Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle1,2

#78, (1898 - 1950)
FatherCharles Edward Bonnycastle1,2 (1871 - 1929)
MotherHenrietta Cassan2,1 (1873 - 1954)
Relationship3rd great-grandson of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847)

Family

Mabel Erie Grant (1904 - c 1972)
Child

Life Events

CalledCharles Geoffrey Bonnycastle went by the name of Geoffrey or Geoff.3,4 
OccupationHe was a machinist, electrician, and railroad employee.5 
BirthHe was born on 12 Jul 1898 in Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario.
Information from certificate: son of Charles E Bonnycastle & Henrietta Cassan, father Farmer residence Seymour, informant C E Bonnycastle, registered 6 Aug 1898; [register has forename Henry in brackets with Charles Geoffrey added above; marginal notation that record altered by Chas Bonnycastle of Campbellford Oct 4/28].2,1 
BaptismHe was baptized on 30 Oct 1898 in Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario.1 
(Other) 1901 CensusCharles appeared on the 1901 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, in the household of his Bonnycastle grandparents Francis and Elizabeth. His brother and parents were also there. He was 2 years old and born on July 12 1898 in Ontario.6 
(Subject) Photograph A family photograph with Helen, Geoffrey & Allan and their parents.7
Charles Edward & Henrietta Bonnycastle
Helen, Geoffrey & Allan
(with Parents) 1911 CensusCharles G Bonnycastle appeared on the 1911 Census of Seymour Township, Northumberland County, Ontario with his parents. He was age 10, born July 1898 in Ontario, and attended school for 9 months.8 
CEFCharles Geoffrey Bonnycastle volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 10 Oct 1916 at Cobourg, Ontario. The attestation papers included the following information: of Campbellford, Ont, born in Campbellford on 12th July 1898, father Charles E Bonnycastle of Campbellford, is a farmer, has served 2 years in H.S. Cadets. Physical description states age 18 yrs 3 mos, 5 ft 6 in, expanded chest 36 inches, dark complexion, brown eyes, d.brown hair, Church of England, and has a small scar centre of forehead.9 
MilitaryHe served with the Canadian Field Artillery. He arrived in France in August 1917 and was gassed in October of the same year, spending less than one day in a field hospital. He spent the war as a driver in the Artillery and was demobilized in May 1919 with the rank of Acting Bombardier.3 
1921 CensusCharles Jeffrey Bonnycastle appeared on the 1921 Census of Kingsville, Essex County, Ontario, at Laurel Street. He was with the Allan Ross Keele family, and was noted to be a cousin. He was 22, single, born in Ontario, Church of England, and was a Conductor for the Electric Railway, earning $1500.10 
Passenger ListHe was listed on a Detroit border crossing card dated 10 Jan 1923. Information on the card: Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle, 24, marital status not recorded, Electrical, Canadian, Irish, last permanent address Kingsville Canada, destination Detroit, nearest relative in Canada: father Chas E in Campbellford Ont, money shown $5, lastly in U.S. Mar 15 1921 to Jan 7 1923, going to wife Mabel at 719 Northrop Ave, intends to become permanent resident, good health, 5'7", med complexion, brown hair and eyes, born Campbellford Ont, date of landing Mar 15-21.11 
MarriageHe married Mabel Erie Grant on 11 Apr 1923 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.
Details from certificate: Charles Bonnycastle, 24, white, residence Detroit, born in Ohio, occupation Mach., father C Bonnycastle, mother Etta Cassan, not previously married
Mable Grant, 19, white, residence Detroit, born in Kentucky, father E Grant, mother Martha, not previously married.
Married in Detroit by Justice Feliz A Lenckie, with witnesses S Swandeck and J Krejci, both of Detroit.11,12 
(Mentioned) Passenger ListCharles Geoffrey Bonnycastle was mentioned on a Detroit border crossing card for Mabel Erie Bonnycastle on 13 Jul 1927. Mabel was moving to work in Detroit.11 
(Mentioned) ObituaryThey was mentioned in his father Charles Edward Bonnycastle's 1929 obituary as son Geoffrey of Windsor.13 
Residence On 15 Apr 1930, Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle lived in 815 Sandwich St. West, Windsor, Ontario. Later he went to work as an industrial electrician for the Howey gold mine in Red Lake, Ontario, where his family joined him in 1933. Eventually he went alone to Hazel Park, Michigan, where he worked for the Habble Electric Company.14,3 
DivorceGeoff and Erie were divorced in 1945.3,15 
MarriageHe married Esther Leona Mefford on 16 Oct 1947 in Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio.
Details from certificate: Charles G Bonnycastle of Hazel Park, Michigan married Mrs Esther L Weber of Hazel Park, Michigan. Married by Rev G W Whyman; the witness was Mrs G W Whyman.16 
Passenger ListCharles Geoffrey Bonnycastle was listed on a Detroit border crossing card dated 27 Oct 1947. Information from the card: Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle, card issued in Windsor, born Seymour Twp 7/12/1898, age 49 yr 3 mos, married, machinist, Canadian, last permanent residence 815 London St.W., Windsor, Ont; nearest relative in Canada: mother Henrietta C Bonnycastle of Norham Ontario; was in U.S. from Mar 1922 to June 1923 and occasional visits since, destination to wife Esther L Bonnycastle 26 W. Evelyn St, Hazel Park, Michigan, money shown $500, purpose in coming: reside permanently, 5'6", med complexion dr bro hair, hazel eyes, arrived by D&C Tunnel, has Canadian passport, card signed "C Geoffrey Bonnycastle."11 
Passenger ListCharles Geoffrey and Esther Bonnycastle were listed on a Detroit border crossing card dated 23 May 1948.
Card information: Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle, accompanied by wife Esther & sis-in-law Mary Burton, born Campbellford 7-12-98, age 49 yr 10 mos, married, Electrician, Irish, Canadian nationality, last permanent residence 26 W. Elevely, Hazel Park, Mich; nearest relative in Canada: mother Mrs Henrietta Bonnycastle, Norham Ont; in U.S. from Oct.27, 1947 to May 23, 1948 at Hazel Park, money shown $12, purpose is to resume residence, 5'6" med complexion, brown hair & eyes; states he visited Canada for 3 hours.11 
Photograph4
Esther & Geoff Bonnycastle
c1949
DeathCharles died on 23 Aug 1950 in Hazel Park, Oakland County, Michigan.
Information from the registration: Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle, born July 12, 1898 in Campbellford Ontario, father Charles Bonnycastle, mother Henrietta Casson [sic], military service Canadian Army World War I, citizenship American, married, electrician for habble Engineering Company, usual residence 26 W. Evelyn Avenue, Hazel Park, Oakland County, cause of death cancer of one year duration, informant Esther Bonnycastle.3,5 
Obituary17 
.
Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle
Last Edited24 Jan 2022

Citations

  1. Parish Register of Christ Church Anglican, Campbellford, Ontario (Diocese of Toronto Archives, photocopied records), Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle baptism, 1898.
  2. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. Henry (Charles Geoffrey) Bonnycastle, #028227-98.
  3. E-mails from Dick Bonnycastle to J Kolthammer.
  4. E-mails from Dawn Weber to J Kolthammer.
  5. United States Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, viewed at http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/.
  6. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Northumberland E (95), Seymour (i-1), page 9, line 47.
  7. Jean and Sydney Cassan.
  8. 1911 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Northumberland East (101), Seymour Township, subdist 25, page 10.
  9. Canadian Expeditionary Force Attestation Papers & Enlistment Forms. Library and Archives Canada, (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020110_e.html), online images, Charles Geoffrey Bonnycastle, Regimental Number 1260596.
  10. 1921 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Essex South, SD 34, Page 9.
  11. Detroit Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905-1957, images (www.ancestry.com).
  12. Marriage Records of Michigan, 1868-1925. viewed at Family Search Historic Records & Images Online, Bonnycastle/Grant, #245494.
  13. Obituary of Charles E Bonnycastle in an unknown newspaper, 1929. from the collection of the Campbellford-Seymour Heritage Society, Campbellford, Ontario.
  14. Charles Edward Bonnycastle, Probate File 11798, Family History Library, Film #1504130.
  15. The Windsor Daily Star. Image viewed at Google news archives.
  16. Marriage certificate of Charles G Bonnycastle and Mrs Esther L Weber, married 16 October 1947 in the State of Ohio, copy held by Dawn Weber.
  17. Obituary of Charles G Bonnycastle in unknown newspaper, undated.