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An American Family History

Peter Bonham
 

"[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood." -- John Adams, 1765

In 1777 the General Assembly of Maryland passed an act giving each soldier who had served three years in the Revolution 50 acres of land. In 1781 another act was passed, reserving all vacant lands in the State westward of "Fort Cumberland" for the soldiers.Amariah, Josiah, Lt. Michael and Peter Bonham all appear on the list of Military Lots.

Loudoun County is part of Northern Neck of Virginia. Settling of the Loudoun area began between 1725 and 1730 while it was owned by Lord Fairfax. Permanent settlers came from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. For more than two centuries, agriculture, especially growing tobacco, was the dominant way of life in Loudoun County.

Peter Bonham was born about 1741 in Maidenhead, Hunterdon County (now Lawrence, Mercer County), New Jersey. His father was Amariah Bonham.

During the American Revolution, Peter served as a sergeant in Captain Charles West's company known also as Reuben Briscoe's company, Third Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas Marshall. On March 6, 1778 his name was on the Rolls of Samuel Barrit’s return for Maryland. He was appointed Ensign on May 12, 1778. He was made sergeant on April 1, 1778 in Company 6 of Frederick County, Virginia. Peter signed the “Patriots’ Oaths of Fidelity and Support, 1778.”

He married Rebecca Lewellyn (Luallen) who was born in Pennsylvania about 1751.

Peter and Rebecca's children were Elisha Bonham (1772), Jesse Bonham (1777), Jacob Bonham (1779), Llewellyn Bonham (1805), Christian Bonham (1812), and Ellenor Bonham (1815).

In 1782 he appeared on the tax rolls of Loudoun County, Virginia.

After leaving Maryland, Peter moved to Sewickley, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was living in Allegheny County in 1803 when his father died.

He appeared in the 1830 census in Ohio Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He died there in July, 1833.
Children of Amariah Bonham
  • Christian Bonham Fox
  • Rebecca Bonham Johnson
  • Jeriah Bonham
  • Peter Bonham
  • Sarah Bonham Batey
  • Jacob Bonham

    • 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. From 1714 until 1739 when Morris County was formed, Hunterdon County embraced a vast territory including all, or nearly all, of the present counties of Mercer, Hunterdon, Morris, Warren, and Sussex. In 1816, Maidenhead was renamed Lawrence and it became part of Mercer County in 1838.

         

    For family trees and all source information, link to my RootsWeb File

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