Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Frederick Bonner

Frederick Bonner (M)b. 4 November 1758, d. 23 March 1830

Frederick Bonner was born on 4 November 1758 at Dinwiddie Co., VA.. He married Elizabeth Smith on 28 September 1779 at Dinwidde Co, VA. Frederick Bonner died on 23 March 1830 at Greene Co., OH. Frederick owned a plantation near Reams Station, Dinwiddie Co., VA and was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1803 he settled two miles south of Xenia, Greene Co., OH from Dinwiddie Co., Virginia.

In 1802, after he had made a nexploratory trip to Ohio, they had assembled their wagon train of fifteen members, including a few blacks, at Petersburg, VA, thence through the Cumberland Gap to Cincinnati, then north-east to the Little Miami River and the into the Bullsiin Trail. He had owned slaves but was reportedly very much anti-slavery. The supposition is that he moved to Ohio as it was a free state.

This Bonner family traces its lineage back to Captain Thomas Bonner who in 1642 immigrated to the colony of Virginia and later settled at Reams Station. He came from Kent in England and the family was of Norman origin.

He served in the Revolutionary War and was given a grant of 5,000 acres of land in the Virginia Reserve of southwestern Ohio.

Child of Frederick Bonner and Elizabeth Smith
David Smith Bonner+ b. c 1780, d. a 1860
Elizabeth Smith (F)b. 23 April 1756, d. 23 July 1818Last Edited=8 Aug 2006
Elizabeth Smith was born on 23 April 1756 at Reams Station, Dinwiddie Co., VA.. She married Frederick Bonner on 28 September 1779 at Dinwidde Co, VA. Elizabeth Smith died on 23 July 1818 at Bonner Graveyard, Greene Co., OH.

Child of Elizabeth Smith and Frederick Bonner
David Smith Bonner+ b. c 1780, d. a 1860

2 comments:

Ronald Seagrave said...

Hello, Mr. Seagrave,
I just came across your blog on Frederick Bonner, and I am descended from that union through his daughter Nancy who married John Sale, who are my third Great Grandparents.
In my research notes, I have the Greene County story and thought you might like to see them.
"On page 274 of the "History of Greene County, Ohio," by R.S. Dills, 1881 there is a bio about Frederick Bonner, Senior, early "Trials of Emigration".
His son,F. Bonner, jr., reports, " In the year 1802, father sold his land in Virginia (five hundred acres) for $2000, and bought two surveys of one thousand acres each, in what was then the Northwest Territory, at the cost of $2000. Upon visiting it, and finding it well situated, he returned and began preparations for moving on it the following season. On Saturday April 1, 1803, we started, and went as far as Petersburg, and remained until Monday. Two other families joined us, and our outfit was all put in two covered wagons, including household goods, a chest of carpenter tools, and a turning lathe. To each of these were attached four horses, with bells and leaders. A one-horse wagon carried the provisions, and the females, when they became tired of walking. In addition to these we had a canvas to sleep under at night. On Monday morning we resumed our long journey to the far west, pursuing a route through southern Virginia, which, in a few days, brought us within view of the mountains; first, the peaks of the Blueridge, then the Alleghany and Cumberland. Crossing these in safety, we reached Kentucky, passing along Crab Orchard road. Arriving at Lexington, we pushed on to Cincinnati ( then a village of fifteen hundred), crossing the Ohio River at that place, May 10, 1803, and camped near the mouth of Deer Creek, then some distance from the village. Next morning we went up the river into the Little Miami Valley, crossing the river a little above Cincinnati. Here we encountered our first serious difficulty. The water was high and running swiftly. Our four horse wagon crossed without incident; but when the wagon containing the wife of Mr. Day proceeded as far as the middle, or swiftest part of the stream, one of the horses fell, and could not rise. Mr. Day, in attempting to assist, was washed off down stream with the horses. Father went in to his assistance, and the water tripped him up, and he also went struggling down the river, to the alarm of all. Fortunately, he got out on the same side from which he entered, while Day was struggling in the river near his horses. Finally, they succeeded in fastening a chain to the end of the tongue, and hitched our horses to it, we drew it out. All this time Day's wife and child were in the wagon, in imminent danger of being capsized into the river, and washed away. Mr. Day and family located near the vicinity of this accident, and we followed up the river to the present site of Milford, where we found a vacant cabin, which father rented for a few months. Into this we moved, and remained until we could make arrangements to go to our land in Greene County. In June, father and some of the boys went to the land, and selected a spot to build a cabin, near Glady Run, a branch of the Little Miami, which was to accommodate us as our new home in the woods.

Ronald Seagrave said...

Found on 1820 Census, Xenia Twp.,Greene County, Oh, page 145, we find Frederick Bonner living four houses down from John Sail (Sale). Frederick's daughter Nancy, married John Sale in 1804. John's age was "of 45 and upwards".
Found on Findagrave at the Bonner Family Cemetery, Xenia, Greene County, Ohio is listed:
Birth: Nov. 4, 1758
Death: Mar. 23, 1830
Son of Thomas Bonner of Dinwiddie County, Virginia.
Father of:
Nancy (Bonner) Sale
Frederick Bonner, Jr.
Stith Bonner
Elizabeth "Eliza" (Bonner) Taylor
Frederick owned a plantation near Ream's Station, which he may have inherited from his father.
Frederick Sr. was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his home was a meeting place on the Brunswick circuit for twenty years. He was a Methodist before the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized.
He owned slaves, but was anti-slavery in his belief. He may have inherited the slaves or he may have been convinced that slavery was wrong, through the teachings of the Methodist Church, which did not prohibit a lay member from owning slaves, but did teach that slavery was wrong. Ohio being free, this was Frederick's first opportunity to free his slaves.
The following is a list of Frederick Sr.'s family who emigrated with him from Virginia to Ohio:
-Elizabeth (Smith) Bonner, wife, b.04/23/1756 d.07/23/1818
-Nancy Bonner, dau. who married Rev. John Sale, b.10/20/1782 d. 02/05/1868
-Chappell Heath Bonner, who is buried in Van Buren Co. Iowa
-Stith Bonner, son, b.12/21/1790 d.09/23/1873
-Elizabeth Bonner, who married Rev. John Taylor
-Frederick Bonner, Jr. son, b.1796 d.1880
Other family members who did not emigrate:
-David Smith Bonner
-Polly Bonner, who died in Virginia at age 18
-Patsey Bonner, who married 1st Samuel Pelham; 2nd George W. Wright
Inscription:
Sacred
To the memory of
FREDERICK BONNER SR.
who was Born: Nov. 4th 1758
departed this life March 23rd
A.D. 1830
Aged 71 yrs. 4 mo. &
19 days;
------------------
In the character of this venerable man was happly concentrated every virture calculated to exalted & endear humanity embellished with the lustre of pure & undefilled religion --"He was an affectiante husband, a tender parent, a deligent and exemplary member of civil society; a burning shining light in the Methodist E. Church. But he now rests from his labours, and his works follow him.
Farewell: thou aged venerated friend; We'll meet above when this short life shall end
O may we all, like thee betimes prepare That world of pure perennial bliss to share.

Burial:
Bonner Family Cemetery
Xenia
Greene County
Ohio, USA
Plot: Buried in Grave #2 in the first row on the left next to the fence.”
Now, I know you report on Dinwiddie County History, but I was wondering if you are descended from the Bonners? I could not really tell from this article. Also, another ancestor of mine connected to this Sale family was Baker Perkins who was born in Dinwiddie County, also, I have no date. But his son John born in 1804 married the daughter, Elizabeth Ann Sale, of the Bonner/Sale marriage. If you have any information on Baker Perkins, born in Dinwiddie Co., and died in Greene County, Ohio in 1846, I would be most appreciative of receiving that information, when you have time.

Thank you for posting this article, and I am so lucky to have found it.

Sincerely,
Virginia Britten
37908 Lake Gilbert Circle,
Dade City, Florida 33525