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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Selkirkshire => Topic started by: Beckey on Tuesday 24 April 07 15:07 BST (UK)

Title: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: Beckey on Tuesday 24 April 07 15:07 BST (UK)
Looking for any details on a William Bonnington b. 1815 Bowden, in 1861 was Wright/Undertaker living at Hillmount with wife Margaret.
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 25 April 07 10:41 BST (UK)
Hi Becky

What sort of info are you after? Have you got the early census entries for the family. This looks like them in the 1841 Census:

William, 20, joiner
Margaret, 20
Ann, 2
Robert, 8 days

Address: Old Town Of Galashiels, Galashiels

Only one child shows on IGI, Ann born 05 MAY 1839 Galashiels, Selkirk, Scotland, to William B. and Margaret PURVES.

Regards.

Monica

Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 25 April 07 10:54 BST (UK)
Becky

Bit confused by the 1861 Census entry. Did William marry 3 times?

This is the 1851 Census entry, closest I can find that then links to the 1861 entry:

William Barrington 35, Carpenter Journeyman, b. ?? Peebleshire (as indexed, probably hard to transcribe electronically)
Mary Barrington 26, b. Galashiels
Peter Barrington 8, b. Galashiels
Margaret Barrington 2, b. Galashiels
Agnes Barrington 8 Mo, b. Galashiels

Address:  16 Stirling Street, Galashiels

Marriage entry for William to second wife (?):

WILLIAM BONNINGTON  Marriages:Spouse: MARY REAVELY      
Marriage:  09 JUL 1847 Melrose, Roxburgh, Scotland

Only one birth showing on IGI for William and Mary, and luckily its an 1855 one which should hopefully give you lots more background on William:

ISABELLA BONNINGTON  Birth: 16 FEB 1855  Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
   
Parents: Father: WILLIAM BONNINGTON Mother: MARY REAVLY

I'll post the 1861 entry separately for clarity.



Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 25 April 07 10:59 BST (UK)
The 1861 Census at Hillmount has the following:

William Bennington    46, Wright & Undertaker Em 2 Boys, b. Bowden
Elizabeth Bennington    57, b. St Boxwells, Roxburghsh
Peter Bennington    18, wright app., b. Galashiels
Margaret Bennington    12, b. Galashiels
Isabell Bennington    6, b. Edinburgh
John Wood    18, wright app.

Address: Hillmount, Colinton, Midlothian

There is also a marriage entry on IGI:

WILLIAM BONNINGTON  Marriages: Spouse:ELIZTH. THOMSON    
Marriage: 16 JUN 1857 Saint Boswells, Roxburgh, Scotland

William was certainly in the right occupation to bury all these wives  8)

Regards.

Monica
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: Beckey on Wednesday 25 April 07 11:26 BST (UK)
Hi Monica,

Thanks for the info. they are the ones even though the spelling is different, Ann b 1839 and Peter 1844.

Did get the 1861 census looking for Peter, that explains the different wife, didn't know about a 2nd one.
Am in touch with other family members, don't think they know about 3 wives.
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: moscan on Wednesday 25 April 07 11:34 BST (UK)
Hello Becky,

THe death Certificate for William shows all three wives...  A busy man...


William Bonnington died June 11 1885 in Bowden.  aged 69


Wives  1.  Margaret Fairburn
           2. Mary Reavley
            3. Elizabeth Thompson

His parents listed as being Robert Bonnington and Agnes Bonnington nee Inglis (I think not very clear)

Death registered by son Peter Bonnington.

Will forward you cert if you contact me through IM with your e-mail address

Best wishes

Mo
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 25 April 07 11:46 BST (UK)
That great Mo - ties it up perfectly!

Can't easily see William in the 1871 census, but this might be him in the 1881:

William Bonnington    65, carpenter, b. Bowden
Elizabeth Easton    57, general servant, b. Bathgate

Address: 20 Marjoribanks St, Bathgate, West Lothian

Supporting this census entry, is the likely death of 3rd wife Elizabeth:

1880   BONNINGTON   ELIZABETH THOMSON   77   BATHGATE/WEST LOTHIAN   662/01 0108

In respect of second wife Mary, possible deaths between 1855-57, there are only two and either could fit given the place names:

1855   BONNINGTON   MARY   (mother's maiden name) PATERSON    30   NEWINGTON AND GRANGE   EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN   685/02 0183   

1856   BONNINGTON   MARY   (mother's maiden name) WALDIE   (other surname) HAPPER   F   41   BOWDEN   /ROXBURGH   783/00 0001

Regards.

Monica
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: Beckey on Wednesday 25 April 07 14:17 BST (UK)
Thank you Mo & Monica,

All fits, just had confirmation that there were 3 wives, Elizabeth died Bathgate 1880, Mary Edinboro 1855 buried at Ladhope.
The Happer belongs to his brother Robert.

Beckey
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: krishock on Wednesday 27 June 07 19:56 BST (UK)
Does anyone have confirmation on the surname of William's first wife? It's listed as both PURVES and FAIRBAIRN on various documents.

It is listed as PURVES on:
* Anne Bonnington's birth record (5 May 1839, Galashiels, Selkirk, Scotland)
* Peter Bonnington's marriage record (17 Jun 1864, Colinton, Edinburgh, Scotland; William Bonnington was a witness)
* Peter Bonnington's death record (16 Sep 1891, Lasswade Parish, Edinburgh, Scotland; source: son William)

Additionally, the registration of the birth of Peter's eldest daughter, Eliza Craig Bonnington, lists Peter's full name as Peter Purvis Bonnington. None of the other family documents I've seen list his name this way.

Peter, however, listed his mother's surname as FAIRBAIRN on his father's death record in 1885 (11 Jun 1885, Bowden, Roxburgh, Scotland).

I've not been able to find a marriage record for William Bonnington to either a Margaret Purves or Fairbairn/Fairborn. Nor have I been able to find a birth record for a Margaret Purves or Fairbairn/Fairborn with a birth date that comes close to matching to her age in the 1841 census.

I've also looked for a birth records for William and Margaret's son, Robert and Peter, and death records for either Anne or Robert. I've had no luck. It would be nice to find out more about William's first wife.

Kris
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: runningbear on Wednesday 27 June 07 23:38 BST (UK)
hi kris, big big welcome to rootschat.

the isabella born in 1855 may be the same isabella on the 1881 census for england.

st ann's hotel, buxton, fairfield, derby (john harrison)

isabella...age 26...book-keeper...born scotland


Joe
Title: Re: Galashiels - Bonnington
Post by: Ann Baker on Friday 06 July 07 19:17 BST (UK)
Hi Kris

The usual reason for OPR baptisms (ie pre 1855) not being there is that the family were not established church of Scotland. You were supposed to pay C of S to register any non c of s births. Most people didn't!

However it may be possible for you to find them by contacting the National Archives Scotland who do hold recordfs of non C of S births - tho they vary in terms of how far back they go.

Similarly death pre 1855 were not registered. NAS may have the records of the mortcloth rents - tho there aren't many left but is certainly worth a try

Cheers

Ann