Richard Henry Bonnycastle1,2

#64, (1881 - 1917)
FatherFrancis Edward Bonnycastle1,3,4 (1841 - 1904)
MotherElizabeth Lennox1,3,4 (1849 - 1930)
Relationship2nd great-grandson of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847)

Family

Winnifred Evelin Carlaw (1881 - )
Children

Life Events

OccupationRichard Henry Bonnycastle was a school teacher (1901), doctor (1907.) 
BirthHe was born on 1 Feb 1881 in Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario.
Details from registration: male [name not recorded], son of Frank Bonnycastle & Elizabeth Lennox, father a Farmer, informant Frank Bonnycastle residence Seymour, registered 26 Feb 1881, Dr Wallace attended.5 
(with Parents) 1881 CensusRichard Bonnycastle appeared on the 1881 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario with his parents and grandparents. He was 2 months old and born in Ontario.6 
BaptismHe was baptized on 15 May 1881 in Campbellford Anglican Church, Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario, the same day as his cousin George Bonnycastle.1 
(with Parents) 1891 CensusRichard Bonnycastle appeared on the 1891 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario with his parents. He was 10, born in Ontario, parents born in Ontario, and religion Church of England.7 
(with Parents) 1901 CensusRichard Bonnycastle appeared on the 1901 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario with his parents. He was 22, born February 10 1889 in Ontario, of English origin, religion Church of England, and was employed as a School Teacher, working 10 months for $325.8 
(Witness) Marriage Richard Henry Bonnycastle witnessed the marriage of his brother Gerald Carlow Bonnycastle and Gertrude Kent on 25 Sep 1901 in Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario.4 
(Surety) ProbateRichard Henry Bonnycastle provided surety for the administration of his grandmother Eleanor Mary Susan Bonnycastle's estate in 1906 in Northumberland County, Ontario.9 
MarriageRichard Henry Bonnycastle married Winnifred Evelin Carlaw on 25 Dec 1907 in Seymour Township.
Information from certificate: Richard Henry, age 26, bachelor, Doctor, residence Campbellford, born Seymour, father Frank, mother Elizabeth Lennox, Anglican;
Winnifred, age 26, residence Belleville, born Percy Township, spinster, father Davidson, mother Mary Free, Presbyterian;
Witnesses were E Bonnycastle, Campbellford and D Carlaw, Belleville and they were married by Rev JFMcfarlane.2 
1911 CensusRichard H and Winnifred E Bonnycastle appeared on the 1911 Census of Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario, at Front Street, enumerated 1 Jun 1911. Richard was 30, born February 1881 in Ontario, English, Anglican, and was a Physician working on his own account. He had $14,500 life and $2000 accident insurance at a cost of $540 [these amounts are very high]. Winnifred was 30, born in April 1881 in Ontario. Their son Murray Carlaw was listed as living with them.10 
(Doctor) DeathDr. R.H. Bonnycastle attended the illness and death of his uncle Richard Henry Bonnycastle.11 
(Witness) Marriage Richard Henry Bonnycastle witnessed the marriage of Leslie Easton Hand to his sister Phyllis Frances Bonnycastle on 28 Nov 1911 in Seymour Township. He was recorded as R.H. Bonnycastle of Campbellford.12 
CEFRichard Henry Bonnycastle volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was a major. The records are available from Library and Archives Canada but are not yet included in their online database.13 
Item. Here is a photo of his memorial cross. These medals were awarded to mothers and widows of Canadian soldiers who died on active duty or whose death was consequently attributed to such duty.14
Richard Henry Bonnycastle
(1881-1917)
Memorial Cross
DeathRichard died on 7 Oct 1917 in Campbellford.
Details from registration: age 36, born Seymour, Doctor, married, father Francis Bonnycastle, mother Elizabeth Lennox, attended by Dr Free, informant Chas Bonnycastle, Campbellford, cause of death was cardiac failure following Lobar pneumonia.3 
ObituaryHis obituary was published in Oct 1917 in the Campbellford Herald.
Major (Doctor) R. H. Bonnycastle, C.A.M.C., C.E.F., was a well known and respected doctor in the Campbellford area. He was a native of Seymour. He received his early education at Campbellford, where he showed a marked intellectual ability. Upon matriculating he entered the University of Toronto and in due course graduated with honours receiving his Bachelor of Medicine degree. Upon graduation he established a practice in Campbellford where he won himself a high reputation as a skillful and clever doctor. He held for some years the position of Medical Officer of Health for the town and proved himself a most efficient official. In 1915, he joined the militia and went overseas spending a year with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Upon the expiration of his year in France he returned to Canada, having attained the rank of Major and was the chief medical officer of the Canadian Forces at Valcartier. After devoting a year to the duties of this position where he was most popular with both the officers and the men, Major Bonnycastle returned to his practice in Campbellford. He was taken ill in October of 1917 and partially recovered. When taken down a second time, his condition immediately became serious and despite all that medical skill could do, he passed away.15
 
BurialHe was buried in Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, Campbellford, Ontario.16
Richard H Bonnycastle gravestone
Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, Campbellford
Note.Veterans Affairs records indicated that Major Richard H Bonnycastle, CAMC, died 7 October 1917 at his home in Campbellford. It was noted that his death from pneumonia was due to service.17 
Last Edited30 Apr 2013

Citations

  1. Parish Register of Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Ontario (Diocese of Toronto Archives, photocopied records), Richard Henry Bonnycastle baptism, 1881.
  2. Province of Ontario Marriage Registers: Bonnycastle/Carlow, #015928-07, Family History Library.
  3. Death certificate registered in the Province of Ontario "Richard Henry Bonnycastle, #022698-17."
  4. Ontario Marriage Registration. Bonnycastle/Kent, #012572-01.
  5. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. Richard Henry Bonnycastle, #020927-81 [forename not recorded].
  6. 1881 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Northumberland East (123), Seymour Township (G-1), page 1.
  7. 1891 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Northumbrland East (98), Seymour Township (i-3), page 4.
  8. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Northumberland E (95), Seymour (i-1), page 9, line 47.
  9. Eleanor Mary Susan Bonnycastle, Probate File Surrogate Court of Ontario (United Counties of Northumberland and Durham), Family History Library, Film #1452202.
  10. 1911 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Northumberland East (101), Town of Campbellford, subdist 32, page 12.
  11. Death certificate registered in the Province of Ontario "Richard Henry Bonnycastle, #022302-11."
  12. Ontario Marriage Registration. Hand/Bonnycastle, #010587-11.
  13. Canadian Expeditionary Force Attestation Papers & Enlistment Forms. Library and Archives Canada, (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020110_e.html), online images, Richard Henry Bonnycastle (no regimental number for officers).
  14. Www.arcticmedals.com.
  15. Obituary of Major (Doctor) R.H. Bonnycastle in Campbellford Herald October 1917, transcribed by Dorcas Aunger.
  16. Monumental inscription on the gravestone of Richard H Bonnycastle (Christ Church Anglican Cemetery, Campbellford, Ontario).
  17. First World War Veterans Death Cards. Library and Archives Canada, (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/…), Major Richard H Bonnycastle.
  18. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. Murray Carlaw Bonnycastle, #032742-09.
  19. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. Desmond Davidson Bonnycastle, #035447-11.