlotte, Henrietta and Louisa were living with her, along with one house servant.3 
1851/2 CensusLady Bonnycastle and her daughters Charlotte, Henrietta, and Louisa appeared on the 1852 Census of Quebec City, Quebec, enumerated 12 Jan 1852. They lived in a 3 story brick house and employed two Irish Catholic servants. Lady Bonnycastle was age 50 [sic], born in Scotland, widowed, and belonged to the Church of England.16 
Residence In 1857, Frances Johnston lived in Church Street, St Catharines, Lincoln County, Ontario, and was listed as "Lady Bonnycastle", widow, in the directory.17 
(Dtr died) DeathDaughter Charlotte died circa Apr 1860 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York.18 
1861 CensusLady Frances Bonnycastle appeared on the 1861 Census of Kingston City, Frontenac County, Canada West, at S. Johnson St near Bagot, enumerated 1861. She was 60, female, widowed, born in Scotland, religion Church of England; with 9 people recorded as family members:
Bonnycastle, L., 21, female, married, b. Upper Canada, CE
Dale, A., 28, male, married, b. England, CE, occupation gentleman
Dale, H., 28, female, married, b. Upper Canada, CE
Dale, F.E., 5, female, single, b. UC, CE
Dale, R.T.H., 4, female, single, b. UC, CE
Dale, H.A., 2, female, single, b. UC, CE
Dale, L.E., 1, female, single, b. UC, CE
Thompson, M., 21, female, single, b. US, CE
Thompson, G., 16, female, single, b. US, CE.19,20 
Newspaper. In the fall of 1864, the Kingston house in which Lady Bonnycastle was dwelling was put up for sale. Here is the newspaper ad.21
Kingston Daily News, 1 October 1864
Burial.Frances Bonnycastle was buried on 15 Jul 1869 in St George's Cathedral, Kingston, Ontario. The register noted that she was the widow of Sir Richd Bonnycastle R Engineers, and was age 76, of Kingston.4
Frances Bonnycastle
Burial register entry

Family

Richard Henry Bonnycastle b. 30 Sep 1791, d. 2 Nov 1847
Children
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847)
Ancestors of Hope Lyall Rudd (Jen's line)
Ancestors of Dorothy Kent Bonnycastle (John's line)
Ancestors of Allan Lorne Bonnycastle (Dick's line)
Timeline of RH & Frances & Their Children
Last Edited3 Sep 2010

Citations:

  1. Microfilm of the Marriage Register of Edinburgh, Midlothian, 1858-1863 (Family History Library, 993527), Bonnycastle/Johnston marriage, 1812.
  2. Letters from Doris Knox, Ontario, to J Kolthammer, dated early 1990s.
  3. Online image of the 1851 Census for England & Wales (Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.co.uk), HO107/2527 folio 858.
  4. Burial Register of St George's Cathedral, Kingston.
  5. Ancestry.com databases, online www.ancestry.com, online image from the Edinburgh Advertiser.
  6. Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), Saturday, August 15, 1812; Issue 14143. image online at 19th Century British Library Newspapers, a Gale digital collection.
  7. The Aberdeen (Scotland) Journal. image online at 19th Century British Library Newspapers, a Gale digital collection.
  8. Letters from Doris Knox, Ontario, to J Kolthammer, dated early 1990s "letter, November 1992."
  9. Letters from Doris Knox, Ontario, to J Kolthammer, dated early 1990s "letter, 17 Apr 1991 (quoting a bible)."
  10. Terrence M. Punch, Nova Scotia Vital Statistics from Newspapers, 1813-1822 (Halifax: Genealogical Committee of the Nova Scotia Historical Society, 1978), Acadian Recorder, Sat 26 Aug 1815.
  11. Microfilm of the Bishop's Transcripts of St Mary Woolwich, Kent, 1813-1818 (Family History Library, 307732).
  12. Microfilm of the Bishop's transcripts of Plumstead, Kent, 1744-1853 (Family History Library, 1469482), film#1469482 contains Baptisms and burials 1820-1853 Marriages 1820-1836, Charlotte Bonnycastle baptism, 1825.
  13. Microfilm of the Bishop's transcripts of Plumstead, Kent, 1744-1853 (Family History Library, 1469482), film#1469482 contains Baptisms and burials 1820-1853 Marriages 1820-1836, Murray Bonnycastle baptism, 1825.
  14. Website The Ships List (www.theshipslist.com).
  15. Will and Administration of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle, Captain in the Corps of Royal Engineers, 17 July 1837, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 17 March 1848 (Family History Library, Film #0156663).
  16. Online image of the 1851/2 Census for Canada (Library and Archives Canada, http://www.collectionscanada.ca/02/020122_e.html), District 38, subdistrict 558, household 263.
  17. Wilson, Directory of The Province of Ontario 1857 (Lambertville NJ: Hunterdon House, 1987).
  18. Died., St. Catharine Constitutional, Ontario, 12 April 1860, page 3.
  19. Online image of the 1861 Census for Canada (viewed at Ancestry.com), Canada West, Frontenac County, Kingston, return #547 [the names are so faint as to be barely legible, the data is clear, and the return was signed by Frances Bonnycastle].
  20. 1861 Census for Ontario "rebuilt by Russ Walker."
  21. The Kingston Daily News, 1 October 1864, page 3. digital image viewed on PaperofRecord.com.
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