James Bonwell (abt. 1620 - bef. 1667)

Born about 1620 in England

Husband of Sarah (Hickman) Dorman — married 1657 in Northampton, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 16 Jul 1667 before about age 47 in Accomack County, Virginia [uncertain]

Biography

James was born about 1620. He passed away before July 17, 1667.

"... All the Bonawells of 18th century Accomack are descendants of James Bonawell, born about 1621, who was a headright of William Johnson in 1653. He was married first to the widow Sarah Dorman, with whom he had a daughter, Hickman Bonawell. His other three children Thomas, James, and Ann – might be the children either of Sarah or of Mary, his wife late in life. James Bonawell died in 1667, and his widow Mary remarried to Roger Mikeel."

On December 13, 1653, James and Neale Mackwellion were named as headrights for William Johnson in Northampton Co, VA. (North. Orders, Wills & C, 1651-1654, p. 210). Johnson was eligible for a patent of 100 acres of land for paying the passage costs of these two men from England to the Virginia Colony.

About 1657, James married Sarah Hickman Dorman (about 1625-before November 2, 1659) in Northampton. Sarah was a widow with six children. James's and Sarah's children were daughters, Hickman Bonnewell (about 1657) and Ann Bonnewell Quinton, and son James Bonnewell II (about 1658-before 2 Feb 1702/3).

Northampton County records for September 8, 1658, show that James Bonwell leased 50 acres of "the Secretary Land" from Secretary of State Colonel William Claiborne. The land, later known as "Town Fields" was located north of Cape Charles, on the bay side of Virginia's Eastern Shore, between King's Creek and Cherrystone Creek. The lease was to run for 21 years, beginning "the next Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle". Payment was to be one barrel of Indian corn each Christmas (North. Deeds, Wills & C, 1655-1657, p. 19).

The Secretary's land consisted of 500 acres, set aside in 1620 by the Virginia Company in London to support the office of the Secretary at Jamestown. Twenty persons were to be seated on the land, plant it, and pay rent. When a problem developed in keeping tenants on the land, the 21-year lease system was substituted.

The following quote is from the lease: "To All to whom these presence shall come, I Coll. William Claiborne Secretary of State for the Collony of Virginia ---greetings: Whereas by Act of Court bearing date the 9th of Ober 1658 It was ordered that the Secretary should lease the Land belonging to his place as by the sd order more att large appeareth. Now know ye that I the sd Coll. Will. Claiborne established in the office and place of the Sec. of State and for all the rights and priviledges thereunto belonging doe by these presence grant, devise and to farme lett unto James Bonwell a piece of Land containing by survey fifty Acres Bounded from the head of the Little Creek that divideth Wm. Mountneys Land and his owns and bounds upon the Land of John Wilkins to have and to hold the sd fifty ackers of Land unto the ad James Bonwell his heires Exec: Administr Assigns from the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle next for and during the tearme of one and twenty years thence to be compleate and ended: Yeilding and payinge unto me the sd Co. Will. Claiborne or my Assigns att the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle yearely during the sd tearme of twenty one years the fee rent of one Barrel of good Merchantable Indian Corn provided allwaysthat if the sd Rent be not .yearly payd and satisfied unto the sd Coll. Will. Claiborne his, successors being lawfully demanded by Christmas yearly that then .itt shall and may bee Lawfull for the sd Col. Will. Claiborne either to disteame or reorder. In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this 8th of Ober 1658."

About 1660, James married Mary Watson (about 1635), sister of Robert & Peter Watson and half-sister of Richard Nottingham. They had a son, Thomas Bonnewell (about 1663-March, 1718.

In 1660, James Bonwell appeared in court to answer charges of misusing the land belonging to "'ye heir of John Dorman", land that adjoined the 50 acres leased "from ye Secretary unto James Bonwell" (North. Wills & Deeds, 1657-1666, p.p. 72). It appears that the 50 acres of leased land was land that Dorman had some interest in and it joined his lands. James Bonwell satisfied the court that he would turn over the 50 acres when Dorman came of age.

On December 13, 1660, James Bonwell was appointed surveyor of the highway, "from Otterdam Branch to Coaghes (?) , including ye marks from Bay Side to Sea Side (North. Order Book, 1657-1664, p. 85). The following quote is from that document: "Whereas it appeared In Court a Lease of fifty Acres of Land leased from ye Secretary unto James Bonwell which is adjoyning unto ye Land belonging unto ye heir of John Dorman ye Sd Bonwell being Charged with circumventing ye Heir of ye Sd Dorman who was most Interested In it undoubtedly In answer to which and for full Satisfaction to ye Court ye Sd Bonwell doth here in open Court Declare yt notwithstanding ye Sd Lease be made in ye Sd Bonwells name yet his Sd Intent if & to ye end doth declare & Acknowledge ye Same yt ye Heir of ye ad Dorman Stall enjoy ye Sd fifty acres of Land according to ye Sd Lease when he Shall Come to Age as his own inheritance to him and his Heirs for Ever During Sd Lease &. paying ye Rent of ye Sd Land & this Shall be his Sufficent plea for ye Same & a Bars to ye Plea of ye Sd Bonwell any Law notwithstanding to ye Contrary and Manifestation of ye Same ye Sd Bonwell hath herein to Set his hand this 30th of July 1660. Acknowledged in open Court Jno Stringer Wm. Waters."

On September 18, 1663, James Bonwell purchased 400 acres of land on the north side of Onancock Creek, Accomack County, Virginia from John Nicholls of Pungoteague Creek. James paid 4000 pounds of tobacco and casks for this land, which passed to wife Mary (subsequently Mary Michael) upon James's death in 1667. (Acco. Deeds & Wills, 1663-1666, p. 21). His land on Onancock Creek stayed in the Bonwell family for many years and was still owned by his descendants in 1796.

In 1664, James was on the list of tithables at Accomack Co. The Accomack County tax list for 1664 lists him with four tithes, males over 16 years of age (Nottingham, Accomack Tithables, Tax Lists, 1663-1695, p. 2).

1664 August 16: James Bonwell complained that William Silverthorn had killed his dog.

1666 October 16: James Bonwell, juryman. His name appears in the tithables again in 1666.

1666 October 16: James Bonwell fined 50 lbs. tobacco for being drunk. Ordered that James Bonwell, for insolent behavior towards the court, be committed into the sheriff's custody till further order.

1666 October 17: Ordered that James Bonwell, who had been released from his confinement for misbehavior, also be released from paying court charges.

1666 October 17: James Bonwell, juryman.

1666/67 January 16: James Bonwell, juryman.

1666/67 January 17: James Bonwell, juryman.

1666/67 January 17: Disposition of James Bonwell aged about 46 years: On 16 January, he heard Fooks [ie., Thomas Fowke] say to [Hugh] Yeo, "Thou art a pretty fellow for a burgess with a pox, for you can go over to Jamestown and spend our money and come home like a fool."

1666/67 February 18: James Bonwell, juryman.

1667 July 16: Petition of Col. Edmund Scarburgh, that James Bonwell died intestate and left an estate; petitions that widow Mary Bonwell be appointed administratrix. Mary so appointed. The "Widdow Bonwell" is shown with two tithes.

1667 July 16: Ordered that a letter of administration be granted Mary Bonwell for the estate of her late husband, James Bonwell. She put up security.

Ordered that Captain Parker swear Thomas Leatherberry, George Truet, John Parker and William Anderson on 25 July, 1667, to appraise the estate of James Bonwell. 1667 July 25: Inventory of the effects of James Bonwell - house, furniture, and slaves - ; children: Hickman, a daughter, James and Ann.

1667 August 16: Thomas Leatherberry was appointed surveyor in the place of James Bonwell, who was to give a copy of his bound to Leatherberry.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/collaborate/G77P-Y7C: Adam M. Bradford, Anne3 (Bradford) Bonawell Stockley (William2Nathaniel1); c.1719-1771; On-line Website - Lower Delmarva Bradfords, 2008, http://www.delmarvabradfords.com/docs/Bradford.Nathaniel.William.Ann.pdf; pp 1-2; http://www.delmarvabradfords.com

Whitelaw, Ralph T. Virginia's Eastern Shore A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties. Gloucester MA: Peter Smith, Vol. 2, p 943.

Accomack County Deeds and Wills, 1663-1666, page 74, Accomack County Clerk's Office.

JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack County, Virginia, Court Order Abstracts, 1666-1670 (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc., 1996), Volume 2, page 1.

Ibid., p. 2

Ibid., p. 4.

Ibid., p. 14.

Ibid., p. 18.

Ibid., p. 20.

Ibid., p. 21.

Accomack County Deeds and Wills, 1664-1671, page 59, Accomack County Clerk's Office.

Ibid., p. 45.

Accomack County Deeds and Wills, 1664-1671, page 66, Accomack County Clerk's Office.

Ibid., p. 53.

MILESFILES, Version 20.1: http://espl-genealogy.org/MilesFiles/site/p466.htm#i46515 Last Edited 27 Apr 2020 James Bonnewell I

James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 59 (will of Sarah Bonwell).

Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 2 (adm. of James Bonwell).

Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 2 (will of James Bonwell).

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