Humphrey Bonnycastle1,2

#51, (1795 - b 1866)
FatherJohn Bonnycastle1 (1751 - 1821)
MotherBridget Newell1 (1754 - 1825)
RelationshipSon of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree

Family

Jane Cottrell (c 1796 - 1867)
Children

Life Events

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. 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 H Bonnycastle, Knightsbridge to Ottiwell Robinson: Lord Pomfret has never executed any deed &c. for Bonnycastle's benefit other than the bond & agreement.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. Slip of paper with Mr Bonnycastle's address: 29 High Row, Knightsbridge.5 
Item. 7 Oct 1829. Letter from Robinson to Bonnycastle.5 
Note.The baptism record in the St Margaret's Westminster parish register for their daughter Jane said that she was born Feb 10th and baptised April 17th 1831, the daughter of John Cotterell [sic] & Jane Bonnycastle, abode Down Street. John was a Clerk in the Pay Masters Office.6 
(Witness) Marriage H Bonnycastle witnessed the marriage of Frederick Wilson Sisson and Caroline Hephzibah Hommey on 20 Jun 1833 in Saint Giles, Camberwell, Surrey. Caroline's cousin Humphrey is the only H Bonnycastle known.7 
Signature
Humphrey Bonnycastle's signature on his cousin Caroline Hommey's marriage certificate, 1833
Note.The baptism record in the St George Hanover Square parish register for their son Harry Cottrell Bonnycastle said that he was born 21 Dec 1832 and baptised 29 May 1834, the son of Humphrey, a Gentleman, & Jane Murray Bonnycastle, abode Pollen Street.8 
Note.The baptism record in St George Hanover Square, Middlesex for their daughter Mary said that she was born 2 March 1835 and baptised 30 August 1836, the daughter of Humphr & Jane Bonnycastle, abode Conduit Vale Blackheath. Humphrey's occupation was Gentleman.9 
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].10 
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 [Humphrey's brother] RH Bonnycastle and John Jones. [the bishop's transcripts had the same information]

Apparently the parish recorded the marriage on both the old and new forms and their marriage was the first one at Lewisham Parish Church after civil registration with new forms began on 1 July 1837. Info from the new form: Humphrey Bonnycastle, age 42, bachelor, Gent, father John Bonnycastle, Gent;
Jane Cottrell, 40, spinster, father William Cottrell, Gent;
They were married by License in the Parish Church of Lewisham and the witnesses were RH Bonnycastle and John Jones. The cert contains Humphrey's and Jane's signatures.2,11,12
Humphrey Bonnycastle & Jane Cottrell
Marriage from Lewisham parish register, 1837
Note.Humphrey & Jane had three children before they married. Why did they wait so long and why marry then? Humphrey's brother Richard Henry from Canada was a witness to their marriage and the following month Humphrey and son Harry accompanied Richard to America. Perhaps this was the impetus for the marriage - so that Jane and the children would be protected should something happen to Humphrey on the voyage. 
(Executor) WillHumphrey Bonnycastle was named an executor in the will of his brother Richard Henry Bonnycastle dated 17 Jul 1837 in London.13
Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle, Knight, PCC Will
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.14 
Item On 11 Aug 1838 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Humphrey Bonnycastle wrote a letter to John Knowles in London describing his visit to America.15
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."16 
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.17 
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.18 
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.19 
ResidenceLater in life, Humphrey lived in Paris (perhaps still as a civil servant?) and is not found on the 1851 census in England.20 
DeathHe died before 14 Mar 1866, according to his daughter Jane's marriage certificate.21 
Last Edited18 Apr 2014

Citations

  1. Baptisms of St Mary Magdalene Woolwich, Kent. Register at London Metropolitan Archives. Image viewed at Ancestry. Humphrey Bonnycastle, 1795.
  2. Microfilm of the Bishop's transcripts of St. Mary's Church, Lewisham, Kent, 1829-1837 (Family History Library, 307680), Bonnycastle/Cottrell marriage, 1837.
  3. Will and Administration of John Bonnycastle, Professor of Mathematics in the Royal Military Academy Woolwich, 17 August 1816, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 27 September 1821.
  4. Online, http://www.victorianlondon.org/organisations/…
  5. Website Access to Archives (www.a2a.org.uk), Draycott Hall Manuscripts [ZLB/7-ZLB/21] held at North Yorkshire County Record Office.
  6. Baptisms of St Margaret Westminster, Middlesex. registers from Westminster Archives. Image viewed at Findmypast.com, Jane Bonnycastle, 1831, #937.
  7. Marriages of the parish of St Giles Camberwell. Register at London Metropolitan Archives. Image viewed at Ancestry. Frederick Sisson & Caroline Hommey, 1833, #617.
  8. Baptisms of St George Hanover Square, Middlesex. registers from Westminster Archives. Image viewed at Findmypast.com, Harry Cottrell Bonnycastle, 1834, #517.
  9. Baptisms of St George Hanover Square, Middlesex. registers from Westminster Archives. Image viewed at Findmypast.com, Mary Bonnycastle, 1836, #849.
  10. Marriage Licence Allegation for Humphrey Bonnycastle and Jane Cottrell, Vicar-General's Office, 11 July 1837.
  11. Lewisham, Kent Parish Registers. Register at London Metropolitan Archives; image viewed at Ancestry. Humphrey Bonnycastle & Jane Cottrell, 1837, #439.
  12. Lewisham, Kent Parish Registers. Register at London Metropolitan Archives; image viewed at Ancestry. Humphrey Bonnycastle & Jane Cottrell, 1837, #1.
  13. Will and Administration of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle, Captain in the Corps of Royal Engineers, 17 July 1837, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 17 March 1848 (Family History Library, Film #0156663).
  14. Ancestry.com databases, New York Passenger Lists.
  15. Letter from Humphrey Bonnycastle (Philadelphia) to a friend in England, 1838; University of Virginia Library (Charlottesville, Virginia).
  16. Peter Schmitt and Balthazar Korab, Kalamazoo: Nineteenth-Century Homes in a Midwestern Village (Kalamazoo: Kalamazoo City Historical Commission, 1976), page 18.
  17. Deed Records, Kalamazoo County, Michigan: vol. E, Register of Deeds, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, FHL film #983358 & 63.
  18. 1841 Census for England & Wales, HO107/484 Book 4 Folio 35.
  19. Deed Records, Kalamazoo County, Michigan: vol. O, Register of Deeds, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, FHL film #983358 & 63.
  20. The London Times (Times Digital Archive), 25 Sep 1873, p 12, column B.
  21. Copy marriage certificate of George Pearse and Jane Bonnycastle, married 14 March 1866 in the Registration District of St Luke, transcribed by John Gould.