An American Family History

Mary Bonham was born on October 4, 1691 at Piscataway, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Hezekiah Bonham and his first wife Mary Dunn.

According to First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodsridge Olde East New Jersey by Monnette and An Ancestral Chart and Handbook by Rowland, she married Daniel Howell about 1712. Daniel was from Trenton, Hunterdon County, New Jersey and was a blacksmith. They had ten children. His will was drawn in 1725 and probated in 1732. It named ten children.

According to The Descendants of Edward Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom 1630-1950 by Christian and Fitz Randolph, Mary married Jonathan Fitz Randolph in 1715. Jonathan was born in Piscataway on January 12, 1692/93. He died there in 1783.  Their children were Abel Fitz Randolph (1716), Malachi Fitz Randolph (1718), Keziah Fitz Randolph (1720), Jonathan Fitz Randolph (1722), Lawrence Fitz Randolph (1725), Hugh Fitz Randolph (1727), Martha Fitz Randolph (1729), Elizabeth Fitz Randolph (1731), and Mary Fitz Randolph (1734). Jonathan had three other children whose mother was probably his second wife.

If Monnette was correct that Daniel’s death date was 1732, then it would not be possible for Mary to have married both these men because she had children with Jonathan before 1732.

from An Ancestral Chart and Handbook by Olive Barrick Rowland

Born at Piscataway, New Jersey, Oct. 4, 1691; dau. Hzekiah and his first wife, Mary Dunn; m. about 1712 Daniel Howell, a blacksmith of Tenton. Howell left a will drawn Aug. 30. 1725, probated Aug. 2. 1732 which gives names of ten children. The youngest child was named Hezekiah. Also mentioned in the will is a bond due from Hezekiah Bonham of Maidenhead. Items of other than genealogic interest in the inventory of this estate are: a negro man, called Jack, about 50 years of age, who is appraised at 20 pounds; a negro woman and her child, appraised at 40 pounds.