William Bonner Sr.

• General Notes
  • http://www.rootsweb.com/~txfreest/Families/GrpSheets/BonnerWilliam.htm
    
    William Bonner began his career as a waggoner in South Carolina. He
    served as an ensign in the War of 1812. The family moved to Alabama in
    1818; he and all his living children except Sarah and James migrated
    to Texas in the early 1850s. He owned more than 100 slaves and
    extensive acreage and engaged in various other enterprises besides
    being a planter. He and his family founded Harmony Associate Reformed
    Presbyterina Church at Stewards Mill. Ann Lee Joel descended from the
    South Carolina Lee family and had no connection to the Lee family of
    Virginia; she also boasted Huguenot ancestors.
    
    ===================================================================
    The Handbook of Texas Online writes of William:
    
    "BONNER, WILLIAM (1783-1877). William Bonner, early settler and
    planter, was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina, on April 16,
    1783, the son of James and Mary (Laird) Bonner. As a young man he
    worked as a wagoner hauling goods between Abbeville and Charleston.
    During the War of 1812 he served in the South Carolina militia and
    rose to the rank of lieutenant. On March 27, 1816, he married Ann Lee
    Joel of Charleston, with whom he had eleven children. In 1818 Bonner
    and his family moved to Monroe County, Alabama, and later to Wilcox
    County. During this period he began accumulating considerable wealth
    and put his younger siblings through school. In the early 1850s he
    moved to Texas and settled on Tehuacana Creek in Freestone County.
    Between 1854 and 1858 he and his brother, Dr. John Bonner, acquired
    large tracts of land in the area. By 1860 he owned 112 slaves and
    $104,920 in real property and was reportedly the wealthiest man in
    Freestone County. That year his plantation produced 900 bushels of
    corn and ninety-eight bales of cotton. Bonner was a devout
    Presbyterian who played an important role in the affairs of the church
    and was one of the organizers of the Harmony Hill Church at Steward's
    Mill in October 1876. He and his large extended family were also
    prominent in local affairs and helped build many of Freestone County's
    early roads. Bonner died at his home in Freestone County on July 1,
    1877, and was buried in the Bonner family cemetery near Steward's
    Mill. In 1970 a Texas historical marker was placed at the gravesite.
    
    BIBLIOGRAPHY: Randolph B. Campbell, An Empire for Slavery: The
    Peculiar Institution in Texas, 1821-1865 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State
    University Press, 1989). Marker Files, Texas Historical Commission,
    Austin.
    
    ===================================================================
    Christopher Long
    
    Recommended citation:
    "BONNER, WILLIAM." The Handbook of Texas Online.
    <http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/BB/fbo82.htm
    l> [Accessed Thu Feb 28 18:07:52 US/Central 2002 ]. "
    
      "William Bonner came to Freestone County in 1854 with his brother,
    Dr. John Bonner.  They settled east of Stewards Mill in an area known
    as Bonnerville.  The Bonners helped establish Harmony Church at
    Stewards Mill, and were leaders of the Presbyterian church.  They
    helped build many of the early roads through Freestone County and
    established schools for their children.
       John Bonner had been a doctor, but gave that up to look after his
    huge plantation, which covered thousands of acres of land.  He only
    practiced medicine when someone needed medical care on his plantation.
       The Bonners brought with them culture, courtesy, and the
    hospitality of the Old South.  One of their favorite times was the
    Bonner Picnic held on July 4.  William Bonner fought in the War of
    1812 with Andrew Jackson at the famous battle of New Orleans, so
    family and friends met on the 4th of July to celebrate American
    independence,  In 1857, the 4th of July celebration was held at Cook's
    Springs near Fairfield.  M. M. Bonham read the Declaration of
    Indepence; then there was a speech, a delicious barbeque dinner, and a
    dance at the home of Andrew S. Bonner."  -  long quote from the book
    "Queen of the Trinity Star" written by Barbara Fryer Price.  Published
    by Eakin Press in Austin, TX in 1997.
    
    ===================================================================
    http://www.rootsweb.com/~bmuwgw/joellsurname2.htm
    Thomas Joell's only surviving heir, Ann Lee, married William Bonner on
    March 27, 1816. He was born on April 16, 1783 in Abbeville, South
    Carolina, the son of James Bonner and Mary Laird. Both the Bonners and
    the Lairds were Ulster Scots who immigrated from Ireland to South
    Carolina in 1767. They had nine children, all born in Abbeville
    District. Their son, William Bonner, served in the War of 1812 and
    participated in the Battle of New Orleans in the Company of Capt.
    Bowman, Col. Nash's Volunteers. He had little formal education and was
    a waggoner between Abbeville and Charleston.
    
    William Bonner and Ann Lee Joell moved to Monroe County, Alabama in
    1818, and then on to Wilcox County, where they raised a large family.
    Ann Lee Joell Bonner died March 3, 1842 and is buried at Hamburg
    Cemetery, Oak Hill, Alabama. In the 1850s, William Bonner, then in his
    70s, moved to Freestone County, Texas (accompanied by all his children
    except two). At the beginning of the 1860s, he was that county's
    largest land and slave owner [his wealth included 112 slaves, land
    planted in cotton, a shoe factory and a cotton gin, for a total of $6,
    200 in real property and $104, 920 in personal property]. He
    established the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church in Freestone,
    and died on July 1, 1877.
    
    ===================================================================
    
    Book - Biographical Sketches from Limestone, Freestone, and Leon
    Counties, Texas.  Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1893.  p. 76-77.
    
    "WILLIAM BONNER, one of the pioneer setters of Freestone County, was
    born in Alabama in 1820, son of WILLIAM and ANN (JOEL) BONNER, natives
    of South Carolina, who had married there before moving to Alabama.
    JAMES BONNER, father of WILLIAM, was a native of Ireland who came to
    the colonies before the Revolutionary War and took part of it on the
    American side.  JAMES BONNER married MARY LAIRD, also from Ireland,
    and they reared a family of nine children:  WILLIAM, JOHN, ANDREW,
    SAMUEL, JAMES, MARGARET (married ROBERT JONES); MARY (married JOSEPH
    JONES); ELIZABETH (married SAMUEL YOUNG) and SARAH who died unmarried.
    William and John came to Texas; James moved to Indiana in 1836, where
    he settled eighty miles south of Indianapolis, and no other member of
    the family went any further west than Alabama.
        In 1818 WILLIAM BONNER moved to Alabama, bringing his family there
    the next year.  He lived in Monroe, then in Wilcox counties, and in
    1852, came to Texas, first to William County and to Freestone County
    in 1854.  He was a farmer; served in the War of 1812, (was a Captain),
    was in the Battle of New Orleans, and died July 1, 1877, in this
    county at the age of ninety-five years.  His wife died in 1842 at the
    age of forty-four.  Both were members of the Associate Reformed
    Presbyterian Church.  They reared a family of twelve children, two
    dying before maturity.  These were:  ELIZA, widow of JAMES ROBINSON;
    MARY, widow of Rev. JOSEPH McCREARY; our subject; Rev. THOMAS J., of
    Palestine; MARGARET, deceased, wife of Rev. PRESSLY ROBINSON; SALLY,
    deceased, wife of ROBERT HYNES; JAMES, a resident of Alabama; MARTHA,
    wife of Dr. JAMES I. BONNER of Fairfield; SUSAN, widow of ANDREW
    BONNER; KEZIAH, widow of ARCHIBALD HUCKABY, and SAMUEL, died as a
    child.   ...."
    
    Following is from the Fairfield Recorder, July 6th, 1877:
    
    "Died on Sabbath, the 1st day of July, 1877, ten miles north of
    Fairfield in this county, Mr. William Bonner.  Thus another old
    landmark has passed away from the stage of action.  Mr. Bonner came to
    this county from Wilcox County, Alabama, 24 years ago, and during his
    long residence here, he has ever been esteemed as a worthy citizen and
    exemplary CHRISTIAN man.  He was born in Abbeville, South Carolina,
    and was a captain of artillery under Jackson in the Creek War of 1812.
    He moved to this county in 1853.  He was a consistent member of the
    Associate Reformed Presbyterian church and along with the Jones
    families, is regarded as the patriarch of that demonination."
    
    SC-Ens. Col. Nash's Vols-War of 1812
    
    Captain of artillery under Jackson in the Creek War of 1812.
    
    Ensign in Captain Bowen's Company, SC from Jan 23 to July 13, 1814.
    This was a company of Colonel Nash's volunteers.  He was in the Battle
    of New Orleans.
    ======================================================================
    From the book War of 1812 Veterans in Texas, 2nd printing, by Mary
    Smith Fay, copyright 1994:
    "Service:  Ensign in Captain Bowen's Company of South Carolina Troops
    and later was Lieutenant under Colonel Nash.
    
    Bounty Land :  Warrant No. 281,351; and No. 73438 as Navy Ensign."
    
    Hauling between Abbeville and Charleston, SC.
    
    One of the organizers of the Harmony Hill Church at Steward's Mill in
    October 1876.
    
    Largest land and slave owner in Freestone Co.  He owned 112 slaves and
    150 acres of improved land.
    
    1860 Federal Census - Freestone Co. - Vicinity of Fairfield - 13 July
    1860
    
    53/53
    
    Wm. Bonner          76 M Farmer 6200  10920  S. Carolina
    Mary McCreary       28 F                     19600 S. Carolina
    Mary Ann               19 F                               Alabama
    Josephine**            15 F                               Alabama
    William. H.**            17 M                               Alabama
    John H. Fife**         19 M Student                   Alabama
    
    ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/al/wilcox/census/1850/pg00772.txt
    
    1850 US Census for Wilcox Co., AL.
    
    PAGE  LN     FM   LASTNAME            FIRST NAME AND INI.  AGE  SX CLR
          OCCU.            VLU    BORN   MRD  SCH  DDB AFFLICTION  REMARKS
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    -----------------------------------------------------
    773    2    598  BONNER, Wm               60    M  Farmer  18000  SC
    773    3    598  MCCRANEY, Mary           30    F                SC
    773    4    598  MCCRANEY, Martha        19    F                AL
           School
    773    5    598  MCCRANEY, Susan         15    F                AL
           School
    773    6    598  MCCRANEY, Kesiah         13   F                AL
    773    7    598  MCCRANEY, Josephine    7     F                AL
          School
    773    8    598  MCCRANEY, James         19    M               AL
    
    =================================================
    1850 Census for Wilcox Co., AL.
    Roll: M432_16, pg. 385, done on 11/8/1850 by A. Duff
    
    598/598  William Bonner 60 M Farmer 15,000 SC.
        Mary McCreary 30 F SC.
        Martha 19 F AL.  School
        Susan 15 F AL.  School
        Keziah 13 F AL. School
        Josephine 7 F AL.
        James 19 M AL. School
    
    1830 US Census - Wilcox County, AL. - p. 178a - Line 16
    Roll:  M19_3; Page: 178; Image: 349
    
    William Bonner [Sr.] -
    Free White Males:
        2 5-10 yrs. old  [Rev. Thomas Joell Bonner age 8, William Bonner, Jr.
    age 10],
        1 40-50 [William Bonner, Sr. age 47 in 1830]
    
    Free White Females:
        1 under 5 yrs. old [Sarah "Sallie" Bonner age 4]
        1 5-10 yrs. old [Margaret "Peggy" Bonner age 5]
        2 10-15 yrs. old [Elizabeth Ann Bonner age 13, Mary Bonner age 12]
        1 30-40 [Ann Lee Joell age 35 in 1830]
    
    Slaves:  40
    
    =================================
    1840 US Census - Wilcox County, AL. - p. 329a - Line 3
    
    "Wm. Bonner"
    William Bonner [Sr.] -
    Free White Males:
        2 10-15 yrs. old  [James Bonner age 10,  *** Unknown (probably Samuel
    Andrew Bonner, Jr. age 11), ***]
            [probably at college => *** Rev. Thomas Joell Bonner age 18, William
    Bonner, Jr. age 20 ****],
        2 30-40  [ *** Two Unknown ***]
        1 60-70 [William Bonner, Sr. age 57 in 1840 ** age mismatch **]
    
    Free White Females:
        1 under 5 yrs. old [Keziah Bonner age 3]
        3 5-10 yrs. old  [Martha Bonner age 8, Susanna Bonner age 5,  ***
    Unknown (probably Sarah Elizabeth Bonner age 8) ***]
        2 10-15 yrs. old [Sarah "Sallie" Bonner age 14,  *** Unknown
    (probably Jane Pressly Bonner age 13) ***]
        1 15-20 yrs. old  [Margaret "Peggy" Bonner age 15]
        1 20-30 yrs. old [Elizabeth Ann Bonner age 23 married 3 yrs earlier
    *** OR ***  probably Mary Bonner age 22 married in Aug year before]
        1 40-50 [Ann Lee Joell age 45 in 1840]
    
    Slaves:  120
    
    =================================================
    1840 US Census - Wilcox County, AL. - p. 329a - Line 4
    
    "Est. S. Bonner" [Maybe the Est. stands for estate, since no one is
    home except for the slaves].
    
    Estate of [Dr.] Samuel Bonner [Sr.] -
    Free White Males:
        ** None listed in census **
    Free White Females:
        ** None listed in census **
    
    [Missing are:
    Sarah Elizabeth Bonner age 8
    Samuel Andrew Bonner, Jr. age 11
    Jane Pressly Bonner age 13
    Dr. Joseph Hearst Bonner age 20
    < note parents are dead (Samuel Bonner in 1831, Sarah C. Hearst in
    1838) >
    
    My guess is the kids (except Joseph who was probably at college) moved
    in with his older brother,
    William, that lived next door. Joseph eventually is appointed
    guardian of his brothers and sisters on 21 May 1844.]
    
    Slaves:  34
    
    1870 Census for Freestone Co., TX
    Roll: M593-1586, pg. 21, Image 43  - done on 7/24/1870
    
    134/135    Bonner, William 87 M W  1,200 2,000 SC.
        McCrery, M 57 F W Keeps House 7,550 3,500 SC.
        -, W. H. 27 M W Farms AL.
        -, Arabella 24 F W At home AL. [wife of W. H.]
        -, M. E. 20/150? F W ditto TX. [kid of W. H.]
        Blackmon, M. ?. 8 F W
        Bonner, Susan 35 F W [wife of Andrew Bonner, dau to Wm.]
        -, J. E. 13 M W
        -, A. E. 10 F W
        -, W. A. 11 M W.
        -, M. ?. 8 F W
        -, Martha 5 F W
    
    Conflict - His son's, James Bonner, obit states William moved in 1857.
    
    Book - Records of Wilcox County Alabama.  by Marilyn Davis Barefield
    in 1988.  Deed Book A 1826-1829.  p. 103-104.
    
    "Page 179.  State of S.C.  Indenture made 5/1/1828 between William
    Bonner of Alabama and Joseph Jones, Esq. whereas Ann Bonner, wife of
    William and her children are entitled to 19 shares in the Bank of the
    U.S. and a percentage of stock held by Thomas See, trustee.  Wit:
    O.H. Dawson.  Test: Duke K. Jameson and John H. Thonas, Jr.  Recorded
    12/1/1828."
    
    Book - Records of Wilcox County Alabama.  by Marilyn Davis Barefield
    in 1988.  Marriage Records 1841-1851.  p. 117.
    
    "Robert H. Hinds & Sarah Bonner with W.F. Gee, Sec. with permission of
    her father, W. Bonner , on 11/15/1849 by J.M. Young, M.G."
    
    Book - Records of Wilcox County Alabama.  by Marilyn Davis Barefield
    in 1988.  Will Book I.  Nov. 1826 - June 1844.  p. 47.
    
    "Page 137.  WILLIAM BONNER was appointed Adm. of Estate of JAMES
    BONNER, SR. with JAMES BONNER and SOLOMON SMITH, security.  12. Dec.
    1831."
    
    Will of Samuel Bonner.  Wilcox Co. Will Book Vol 1, p.104-106.  State
    of Alabama.  Wilcox County.
    
    I, Samuel Bonner, of the State and County aforesaid being at this time
    of sound mind and memory and believing that death is certain do make
    and consitute this my last will and testament viz.  In the first
    place, it is my wish and desire that my property both land and negroes
    should be kept together adn worked except the negroes to be named
    thereafter.  Secondly, it is my wish that my wife, Sarah Bonner,
    should keep possession of my property for her use and the use of my
    children until my oldest child comes of age or as long as she  remains
    unmarried.  Thirdly, it is my wish that as soon as my oldest child
    comes of age, my property both land and personal shall be equally
    divided between my wife and children and each is to receive and enjoy
    the possession and use of his or her own part.  Fourthly, it is my
    wish that my daughter, Jane Pressly Bonners, portion of my property
    should be held subject to her own use and the use of her children and
    in the event of her dying without children it is my wish that the
    portion of my property she may receive from my estate is to be equally
    divided between the rest of my children then living or their natural
    issue,  Fifthly, it is my wish that if either of my sons should die
    without children then in that event the portion of my estate as * of
    them may receive should be equally divided between the rest of my
    children or their natural issue.  It is furthermore my wish that if my
    daughter, Jane Pressly Bonner, should receive any portion from this
    fifth provision of my will that it should be held subject only to her
    own use and the use of her issue and in the event of her hving at her
    death no children, it is to be divided equally between the rest of my
    children or their issue.  Sixthly, it is my wish that my Executors
    should sell either at private or public sale the following named
    negroes viz Ada and her child Jerry and any of my other negroes who
    may be ungovernable on the plantation.  Seventhly, it is my wish that
    my executors should * out of the funds arising from the negroes as
    well as the funds arising from the plantation either in purchasing
    other negroes or lend it out on interest as they may think best for
    the interest of my estate.  Eighthly and lastly, it is my wish that my
    wife Sarah Bonner should act as my Executrix and that William Bonner,
    James Bonner, and John Bonner should act with her as my Executors.
    
    Samuel Bonner.
    
    Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of us
    this 29th September 1831
    Joseph Jones senior
    Robert Jones
    James P. Pressly
    
    ==================
    Proved 13 Feb. 1832.
    
    Book - Records of Wilcox County Alabama.  by Marilyn Davis Barefield
    in 1988.  Will Book I.  Nov. 1826 - June 1844.  p. 44.
    
    "Page 71.  ROBERT JONES was appointed guardian of ANREW, SARAH,
    WILLIAM, CYNTHIA, and JANE JONES, minor children of ROBERT and
    MARGARET JONES, deceased, formerly MARGARET BONNER.  JOSEPH JONES, SR.
    and WILLIAM BONNER security.  1 Dec. 1828."
    
    Book - Records of Wilcox County Alabama.  by Marilyn Davis Barefield
    in 1988.  Will Book I.  Nov. 1826 - June 1844.  p. 59.
    
    "Page 353.  JOSEPH H. BONNER was appointed guardian of JANE P., SAMUEL
    A., and SARAH E. BONNER, minor heirs of SAMUEL BONNER, deceased.
    Sec[urity]:  WILLIAM BONNER, JAMES ROBINSON, WILLIAM L. YOUNG, and
    JOHN BONNER.  Proven 21 May 1844."
    
    Book - Records of Wilcox County Alabama.  by Marilyn Davis Barefield
    in 1988.  Will Book I.  Nov. 1826 - June 1844.  p. 69.
    
    "Page 153.  JOHN BONNER was appointed Administrator of Estate of
    SAMUEL PRESSLY, deceased.  JOHN & WILLIAM BONNER & SOLOMON SMITH.
    4/18/1842."
    
    Book - Records of Wilcox County Alabama.  by Marilyn Davis Barefield
    in 1988.  Will Book 2.  p. 71.
    
    "Page 182.  William Bonner was appointed Administrator of Estate of
    Joseph McReny, deceased with William Bonner, James Robinson, security.
    6/3/1845."
    
    =================================================
    Photocopies of actual records loaned by Mike Bonner believed
    photocopied by Carol McGee:
    
    Freestone County, TX
    Timeframe - Start in July going to Sept 20th, 1860.
    Note - The number of slaves "in house" is usually counted at end of
    enumeration of slaves for that particular slave owner.
    
    William Bonner
           134 Slaves of whom:
                1 Mulatto (10 yr. old male), 1 double mark (could be black
    or mulatto), 2 unknown (where line on copy covers the color column),
    130 Black
                17 slaves in house
                59 male, 53 female
    =================================================
    
    Name:    WILLIAM BONNER
    State:    TX
    County:    Navarro County
    Township:    No Twp Listed
    Year:    1860
    Record Type:    Slave Schedule
    Page:    197
    Database:    TX 1860 Slave Schedule