James Bonwick (1863 - abt. 1936)

Born 23 Dec 1863 in Bidborough, Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Harriet (Wright) Bonwick — married 7 May 1885 in Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, England

Descendants

Died about Dec 1936 at about age 72 in London, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jan Briggs-McGowan [send private message]

Biography

Son of John Bonwick, Jimmy was born Bidborough, Kent about 1863, and was crippled from birth. Married 7 May 1885 St Marys ^[1] Church of England in Chalgrove, Oxford to Harriet Wright^[2] who was born about 1867 in Chalgrove Oxfordshire. James and Harriet had children Edith A bn Tonbridge Wells 1887, John R J born 1889 Oxford, and Bertram born April 1891 also Oxford. In Apr 1891 census, Bertram was 3 weeks old and the family was living in a 4-room house at 33a Pembroke St (Matthews yard) near the centre of Oxford, (St Ebbe) and next to a funeral dealer shop. He was employed as a cricketball maker, likely by Alfred C Harse at #30 Pembroke St.. Oxford is about 20 Km N-W of Chalgrove. Another daughter, Alice Helen born 30 Aug 1885 Chalgrove, was not with the family in 1891 ^[3] They had 12 or 13 children, other known children: Mabel 1897, Henrietta (Hettie) 1898, Elizabeth (Liz) 1900, and Edward (Ted)1902.

James was a journeyman leatherworker, making cricket and footballs. He was also an ardent “keeper-open-of-the-footpaths”, long before it became fashionable. (granddaughter Pat Johnston thought he may have walked Penshall Place or Knoll Hill once a year to keep the paths open.) It did not endear him to the local gentry, nor did the fact that he was a known poacher. Doubtful he ever fired a shot in his life, his preferred method was a catapult with homemade lead shot. His wife Harriet died about 1914. In 1930, Jimmie went to live with his daughter Lil and her husband Bill Johnston in Streatham (southwest London). He died in 1936 and is buried in the cemetery there.

Sources

1. ↑ http://chalgrovechurch.org/360/
2. ↑ Oxfordshire Family History Society; Oxford, Oxfordshire, England; Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: PAR57/1/R3/3 p78
3. ↑ Oxfordshire Family History Society; Oxford, Oxfordshire, England; Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: PAR57/1/R2/2 p 79

• 1891 England census St Ebbe, Oxon,The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 1168; Folio: 35; Page: 3; GSU roll: 6096278. Family #22
• as told to Jan Briggs-McGowan about 1981