An American Family History

Ephriam (Ephraim) Bonham was born about 1716 at Maidenhead, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He was the son of Hezekiah Bonham and his second wife.

His first wife was Elizabeth Morris. Elizabeth died before 1742.

He married Susannah Jones on December 23, 1742 in Maidenhead. Susannah was born on September 25, 1722 in Lawrence, Mercer County, New Jersey. Her parents were Gibbs Jones and Jane Crapp.

They lived in Philadelphia where he was a maker of tallow candles.

Ephriam and Susannah's children were Jane Bonham (1743), William Bonham (1745), Susannah Bonham (1746), Jane Bonham (1748), William Bonham (1750), Ephriam Bonham, Mary Bonham (1754), Humphrey Bonham (1755), Sarah Bonham Covenhoven (1756), Rebecca Bonham (1757), Susannah Bonham (1758), Mary Bonham (1760), and Blethwaite Bonham (1762).

On May 23, 1745 Ephriam Bonham advertised in The Pennsylvania Gazette

To be SOLD, Eighteen Lotts Of Land, fronting on Second Street, in Trenton; containing one Quarter of an Acre in each Lott. Enquire of Ephraim Bonham, next Door to William Fisher's Haiter in Arch Street, Philadelphia, where the Plans of said Lotts may be seen.

Only two sons, William and Blathwaite, seem to have survived to adulthood and were named in their mother's will in 1794. Some of their children who died young were buried in Christ’s Church graveyard.

BONAM 
Aug. 19, 1744, Jane, dau. of Ephraim, 
Feb. 29, 1752, Jan, dau. of Ephraim, 
June 16, 1756, (???), son of Ephraim, 
Dec. 7, 1756, (???), dau. of Ephraim, 
Oct. 6, 1757, (???), child of Ephraim.

BONHAM: 
Aug. 15, 1746, William, son of Ephraim, 
Aug. 3, 1748, Elizabeth, dau. of Ephraim, 
July 19, 1759, Ephraim, son Ephraim, 
Aug. 28, 1759, Susannah, dau. of Ephraim. 

In July, 1774, Rebecca Crapp of Philadelphia named Ephriam Bonham as executor of her estate. Rebecca was Susannah's aunt.

The names of Ephriam Bonham and his son, William, appeared on tax lists for the city of Philadelphia in the years 1780 and 1781. 

Ephriam died on May 22, 1785 in Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Susannah died on January 28, 1794 in Philadelphia.

from Pennsylvania Archives, Volume 5 by Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania. Dept. of Public Instruction, Pennsylvania State Library

On Motion. Resolved, That Ephraim Bonham be, and he is hereby appointed one of the Sub Lieutenants of the said City of Philadelphia.

Friday, June 10th, 1777. It being represented to the House, that it was necessary that another Sub-Lieutenant should be appointed for the City of Philad., it was thereupon—

Resolved, unanimously, That William Simple, Esqr, be, and he is hereby appointed a Sub-Lieutenant of the said City of Philad". Extract from the Minutes.

John Morris, Jr.