William Bonar

1721 - 1776  (55 years)

• Name	William Bonar
  Birth	1721	Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  Death	1776	, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
  Person ID	I22725	Master
  Last Modified	21 Jan 2015

  
  

  Family	Julie Elizabeth Gorrell,   b. 1726, , Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA d. , Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
  Marriage	1750	Roanoke River, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
  Children	+ 1. David Bonar,   b. 1762, , Harford, Maryland, USA d. 28 Oct 1836, , Marshall, West Virginia, USA (Age 74 years)  [Father: Natural]  [Mother: Natural]
  Family ID	F5891	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	5 Jan 2015

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1721 - Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland Marriage - 1750 - Roanoke River, Roanoke, Virginia, USA Death - 1776 - , Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Birth: 1751 Virginia, USA Death: Jul. 23, 1830 Ohio County West Virginia, USA WILLIAM BONAR was the son of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH GORRELL BONAR. He was born about 1751 on the Roanoke River, Virginia. He was the first of six children. He had four brothers and one sister. In 1774 at age twenty-two, he moved to Oliver Gorrell's plantation in Ohio County, Virginia which later became West Virginia. In 1776 he bought land a mile east of Gorrell's. He was about twenty-six and Jane McCulloch was about fourteen when they married about 1777 in Ohio County, Virginia. On 7 October 1777, William, Oliver Gorrell, George McCulloch and most of the male citizens of then Ohio County, Virginia, signed the "Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia" and did swear to renounce all allegiance to George III, King of England. He engaged in several expeditions against the Indians. He was in the Revolutionary War. His name is listed in "The Shepherd Papers" (Revolutionary War records and accounts of Col. David Shepherd). The 1810 census revealed that they were living in Brooke County, Virginia and had four sons and four daughters. The 1820 census revealed that he was a farmer and they were living in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia and had three sons and four daughters. The 1830 census revealed that they had two adult males and five adult females. They had four sons and six daughters: Catherine Bonar (McIntire)(b.1782 d.1865) Sarah Louise Bonar (Kirk) (b.1784 d.1835) James Bonar Rebecca Bonar (Baird) (Brady) Elizabeth Bonar (Bedwell) (b.1792 d.1870) Jane Bonar (Keach)(Henderson)(b.1793d.1876) David McCulloch Bonar (b.1796 d.1873) George Bonar (b.1798 d.1882) Greenbury Dorsey Bonar (b.1800 d.1874) Tabitha Bonar (Hough) (b.1804 d.1880) He died on 23 July 1830 in West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia. They were married about fifty-three years. William lived to age 79. - contributed, I believe, by Janice Oberlin Smarr on the Find A Grave Website: file:///Users/Lee/Desktop/Genealogy/William%20Bonar%20(1751%20-%201830)%20-%20Find%20A %20Grave%20Memorial.webarchive Tradition says that three or four Bonar brothers came to America, and that the name of one was William Bonar, who was born in 1721 and emigrated to America about 1738. One of his grandsons, Greenburg Dorsey Bonar, wrote in his diary that "William came from Ireland at 17 years." Everett W. Bonar, a descendant of William (who is referred to as William Bonar, 1st, in this genealogy) recorded in a Bonar manuscript in 1925-1932: "Very early in the 18th century, three brothers left their home in Ireland, emigrating to America. These Scotch Irish left a widow mother in Ireland; the most authentic version is as follows -- 'These young men had scarcely reached manhood when they cut loose from the Irish sod, coming one at a time, along about 1730-1740. Their names - Barnett, settled in Charleston South Carolina, afterwards moving to Pennsylvania. John settled in Kentucky and we have no further account of him. William settled first in Roanoke Virginia, afterwards moving to Havre de Gras, Maryland, thence to Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.' Tradition says that William Bonar, 1st, married Miss Gorrell, of or from near Roanoke Virginia. Glenna (Bonar) Baker gives her name as Miss Gorrell, but does not give the source of information nor her first name. We know that William was a married man when he lived on the Roanoke in Virginia - his son, William Bonar, 2nd, was born there -- this is recorded in the diary of Greenburg Dorsey Bonar. 1. William Bonar,lst, had five sons and possibly a daughter or daughters. The sons were: William Bonar, 2nd said to be the oldest son, was born 1751/2 on the Roanoke in Virginia; The birthdate and place of Matthew, said to be the second son, has not been proven. James, the third son, was born on Feb 26,1759, in Maryland; John, the fourth son, b. c.1763/64, and David, the fifth son, were both born in Maryland. 1-2 Matthew Bonar, the only child of John and Rebecca know to be living when the 1880 Federal Census for Marshall County was taken, states that his father and mother both were born in Maryland; this documentary record is at variance-with the "tradition" by a few who say that John was born in Pennsylvania. 1-4 John Bonar (I) born c. 1763/64 in Maryland, died June 23,1829 (from tombstone, Ohio County (now Marshall County), W.Va.); married probably 1785-88 to Rebecca Calhoun, born c. 1766 in Maryland, died June 10,1848, age 82, Marshall County, parents names not known. John and Rebecca were buried in a Bonar Cemetery on their farm. Children were: 1. James Calhoun "Blue Eyed Jim", 2. N aney, 3. Mary, 4. David, 5. William, -----~t' Martin (I) or Sr., 7. John B., 8. Elizabeth, 9. Matthew." John settled on Fork Ridge, Marshall County Virginia, 3 miles east of Moundsville Virginia, where he built a log house on his land and raised his family. The Bonar Family Cemetery was on this homestead, where John Bonar and Rebecca and at least a dozen or more kin were buried from time to time. This little cemetery has been plowed over, some markers lost, some were taken to the Oak Grove Cemetery, some were taken to Roberts Ridge Cemetery to be cared for (these had been stacked along the fence by the highway, among the weeds and growth). John and Rebecca Bonar had nine children, whose descendants should have been interested in this dedicated ground, even after this homestead changed into other hands. There is nothing left to show that some one's loved ones are buried there!" - Everett W. Bonar. It appears that John Bonar came to Marshall County later than his brothers, James and David. John is not listed in the 1810 Federal Census for Ohio County (W)Virginia; he may have come between 1810 and 1812. James Calhoun, eldest son of John, says he was born in Maryland (c.1789) while the second child and eldest daughter, Nancy (Bonar) Porter says she was born in Virginia (c.1792). This indicates that John and Rebecca were probably married in Maryland, had at least their first son there, then sometime between 1789 and 1792 moved to Virginia. (John Bonar's will is recorded in Ohio Co., Will Book 3, page 31.) IL-> 1-4-6 Martin Bonar, Sr., born July 22,1806, in Marshall Co. Virginia, (in the 1880 census, son J.W., says both Martin and Jane born Maryland), died March 26, 1860 (Bible GLB), April 20 (court records) on Fork Ridge, married Nov 15,1827 ..to Jane Porter, born March 6,1812, died Aug 26, 1883, in Marshall Co., daughter of John F. Porter and his first wife, Sarah Magers. 1850 census says Jane born in Pennsylvania, but 1860-70-80 censuses say they were born in Maryland. Martin and Jane are buried in the Fairmont Cemetery, Bowman Ridge, Marshall Co. Their children were: ----'-:-i) Susan Jane, 2. John William, 3. Rebecca, 4. Elizabeth,S. Michael '---'" . 6. Martm Porter [r., 7. Thomas Snodgrass, 8. Mary Ann, 9. James Calhoun (II) 10. Sarah Eliza, 11. Josephine Gibson, 12. Jesse Lee, and 13. Ellen. Martin and Jane bought a tract of land from Robert C. Woods on what is known as Bowman Ridge. They cleared the land and built a home where were born to them thirteen children. She (Jane) was a woman of striking worth and one who is loved and honored down through generations because of her ministrations. She was a mother in times that tried the souls of women. Martin died at the age of 53 years leaving the children, several of them young and dependant upon the care of this good mother, who never yielded to discouragement. But impelled by her faith in God, and her own hands and fine judgement, reared all those children in the fear and love of God, living monuments of worth and intelligence of this Christian mother The Civil War broke out in 1861 and four of those sons went to the Army, all of whom lived through; some a little worse of the wear, but all able to resettle. Soon these and other members of the family settled in homesof their own. 1--1-6-1 Susan Jane Bonar, (Great Grandfather Burgess' mother) born Feb 17, 1829, Marshall Co., died Aug 22,1907, age 78, Tyler Co., W.Va., married April 16, 1848 (by Phi1l~s Green, in Marshall Co. (Vol 1, pg 52), to William Thomas Burgess, born c.1831,.ln Virginia. (Note: Susan & William were our fathers' Great Grandparents on maternal side) Then children were:1. Martin William (our dad's Grandpa), 2. Michael Wesley, 3. Amanda,4. Thomas Edgar. According to Marshall County Census 1850: Thomas Burzess /:) , 29J Susan j anef Borrar) Burgess, 31, Martha W., 1 (Martha is an error, it is Martin) More than 100 families in this history _ (can't make it out - appears to be "are decendants") of Susan Jane and Thomas Burgess, Sr. "After her marriage, Susan Jane went to Tyler County to make her home. There was no doctor in the community and she felt the need of more knowledge of how to care for her growing family and also render intelligent service to her neighbors. To inform her mind she purchased books on anatomy, Materia Medica, and practice of medicine and began to study, and used the knowledge she gained to relieve pain and suffering wherever she was needed. Because of her ability she was called by the community much as a doctor. When the law was passed requiring a doctor to passexaminations and obtain license to practice medicine, she went to Wheeling, took the examination, got her license, and went back home to work as before. Her brother, T. S. Bonar, gave us this information." - Grace L. Bonar. 1541 (Another family line) Lavinia Founds, born c.1840 in Marshall Co., W.Va., married 1861 to William Burgess, born Nov 23,1831, son of William Burgess, Sr., and Eve (Coats) Burgess. Lavinia and William had no children, but they reared two: 1. Mary Velma Jones, listed in 1880 census as adopted daughter, 2. Charlie Lowe. The 1880 Marshall County Census, Washington Township, Entry 398: William Burgess, 48, b. W.Va. (both parents born W.Va.), Lavinia, 40, b.W.Va. (both parents born W.Va.), Mary, 20 adopted daughter (both parents barn PaJ "William Burgess, Sr., and Eve (Coats) Burgess, both devout members of the Methodist Church, passed their lives upon the farm and died in Marshall county, he about 1837, and she subsequently. They had eight children: 1. Mahala, 2. Charlotte (l.st wife of Matthew Bonar, Sr., son of John and Rebecca (Calhoun) Bonar), 3. Thomas William (Thomas married Susan Jane Bonar, dau of James Calhoun Bonar and Susan (Magers) Bonar), 4. Rachel, 5. Elizabeth, 6. Louisa, 7. William, 8. Amanda. {Bonar marriage inserts in this paragraph are my own; no proof of record that Charlotte and Thomas (same given names as ones who did marry Bonars) above are the same who married Bonarsm but likely they were. They lived in the same neighborhoods at the same time.}" "William Burgess, Jr., who married Lavinia Founds was one of the most highly respected farmers of the vicinity of Moundsville. William began to earn his own living at the age of 15 years, and has worked at farming all his life, becoming by energy and industry, one of the leading men in that vocation in the county. His farm of 136 acres lies in a beautiful locality and is adorned with handsome and commodious buildings. Mr and Mrs Burgess have long been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been steward and trustee for a considerable period. In politics he is a Republican." (HUOV, pgs 680,681) 1 William Bonar, b.1721, m. Miss Gorrell Children: 1. William, 2. Matthew, 3. James, 4. John, 5. David 1-4 John Bonar, b. c.1763/64, m. Rebecca Calhoun, b. c.1766 Children: 141 James Calhoun Bonar "Blue EyedJim" m. Sarah Magers 142 Nancy Bonar m. John F. Porter 143 Mary Bonar m. Michael Wilson144 David Bonar m. #1 Sarah Bonar #2 Anna /I Amy" Hicks 145 William Bonar, died young 146 Martin Bonar, Sr., m. Jane Porter Jane Porter daughter of John F. Porter & 1st wife Sarah Magers, 141 &142 above. Children: 1461 Susan Jane Bonar m. William Thomas Burgesss 14611 Martin William Burgess, born c.1849, Tyler Co, W.Va., m. Rachel Evelyn Gamer (our maternal Great Great Grandparents) - Their children were: 1. Charles M., 2. Walter Forest, 3. John Nelson (twin) with 4. Susan "Sue" (twin) 5. George Franklin, 6. Eva (our Grandmother Martha Evalyn), 7. Bruce, 8. "Ross", 9. "Lulu", 10. Jesse, 11. Curtis William Jr., 12. Maggie, 13. Julia, and 14. Dessie 14612 Michael Wesley Burgess, b. Feb 11,1851, Marshall Co., died May 9, 1922, Age 71, married on Dee 31, 1875 to Martha Magdalene Berger, b. Sept 20, 1855, Wetzel Co., d. June 13, 1922, Age 66, Wetzel Co, W.Va. Children: 1. Joseph. Michael Wesley and Martha Magdalene are buried in Williams Cemetery, New Martinsville, W. V a. 1462 John William Bonar m. Sarah Sivert 1463 Rebecca Bonar m. Jacob Sivert 1464 Elizabeth Bonar - died young 1465 Michael Bonar - died young 1466 Martin Porter Bonar m. #1 Alvilda E. Porter #2 Sarah A. Zink 1467 Thomas Snodgrass Bonar m. Martha Bonar 1468 Mary Ann Bonar m. William Donley 1469 James Calhoun Bonar m. Margaret Jane Gatts 146(10) Sarah Eliza Bonar m. William Newton Bonar 146(11) Josephine Gibson Bonar m. John W. Howe 146(12) Jesse Lee Bonar m. Nellie Gatts 146(13) Elissa Ellen Bonar m. Danial W. Games 147 John B. Bonar m. Lucinda Gorby 148 Matthew Bonar m. #1 Charlotte Ann Burgess #2 Mary Ann Goshorn Marple Charlotte Ann Burgess- sister of William Thomas Burgess 149 Elizabeth Bonar m. Adam Heman (?) (NOTE: Tom Milburn's notes, with information provided by Clem Milburn, are in the small print in parens. I reworked sequences some to make sense to me only. )