Alexander Bonner (abt. 1801 - abt. 1875)

Born about 1801 in Killeshandra, County Cavan, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Monica Maria (Glass) Bonner — married about 26 Nov 1846 in Dublin North, County Dublin, Ireland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1 Jul 1875 at about age 74 in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand [uncertain]

Biography

Alexander and Monica Bonner lived in Onehunga, Auckland; Alexander and was a Fencible of the 40th Regiment who arrived in N.Z. on the ship Berhampore in 1849. ^[1]

When Alexander was about 45 he married Monica Maria Glass on 26 November 1846 in Dublin, Ireland. The couple had 11 children: UNKNOWN Bonner, UNKNOWN Bonner, UNKNOWN Bonner, Charles Bonner, James Campbell Bonner, George David Bonner, Thomas Bonner, Thomas William Bonner, Edward Alexander Bonner, Elizabeth Mary Bonner and Frederick Joseph Bonner. ^[2]

Note: Name ALEXANDER BONNER MARIA GLASS

Address 50 CHURCH ST 24 CHURCH ST

Occupation PENSIONER N/R

Father CHARLES BONNER EDWARD GLASS

Mother N/R N/R

Further details in the record

Husband Age FULL

Husband Marital Status B

Wife Age FULL

Wife Marital Status S

Husband's Father's Occupation GROCER

Wife's Father's Occupation GLOVER

Witness 1 DOUGALL MCDOUGALL (WITNESS FOR HUSBAND)

Witness 3 CATHERIN BURKE (WITNESS FOR WIFE)

About the record

Book Number Page Entry Number Record_Identifier Image Filename

N/R 12 24 DU-CI-MA-39857 d-276-3-1-012

Alexander died at the age of about 74 on 1 July 1875 in Onehunga, New Zealand. Cause of death was Phthisis Pulmonalis (Tuberculosis). ^[3]

Alexander was buried on 4 July 1875 in Catholic Cemetery, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand. Note : Alexander's wife is named "Emma" in the Berhampore passenger list ^{[4] [5]}

Research Notes

Notes from external profile

Note: Sent email: 18MAY05 for costing of copying the following:

Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies. Division within WO: Records of the Royal Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospital.

WO 97: Royal Hospital Chelsea: Soldiers Service Documents

Subseries within WO 97: 1760-1854: discharge papers arranged by regiment, but each described at item level. (WO 97/1-1271)

WO 97/401 20th Foot: Ada - Cap

Record Summary

Scope and content

ALEXANDER BONNOR alias ALEXANDER BONNER

Born KILL, Cavan

Served in 20th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 36

Covering dates 1822-1840

Availability: Open Document, Open Description, Normal Closure before FOI Act: 30 years

Held by The National Archives, Kew

FHL reference: 876949

The 20th Foot Regiment sailed for India April 13th 1822 on East India Ship Macqueen (1300 tons, 6 trips, years 1821-3 - Captain James Walker) and Orwell (1335 tons, 8 trips, years 1817-1830 - Captain William Elisha Farrer ) arrived Bombay June 14th. His unit served in many parts of India until April 1837 when they return to England landing at Deal and marched to Canterbury Barracks. He was present at the coronation of Queen Victoria in June 1838 and the Presentation of New Colours by the Duke of Wellington in the same year. In June 1840 the Regiment sailed for Dublin and marched to Richmond barracks and were still in Ireland when he was discharged.

Atttestation Papers:

Her Majesty's 20th Regiment of Foot.

Whereof General Sir W Houstoun Bart. G. C. B. V. G. C. H. is Colonel.

No. 398 Private Alexander Bonner

Born in the parish of Kill in or the town of [blank] in the County of Cavan by Trade a Weaver.

Attested for the 20th Regiment of Foot at Cavan inthe County of Cavan on the 17th July 1822, at the Age of 18 years.

1st. Service. After the age of 8 years, which he is entitled to reckon up to the 12th day of March 1840 is 18 years, and seventy-nine days the statement of which is as follows.

Regiment: 20th Foot.

Promotions: [blank] Rank: Private. Period of service from 15 July 1822 to 10 April 1826. Amount of service Years 3 Days 270.

Disability or cause of discharge: Chronic Catarrh. According to the surgeon [setproch]annexed, it appears that this is a case of disease attributable to a long intertropical residence. Not to neglect, design, vice or intemperance, his conduct while in hospital has been good, and the board concurs in the opinion of the surgeon.

The officers composing the board, having examined the Defaulter's Book, and received parole testimony from Captain Gordon are of opinion that his conduct has been good.

Pay and clothing: Private Alexander Bonner, being asked up to what period he has been paid, answered that his account has been balanced up to the 12th of the present month; being further asked whether he has any other claim on the Regiment for Arrears of Pay, Allowances or Clothing, answered that he has none.

Information on the surname, "Bonner":

Bonar numerous: Ulster. Ir. Ó Cnáimhsí, which occurs as Kneafsey in Connacht. However, in E Ulster, the name is of Scottish origin. The name is rare in Limerick & Tipperary but of Palatine descent. Woulfe says that Ó Cnáimhsí is ametronymic, i.e. derived from a woman's name. In fact, cnáimhseach means midwife. Ó Cnáimhsí Bonner, Bonar: líonmhar: iarthar Uladh. Tá na leagain ghallda "Kneafsey" agus "Crampsey" imithe as feidhm, geall leis. Is ionann cnáimhseach is bean chabhartha i gcursaí breithe; fágann san gur sloinne ó thaobh na máthar atá againn - an rud is annamh is iontach! Is cosúil gur Pailitínigh Muintir Bonner i Luimneach-Tiobraid Arann.

The Times, Monday, Feb 05, 1849; pg. 1; Issue 20091; col A NOTICE to SHIPPERS for BOMBAY direct.- Category: Classified Advertising For Auckland direct, under engagement with the Emigration Commissioners to sail from Gravesend on the 25th February, the [illegible] & fast-sailing Berhampore, burden 700 tons, A1, 12 years and coppered. Thomas B. Smith Commander; lying in the London Docks. Has a full poop, and excellent accommodation for passengers. For freight or passage apply to John Pirie and Co., 18 Birchin-lane, Cornhill.

BERHAMPORE - 1849 Master: Captain T. Smith Rigging: Ship; sheathed in yellow metal in 1848 Tonnage: 543 tons using old measurements and 653 tons using new measurements Construction: 1845 in Hull Owners: E. Gibson Port of registry: Hull Port of survey: London Voyage: sailed for New Zealand

The Times, Wednesday, Mar 07, 1849; pg. 7; Issue 20117; col B Ship News. Category: Shipping News

Gravesend, March 6.

Sailed. The Berhampore, for New Zealand.

5'6" tall, light hair, hazel eyes, fresh pock-marked face, bad case of catarrh of 20th Foot from London West district). Ship carried Royal New Zealand Fencibles. Names of women & children not given in nominal rolls. Sailed 7(or 8th) March 1849.War Office No 43-89 says 77 men (New Zealander 23 June 1849 says 88 rank & file,81 women & ? children

Arrived on board BERHAMPORE - 1849

Captain JB Smith

Surgeon Dr Carr

Web Link: http://www.nzfenciblesociety.org.nz

40th Regiment, per Yvonne Taylor.

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BERHAMPORE,  ? tons, sailed from London on 7 Mar 1849, arriving in Auckland on 16 Jun 1849.

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ADDRESS Daily Southern Cross, Volume V, Issue 211, 6 July 1849, Page 3

ADDRESS

Of the Enrolled Pensioners on board the ship "Berhampore," presented by a Deputation of that body on their arrival at Auckland, to Capt. T. B. Smith commander, on the 18th June, 1849. Sir, - The Enrolled Pensioners, emigrants on board your good ship " Berhampore," impelled by a strong desire to pay that tribute of respect and sincere attachment, which your amiable conduct at all times during the voyage, well deserves, have: deemed it a duty, which, both religion and morality ; dictate, to bear testimony to your admirable system of conducting the affairs of your charge, with that savant urbanity of manner, professed only by the gentleman of highly cultivated attainment, who, having well studied the human mind, is alone capable of guiding the boisterous passions, by that peaceful helm, which transforms it from a raging tempest to the solitude of peace. The aged fathers and mothers have looked on with admiration while they have witnessed your well guided condescension, in using your successful endeavours to keep up the spirits of their children ; you have invented all sorts of juvenile sports, you have mixed in their games as if one of their equals, you have supplied them (for encouragement) with nuts, plums, and confectionaries, you have endeared them to you, they dream about you, they look upon you in the light of a fond parent, and years shall pass away, 'ere your generous kindness shall be effaced from their memory. You have made it a very important point in your conduct to anticipate the wants and wishes of mothers having infants at the breast, the sick also, have felt the alleviating hand of a generous heart, a self-evident truth of this assertion, being contained in the fact, that, when we embarked at Gravesend, we numbered 162, while at present, we number 166 souls, showing an increase of four. Convey Sir, our best thanks to your chief mate, Mr. Hodgson, for his kind civility, and to your officers and crew for the cordiality which has existed between us ; they have been selected with a masterly discrimination, their masculine frames, their manly and vigorous aspects, present the finest specimen of British seamen. And now. Sir, it remains for us, to imploringly appeal, to the giver of all good gifts, that he may guide your paths safely back to your native country, and through all the difficulties of this life, rendering you at all times an object of his choicest blessings. Signed on behalf of the Company, by the following members of the Committee forming the deputation ; - William Blackburn, Secretary, Andrew McMahon, Sergt. Major,") . J. Murphy. Sergeant, Henry O'Yara, Donald M'Kenzie, John Musdoch.

SHIPPING LIST Daily Southern Cross, Volume 4, Issue 209, 23 June 1849, Page 2

THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND FENCIBLES

Hone Heke defies British authority -

Anthony G. Flude © 2005

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~tonyf/Fencibles/Fencibles.html

New Zealand became an official Crown Colony of Great Britain on the 3rd May 1841, severing all links with New South Wales, Australia, although the New Zealand Company ship "London"had already landed its first 200 immigrant passengers at Port Nicholson, Wellington on the 12th December, 1840, five months earlier.

The Maori chief Hone Heke Pokai was a nephew of the chief Hongi Hika and was particularly noted for his accomplishments as a diplomat among his own maori people and also the missionaries and settlers. A man of great mana among his people who's life was greatly influenced by the advice given to him by chief Hongi Hika. Hone's philosophies in life were to tell his people to be kind to the missionaries, to talk and trade with the settlers but to have nothing to do with the redcoat soldiers and to 'not let our lands pass into the hands of the pakeha.' [white settlers]

Hone Heke took part in the maori inter-tribal battles of Koroareka in the year 1830 where his uncle Hengi was killed and later at the battle of Otunoetai, Tauranga in 1833, where he was wounded and sent back to the Bay of Islands to recover. He was converted to christianity by the missionaries and lived with Rev. Henry Wakefield and his family at Paihia, during which time he became a lay reader at the local church. Hone married Ono, also known as 'Lydia," the daughter of Te Pahi of Ngati-Rehia. In 1837 he was again fighting at Pomare, but returned and settled at Kaikohe.

At the time of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 3rd, 1840, Hone Heke was the first maori chief to come forward to sign, although many of the settlers thought this was more of a theatrical act than agreeing to the terms of the document and its contents. Hone and his cousin had been gaining revenue from the whaling ships that put in to re-provision at Kororareka [Russel] in the Bay of Islands, charging them a levy of £5 per vessel. At the height of the whaling season, this would have produced a tidy sum of money for the chiefs. However, with the declaration of British sovereignty, Hone was to forfeit this revenue to the Crown, when the newly appointed Harbourmaster collected Port Duties for the Government.

In the following years until 1844, during which time the capital of New Zealand was moved to Auckland, Hone Heke began to talk of rebellion against the new British rules being imposed. He openly stated that he viewed the flagstaff and flag flown by the military garrison at Russell as a symbol of the British Queen's authority, usurping his mana as leader among his own people. He was further concerned at the maori land that was being sold off very cheaply to the settlers.

Hone began to assert his authority and on the 8th July he ordered his men to cut down the flagpole flying the Union Jack at Kororareka. The British commander was not amused and viewed this action very seriously. "I consider losing the flagstaff in the same light as losing a ship", said Lieutenant Philpotts, Royal Navy, in his report to the Governor. As a deterent and show of strength, a detachment of 250 men from the 96th regiment arrived at the settlement under Lt.Colonel Hulme but when the northern chiefs later guaranteed Hone Heke's good behavoir , they were returned to Auckland.

Still smouldering, Hone Heke continued to incite his followers and again cut down the flagpole on the 19th January, 1845. The 96th regiment was called from Auckland to restore order and guard the re-erected flagpole. Fortifications were built and the British warship H.M.S. Hazard arrived in the bay. By early March, although things appeared to have settled down, Hone Heke and chief Kawiti had joined forces. The 96th had returned to Auckland aboard the warship. Skirmishes broke out near Kororareka and looting of settlers houses and goods began on the outskirts. Hone Heke and his warriors attacked the garrison at Kororareka at dawn on the 11th March, defeating the small British garrison and cutting down the flagpole in defiance of British rule. The town was abandoned and the surviving British settlers transferred to Auckland. Lt. Philpotts ordered the maori occupied town be bombarded with cannon from his fortifications on the outskirts, while the looters went from house to house setting the wooden buildings alight.

The unrest in the north continued into 1846 and the sacking of Koroareka by Hone Heke and his warriors led Governor Fitzroy and later Governor Grey to request the Colonial Office in London to send troops to help quell the problems. After much debate in the British Parliament, it was finally agreed that a regiment of retired soldiers, rather than a fighting force, were to be recruited and called the Royal New Zealand Fencibles. They were to be sent to the colony to help protect and defend the settlers against the marauding attacks by the maori. Notices, issued by the British War office on the 4th December 1846, were displayed stating the conditions of enlistment in every military camp in the British Isles where pensioners were stationed.

Enlistment of suitable candidates began in England and Ireland, where the period of service in the Fencibles was for seven years. The men selected from the volunteers would be of two classes. The first group was to be men already in receipt of military pensions, while the second group would be selected from men discharged without a pension. Those wishing to be considered for recruitment were required to be under 48 years of age, with a minimum of 15 years military service. They needed to be taller that 5ft 5" and medically fit as required by military standards.

Pay was offered at the rate of 1/3d a day which was in addition to their pension money and if married with children, all would receive a free passage to New Zealand at the governments expense. Many of those men enlisted had fought in many countries in the world and would be well used to the sort of conditions they were likely to encounter on arrival in the new fledgling colony of New Zealand.

On arrival and disembarkation, the men were to receive a three month pension payment, plus an extra one month for each child in the family. They were to be be housed in a small two bedroomed cottage on a quarter acre section of land which was to become their own freehold property if they settled and remained in New Zealand after the seven years enlistment period. Each pensioner was to be be issued with a musket and bayonet, percussion caps, black gunpowder, shot and equipment, a blue serge uniform and peaked hat, a red shell jacket and black army type boots.

The officers were enrolled under different conditions. Each officer was to be given a four-roomed cottage with a kitchen on a sizable block of land [usually 30-50 acres] with the option of additional crown land purchase if they remained in New Zealand at the end of their engagement. A further item was added to the Fencibles 'conditions of service' after their arrival in New Zealand, which stated that the Governor of New Zealand was to have the option of employing pensioners on Public Works at the current rate of employment that existed in the colony rather than being permitted to hire out their labour privately. All monies earned was additional to their pension. The Fencible units and their families gathered at the ports of Greenwich, Gravesend or Belfast in Ireland, arriving in New Zealand aboard the ten government chartered vessels over a period of five years between 1847 and 1852.

The Fencible Ships to New Zealand.

RAMILLIES Captain McLean 67 pensioners 57 women 123 children year 1847

MINERVA Captain McBrath 80 pensioners 67 women 145 children year 1847

SIR ROBERT SALE Captain Loader 74 pensioners 69 women 149 children year 1847

SIR GEORGE SEYMOUR Captain Millman 78 pensioners 63 women 114 children year 1847

CLIFTON Captain Kettlewell 79 pensioners 72 women 161 children year 1848

ANN Captain Walker 74 pensioners 70 women 153 children year 1848

BERHAMPORE Captain Smith 80 pensioners 67 women 101 children year 1849

ORIENTAL QUEEN Captain Thomas 71 pensioners 62 women 168 children year 1849

INCHINNAN Captain Innis 78 pensioners 68 women 113 children year 1852

BERWICK CASTLE Captain Latta 40 pensioners 37 women 68 children year 1852

In New Zealand, Governor Grey and his military advisers had drawn a five mile circle on the map around the Auckland township where the Fencibles might be located but some of the chosen sites fell outside these boundaries. The aim of this approximate five mile placement was to keep the Fencible detachments at a reasonable distance from each other so that they could provide military support if required and that they were placed within a five mile radius of their employment.

It was decided that the first detachment of pensioners would be located and settled at Onehunga, some 4¾ miles from Auckland directly across the narrow ismus, coast to coast. Onehunga, as a sea port, seemed to be an ideal location and one division was to be stationed there. The next location chosen was Howick [Paparoa], 11¾ miles distant on the eastern approaches where three divisions were to be stationed, followed by Panmure, 7 miles distance, one division and at Otahuhu, 8½ miles to the south, one division. The remaining company's arrived at a later time by the "Berthempore" and the "Oriental Queen, in September, 1849, by which time Governor Grey had visited Tamaki and chosen a site for another division to be stationed there.

The pensioners duties were described in the conditions set out for recruitment. They were required to attend Church Parade every Sunday in full uniform and also to attend six days military drill and firearms training in the spring and autumn of every year. Failure to comply with these conditions would be regarded as 'desertion' and the appropriate military penalties would apply. For the training and parades, the men received 1/3d extra for each day when these duties were performed.

Edward Mellon, was a 9 year old boy travelling with his mother and father, a pensioner of the No 8 Company of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles aboard the "Oriental Queen" in September, 1849 to Auckland, New Zealand. In a letter written in 1919, he recalls and describes the ships arrival in the Waitemata Harbour and the subsequent journey by foot of the Fencibles, their wives, children and luggage, to the small village of Onehunga, a distance of 4¾ miles.

"At first we anchored for a short stay at the Parade Ground under the signal station at Mount Victoria to discharge ammunition and explosives. Then the ship was moved up the harbour to a position opposite Fort Britomart where she anchored for three weeks while her remaining cargo was discharged in small 'cargo' boats to the shore. Some mothers went ashore with these boats to view what was then only a small village with few inhabitants, mostly natives with very few clothes on!" he wrote.

Returning to the ship, they told how the natives offered them oranges for sale at 1/- per dozen, live pigs, baskets of fish and potatoes and that the 'tea-tree' they had been told about, was growing alongside the streets and could be taken for free. The boys and girls were not so interested in the 'tea-tree', but the oranges at 1d. each pleased them all. After three weeks had passed everyone aboard was taken ashore, the luggage taken into Official Bay by the ship's boats and loaded onto the waiting drays. A horse was put to our dray and together with the others walked slowly up the hill to the top of Parnell to the 'Old Windsor Castle Hotel', kept by a Mr. Johnstone, where a halt was made for the drays to catch up and for the men to treat themselves to some beer, which they declared, was the best they had tasted in four months. [a daily rum ration per man was the only alcoholic drink allowed aboard]

We started onwards, Edward continued, passing through Newmarket, to where there was a hotel called "The Royal George" and opposite a store named 'Cheapside', the owner D. Toohey. When we reached the Great South Road where it joins the Onehunga Road we met a donkey and cart by the roadside; it neighed at us. Wearily we soon reached the hotel called "The Halfway House' where a stop took place for the men to get another couple of glasses of beer.Then onwards until we reached Potter's Paddock where all the contents of the drays were dumped onto the grass. Then into the big barn they were carried, for that was to be our new home.

He continued. Someone was dispatched up to One Tree Hill to gather flax which was tied together to form partitions where we all ate what food was provided and sleeping quarters. My parents had two boxes which we used as tables, while we sat and later slept on the grass on the floor. There was no school to attend, so the boys soon got into trouble playing in a large pond of water. Young James Ingram was sent up the hill for flax and sticks to make guns for us to play games and we drilled up and down like soldiers in rediness to fight the natives if they came. That all happened in October, 1849 and by the year 1863 I had become a Colonial soldier myself at Papakura. [Edward Mellon was a resident of Onehunga 1849-1853].

ONEHUNGA VILLAGE was the first village to be established. The Fencibles and their families off the "Ramilles" were housed for three months at the Albert Barracks in Auckland. They moved to the village of Onehunga on the 17th November 1847, where a large wooden 100ft building housed them and their families. Later in the year detached cottages were built on a ten acre site and the families moved into their new homes in April, 1848, laying out their gardens and planting vegetables. By July the village of Onehunga boasted its first school attended by 31 boys and 23 girls and by 1850 the population of Onehunga had grown to 867 persons.

PANMURE VILLIAGE was situated by the river at Tamaki which was used for transport to Auckland and a trade route. Most of its settlers were from Ireland who at first built their own raupo huts but the first wooden cottages were not built until 1848. During 1850, seventy allotments were allocated. Many of the Fencible pensioners found employment locally in Public Works or began to use the rich volcanic soil to farm and run horses, cows and sheep. In 1849 the first Catholic School was established.

HOWICK VILLAGE is named after Lord Howick who had been involved in the formation of the Fencibles in England before they embarked for New Zealand. The largest of the Fencible settlements, the volunteers found that little had been done to complete their cottages on arrival. Two sheds were soon built to house them, each 100 feet long but many of the families opted to live in raupo huts built by the local maori. Fifty one cottages were built and completed by 1848 and the families in occupation, the remainder completed by May 1851 to house the 2nd & 3rd Detachments. A General Store had opened in Wellington Street by 1851. Most of the men were employed by the government Public Works, clearing the land allotments or building roads and bridges.

OTAHUHU VILLAGE was the last one to be settled by the Royal New Zealand Fencibles, who again found that no cottages had been erected for them, although the land had been cleared and surveyed. The pensioners on the "Ann" arrived at the beginning of the New Zealand wet winter and were housed in Potters Barn, Onehunga, the same quarters as those Fencible's off the "Ramilles" in 1847. Many of the men had no trade to offer and were employed in the Public Works building bridges, the first built spanned the Otahuhu Creek, roads and drains. By 1851 the first church school was built, while maori traders plied up the Tamaki River by canoe to sell their wares of sweet potatoes, pork, oranges and fish.

The Royal New Zealand Fencible detachments now formed a regiment of seven hundred and twenty men well placed around the capital, Auckland, to give protection to the new settlers in the colony.

After ten years had elapsed since their arrival in New Zealand, many of the Fencibles and their families had stayed to gain ownership of their own cottages and land. They had settled and carved out a new and better life for themselves in this new country, where living conditions and climate were better than they had left behind, while their children had become adults and integrated into the work force and New Zealand society. Just a few of the single men returned to England, Scotland or Ireland to re-unite with their family.

The names of the men of the regiment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles and their families are well recorded and preserved in the New Zealand National Archives and libraries where genealogists can research to find their family links.

Resource:"The Royal New Zealand Fencibles 1847-1852" published by NZ Fencible Society Inc.

The Berhampore was the seventh Fencible ship. Under the command of Capt John Jermyn Symonds

(brother of Capt. Cornwallis Symonds from the Ann 1840) most of the 7th Detachment hailed from

London, the Midlands, and a few from Scotland and Ireland. These Fencibles settled mainly

Onehunga, Auckland.

last first (last born died

name, name name(s)) year place - year place (comment)

Bonner, Alexander CVN IRE - 1875 Onehunga (Hosp Assistant)

Bonner, Maria (Glass)

Bonner, 3 children

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RESOURCES:

©McCarthy, Darry., (1978) "The First Fleet of Auckland." Pacer Printing Co

Ltd., Box 13197, Onehunga, Auckland.

©Alexander Ruth, Gibson, Gail,& LaRoche Alan., (1997) "The Royal NZ Fencibles 1847-1852."

NZ Fencible Society Inc., PO Box 8415 Symonds St, Auckland NZ

Auckland Central City Library (1998): 44-46 Lorne St, Auckland City, New

Zealand, or PO Box 4638, Auckland 1001, New Zealand.

Mount Albert Public Library (Take the "The Royal NZ Fencibles 1847-1852." book out on loan)

Ministry of Defence, Hayes Middlesex +44 (0)181 573 9078 Departmental Record Officer

The "Berhampore" was the seventh transport to be fitted out for the task of conveying Fencibles to New Zealand, sailing from Tilbury docks on the 7 March 1849, with eighty Fencibles, sixty-seven women and 101 children. Their quarters on board were small and cramped. There were no cabins or dormitories. Each family was expected to squeeze into an area of ten feet square with just a blanket hung around their space for privacy.

The "Berhampore" ship was under the command of Captain T. B. Smith. The route the ship took was to cross the Bay of Biscay with its rough conditions, causing many of the passengers to be seasick. Dr Carr was the ship Surgeon; his hospital assistant was Alexander Bonner. They also had help from Nurse Esther Riley. The “Berhampore” sailed south along the African coast, making use of the Northeast trade winds. During this part of the voyage through the tropics the emigrants experienced wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The days were hot and life on board was relatively pleasant. On reaching the Cape the passengers experienced the wrath of the climatic conditions with the roaring forties, high winds that set the sailing ships racing across the high seas. Fresh food was exhausted and dry biscuits and less appetising food was now being consumed. The families cooked their food in a tiny galley with provisions supplied by the ship. Washing was done in salt water and this had to be done frequently as the families were only allowed a few possessions with them due to lack of storage space, the bulk of their belongings were in the hold in storage with limited accessibility throughout the voyage.

On the “Berhampore” Catherine Holland was paid as schoolmistress and matron. For adult entertainment, those that played in the fife and drum band provided music for dancing and singing on the poop deck when the weather was pleasant and calm. On the inclement days when they had to stay below decks, there was card playing, and the harmonica to provide a tune to while away the hours.

Sailing on for day after day the journey would seem to be never ending. The Southern Cross constellation seen in the sky for the first time brought new hope and excitement to the families on board. The Berhampore made no stops on its voyage to New Zealand. After three months at sea land was sighted, the North Cape of New Zealand, a rugged bush-clad coastline. An overwhelming sense of excitement must have spread through the families on board the “Berhampore.”

Fencibles: These soldier-settlers, called the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps, had served in the wars for Britain in the 1830's and 1840's and retired on a pension. They were offered a new life in New Zealand; a free passage with their families, and a cottage with an acre of land to become theirs after a seven year term, in return for certain military duties.

Occupation listed as Labourer on marriage certificate of son Charles, dated 23rd February 1887

Fear of Maori attacks on the infant city of Auckland in the 1840's led to the founding of military settlements across the isthmus as a first line of defence. Although Governor Grey managed to suppress the rebellion of Kawiti and Hone Heke in the north in 1846 and had arrested Te Rauparaha in the same year, he was still apprehensive of Maori onslaughts on Auckland. So he conceived the plan of a rampart of outer military posts commanding the main waterway approaches to the city, to be manned by soldier-immigrants, thus achieving two ends at once.

Through his efforts, a corps known as the Royal New Zealand Fencibles or the "Pensioners" was enrolled in England in 1846 - 47. The Fencibles consisted of discharged British soldiers and sailors, selected on the basis of good character, under 48 years of age (it was later lowered to 41), at least 5ft 5 inches in height and with a minimum of 15 years service. They would be enrolled to serve seven years and were offered free passage for themselves and their families with pay ranging from 6 pence to 1 shilling and 3 pence a day, in addition to their pensions, an acre of ground and a cottage .

Between 1847 and 1849, ten ships (Ann , Berhampore , Clifton , Inchinnan, Minerva, Oriental Queen, Ramillies, Sir George Seymour and Sir Robert Sale) brought the immigrants to Otahuhu, Onehunga, Howick and Panmure. Conditions on board were often very bad; several children died of fever, and the adults were plagued with scurvy and dysentery. Three hundred pensioners were located at Howick under Captain Grey and a hundred or so at each of the other settlements. Colonel T. M. Haultain, later Minister of Colonial Defence from 1865 to 1869 originally commanded the Fencibles at Onehunga and later moved to Panmure.

When the fencibles landed, they found that the promised cottages had not been built. Leaky and badly ventilated weatherboard sheds with dubious privacy gained by makeshift curtains constructed to house families, although some preferred rough shelters of tea tree and raupo. In due course, the pensioners cottages were built, mainly double units with a separate entrance door, two small rooms and a tiny attic for each family, and a common middle brick wall and chimney.

The Fencibles agreed to serve for seven years and they were expected to be ready to engage the Maori should the need arise. Their military duties were hardly exacting - six days drill in spring and six in the autumn and attendance at church parade every Sunday in full military kit.

Some of them found employment on public works, others provided a pool of labour for the farmers of the Auckland Peninsula. All cultivated their own acres, growing their own food and selling the surplus to Auckland and to visiting seaman. "Howick Butter", taken by the woman by boat to Auckland in cabbage leaves, was a prized delicacy. Fare was spartan, for a 200lb bag of flour cost £5, and farm wages were 2/- to 3/- a day, but gradually the Fencible settlements were established as flourishing communities.

Life in the Fencibles settlements, if strenuous, was not without compensations. By 1860, the tiny Panmure community had three pubs. In the Panmure hall dances were often held, most notably the annual Christmas Ball, for which a military band played, which attracted Fencibles from other settlements. Many of them made their way along the Howick-Panmure road, a deeply rutted forest track, where it was necessary at night for a man with a lantern to precede the horse and cart.

During the Maori wars of the 1860's, the Howick fencibles were reinforced by a detachment of the 70th Regiment and Howick became a strong garrison town. In 1863, Stockade Hill was trenched in preparation for a Maori attack which never came. During the same years, the Otahuhu settlement was the site of a large military camp, housing thousands of Imperial soldiers engaged in the war in the south.

The development of Auckland City....has absorbed the original fencible settlements, but several of the Pensioners' buildings survive, especially at Panmure and Howick, and a large number of descendants of the Fencibles themselves remain in the four districts.

Source - New Zealands Heritage

BONNER Alexander, Berhampore Alexander, Private of 20th Reg. was born County Cavan, Ireland. Discharged 1840 after 18yrs, a labourer of good character. Height 5'6", light hair, hazel eyes, fresh complexion, pockmarked, suffered with chronic catarrh. He had 3 children to his wife Maria GLASS before boarding ship at London. He earned 3 pounds as the Hospital Assistant on board ship. They settled at Onehunga. His son E BONNER reported his. death in 1875 at Onehunga.

Onehunga

This village was the first to be designed and established for the first detachment of Fencibles and their families. They had arrived in Auckland on the "Ramillies" on 5 August 1847 but for the next three months were housed in the Albert Barracks in the city as a decision had still not been made by the Government as to the location of their village. Onehunga was eventually chosen as it was in a key position in the military and naval defence of the western perimeter of Auckland.

When the Fencibles moved to their new settlement on 17 November 1847 there were still no cottages were ready for them and instead two 100 foot long buildings housed the men and their families. Shortly after this in December 1847 a ballot was held for the allotment of the first ten cottages. The cottages were all detached and erected on 10 acre allotments. Thirty-four allotments were originally planned. The remaining families were able to move into their new homes by April 1848. The Fencibles were soon growing wheat and vegetables, erecting fences and assisting with the many building projects. Some were employed on neighbouring farms and others helped to build roads.

By June 1849 life was settling into a regular pattern and the 7th Detachment of Fencibles arrived on board the "Berhampore". Terms of service were different from the first group in that these men could be relocated. Their land was to be occupied for seven years and then given up to the Government for land elsewhere. The Government was not bound to erect housing, but in lieu of this the men were entitled to the sum of fifteen pounds which allowed them to obtain a "raupoo" house and leave a small amount for fencing and improvements. The 8th Dettachment, the final group of Fencibles to be settled in Onehunga, arrived on the "Oriental Queen" on 18th September 1849.

By 1850 Onehunga had a population of 867. Three Wardens were elected annually to administer the Crown lands. This included the management of stock grazing. Owners of cattle paid de-pasturing licenses of 10/6 per annum, together with a fee of 8d for each head of "great" cattle which included horses, oxen, bulls, dairy cows, heifers and asses. A fee of 1d per head was payable for "small cattle" (sheep and goats). The first list of licensees included about one third of the men who had arrived on the "Ramillies" which indicated that they had earned sufficient money to improve their homes as well as buying livestock which provided fresh milk and meat, as well as income if the animals were sold.

During this time transport was mainly by foot, horse and cart, or boat. Early roads were sometimes mere tracks or ruts and they became very muddy during winter months. A ferry service was started between Onehunga and Mangere in the early part of 1848. The first school opened in July 1848. There were 31 male children and 23 female children attending. During the winter of 1851 St Mary's Catholic Church was built with contributions from the congregation. Around 1854 a small wooden school was established next to St Peter's Anglican Church.

From 1854 onward the Wardens had a wider range of responsibilities including the development of roads, bridges and community projects. The construction of a wharf was begun in 1857. Road improvements were on-going and those who could not contribute with a cash donation often volunteered their labour. The first bus service from Auckland to Onehunga started in 1858 and the first railway in October 1873.

Little now remains of the Fencibles and their families in Onehunga except for a few headstones in the cemetery, the old churches of St Mary's and St Peter's, and a few street names eg. Princes Street, Church Street, Arthur Street and Captain Springs Road. However one original cottage has been restored and can be seen at 111 Victoria Street.

1842.04 Reserve Battalion, 20th (The East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot raised at Fermoy, Ireland 1842

Service:

Ireland 1842

Bermuda 1847

Nova Scotia 1847

Canada 1849 disbanded (merged with 1st Battalion in Canada)

From Yvonne Taylor (2nd cousin):

About the family. Am intrigued to hear that Alexander might be buried at Bayswater, but the North Shore does feature in Esther BONNER'S recollections in re an Auntie Mon. This was Monica DEACON, someone whose name is known to my mother but she doesn't know quite how or why. Esther is also sure Alexander and Monica had a daughter named Elizabeth. No trace of an Elizabeth when I found the names of the sons of the family but a daughter may have been born somewhere other than Onehunga where the boys made their respective appearances.

Those boys were Charles (1849), James (chr. Oct 1851), George (chr. 1855) Thomas (chr.1858), Edward (chr. 1860, d. 1880) and Frederick (b. 1866, d. 1867).

JURY LIST Daily Southern Cross, Volume XV, Issue 1110, 16 February 1858, Page 3

JURY LIST FOR 1860-61 Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1294, 7 February 1860, Page 4

Daily Southern Cross, 5 April 1859, Page 3:

Friday, April 1st. Alexander Bonner, drunkenness, first offence; fined 5s. and costs, or 24 hours hard labour.

Otago Witness, Issue 2838, 5 August 1908, Page 47:

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW19080805.2.161.12&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=-------en-PubMetaOW-1----0bonner-all

GROUP AT THE INVERCARGILL CATHOLIC CLUB'S ANNUAL COMMUNION, JUNE 14, 1908. Back Row: .J. JKeneally, R. Rose, A. .Keaney. Fifth Row: H. Wilkinson, C. Bonner, J. Scully, J. M'Erlean, B. Ferry, J. Durham, J. Brennan. Fourth Row: J. M'Mullan,. J. O'Brien, C. Matheson. P. Roche, Jas. Durham, J. Ferry, E. Shea, R. Timpany, A. Bonner, J. A. Mater. Third Row: ,P. Tnorpy, J. Robertson, A. Maher, B. Crawford, J. Hannan, P. Prendergast. Second "Row: J. Mulvey, P. Maloney,* M. Fitzpatxick,* P. A. Scully,* Tom. Pound (vice-president),* J. Collins (vice-president)* Rev. Father Kavanagh.. L. W. J. "Morton (president),* J. MacNamara (vice-president),* R. Burke,* F. Byrne,* J. Sims (S.E.),* A. H. Fitzgerald.* First Row: H. Grace, J. Mannix, Miaster Matheson, H. Gallager, S. Crawford, T. Mannix, H. Donnelly (hon. treasurer),* Jos. Shepherd,* C. Maher (hon secretary).* (Note. — 'Executive Members.) — A. Spicer, pi

Sources

1. ↑ Early Settlers in Onehumga
2. ↑ Title: Irish Geneology Publication: http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie. Citing: Page: http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/8553090559193 Data: Text: Area - DUBLIN (COI) , Parish/Church/Congregation - ST. MICHAN
   • Marriage of ALEXANDER BONNER of 50 CHURCH ST and MARIA GLASS of 24 CHURCH ST on 26 November 1846 (accessed before 29 April 2012)
3. ↑ Title: New Zealand Fencible Society Publication: http://www.nzfenciblesociety.org.nz. (accessed before 29 April 2012)
4. ↑ Title: New Zealand Fencible Society Incorporated Publication: http://www.nzfenciblesociety.org.nz/. Citing: Note: From: SHIRLEY <fencibles///spamarrest.com> Date: Sat, Nov 20, 2010 at 6:39 PM Subject: Re: Alexander Bonner To: Paul <benignus///gmail.com> Dear Paul, I have several pages of information on Alexander which I hope you will edit and correct where I have made errors. I will get Geoff to show me how to attach them to an email and look forward to your comments. My death for Alexander is that he died 1st July 1875, aged 74, of Phthisis Pulmonis, at Onehunga. Informant was E. Bonner, son, of Onehunga. His death was listed as Bonnar 1875/739. The Catholic cemetery at Onehunga would almost certainly have been where he was buried,I imagine.I just checked the Catholic Burial pages for Onehunga and found Alexander Bonn, aged 75 years, buried 4th July 1875. Hope that helps. (accessed before 29 April 2012)
5. ↑ New Zealand Mail, New Zealand Mail, Issue 357, 14 December 1878. (accessed before 29 April 2012)

See also:

• FamilySearch.org profile: Alexander Bonner:

1. "Ireland Civil Registration, 1845-1913," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGY7-Q195 : 10 August 2022), Alexander Bonner and Maria Glass, Marriage 26 Nov 1846, Dublin North, County Dublin, Ireland; citing General Register Office, Dublin; FHL microfilm 101,276.
2. "New Zealand, Civil Records Indexes, 1800-1966," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24J-JDVS : 27 November 2017), Alexander Bonner in entry for Charles Bonner, 1849; citing Birth, New Zealand, registration number 1849/2207, Archives of New Zealand, Wellington.