Henry William John Bonnycastle1,2

#14, (24 July 1813 - 23 July 1888)

 
Henry William John Bonnycastle
1813-1888

FatherRichard Henry Bonnycastle1 b. 30 Sep 1791, d. 2 Nov 1847
MotherFrances Johnston1 b. c 1792, d. 15 Jul 1869
Henry William John Bonnycastle|b. 24 Jul 1813\nd. 23 Jul 1888|p14.htm|Richard Henry Bonnycastle|b. 30 Sep 1791\nd. 2 Nov 1847|p12.htm|Frances Johnston|b. c 1792\nd. 15 Jul 1869|p13.htm|John Bonnycastle|b. 29 Dec 1751\nd. 15 May 1821|p10.htm|Bridget Newell|b. 10 Apr 1754\nd. 19 Oct 1825|p11.htm|William Johnston|b. s 1750||Jane Home|b. s 1755||

RelationshipGrandson of John Bonnycastle.

OccupationHenry William John Bonnycastle was a lawyer, militiaman, farmer, councillor, and artist. 
BirthHe was born on 24 Jul 1813 in New Brunswick, Canada.1
 
EducationHe was educated in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.3 
EducationHe was educated in Sandhurst Military College, Woolwich, England.3,4 
Research Note Neither of these claims of education have been confirmed. 
Newspaper In the Kingston newspaper, there was a list of people with letters remaining in the Post Office at Kingston on 5th December, 1835. One rated with British Postage was for Henry Bonnycastle [I wish we could read it now!].5 
MilitaryHe was Brigade-Major at Kingston, under his father. Also was aide de camp to Col. Dundas of the 85th Regt between 1837 and 1839.3 
(Witness) Marriage Henry William John Bonnycastle witnessed the marriage of Alexander William Denmark and his future wife's sister Matilda Rowed on 11 Mar 1837 in Cobourg, Ontario.6 
EducationHenry William John Bonnycastle was educated in Bloomfield, Ontario, studied law in the office of Judge Fairfield and became an attorney.3 
Research Note There is a death cert for Daniel L Fairfield, Judge County Court, Prince Edward County in 1871, age 69. 
MarriageHe married Eleanor Mary Susan Rowed, daughter of Henry Rowed and Ann Lyall, on 12 Jan 1839 in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario.
Bible entry: "Henry William John Bonnycastle born July 24th 1813 married to Eleanor Mary Susan Rowed born November 3rd 1811 on the 12th January 1839 by the Revd Stuart, Kingston, Canada."2
Henry William John Bonnycastle & Eleanor Mary Susan Rowed
Bible record of their marriage, 1839
Newspaper Published 16 Jan 1839.
Henry W.J. Bonnycastle son of Lt Col Bonnycastle of the Royal Engineers married Eleanor Rowed daughter of the late Capt Rowed of the Royal Navy by Rev George Stuart.7
 
1851/2 CensusHenry William John Bonnycastle and Eleanor Mary Susan Rowed appeared on the 1852 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Canada West (Ontario), at Con 5, Lot 5 (300 acres), enumerated Jan 1852. The family lived in a one story frame & log home. Henry was a Farmer, born in England, religion Church of England, age next birthday 39, and was married. Eleanor was born in England, same religion, age next birthday 40. With them were their children Alexander, Frank, Richard, Charles, Rose and Harold. Eleanor's 80 year old mother Mary Rowed was enumerated immediately before them.8 
1861 CensusHenry and Helinor Bonycastle [sic] appeared on the 1861 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, at Con 5 Lot 5, enumerated 12 Feb 1861. Henry was 47 and was born in New Brunswick. Eleanor was 49 and born in England. With them were their children Francis, Charles, Richard, Rosalind and Harold. The family's religion was church of England and they lived in a one story Log house.9 
Note.A chart showing the crops raised by the Bonnycastles in 1851 and 1861 can be viewed here. 
Photograph Look here for more photos of the homestead, originally built in 1867 and now restored.10
The Bonnycastle farm house
(undated photo)
AnecdoteDoris Knox recalled that "the part of our home that Henry built has the date 1867 cut in the stone."10 
1871 CensusHenry and Ellinor Bonnycastle appeared on the 1871 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, enumerated 2 Apr 1871. Henry was 57, born in New Brunswick, Church of England, of English origins, and was a farmer. Eleanor was 59 and born in England. With them was their son Frank, his wife Elizabeth and their three children. Sons Charles and Harold were also enumerated in their household but there is a marginal notation that I can't make out. Their children Charles Green and Harold John were living with them.11 
1881 CensusHenry and Eleanor Bonnycastle appeared on the 1881 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, enumerated 4 Apr 1881. Henry was 67, born in New Brunswick, religion Church of England, English origin, and a Farmer. Eleanor was 69 and born in England. With them was their son Frank, his wife, and their 6 children. Enumerated next to them were sons Richard and Charles and their children. That's 16 grandchildren on that one page!.12 
Photograph10
Henry & Eleanor Bonnycastle
undated photo
Burial.Henry William John Bonnycastle was buried on 23 Jul 1888 in Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario. The church burial register recorded Henry as a yeoman, aged 75, of Campbellford. Doris Knox recalled that the middle of a sod farm field on Concession 5 Lot 5 of Seymour Township is the old burying ground for several of the Bonnycastle family. [The exact location of the grave has not yet been found]13,10,14 

Family

Eleanor Mary Susan Rowed b. 3 Nov 1811, d. 6 Feb 1891
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 Edited13 Mar 2010

Citations:

  1. Letters from Doris Knox, Ontario, to J Kolthammer, dated early 1990s "letter, 17 Apr 1991 (quoting a bible)."
  2. Photocopied page of Bonnycastle/Rowed marriage from a family Bible (received from Doris Knox, provenance unknown).
  3. Evelyn Luttrell, Bonnycastle Family Tree, undated but likely circa 1950.
  4. Papers and scrapbook of Lyall Bonnycastle Rudd Evans.
  5. The Kingston Chronicle and Gazette, digital image viewed on PaperofRecord.com, Saturday, December 12, 1835, page 4.
  6. Rootsweb Mailing List, archived online at http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/, Upper-Canada-L, 26 Jan 2001.
  7. The Kingston Chronicle and Gazette, digital image viewed on PaperofRecord.com, 16 Jan 1839, Page 3 Column 2 & 29 Jan 1839, Page 3 Column 2.
  8. Online image of the 1851 Census for Canada (Library and Archives Canada, http://www.collectionscanada.ca/02/020122_e.html), Canada West, Northumberland (24), Seymour (228), Part 1.
  9. Online image of the 1861 Census for Canada (viewed at Ancestry.com), Canada West, Northumberland County, Seymour township (1), page 17.
  10. Letters from Doris Knox, Ontario, to J Kolthammer, dated early 1990s.
  11. Online image of the 1871 Census for Canada (viewed at Ancestry.com), Ontario, Northumberland East (55), Seymour (g-2), page 52.
  12. Online image of the 1881 Census for Canada (viewed at Ancestry.com), Ontario, Northumberland East (123), Seymour Township (G-1), page 1.
  13. Parish Register of Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Ontario (Diocese of Toronto Archives, photocopied records), Henry Bonnycastle burial, 1888.
  14. Index of monumental inscriptions in the County of Northumberland County, Ontario, computerized index at Cobourg library.
  15. Province of Ontario Marriage Registers: Northumberland County Marriage Register, p. 43; returns from the Methodist Episcopal Church, Family History Library.
  16. Death certificate registered in the Province of Ontario "Richard Henry Bonnycastle, #022302-11."
  17. Death certificate of Charles Green Bonnycastle, died 12 October 1926, registered 14 October 1926 in the Province of British Columbia, Certificate #26-09-371001.
  18. 1861 Census for Ontario "Northumberland County, Seymour Township."
  19. Marriage Registrations of Ontario, 1857-1922 (http://www.ancestry.com, images online) "Bonnycastle/Skinner, #007483-78."
  20. Death certificate registered in the Province of British Columbia "Harold John Bonnycastle, #17-09-095431."
Close