Alexander Bonnycastle1

#30, (1839 - 1903)
FatherHenry William John Bonnycastle1 (1813 - 1888)
MotherEleanor Mary Susan Rowed1 (1811 - 1891)
RelationshipGreat-grandson of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847)

Family

Mary Roblin (c 1849 - b 1901)
Children

Life Events

OccupationAlexander Bonnycastle was a Gentleman (1877-1891), grain buyer (1901), clerk (1903), yeoman (1903.) 
BirthHe was born on 21 Nov 1839 in Seymour, Northumberland County, Ontario.2,3 
(with Parents) 1842 CensusAlexander appeared on the 1842 Census of Seymour, District of Newcastle, Upper Canada with his parents. Only the head of household was named but there were two males under the age of 5. They would be brothers Alexander and Francis Edward.4 
(with Parents) 1851/2 CensusAlexander Bonnycastle appeared on the 1852 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Canada West with his parents. He was born in Canada and was to be 13 on his next birthday.1 
MarriageHe married Mary Roblin.5
 
Note.You can find online a photo and description of the residence which was built for Alexander about 1870. It was a two-storey Ontario Gothic style red brick building and is now featured on a walking tour of historic Campbellford homes. 
1871 CensusAlex and Minetta Bonnycastle appeared on the 1871 Census of Thurlow Township, Hastings County, Ontario, enumerated 2 Apr 1871. Alex was 31, born in Ontario, of English origin, and was a farmer. Minetta was 21, born in Ontario, and of Scotch origin.6 
NoteAlexander Bonnycastle inherited forty shares in the Bank of British North America from his mother's sister Elizabeth Carlow in 1873.7 
(Not Mentioned) WillHe was not mentioned in the will of his mother Eleanor Mary Susan Bonnycastle dated 11 Jun 1873 in Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario.8
1881 CensusAlex and Minie Bonnycastle appeared on the 1881 Census of Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario, enumerated 4 Apr 1881. Alex was 42, born in Ontario, religion Church of England, English origin, and he was a Gent. Minnie was 32, born in Ontario, same religion and origin. With them were their daughters Mayble and Edith.9 
EventHis wife Minnie left between 1881 and 1891. After that, Mary Hoppes, Doris' Knox's mother's widowed sister, kept house for the family. Alexander gave her a six piece silver tea service in appreciation. Apparently, in later years, Minnie contacted her daughter Mabel, but Mabel's husband Jack Hamilton said "no way"!5 
1891 CensusAlexr Bonnycastle appeared on the 1891 Census of Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario, enumerated 6 Apr 1891. The Bonnycastle family lived in a two story wood house with 8 rooms. Alexander was 51, born in Ontario, father born in New Brunswick, mother in England, religion Church of England, and was a Gent. His children Mabel Eleanor and Edith Anna were with him.10 
(Witness) BaptismAlexander Bonnycastle witnessed the baptism of his granddaughter Dorothy Grace Hamilton on 2 Apr 1899 in Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario.11 
1901 CensusAlexander Bonnycastle and his daughter Edith appeared on the 1901 Census of Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario, at A Lot 5, Rannay H, enumerated 17 Apr 1901. Alexander was 61, widowed, born 21 November 1839 in rural Ontario, of English origin, religion Church of England, and worked as a Grain Buyer for 12 months, earning $425. Edith was 21, born 9 May 1879 in urban Ontario, and had no occupation. They lived in a rented wood house with 8 rooms and 3 outbuldings on 1/4 acre in the village.2 
WillAlexander Bonnycastle wrote a will dated 1903.12 
DeathAlexander died on 30 Dec 1903 in Campbellford.
Information from certificate: age 64, clerk, born Seymour, cause of death hemorhage of Brain, Dr Carlaw, religion English Church, informant R.H. Bonnycastle 31 Dec 1903.3 
BurialHe was buried on 1 Jan 1904 in Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario. The church register noted that Alexander was a yeoman, aged 65 of Campbellford.13,14
Alexander Bonnycastle gravestone
Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, Campbellford
Last Edited21 Jan 2022

Citations

  1. Online image of 1851/2 Census for Canada. Canada West, Northumberland (24), Seymour (228), Part 1.
  2. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Northumberland East (95), Campbellford (c-1), p13, line 12.
  3. Ontario Death Registration. Alexander Bonnycastle, #019051-03.
  4. Upper Canada Census, 1842. Index and images viewed at FamilySearch.org. Henry Bonnycastle, Seymour, Newcastle District, pages 5 & 6.
  5. Letters from Doris Knox, Ontario, to J Kolthammer, dated early 1990s.
  6. 1871 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Hastings East (61), Thurlow (a-2), page 1.
  7. Last Will and Testament of Elizabeth Anne Catherine Carlow of Northumberland County, written in 1872. Estate File #851, June 1873.
  8. Eleanor Mary Susan Bonnycastle, Probate File Surrogate Court of Ontario (United Counties of Northumberland and Durham), Family History Library, Film #1452202.
  9. 1881 Census for Canada "Northumberland County, Campbellford Village, p13, family #64."
  10. 1891 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Northumberland East (98), Campbellford Village (c-3), page 25.
  11. Parish Register of Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Ontario (Diocese of Toronto Archives, photocopied records), Dorothy Grace Hamilton baptism, 1899.
  12. Index to the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham Surrogate Court estate files, 1800-1967 (Family History Library, film #834705), fhl film# 0834705, #5213.
  13. Parish Register of Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Ontario (Diocese of Toronto Archives, photocopied records), Alexander Bonnycastle burial, 1904.
  14. Monumental inscription on the gravestone of Alexander Bonnycastle (Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, Campbellford, Ontario).
  15. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. Mabel Eleanor Bonnycastle, #019516-77.
  16. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. Edith Anna Bonnycastle, #021074-79.
  17. Ontario Marriage Registration. Kane/Bonnycastle, #009910-08.