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An American Family History

Early American Colonists and pioneers had to make everything necessary for daily life and skilled craftsmen were essential.


New Jersey's first permanent European settlement was in 1660.

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.

Her husband's name is not known for sure. 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. His will was drawn in 1725 and probated in 1732.

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. 

Mary and Jonathan's children included:
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.

Hunterdon County was originally part of Burlington County, West Jersey. It was set off from Burlington County on March 11, 1714. It included Amwell, Hopewell, and Maidenhead Townships.

Children of Hezekiah Bonham:
  • Mary Bonham
  • Samuel Bonham
  • Hannah Bonham Stout
  • Sarah Bonham Runyan
  • Hezekiah Bonham
  • Nehemiah Bonham
  • Zachariah Bonham
  • Zedekiah Bonham
  • Amariah Bonham
  • Temperance Bonham Ayres
  • Amaziah Bonham
  • Malachiah Bonham
  • Jeremiah Bonham
  • Ephriam Bonham
  • Josiah Bonham
  • Zephaniah Bonham
  • Uriah Bonham
  • Obadiah Bonham
  • A blacksmith forges and shapes iron with a hammer and anvil.

    The Dutch were the first Europeans claim land in New Jersey. The region became a territory of England in 1664 when an English fleet sailed into New York Harbor and took control of Fort Amsterdam.

     

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    from An Ancestral Chart and Handbook by Olive Barrick Rowland

    Born at Piscataway, New Jersey, Oct. 4, 1691; dau. Hezekiah 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.

    Piscataway Township in New Jersey was first settled in 1666 by Quakers and Baptists who had left the Puritan colony in New Hampshire.

     
         
    Colonial Maryland
    Colonial New England
    Colonial Virginia & West Virginia
    Quakers & Mennonites
    New Jersey Baptists
     
    German Lutherans
    Watauga Settlement
    Pennsylvania Pioneers
    Midwest Pioneers
    Californians
    Jewish Immigrants

    ©Roberta Tuller 2023
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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