Person:John Bonser (2)

John Bonser was baptised on 20th March 1723 at Granby in Nottinghamshire, son of Elizabeth Bonser, formerly Harrison, and her husband Henry Bonser. John was the eldest of their five children. In 1740, when John was sixteen years old, his father died. The following year John's mother married John Breton, who was the curate of Granby.

On 13th November 1746, aged 23, John married Ann Godfrey at Granby. John and Ann went on to have five children baptised at Granby between 1748 and 1757. All five appear to have lived to adulthood.

In 1777 John acted as executor for his younger brother William's will and was also appointed guardian to William's young children.

John's mother died in 1778, and John acted as her executor. She had left specific items to each of John's five children.

In 1780 John wrote his will, in which he described himself as a weaver. He provided for the care of his wife and left modest amounts of money for each of his three daughters who had married, a larger amount for his daughter who was still unmarried and left the rest of the estate to his only son.

John died at the age of 61, being buried at Granby on 11th July 1784. His burial record notes that he had also been the parish clerk. Ann survived him by nearly fifteen years.

1. ↑ Nottinghamshire Family History Society. Nottinghamshire Baptisms Database.

   ch. 20 Mar 1722/3, Granby: John son of Henry & Elizabeth Bonsier

   This baptism has been linked to the John Bonser who married Ann Godfrey on the basis of John's brother William's will and subsequent bond of 1777 and 1778 which mention his brother John Bonser, weaver of Granby. This can therefore be linked to the John Bonser, weaver of Granby whose will was written in 1780 and refers to his wife Ann and their children.

2.   Nottinghamshire, England. Nottingham Deanery Wills
   PR/NW, 1 Jan 1780.
   Will
   In the Name of God Amen I John Bonser the Elder of Granby in the County of Nottingham Weaver being mindful of my mortality do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner following That is to say first and principally I commend my Soul to the Almighty who gave it hoping for Salvation thro[ugh] the merits of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ and my Body I resign to the dust from whence it was taken to be decently interr[e]d at the Charge & Discretion of my Executor herein after named And for my worldly goods of which I may die possest I dispose of the same as follows. - First I desire that my dear Wife Ann Bonser may dwell along with my son John Bonser the Younger and be maintained by him for and during the term of her natural Life or So long as the remains a Widow and if she chooses to Leave my said son I give her so much of my household Furniture as she shall Chuse sufficient to furnish one Room I also give her one Bed & all the appurtenances thereto belonging which Bed she chooses.-I also give to my said Wife a yearly Annuity of Five pounds to be paid her by my Executor hereafter named to be paid half yearly the first payment to become due Six months next after she shall shall [sic] have Left my said son and so to continue for so long as she do not live along with my said son if she remain my Widow. - I also give to each of my three daughters, Elizabeth Burrows, Sarah Lockton, & Mary Barnes the Sum of one Guinea. - I also give to my Daughter Ann Bonser the Sum of twenty five Pounds. - All the then rest and residue of my Goods Cattle Chattels and personal Estate of all kinds whatsoever I give to my Son John Bonser the Younger whom I hereby nominate and appoint full and Sole Executor of this my Will hereby revoking all former and other Wills at any time here tofore by me made Confirming this only as his Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Testator have hereunto set my hand and Seal this First day of January One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty.
   John Bonser
   Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator for and as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us Who have subscribed our names as Witnesses in his presence at this Request
   W[illia]m Hickling
   George Johnson
   W[illia]m Johnson
   
   Inventory
   An Inventory and Appraisement of the Goods &c of John Bonser late of Granby in the County of Nottingham Weaver deceased
   

   	£	s	d
   purse and Apparel	10	-	-
   Household Goods and Furniture	60	-	-
   £	70	-	-

   
   Taken and Appraised this 10th day of September 1785 by us
   Will[ia]m Rowbotham
   Fran[ci]s Stephenson
3. ↑ Nottinghamshire Family History Society. Nottinghamshire Burials Database.

   bur. 11 Jul 1784, Granby: John Bonser, Parish Clerk