|
|
Facts and Events
William Bonser was baptised on 10th February 1734 at Granby in Nottinghamshire, son of Elizabeth Bonser, formerly Harrison, and her husband Henry Bonser. William was the youngest of their five children, all of whom were boys. When William was born his maternal grandfather George Harrison was still alive in Granby, where he was a cordwainer (shoemaker).
When William was about six years old his father died. In 1741 William's mother married again. Her second husband was a clergyman named John Breton, who had been appointed as curate at Granby in 1723. They married at Kilvington, about six miles north-east of Granby, but returned to Granby after their marriage. Young William was therefore presumably brought up by his mother and stepfather, the local curate.
In 1744 William's maternal grandfather died, leaving £8 to be divided between William and his brothers.
William was married on 19th April 1756, aged 22, to Elizabeth Cam. They married at Colston Bassett, about four miles south-west of Granby, and settled there after their marriage, with William working as a weaver. They had five children baptised at Colston Bassett between 1757 and 1766.
In 1766 William and Elizabeth's youngest daughter, Sarah, was baptised on 4th February, but buried just three days later. William's wife Elizabeth was buried three weeks later. William was left a widower at the age of 32, with four surviving children to look after, who ranged in age from eight down to two years old at the time of their mother's death.
William married again nearly four years after Elizabeth's death. His second wife was Ann Wild, whose father John Wild was a farmer in the neighbouring parish of Owthorpe. When he died in 1771 he left £5 to his daughter Ann Bonser. William and Ann went on to have two more children, a son and a daughter, but sadly the daughter, Ann, died at the age of two in 1776.
On 11th April 1777 William wrote his will. He made bequests to his wife and each of his surviving children: Henry, John, Elizabeth and George from his first marriage and William from his second marriage. He also appointed his brothers Henry and John as guardians for his children. When William wrote his will he described himself as "weak in body". His mother wrote her will two months later, on 17th June 1777, which reinforces the impression that William was unwell; she left him a quarter of her residual estate, but specifically included provisions (which she did not include for her other sons) for "in case he die before he receives the money", to let his share pass to his children.
William died shortly afterwards, being buried at Colston Bassett on 5th July 1777. He was 43 years old.
Back in Granby, William's mother had outlived him; she was buried in February 1778. William's widow Ann and his brother John obtained probate of William's estate in February 1778, but Ann did not long outlive William. She was buried less than a year after his death.
References
- ↑ Granby baptisms, in Nottinghamshire Family History Society. Nottinghamshire Baptisms Database.
ch. 10 Feb 1733/4: William son of Henry & Eliz[abeth] Bonsar
This baptism has been linked to the William who married Elizabeth Cam on the basis that when he married he gave his parish of residence as Granby, and in his will he referred to brothers named John and Henry. Of the Bonser families living in this area of south Nottinghamshire around this time, the only William with two such brothers appears to be this one baptised in Granby itself. It is worth noting that County Pedigrees (Phillimore, 1909) asserted that the William who died in 1777 was baptised in 1724 at nearby Kinoulton and married at Whatton; however, this is considered mistaken in light of William's will. The William baptised at Kinoulton had a brother called Henry but did not have a brother called John. Phillimore also appears to have been unaware of the 1756 marriage at Colston Bassett and its reference to Granby. There were clearly two couples named William Bonser and Elizabeth who each married in 1756 - William Bonser and Elizabeth Cam at Colston Bassett and William Bonser and Elizabeth Railton at Whatton - and the couple who married at Whatton stayed in Whatton, having children baptised there in the late 1750s.
Needs to be confirmed at Nottinghamshire Archives.
- Will and bond of William Bonser, weaver, of Colston Bassett, written 11 Apr 1777, proved 25 Feb 1778, in Nottingham Deanery Wills, Nottinghamshire Archives.
In the name of God Amen I William Bonser of Colston Bassett in the County of Nottingham Weaver being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth (viz) In the first place I give and bequeath unto my Son Henry Bonser the the Sum of Five Pounds I also give and bequeath unto my Son George Bonser the Sum of Five Pounds I also give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Bonser the Sum of Five Pounds I also give and bequeath unto my Son William Bonser the Sum of Five Pounds all which several Sums and legacys I Will and order to be paid by my Executors as my several Children become of the age of Twenty years of age And my mind further is that my youngest Son William Bonser be put apprentice when he arrives at a proper age to some business whom my Executors shall think most proper. I also Will and desire that my Children which is or shall be put out apprentice be found Cloths sufficient by my Executors during their Apprenticeship As to all the rest of my personal Estate goods and Chattles of what kind and nature soever I give and bequeath the same unto my Wife Ann Bonser and my Son John Bonser so long as my said Wife remains a Widow but if at any time after my decease she shall marry again then to be paid the Sum of Five Pounds in lieu of her share of my personal Estate and my Son William Bonser be brought up till he is at a proper age to put Apprentice by my son John Bonser I do also appoint my Wife Ann Bonser my Son John Bonser my Brother John Bonser and my brother Henry Bonser Executors of this my last Will and Testament I do also nominate and appoint my Brother John Bonser and my Brother Henry Bonser Trustees and Guardians to my aforesaid Children In Witness whereof I set my hand and Seal this 11th day of April 1777
Signed Sealed Published and declared to be the last Will and testament of the above named William Bonser in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses in presence of the testator
William Bonser
Tho[ma]s Crabtree
Mary Crabtree
Know all Men, by these presents, that We Ann Bonser of Colston Basset in the County of Nottingham Widow John Bonser of Granby in the said County of Nottingham Weaver and Thomas Crabtree of Colston Bassett aforesaid Grazier do stand and are firmly bounden and obliged unto the Worshipful PETER JOHNSON, Master of Arts, Commissary of the Exchequer Court of the most Reverend Father in God WILLIAM, by Divine Providence Lord Arch-Bishop of York, Primate of England and Metropolitan lawfully constituted, in the Sum of One Hundred Pounds of good and lawful Money of Great-Britain to be paid to the said commissary or his true and lawful Attorney, Executors, Administrators or Assigns, to the which Payment well and truly to be made. We bind us and each of us, jointly and severally, for and in the whole, our and each of our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, and every of them firmly by these Presents, Sealed with our Seals. Dated the Twentieth Day of the Month of December in the Year of our Lord One Thousand, Seven Hundred, and Seventy Seven
The Condition of this Obligation is such, that if the above Bounden Ann Bonser widow Relict and John Bonser two of the joint Executors named in the last Will and Testament of William Bonser late of Colston Bassett in the County of Nottingham and Diocese of York Weaver deceased do will and truly Execute and perform the said last Will and Testatment of the said Deceased
And do pay his Debts and Legacies so far as his Goods will Extend and Law shall bind them also they do Exhibit into the Excheuqer Court at York a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Rights, Credits, Cattles, and Chattles of the said Deceased, and do make a true and just Accompt of the same they shall be thereunto lawfully called. And moreover, if need require enter into further Bond, with more sufficient Sureties for the Performance of the Premisses as the Judge of the said Court, for the Time being shall think requisite and Needful. And lastly, do save, defend, and harmless keep the above named Judge, and all his Officers, and Ministers, against all Persons by reason of the Premisses. Then this present Obligation to be void, and of none Effect or else to remain in full Force and Virtue.
sealed and Delivered in the presence of}
Rich[a]rd Barnard Sur[rogat]e
Ann Bonser her X Mark
John Bonser
Tho[ma]s Crabtree
Inventory respited}
- ↑ Colston Bassett burials, in Nottinghamshire Family History Society. Nottinghamshire Burials Database.
bur. 5 Jul 1777, William Bonser
Needs to be confirmed at Nottinghamshire Archives.
- "The family of Bonser first appears in South Nottinghamshire in 1693, at Granby and Colston Bassett, the name being variously spelt as Bonsar, Bonsire, Bonsier, Bonsor. In 1717 the then representative was described as a weaver. The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, drove many Protestants to England, where they found safe asylum, and many of them a livelihood by weaving. It seems likely that the Bonsires or Bonsiers were amongst those who came over." (County Pedigrees, W.P.W. Phillimore, 1909, London) Mocavo.co.uk, accessed 6 June 2013.
|
|
