James John BONHAM [1276]

  General Notes:

James Bonham married Anne McDonnell at the Belgian Chapel (RC), in the district of St George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey, in 1846. Their address at the time was given as 65 Wickham Street, Southwark. They were both said to be full age. On the marriage certificate, James' father Edward, was said to be a carpenter, and Anne's father Michael, was said to be a gardener. Witnesses to the marriage were Rachel Reif (?) and John O'Connor.

The family arrived in South Australia on the "Ascendant" in 1849 and spent 20 months in South Australia before travelling to Victoria.

After Anne's death, James married Mary Agnes Jones. The witnesses to the marriage were Bridget Conway and John Bonham. It is assumed that John Bonham was James' brother John, I have been unable to find a death in England of John and it is possible that he died in Australia.

The Melbourne Argus, 30 September 1851
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
............ September, 29.-Blundell barque, 570 tons,
Charles Rennard commander, from London, via Adelaide, 24th, inst., in ballast. Passengers G E Adcock, wife and family, Thomas Baggs, and wife, A Ballantyne, wife and family, W Butt, wife and family, E Bance, wife and family, Ruth Bunn, William Bean, J Burvill, George Charlotte, and Lydia Cakebread, James Cockerell, William Coupland, James Clarke, Sarah Coleman, J W and C A and Anna Cockerell, S Franklin, W Fraser, Mary Fisher, E Fritton, W Gordon and wife, H Glenie, wife and child, W George and wife, Constance Goode, Harriette Gatehouse Augustus Gardner, Margaret Cray, and family, Jemima Grant, Wm Hobbs, Jessie and Mary Headie, B Head and wife, J Harrison, wife and family, John Hardiman wife and family, John Howden, wife and family, Louis Heady, Geor- giana Hewett, Josh Harwood, B Joy, wife and family, Sarah Jackson, John Knight and wife, Eliz Le Brun, H Legatt, H Minton and wife, W Millington, wife and family, Jos M'Donald, wife and family, Jas Norman, wife and family, Fanny Nicholls, Thos Oakford, wife and family, D Price, W. Pedlar, John Reid, wife and family, Charles Risely and wife, C Rossiter, Thomas Roberts, Charles Rowe and wife, T Luiheski and wife, R Shillitoe, wife and family, Sarah Sparrow, E Smith, James Sellar, John Townes, wife and family. Charles Tull, wife and family, E Thorn, Anne Tindselle, Harriette Tanner, James Whyte mid wife, Josh Whiting, wife and family, John Wilmott, wife and family, James Willoughby wife and family, W Wright, Harriette Warner, Sarah Walker, John and Eliza Young, William Wecking, wife and family. Passengers shipped at Adelaide- Mrs Walton, T Stainbry, James Bonham, M Bonham, T and S Brooke, M A Staples, E Healand, Ellen O'Marrz, Mrs Wilson, John Hodges, wife and family, A Anderson, wife and child, Robert Benson. Dalgety, Gere and Co., Agents........................

The Melbourne Argus 11 March 1853 page 1
MR. THOMAS BEADNALL.-There is a letter for you, at the Post-office, Bendigo. Please communicate with James Bonham, care of Mr. Elsie s, Great Brunswick Street Collingwood. 2402!)

The Melbourne Argus 15 February 1858 page 8 and 18 February 1858 page 8
TO WATER-CARTERS-TENDERS WANTED, WATER to new buildings. James Bonham Jolimont, FltzRoy-square-162

The Melbourne Argus 14 Jun 1858 page 8
PLASTERERS.-TENDERS WANTED, for PLASTERING a house. Labor only. Apply to James Bonham, Jolimont, Fitzroy-square. 60
TO FENCERS.-TENDERS WANTED, for FENCING. Apply James Bonham, Jolimont, south of Fitzroy-square. 40

The Argus Melbourne, Tuesday 24 August 1858 page 8 and Wednesday 25 August 1858 page 10
JOLIMONT-SQUARE - BUILDING ALLOTMENTS for SALE. Apply to James Bonham,on the ground ; or Wellington-street, Collingwood.


The Melbourne Argus 4 October 1858 page 7
TENDERS WANTED, for FENCING, Labor only.
Apply to James Bonham, Jolimont, south of Fitzroy-square.

Many such advertisements appear over a long period of time seeking, painters, glazers, blacksmiths, slaters, and many other trades including bellhangers and Includes an advertisement seeking painters to paint the roof of St Ignatius Church in Richmond. In 1882 he advertised for carpenters and joiners to work at the Ladies College in Kew,

Ann died in 1860 of consumption and James married the governess of his children, Mary Agnes Jones in 1860. They lived at 35 Catherine Street, Richmond when the children were born and James occupation was listed as government servant on their marriage certificate.

James Bonham was a builder who worked on The Toorak Presbyterian Church in 1873, the transept of the St Ignatius Catholic Church in Richmond between 1885-1888, the Hawthorn (Glenferrie Road) State school in 1877, and the Methodist Ladies College, 1882, among other Melbourne buildings. There is a photo of the entrance to the former Congregational Church in Black Street, Brighton. Designed by Charles Webb and built by James Bonham in 1875 on the NLA Website.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/1474568=james+bonham&c=picture&versionId=17384134

The Argus Melbourne Thursday 10 March 1870 page 5
In the case of Budd v. Bonham, heard yesterday at the County Court, the plaintiff sought to recover £49 19s for alleged negligence on the part of the defendant, whereby the plaintiff sustained a serious accident. Budd had been employed by the defendant to paint a portion of the interior of the new Roman Catholic Church at Richmond. Owing to some defect in one of the "putlocks" supporting the scaffolding on which the workmen were standing the platform gave way, and the plaintiff was precipitated from a considerable height to the ground, and was very severely injured. From evidence given, it would seem that when the scaffolding was in course of erection, one of the men engaged in the work pointed out to the defendant the defect in the "putlock" but he was directed to place it and lay another beside it. This was done, and for a time the scaffold was quite secure. It was evident however, that the sound putlock was removed by some one inadvertently, and thus occasioned the accident. Mr Quinlan appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Duigan for the defendant. The latter submitted that there was no case to go to a jury for negligence, the plaintiff having, as was proved, taken all reasonable care and precaution in the erection of the scaffold. His Honour held that there was a case for the jury. After some discussion the further hearing of the suit was postponed until Friday morning.


The Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers (Melbourne) Monday 14 Jun 1875 page 83
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
..................The foundation stone of the Toorak Presbyterian Church was laid on May 24th, in the presence of a considerable number of people. Up to the present time the denomination have had no place of worship in that neighborhood, and in September, 1873, took the first step towards supplying the want. A suitable site could not be procured until November, 1874, when Mr. J. MacBain, M.L.A., purchased the site for £780 upon which the church is to be erected, and presented it to those who were forming the new congregation. A committee was then appointed, and subscriptions to the amount of £3000 have already been obtained towards the cost of erecting the church. The plot of ground secured is in a very eligible position on the Toorak-road, a short distance beyond the late vice-regal residence. Messrs. Reed and Barnes are the architects for the building, and have furnished a very handsome design, the style being early English, cruciform in plan, the nave being 72 feet by 28 feet, and the side aisles 6O feet wide, divided from the nave by piers, columns and arches. Accommodation is to be provided for 450 persons, and the total estimated cost is £5500. The portion now being built is the nave and side aisles as far as the transept. The tower will not at present be carried higher than the first story, 32 feet. This portion will afford sitting accommodation for 250 persons. The contract for these works has been taken by Mr. James Bonham for £2648. At the ceremony on the 24th May, the Rev.D.S. McEachran read a portion of Scripture, and a short address was given by the Rev. Dr. Cairns. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Macdonald; and Mr. Jas Kirkland, the secretary of the church committee, stated what steps had been taken, from the first meeting in September, 1873, to the present time, for the formation of a new church in Toorak, He also stated what documents were to be placed beneath the foundation stone. Mr. Thos. Bailey then presented a silver trowel to Mr. W.Boyles, M.L.A., who then proceeded to lay the foundation-stone and said he was sure all those present would wish that the church of which they were laying the foundation-stone would be the means of advancing the Christian cause, and he regretted that Mr. Jas. MacBain, who had so liberally given them the site, as well as a handsome subscription, for the new church, was absent. They were aware that Mr. MacBain had also undertaken to select a minister for the church, and he was sure all present would hope that a suitable gentle man might be selected, for if that were done a large congregation would be gathered in the church they were about to erect. He thanked those present for their attendance, and asked them all to join, in wishing prosperity to the Toorak Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bromby, on being called on, expressed his sympathy with the ceremony he had witnessed. The proceedings then terminated.

The Melbourne Argus 28 March 1876 page 1
LOST, CERTIFICATE of TITLE to James Bonham, Vol. 884, fol. 166,680, dated February 15, 1876. Reward on returning same to W. S. Woolcott, solicitor, 30 Queen Street, Melbourne.

The Melbourne Argus 17 May 1876 page 8
TRANSFER of LAND STATUTE.-Notice Is hereby given, that pursuant to the direction of the Commissioner of Titles in this behalf, it Is Intended, at the expiration of fourteen days from the insertion of this advertisement In the Melbourne "Argus" news paper, to issue to JAMES BONHAM, of Catherine street, Richmond, contractor, a special certificate of title to the land described below, the duplicate certificate having, as is alleged, been lost;-
LAND REFERRED To. ,
Crown Allotment 40B, Section A, parish of Wannacue, county of Morning ton.
HENRY KRONE,
Assistant Registrar of Titles.

The Melbourne Argus Friday 19 Jan 1877 page 5
To The Correspondents
...........................
A pretty little structure, to be used as a state school, is in course of erection in the Manning-tree road, off Glenferrie .road, Hawthorn. It is a building of one story, and has a frontage to Manningtree-road of 83ft., and is expected to be completed and ready for occupation early in the month of March next It contains three schoolrooms, two measuring 50ft. x 20ft, and the other 30ft x 20ft, and a classroom 22ft x 20ft The height of the rooms from floor to ceiling is 19ft 6in. The ceilings are boarded and varnished, and provision has been made to secure proper ventilation. The ground on which the school stands is spacious, its dimensions being 396ft x 132ft, and from it there is an excellent view. The style of architecture of the building is Gothic, and its materials brick, with freestone and white brick facings. It is intended to give accommodation to 300 children. Mr. James Bonham is the contractor for the building, and the amount of his contract is £2,100.
............................

The Melbourne Argus, Thursday 22 March 1877 page 5
To the Correspondent
.......
The fourth annual distribution of prizes of the South Richmond School of Design was held at the Forester's-hall, Swan-Street, last evening. Judge Pohlman was in the chair. The report showed that there were 67 members on the roll, the average attendance being about 5O. The adoption of the report was moved by Mr, Bosisto, M.L A., and seconded by Mr. S, V. Winter, and agreed to. The prizes were then distributed, the principal prize-takers being Edward Dobbs, Alfred Robin, Mary Bonham, James Bonham, Alice Holland, Annie Sparing, Ernest Nutt, Ernest Allman, Samuel Brychall, Sarah Foubister, Arthur Scott, Theodore Dawey, Christopher Hansen, Septima Ballard, Herman Allman, Emily Allman, Samuel Mole, Julia Holland, and Henry Hutchinson.
.....

The Argus Melbourne Saturday 10 April 1880 page 9
Law report
Supreme Court
Bonham (appellant) Brophy (respondent)
appeal from the County Court, Melbourne
Mr. M.A. MacDonnell for the appellant, Mr. Hodges for respondent.
The plaintiff, Hugh Francis Brophy, sued the defendant James Bonham for breach of an agreement by which the plaintiff was to build for the defendant a staircase upon certain premises occupied by the National Bank at Prahran, for £50. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant would not permit him to complete the contract. Plaintiff also sued for work and labour done and materials supplied. Evidence was given that the defendant was the contractor for the erection of a building for the National Bank at Prahran. The plaintiff made an offer to erect the staircase on certain terms that were not accepted, and he made another offer July 24 1879-"I hereby agree to prepare and erect a stairs at the National Bank, Prahran, finding all labour and materials except blackwood newell, rough brackets, and carriages and base mouldings; I also agree to lay landings, Mr. Bonham finding materials for same for £50 sterling." After the staircase had been partially built some disputes arose, and a correspondence extending over a couple of months took place. Eventually the defendant removed so much of the stairs as had been erected, alleging that they were not according to specification, and that the architect objected to them. At the trial evidence was tendered for the defendant to prove that plaintiff before his offer was accepted, verbally agreed to do the work to the satisfaction of the architect. This evidence was objected to and rejected. The judge gave a verdict for plaintiff for the amount of £49 19s, with costs, and the defendant appealed on the ground that the judge had improperly rejected the evidence tendered, to show the terms on which the plaintiff's offer had been accepted.

Mr MacDonnell, for the appellant, contended that the evidence was improperly rejected. As a rule, of course verbal evidence could not be received to vary a written contract, or if an offer made was accepted simpliciter, verbal evidence could not be allowed to introduce a new term into the offer. But here the evidence was offered to show the conditions on which the offer of a plaintiff was accepted. He Cited ..................... [various examples of previous cases].

Mr Hodges contended that the contract was contained in the plaintiff's proposal and that no verbal evidence should be adduced to alter it.

The COURT held that the evidence rejected was admissible. The plaintiff accepted the terms of the letter verbally. The defendant was at liberty to state what took place on the occasion of the contract being accepted; it was for the jury to say which side they believe.

The Argus Melbourne 17 June 1880 page 7
Law Report
Supreme Court
New Court House - Monday June 14
(Before his honour Mr. Justice Barry and Special Juries of six)
Brophy v. Bonham.
Mr Higinbotham and Mr. Hood for the plaintiff, Mr. Billing Q.C., and Mr MacDonnell for the defendant.
This is an action by James Bonham a carpenter, against H.F.Brophy, a contractor to recover the sum of £49 on a contract to erect a staircase, at the National Bank at Prahran. The defendant had a contract for building the bank, the work to be performed to the satisfaction of the architect. He entered into a sub-contract with Brophy to erect the staircase, and the plaintiff initialled all the items of the principal contract relating to the staircase, but did not initial that part of it relating to the work being done to the satisfaction of the architect. After Brophy had done the greater part of the work relating to the staircase, the architect objected to it, and Bonham had to comply with his requirements in relation to it. The plaintiff refused to make any alterations, and he contended that the work was done in accordance with the specifications. Plaintiff thereupon refused to pay him, and the sub-contract was stopped. The case was originally tried in the County Court, when a verdict was given for the plaintiff, but on appeal to the Supreme Court a new trial was ordered on the ground that certain evidence tendered for the defendant had been improperly rejected.

The jury, after deliberating about three quarters of an hour returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £25.


The Argus Melbourne Monday 16 July 1883 page 8
Casualties and offences
On Wednesday last, a man named Joseph Holmes, in the employ of Mr. Bonham, Contractor, Richmond, had a very narrow escape from serious if not fatal injury. He was doing some repairs to the machinery, when his clothes caught on the shaft, and he was hurled round and round. Fortunately his clothes gave way, and he fell to the ground unhurt, except for the severe shock and a few bruises and scratches.

The Melbourne Argus Tuesday 25 April 1885 page 10 and
The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil (Melbourne) Saturday 6 May 1882 page 135
METHODIST LADIES' COLLEGE.
Some time ago we gave an engraving of this institution. We now quote from The Argus the following interesting description of the building and the institution as a whole : Undoubtedly the finest educational establishment of its kind in Australia is the Methodist Ladies' College, now in course of erection at Hawthorn, and rapidly approaching completion. From an architectural point of view, the edifice is an extremely handsome one, but while its magnitude and completeness make it a handsome and substantial proof of the energy and liberality of the denomination through whose influence it has sprung into existence, the special object for which it was founded renders it still more worthy of notice. Some time ago the authorities of the Methodist denomination, finding that the institution already established by them for the education of ladies failed to meet the requirements of the body, decided to erect something worthy of being called a ladies' college. After mature consideration they wisely determined to keep pace with modern improvement, and indulge the tendency existing towards the spread of religious tolerance and a reciprocal spirit between the various denominations by establishing a college, not only for the education of ladies attached to their own denomination, but for those of all other sects who might desire to avail themselves of the special advantages they had decided to offer. Accordingly it was agreed that while in order to give a guarantee of the character and management of the institution its president should always be a Methodist clergyman, the system of education adopted should be scriptural and modern, but not denominational. The desire, in short, was to found in the interests of high-class Christian education an establishment which might provide for girls the benefits which the numerous collegiate schools of the colony offer to boys. The college is accordingly being built, fitted, and furnished, without regard to commercial principles, and solely with the desire of furthering the object held in view from the commencement. Another, and a very important feature in the college is an idea borrowed from similar institutions in America, viz., the establishment of a department for training girls, no only in the arts of refined domestic life, but qualifying them for the pursuits which are now opening up for the sex in so many different directions. The result of this new departure is an institution combining the discipline and work of a college with the genial atmosphere and comfort of a home. As regards the building and its surroundings, the site chosen for its erection is a gently sloping area, bounded on one side by the Glenferrie-road, and on the other by Parker-street. The building occupies a commanding position on the upper portion of the slope, and from the balcony in front a beautiful view is obtained of the whole of the picturesque suburb of Hawthorn, which appears doubly attractive as seen from this eminence. Away on the right the summits of the more lofty spires and towers of the metropolis catch the eye, together with the shipping at Sandridge and Williamstown, and a fine stretch of the waters of the bay right down to Arthur's Seat. The large space in front of the building will be laid out according to a design already chosen, and planted with ornamental flowers and shrubs, the situation affording ample scope for the talents of the landscape gardener. To the right of the building, and on the upper end of the grounds, a portion of land has been levelled and laid out in several lawns for tennis and croquet. The position is a very healthy one, affording excellent opportunities for a thorough system of drainage, and as far as health considerations are concerned could not be surpassed. The completed design of the building shows a handsome edifice, the estimated cost of construction of which is about £20.000. It is being built in sections, the left wing and principal tower not being included in the present structure, but these will subsequently be erected as required. When complete the building may be entered from two points, the present front entrance beneath the smaller tower and the main entrance at the larger tower on the left wing. This large tower will, when erected, contain the principal architectural points of beauty in the building. The college is well lighted by a number of large double windows in front and at either end. As regards the interior everything has been designed with a view to comfort and carried out in a complete manner. Immediately to the right on entering and passing through the reception hall, the president's suite of rooms is situated, these being in the front portion of the building, and faced on the opposite side by the music rooms. To the left of the present main entrance a door opens into the large schoolroom, a lofty, well ventilated and lighted chamber, the area being 45ft. s: 30ft. It is provided with the most modern improvements, a system of electric bells being the chief feature. The main schoolroom is connected with a suite of class rooms in the rear by doors opening into each, these, with the schoolroom, occupying the whole of the right wing. On the opposite side of the passage, running from the main entrance to the rear, and behind the president's apartments and the music rooms, a large open space is being converted into a conservatory, with a fountain in the centre. On the first floor and immediately above the schoolroom, the largest dormitory, a very handsome chamber of the same area as the room below, but ornamented by a handsome ecclesiastical roof instead of the ordinary ceiling, is situated. It is flanked by smaller dormitories and a fine suite of bathrooms fitted with handsome and valuable enamelled baths, these being a modern specialty. On the opposite wing the private apartments of the teaching staff of the college are fixed. The second floor, or dormitory story, consists of part of the smaller tower and an abutment to right of the entrance, and has been converted into a double suite of dormitories, from the windows of which a magnificent view is obtained for many miles in a southerly direction. This floor has also a complete system of bathrooms. The scholars' entrance to the portion of the building already described is by an asphalted pathway fronting the recreation grounds and dining-.hall. What may be called the domestic part of the establishment is a wooden building at the rear of the left wing, and invisible from the front. The main feature of this part of the institution is the spacious dining-hall, 40ft. x 25ft., at one end of which the college library, the gift of a number of gentlemen interested in the welfare of the institution, is placed. This portion of the building also contains the storeroom, kitchen, pantries, and other similar apartments, which, though less interesting than the main portion of the building, all serve to show the elaborate manner in which everything connected with the establishment has been carried out. In order to render the institution independent of the failure or deterioration in quality of the Yan Yean water, provision has been made for storing all the water coming from the roof of the building. The play-ground is shut out from view of the road, and also the yards at the back, by high picket fences, the grounds being enclosed by a similar structure. The cost of the portion of the building now being erected is £12,000, including the fittings and furniture, the latter being supplied by Messrs. Robertson and Moffat, who are carrying out their portion of the work in a very complete and elaborate style, while the main portion of the building is being pushed forward by the contractor, Mr. James Bonham, who has likewise performed his duties in a thorough manner. The Rev. W. H. Fitchett, B.A., the president of the college, has also worked energetically in hastening forward the completion of the building, and on the 1st of May students were formally enrolled, as on this date the second term for the year commenced. The opening of the college could have been conveniently postponed until a later date, but the necessities of tuition demanded that the building should be brought into immediate use, a large number of pupils having already entered at the college. The formal opening of the college will take place some time during the winter.

The Argus, Melbourne Monday 27 April 1885 page 9
ST. IGNATIUS'S CHURCH RICHMOND
........................ Up to the present time the sum of £1,175 9s 9d has been collected towards the cost of the extension of the church. Mr W. W. Wardell (of Messrs Wardell and Vernon) is architect, and the first contract for the foundations is let to Mr. Bonham, of Richmond.

The Melbourne Argus Tuesday 19 January 1886 page 7
Trade Society meetings
A largely attended meeting of masons was held at the Trades Hall last evening regarding the adoption of the increase in wages by the employers. It was announced that nearly the whole of the masters had conceded the demands of the operatives for 1s 4d per hour, ............................... The only master who was reported to have refused to give his employees the extra money was Mr. Bonham, St Ignatius' Church, Richmond............................

At the time of his death, James Bonham's occupation was given as Contractor. He had considerable assets at the time of his death the Probate documents estimate his assets as being worth £9,343.0.0 including land and personal assets. Persons entitled to a distribution of the Estate were Mary Agnes Bonham (widow) and children James John Joseph Bonham, Annie Isabella Bonham, Margaret Angela Bonham, Edward Joseph Bonham, Teresa Bonham, John Stanislaus Bonham and Frances Philip Bonham.

The solicitors who handled the estate were Duffy and William

The Melbourne Argus Monday 13 August 1888 page 1
Deaths
BONHAM - on the 12th inst. at his residence, Catherine street Richmond, James J. Bonham, builder, aged 68 years R.I.P.

The Melbourne Argus, Friday 16 August 1888, page 12
IN THE ESTATE of JAMES JOHN BONHAM, late of Catherine Street, Richmond, in the Colony of Victoria, Deceased, Intestate.-All persons having CLAIMS against the estate of the abovenamed deceased are requested to SEND in PARTICULARS of same to Mary Agnes Bonham, to the care of Messrs. Duffy and Wilkinson,of ???Chancery-lane, Melbourne, solicitors for the said Mary Agnes Bonham, on or before Wednesday, the 22nd of August inst.

The Argus Melbourne Friday 26 October 1888 page 17
Equity Court
Thursday, Oct 25
First Nisi Prius Court
Before His Honour Mr, Justice A'Beckett.
Probates and letters of administration
...........................
Letters of administration were granted in the Estates of James John Bonham, £9,343 on the Motion of Mr Power:..................

The Argus Melbourne Tuesday 4 December 1888 page 10
Judicial and Law Notices
Statutory Notice to Creditors - James John Bonham . Deceased - pursuant to the provisions of the Statute of Trusts, 1864, notice is hereby given that all persons having any CLAIMS against the estate of James John Bonham, late of Catherine street, Richmond, in the colony of Victoria, contractor, deceased, intestate, letters of administration of whose estate were granted by the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, in its Probate jurisdiction, to the National Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company of Australasia Limited, of number 117 Collins Street West, Melbourne, in the colony of Victoria (the said company having been duly authorised pursuant to Section 4 of the act of Parliament of Victoria Number 988, to take out letters of administration by Mary Agnes Bonham of Catherine Street Richmond aforesaid, the widow and person entitled by law to administer the estate of the said deceased. are hereby required to send in particulars of such claims to the said National Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company of Australasia Limited, at the office of the said company, number 117 Collins Street West, Melbourne, on or before the eighteenth day of December 1888. And notice is hereby given that after that day the said company will proceed to distribute the assets of the said James John Bonham, deceased, amongst the persons entitled thereof, having regard only to the claims of which it then shall have had notice; and the said company will not be liable for the assets or any part thereof so distributed to any person or persons of whose claims it shall not then have had notice.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1888
Duffy and Wilkinson, 69 Chancery Land Melbourne, solicitors for the said company.

A large advertisement appeared in the Melbourne Argus on Thursday 21 February 1889 on page 2 advising of a sale on Wednesday February 27th at 11 o'clock in the Estate of the Late James J Bonham selling land having a frontage to Gardiner Street back to Murphy street, together with plant equipment and buildings. This list is very detailed and includes timber, stone, stone cutting tools, and ironmongery, drays and horses and many other items. The advertisement states that after the sale of the main lots, the plant used in building the additions to St Ignatius' Church, Church Street Richmond and which can be inspected on the ground, would also be sold.

The Argus Melbourne Thursday 28 February 1889 page 9
Commercial Intelligence
Messrs. Gemmell, Tuckett, and Co. report having this day sold by auction, under instructions from the National Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company of Australasia Limited, the stock-in-trade and spare plant in the estate of the late J.J. Bonham, builder, Richmond. Satisfactory prices were realised.

The Melbourne Argus Tuesday 12 August 1889 page 1
In Memoriam
BONHAM - of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of James J. Bonham.

The Melbourne Argus, Wednesday 12 August 1891 page 1
In Memoriam
BONHAM.-In your charity pray for the repose of the SOUL of James John Bonham, who died 12th August, 1888.

The Argus Melbourne Saturday 10 October 1891 page 2
Sales by Auction
Wednesday, October 14
On the premises
at Eleven O'Clock
EXECUTORS SALE
GARDNER STREET
RICHMOND
(North Side of the Bridge-Road)
PROPERTY, MACHINERY
AND PLANT
To machinists, timber merchants, contractors and others.
GEMMELL,TUCKETT, and Co., 359 and 361 Collins Street, have received instructions from the NATIONAL TRUSTEES, EXECUTORS, and AGENCY COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, as administrators in the estate of James J. Bonham, contractor, to SELL by PUBLIC AUCTION, as above,
All those pieces of land being Crown Allotments 6,7,9,10,11, of section 34p., at Richmond Parish of Jika Jika, county of Bourke, allotments 6,76,10 and 11 having a frontage of 288ft. 10 in. to
GARDNER STREET
by a depth of 92ft. 4in. along
MURPHY STREET
Lots 10 and 11 have a depth of 138ft. 7in. back to lot 9, which allotment has a frontage of 61ft. 4in. to
PALMER STREET.
by an irregular depth of 126ft. 8in and 99ft. 7in.,
together with
Sawmill, Large Joinery shop, Storeroom,
Office and Stables
erected thereon.
The building consists of brick, stone, and wood with iron roof.
Ground Floor, 80ft x 43ft.
First Floor, 80ft x 28ft and 28ft by 20ft
The Machinery and plant are of the very best description,
consisting of
Horizontal steam engine, 12 h.p. nominal boiler, by Johnson & Co.
Chimney stack and boiler bed, brickwork
Belting, pullies, shafting
Saw-benches and trollies
Break-down frames, gang frames
Gang saws, frame saws, circular saws
Emery-machines, jig-saw benches, carpenters' benches
Travellers (patent block and chain)
Mortising-machines, moulding-machines
Sticking-machine, tennoning-machine
Turning lathe, augers, moulding cutters, mortise chisels, vice and drill, timber racks, large traveller
Large building, comprising mill floor, joiners' shops, storeroom, &c., built of brick and wood, and mostly roofed with G.C.iron.
Also,
Timber racks, travelling crane, stabling, and overhead hoisting gear.
The whole forming a most complete plant either for a contractor or timber merchant.
The whole of the above property and plant will be offered in one lot, and in case of no sale being effected the machinery and plant will be sold in lots to suit purchasers.
Terms and full particulars can be obtained from auctioneers.

The Melbourne Argus, 8 June 1892 page 2
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
At Two Clock On the Premises
Gardner street, Bridge road, RICHMOND
Estate of Late James Bonham, Esq
By Order of the National Trustees,executors, and
Agency Company limited
To Builders and Others
WORKSHOPS, CHIMNEY STACK, ENGINE, &c for removal
JOHN COVERLID will SELL by AUCTION, as above,
The whole of the extensive workshops, outbuildings, fences, balance of machinery, building material, &c .comprising two storied workshop chimney stack over 60ft high and engine bed 10 h p engine jig saw bench, vice bench, boring machines, drills grindstone, shafting blocks, stone, and miscellaneous material
No Reserve

The Bonham house at 17 Elm Street Richmond was built in 1872. The Yarra City Council recently undertook a heritage survey of the property which is available on line at the following address :-vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/reports/report_place/88702
or search from the Victorian Heritage Database on http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/heritage/victorian-heritage-register

According to the back of a family photograph, Jim took a party of "government men" into the outback searching for Lasseters gold mine, this was most likely James John Bonham Jnr.

Family lore states that the sisters were nicknamed Annie, Nanny Cissy, and Tissy.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence, 1841, Toxteth, Lancashire, England. ²¹³⁸ occupation joiner.

James married Anne McDONNELL [1312] [MRIN: 406], daughter of Michael McDONNELL [3385] and Judith or Mary [—?—] [3386], on 22 Feb 1846 in Southwark, Surrey, England ²¹³⁶.^,2137 (Anne McDONNELL [1312] was born about 1826 in , , England, died on 25 Apr 1860 in Collingwood, VIC, Australia ^2139,2140 and was buried on 27 Apr 1860 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.)

James next married Mary Agnes JONES [1275] [MRIN: 383], daughter of John JONES [1309] and Isabella SMITH [1308], on 6 Nov 1860 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ²¹³⁰.^,2131 (Mary Agnes JONES [1275] was born on 1 Apr 1834 in Islington, Middlesex, England, died on 25 Nov 1899 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia ²¹³² and was buried on 28 Nov 1899 in Booroondara, Vic, Australia ²¹³³.)