William Robinson Bonnycastle1,2

#155, (1874 - 1951)
FatherJohn Charles Bonnycastle1 (c 1827 - 1884)
MotherHarriet Everett2 (1840 - 1906)
RelationshipGreat-grandson of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Charles Bonnycastle (1796-1840)

Family

Ida Jane Henderson (1890 - 1960)
Children

Life Events

OccupationWilliam Robinson Bonnycastle was a a hydrological engineer, and a mountain in British Columbia is named after him.1 
BirthHe was born on 18 Oct 1874 in Kentucky.1,2 
(with Parents) 1880 CensusWilliam R Bonnycastle appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Two Mile House Pct, Jefferson County, Kentucky, with his parents. He was 5 years old and born in Kentucky.3 
EducationHe was educated at Washington & Lee to be a Civil Engineer, then completed his Masters in Hydrology at MIT.1 
1900 CensusWilliam R Bonnycastle appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Florence, Fremont County, Colorado, at Santa Fe Avenue, enumerated 15 Jun 1900. He was 27, single, born in October 1872 in Kentucky, father born in Virginia and mother in Kentucky. He was an electrical engineer boarding at a hotel. The other boarders were a capitalist, a mining engineer, 2 constructing engineers, a mill superintendent, and accountant, and an assayer.4 
ImmigrationHe immigrated to Canada circa 1903.1 
Photograph Here is a photo of W R with his brother Arthur and brother-in-law Charles White.5
William Robinson Bonnycastle, his brother Arthur, and (standing) their brother-in-law Charles White
Louisville, c1895
MarriageHe married Ida Jane Henderson, daughter of Charles A Henderson and Rosina (-?-), on 28 Apr 1908 in Manhattan, New York. They met at MIT where he was completing his degree in Engineering. Information from the marriage index: William Robinson Bonnycastle, parents John C Bonnycastle & Harriet Everett; Ida Jane Henderson, parents Chas A Henderson & Louisa Wiess [sic].1,6 
1921 CensusWilliam R and Ida Janet [sic] appeared on the 1921 Census of Vancouver, British Columbia, at 1950 Haro Street. They rented their 6-room wooden house for $65. William was 45, born in the USA, parents born in the USA, immigrated in 1907, naturalized in 1918. English origin. He was an engineer in the electric field, earning $2000. Ida was 31, born in Quebec, father born in USA, mother in Ireland, Scotch origin. They had one daughter, Mason Ann (9) and their religion was Church of England.7 
Residence In 1937, William Robinson Bonnycastle lived in 2535 SW Marine, Vancouver, British Columbia, The directory read: "Wm R (Ida) elec eng h 2535 SW Marine."8 
Residence In 1945, William Robinson Bonnycastle lived in 101-1950 Robson, Vancouver, British Columbia, The directory read: "Wm R (Ida) eng h[ome]."8 
Photograph Mount Bonnycastle was named after W.R. Bonnycastle who was the engineer-in-charge of water power surveys in the area in 1913-14.9
Indian Arm of Burrard Inlet, near Vancouver, BC.
Mount Bonnycastle (1741 metres or 5712 feet) can be seen on the horizon
DeathWilliam died on 7 Mar 1951 in Riverside, California.10,11
 
ObituaryHis obituary was published on 11 Mar 1951.
Bonnycastle, William R., in Riverside, Cal., March 7, age 76 years. Services Monday at Preston Colonial Chapel, Riverside.10
 
BurialHe was buried on 12 Jun 1951 in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky.
Inscription on gravestone:
William Robinson Bonnycastle / 1874 - 1951.12,13
William Robinson Bonnycastle
1874 - 1951
Cave Hill Cemetery
Last Edited27 Mar 2015

Citations

  1. Letters from William Robinson (Rob) Bonnycastle, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to J Kolthammer, dated beginning in 1990.
  2. California Death Index, 1940-1997, compiled by State of California, Sacramento. Text index at Ancestry and FamilySearch.
  3. Online image of the 1880 Federal Census for United States (Heritage Quest, www.heritagequestonline.com), Kentucky, Jefferson County, Two Mile House, Roll 421, Page 138.
  4. Online image of the 1900 Federal Census for United States (Heritage Quest, www.heritagequest.com), Colorado, Fremont County, 2-WD Florence, Roll 123, Page 170.
  5. E-mails from Deirdre Bonnycastle to J Kolthammer.
  6. New York Department of Health Division of Vital Statistics. Indexes to New York Marriages, 1866-1937. Text index online at familysearch.org, William Robinson Bonnycastle & Ida Jane Henderson, 1908.
  7. 1921 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. British Columbia, Vancouver Center, SD 34 - Ward 1, Page 6.
  8. BC Directory.
  9. Photo credit: Wayne Weber.
  10. Ancestry.com databases, Historical Newspaper Database. Image from Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar 1951. William R Bonnycastle Obituary.
  11. California Death Index, 1940-1997, compiled by State of California, Sacramento. Text index at Ancestry and FamilySearch. age 76.
  12. Burial Database for Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky, online http://www.cavehillcemetery.com, William Robinson Bonnycastle was buried in Section H, Lot 26, grave 3.
  13. Website Find A Grave. William Robinson Bonnycastle, image of gravestone.