William Bonnycastle1

#23376, (c 1757 - 1811)
Pedigree
ChartsWilliam & Mary, St John the Evangelist, Westminster

Life Events

BirthWilliam Bonnycastle was born circa 1757.1
 
Research Note William Bonnycastle (c1757-1811) who died in Westminster and Ann Bonnycastle, spinster, who married in Westminster in 1787 were likely related. William's signature on his own marriage record in 1783 and as a witness at Ann's marriage in 1787 match. 
MarriageHe married Mary Painter on 31 Aug 1783 in St Margaret Westminster, Middlesex.
William was a batchelor, Mary a spinster, and both were of the parish. They were married by banns and the witnesses were William Coombes and Rolech? Taylor. William signed his name and Mary signed with a mark.2 
(Witness) Marriage William Bonnycastle witnessed the marriage of John Hayes and Ann Bonnycastle on 16 Feb 1787 in St John the Evangelist Westminster, Middlesex. His signature matches that on his own marriage record in 1783.3 
Voters' ListWilliam Bonnycastle was listed in the 1788 poll book for St George Hanover Square, Westminster. He was noted to be a Taylor residing in little College Street. He voted for Hood. [Poll books trace their origins to a 1696 act of Parliament designed to curb disputed election results and fraud. The remedy included requiring sheriffs to make a list of voters and the candidate they voted for in county elections. These could then be published as poll books. Poll books continued to be used for various elections until the secret ballot was introduced in 1872.]4 
Item. The Old Bailey, 14 Jan 1789
In the murder trial of William Woodcock, there is the following testimony:


WILLIAM BONNYCASTLE sworn.

What are you? - A taylor by trade; a little master. I live at No. 7, in Wood-street, Westminster.

Do you recollect any time before the imprisonment of the man at the bar, seeing him where, and when? - Yes; I saw him on the Wednesday, the 5th of November.

Did you see him at any time before that? - I cannot say I did. I drank with him at the bar of the Horse and Groom in Wood-street, on Wednesday, the 5th of November.

Had you seen him on the Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday before that? - No, I cannot say I did.

Had you seen him on the Monday or Tuesday? - No, I did not.5
 
DirectoryHe was listed in the 1805 Holden's Triennial Directory, London, directory as Bonnycastle, Wm., taylor, 2, Great Mitchell st. Old st. [As best as I can tell, this was in St Luke Holborn]6 
Burial.He was buried on 15 Mar 1811 in St John the Evangelist Westminster. Details from the register: William Bonnycastle lived at the workhouse and was 54 years old. There were fees paid for bearers and a grave maker but none for a minister, clerk, sexton, bell ringer, knell, pall, or parson.1,7 
Last Edited24 Jan 2022

Citations

  1. Burials of St John the Evangelist Westminster, Middlesex (FHL Photoduplication Services, Film #560,359), William Bonnycastle, 1811.
  2. Marriages of St Margaret Westminster, Middlesex, William Bonnycastle & Mary Painter, 1783, #593. Registers from Westminster Archives. Image viewed at Findmypast.com.
  3. Marriages of St John the Evangelist Westminster, Middlesex. Register at London Metropolitan Archives. Image viewed at Ancestry. John Hayes & Ann Bonnycastle, 1787, #374.
  4. Ancestry.com. UK, Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
    Original data: London, England, UK and London Poll Books. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library. Images viewed online.
  5. Old Bailey Proceedings Online, (www.oldbaileyonline.org), January 1789 trial of William Woodcock (Ref: t17890114-1), viewed October 2005.
  6. UK City and County Directories. Holden's Triennial Directory for 1805, 1806, 1807, Vols 1 and 2. Images viewed at Ancestry.com.
  7. Burials of St John the Evangelist, Middlesex. Registers from Westminster Archives. Image viewed at Find My Past, William Bonnycastle, 1811.