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