Thomas Bonnycastle1,2

#25, (1878 - 1959)
FatherCharles Green Bonnycastle1,3,2 (1844 - 1926)
MotherSarah Oliver1,3,2 (1851 - 1931)
Relationship2nd great-grandson of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847)

Family

Claudelina Waddington (1895 - 1970)
Children
  • Joyce Bonnycastle20 (1918 - 2009)
  • Gloria Doreen Bonnycastle20,21 (1920 - 1998)

Life Events

OccupationThomas Bonnycastle was a mechanic who started Bonnycastle's Taxi in Chilliwack, followed by Bonny's Taxi in Burnaby. 
BirthHe was born on 2 Sep 1878 in Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario.1,2 
BaptismHe was baptized on 1 Dec 1878 in Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario. Thomas was baptised the same day as his cousin Ernest.1 
(with Parents) 1881 CensusThomas Bonnycastle appeared on the 1881 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario with his parents. He was 2 and born in Ontario.4 
(with Parents) 1891 CensusHe appeared on the 1891 Census of Qu'Appelle, Assiniboia, Northwest Territories with his parents. He was 12, born in Ontario, father born in Ontario, mother in England, and religion Church of England.5 
(Subject) Photograph Tom, along with several family members, was in the Katepwa cricket team photo.6
The Katepwe Cricket Team
Identifed members include
Jack Bonnycastle (2nd row, 2nd from left)
Roland Barwell (2nd row, 3rd from left)
Charles Green Bonnycastle (2nd row, right side)
Carl Channing Bonnycastle (3rd row, left side)
Tom Bonnycastle (3rd row, 3rd from left)
Note: an 1898 report in the Qu'Appelle Vidette of a match between Katepwe and Indian Head lists the Katepwe team members as CG Bonnycastle, S Trask, A Vidal, W Govan, A Brinton, T Groves, J Bonnycastle, RC Barwell, T Bonnycastle, G Bonnycastle, and G Ferguson.
(with Parents) 1901 CensusThomas Bonnycastle appeared on the 1901 Census of Katepwa, Assiniboia, Northwest Territories with his parents. He was 22 and was born 2 September 1878 in Ontario.7 
Newspaper Published 2 Dec 1908 in the Chilliwack Progress.

John and Thomas Bonnycastle have returned home from a very successful season of threshing around Glenview, near High River, Alta.8
 
(Witness) Marriage Thomas Bonnycastle witnessed the marriage of his brother Carl Channing Bonnycastle and Mary Caroline Menzies on 22 Jul 1909 in the residence of bride's grandparents, Westminster Junction, British Columbia.9 
(with Parents) 1911 CensusThomas Bonnycastle appeared on the 1911 Census of Chilliwack, British Columbia with his parents. He was 32, birthdate unreadable, birthplace Ontario, occupation Engineer.10 
MarriageThomas Bonnycastle married Claudelina Waddington on 26 Apr 1915 in St. Paul's Church, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Certificate states: Thomas Bonnycastle, age 35, bachelor, religion Church of England, mechanic, residence Chilliwack, born in Campbellford, father Charles Green, mother Sarah Oliver;
Claudelina, age 20, spinster, Church of England, residence Chilliwack, born Ft William, Ontario, father Robinson Flesher Waddington, mother Ida Isadora Ryde. Witnesses were Mark Frank Topham and William Ernest Waddington.3 
Newspaper Published 6 May 1915 in the Chilliwack Progress.

A quiet wedding was solemnized on Monday last at St Paul's Church, Vancouver, when Miss Claudelina Waddington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Waddington, of Chilliwack and Thomas Bonnycastle, also of this city, were married by Rev. Harold G. King, Rector of St. Paul's, and formerly Rector of St. Paul's Church, Fort William, for many years the home of the bride's parents. The bride's father was present at the ceremony. After a short honeymoon spent at the coast, Mr. and Mrs. Bonnycastle have taken up their residence in Chilliwack.11
 
1921 CensusThomas and Lina appeared on the 1921 Census of Chilliwack, British Columbia, at Princess Avenue. They rented their wood house for $16 and the family's religion was Church of England. Thomas was 42, born in Ontario, parents born in England, and was a Mechanic working on his own account in the Auto Livery business. Lina was 25, born in Ontario, father born in England, mother in the USA. They had two children: Joyce (3) and Doreen (3/4.)12 
NoteThomas Bonnycastle was a pall-bearer at the funeral of his cousin's wife Georgina Denmark on 5 Oct 1922.13 
(Executor & Heir) WillHe was named executor and an heir in the will of his mother Sarah Bonnycastle dated 1 Jun 1928 in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Each of Sarah's children was to receive $100 annually from the sale of the farm until fully paid, and an equal share of the residue of the estate.14
Residence In 1937, Thomas lived in Chilliwack and ran a taxi company.15 
Newspaper Published 1 Feb 1939 in the Chilliwack Progress was an item noting that six drivers and a mechanic-driver had been engaged by school authorities to handle the new fleet of school buses. One of the drivers was Thomas Bonnycastle.16 
Residence-Moved Circa 1945, Thomas moved to Burnaby, British Columbia.2 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in Maud Barwell's 1953 obituary as brother Tom Bonnycastle, Vancouver.17 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in John Bonnycastle's 1955 obituary as brother Thomas, Burnaby.18 
DeathThomas died on 25 Apr 1959 in Lindross Nursing Home, Burnaby, British Columbia.
Information from death certificate: in Burnaby 14 years, BC 45 years, usual residence 6190 Selma Avenue, Burnaby, Scottish origin, married to Claudelena Waddington, born September 2 1878 in Ontario, age 80, Taxi Owner retired in 1949, spent life in this occupation, father Charles Bonnycastle, mother Sarah Oliver, both born in Ontario. The informant was his wife Claudelina Bonnycastle. Buried at Valley View Memorial Gardens in Newton.2 
BurialHe was buried on 29 Apr 1959 in Valley View Memorial Gardens, Newton, British Columbia.2 
ObituaryHis obituary was published on 29 Apr 1959 in the The Chilliwack Progress.

Pioneer Taximan Dies

     Thomas Bonnycastle, pioneer British Columbia taxi driver, Selma avenue, Burnaby, died at the age of 80. He was born in Ontario and came to Chilliwack in 1904.
     Mr. Bonnycastle operated a donkey engine in land clearing in the area and drove for Chilliwack's first taxi firm for seven years before establishing Bonnycastle's taxi in 1915. He operated the business for 30 years when he sold it and moved to Burnaby where he founded Bonny's taxi and retired only a year ago.
     Mr. Bonnycastle died Saturday in Montrose Nursing Home, the day before his 44th wedding anniversary. Among his survivors are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. W.E. Ritchie, Vancouver, and Miss Gloria Bonnycastle, at home; four grandchildren, one great grandson, two sisters and one brother.
     Rev. R.S. Faulks officiated at the service in St. John The Divine Anglican church and burial was in Valley View cemetery.19
 
Last Edited27 Jan 2022

Citations

  1. Parish Register of Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Ontario (Diocese of Toronto Archives, photocopied records), Thomas Bonnycastle baptism, 1878.
  2. Death certificate of Thomas Bonnycastle, died 25 April 1959, registered 27 April 1959 in the Province of British Columbia, Certificate #59-09-005584.
  3. Marriage certificate of Thomas Bonnycastle and Claudelina Waddington, married 26 April 1915 in the Province of British Columbia, Certificate #15-09-079045.
  4. 1881 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Northumberland East (123), Seymour Township (G-1), page 1.
  5. 1891 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. The Territories, Assiniboia East (198), Qu'Appelle (b-11), page 4 [poor image].
  6. E-mails from Bryan Campbell-Hope to Jennifer Kolthammer.
  7. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Assiniboia E (203), Katepwa (d-2), page 3, line 24.
  8. The Chilliwack Progress, 2 Dec 1908, Page 5. Image viewed at newspapers.com.
  9. Marriage certificate of Carl Channing Bonnycastle and Mary Caroline Menzies, married 22 July 1909 in the Province of British Columbia, Certificate #09-09-122398.
  10. 1911 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. British Columbia, New Westminster (11), subdistrict Chilliwack (35), Page 4.
  11. 'Waddington-Bonnycastle', Chilliwack Progress, 6 May 1915 (Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, microfilm).
  12. 1921 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. British Columbia, Fraser Valley, SD 13, Page 15.
  13. Obituary of Georgina Denmark in Chilliwack Progress, 5 October 1922, page 5 (Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, microfilm).
  14. Will of Sarah Oliver Bonnycastle of Chilliwack, 1 June 1928, proved in the Chilliwack Supreme Court, 1931 (British Columbia Archives, File #B8/1931).
  15. BC Directory.
  16. The Chilliwack Progress, 1 Feb 1939, Page 1. Image viewed at newspapers.com.
  17. Obituary of Maud Barwell in Chilliwack Progress, 10 June 1953, page 5 (Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, microfilm).
  18. Obituary of John Bonnycastle in Vancouver Sun, 29 Aug 1955.
  19. Obituary of Thomas Bonnycastle in Chilliwack Progress, 29 April 1959 (Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, microfilm).
  20. Obituary of Thomas Bonnycastle in Vancouver Sun, 25 Apr 1959.
  21. British Columbia Death Registration. Gloria Doreen Bonnycastle, 1998-006759.