Humphrey Bonnycastle1,2

#51, (15 March 1795 - before 14 March 1866)
FatherJohn Bonnycastle1 b. 29 Dec 1751, d. 15 May 1821
MotherBridget Newell1 b. 10 Apr 1754, d. 19 Oct 1825
Humphrey Bonnycastle|b. 15 Mar 1795\nd. b 14 Mar 1866|p51.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|John Bonnycastle|b. 18 Jun 1727\nd. 1781|p8.htm|Mary Toogood|b. s 1725\nd. 28 Apr 1779|p9.htm|William Newell|b. s 1725\nd. bt 1756 - 1762|p17486.htm|Hephzibah Apletree|b. 1 Apr 1726\nd. 1 Feb 1808|p17485.htm|
RelationshipSon of John Bonnycastle.
Note.Although he went by the name Humphrey and that was the name on his baptism record, there is evidence that he also used the name John Humphrey. He was called that on daughter Jane's marriage certificate and on land records in Michigan. 
BirthHumphrey Bonnycastle was born on 15 Mar 1795 in Woolwich, Kent.1
 
BaptismHe was baptized on 13 Apr 1795 in St Mary Magdalene Woolwich, Kent. He was noted to be the child of John & Bridget.1 
(Heir) WillHe was named an heir in the will of his father John Bonnycastle dated 17 Aug 1816.3
Research Note The following items are from The National Archives [England] catalogues. The original documents have not been consulted and it would be interesting to do so. 
Item. 26 Sep 1826. Bond in the amount of £400 - George, Earl of Pomfret to Humphrey Bonnycastle of the Paymaster General's Office at Whitehall, esq. The Earl to pay Bonnycastle £200 per year & maintenance & travelling expenses for Bonnycastle's life in return for Bonnycastle giving up his clerkship at the Paymaster General's Office & serving the Earl exclusively as amamuenisis & travelling companion

[PAYMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WHITEHALL. The office her Majesty's Paymaster-General is for the payment of army, navy, ordnance, civil service, and exchequer bills. The office is managed by the paymaster, the assistant-paymaster, and a staff of sixty clerks. It was originally the office of the Paymaster-General of the Forces, and was not permanently enlarged utill 1836. Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850].4,5 
Item. 18 Sep 1829. Letter from H Bonnycastle, North Audley Street to Ottiwell Robinson.5 
Item. 19 Sep 1829. Draft agreement between Bonnycastle & Pomfret: The Earl to dispense with Bonnycastle's services but to continue to pay him £200 per year conditional upon Bonnycastle not saying or writing anything to anyone concerning the private concerns, affairs or transactions of the Earl, his family or connexions which may be calculated to injure the reputation or hurt the feelings of the Earl, his family or connexions.5 
Item. 22 Sep 1829. Letter from G.W. D[enys], Brent Ely to Ottiwell Robinson: Bonnycastle wrote a few days ago to say he was about to quit [Earl of Pomfret's service] in consequence of his having placed confidence in Lady Jodrell which she had betrayed. "Some time ago I was canvassed to induce me to joint in a conspiracy to upset Mr B. but I declined from motives which I deemed prudent". "B. must be up to enough to make a most entertaining pamphlet & one that wod. go thro' many editions in this age of love of scandal."5 
Item. 7 Oct 1829. Slip of paper with Mr Bonnycastle's address: 29 High Row, Knightsbridge.5 
Item. 7 Oct 1829. Letter from Oliver Manning to Ottiwell Robinson: Lord Pomfret is worrying himself with an idea that he has "signed or made over certain of his property or made some promise or committed himself... to Mr Bonnycastle". Requests Robinson to see Bonnycastle & try & ascertain the truth or otherwise of the Earl's idea.5 
Item. 7 Oct 1829. Letter from Robinson to Bonnycastle.5 
Item. 7 Oct 1829. Letter from F Shuckburgh to Ottiwell Robinson: Mr Bonnycastle's reply will be very satisfactory to Lord Pomfret's family.5 
Item. 7 Oct 1829. Letter from H Bonnycastle, Knightsbridge to Ottiwell Robinson: Lord Pomfret has never executed any deed &c. for Bonnycastle's benefit other than the bond & agreement.5 
(Witness) Marriage H Bonnycastle witnessed the marriage of Frederick Sisson and Caroline Hephzibah Hommey on 20 Jun 1833 in Saint Giles, Camberwell, Surrey. Caroline's cousin Humphrey is the only H Bonnycastle known.6 
Marriage LicenseHumphrey Bonnycastle obtained a marriage license on 11 Jul 1837. It stated that he and Jane were over age 21, and both of Lewisham, Kent [at least 15 days residency was required].7 
MarriageHe married Jane Cottrell on 15 Jul 1837 in St. Mary, Lewisham, Kent.
Humphrey Bonnycastle, bachelor, and Jane Cottrell, spinster, both of this parish, married by licence. The witnesses were RH Bonnycastle and John Jones. [the bishop's transcripts had the same information]2,8
Humphrey Bonnycastle & Jane Cottrell
Marriage from Lewisham parish register, 1837
Note.Humphrey and Jane were married in 1837 but on the 1841 census they had four children with them (relationships were not indicated on the 1841): Jane (age 10), Mary (6), Harry (8), and Emily (4 months), recorded in that order.
So, Emily was their child together but the first three were likely Humphrey's or Jane's from a previous marriage. It would not be unusual for a stepchild to use the stepfather's surname. Oddly, at their marriage, it was recorded that neither had been married before. Civil registration began in 1837, so there will not be birth certificates for the older chidlren. Baptism records would help - but where to look? 
(Executor) WillHumphrey Bonnycastle was named an executor in the will of his brother Richard Henry Bonnycastle dated 17 Jul 1837 in London.9
Passenger ListHumphrey Bonnicastle was listed on a manifest dated 28 Aug 1837 for the ship Mediator, which arrived at New York from London. Humphrey's destination was Upper Canada. He was age 42, a gentleman, and travelling with [his son] Henry age 4 & [his brother] Major Richard Henry Bonnicastle.10 
Item On 11 Aug 1838 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Humphrey Bonnycastle wrote a letter to John Knowles in London describing his visit to America.11
Humphrey economized on this page by writing in one direction, then the other. Follow the link above to read a transcription
ItemHe and his brother Charles Bonnycastle were mentioned in a Kalamazoo, Michigan history book as follows:

"From time to time villagers found prominent people in their midst. Some like Epaphroditus Ransom and Charles Bonneycastle came to settle. Others appeared on one of the daily mail coaches and left soon afterwards. Ransom came in 1834. He settled on farm lands south of Lovell and built a fine home that survived until a few years ago. Like Justus Burdick he brought a degree of sophistication to village life until he left to become governor of the state in 1848. Charles and Harry Bonnycastle boarded at the Kalamazoo House in the early years. Then they were called back to England where Harry took a seat in the House of Lords. They left behind only the name they gave to Bonniecastle Lake west of the village."1 
Land RecordHumphrey Bonnycastle bought 160 acres from Elihu Russell and Rebecca, his wife; $2000 in hand on 15 Oct 1839 the SE1/4 Section 34 Township 2 S of Range 11 W, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.2 
1841 CensusHumphrey and Jane Bonicastle [sic] appeared on the 1841 Census of Lewisham, Kent, at Mr Russell's Cottages, enumerated 6 Jun 1841. Humphrey was 46, of independent means, and not born in the county of Kent. Jane was 44 and not born in Kent. With them were children Jane (10), Mary (6), Harry (8), and Emmily (4 months), and one servant. Note that the 1841 census did not record relationships, and only indicated whether or not the person was born in the county.3 
Land Record On 18 Oct 1845, Humphrey Bonnycastle's land was sold to D.S. Walbridge per sheriff's sale in SE1/4 Section 34 Township 2 S of Range 11 W, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.4 
ResidenceLater in life, Humphrey lived in Paris (perhaps still as a civil servant?) and is not found on the 1851 census in England.5 
DeathHe died before 14 Mar 1866, according to his daughter Jane's marriage certificate.6 

Family

Jane Cottrell b. c 1796, d. 1867
Children
Last Edited28 Apr 2011

Citations:

  1. Peter Schmitt and Balthazar Korab, Kalamazoo: Nineteenth-Century Homes in a Midwestern Village (Kalamazoo: Kalamazoo City Historical Commission, 1976), page 18.
  2. Deed Records, Kalamazoo County, Michigan: vol. E, Register of Deeds, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, FHL film #983358 & 63.
  3. Online image of the 1841 Census for England & Wales (Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.co.uk), HO107/484 Book 4 Folio 35.
  4. Deed Records, Kalamazoo County, Michigan: vol. O, Register of Deeds, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, FHL film #983358 & 63.
  5. The London Times (Times Digital Archive), 25 Sep 1873, p 12, column B.
  6. Copy marriage certificate of George Pearse and Jane Bonnycastle, married 14 March 1866 in the Registration District of St Luke, transcribed by John Gould.
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