John BONHAM [3446]

  General Notes:

I have been unable to find the whereabouts of John and Matilda in the 1861 Census and John in the 1871 and 1881 Census of England. In the 1881 census Matilda says she is the wife of a shipwright, but in the 1891 census she says she is a widow, so presumably John died somewhere between 1881 and 1891, however, I have not been able to find a death that corresponds.

The witness on the marriage of James John Bonham to Mary Agnes Jones in Melbourne in 1860 was John Bonham. It is possible that this is the same John Bonham. As most of the siblings came to Australia, I assume that John may have done so. I have been unable to find a death in England for John Bonham, despite the fact that John's wife calls herself a widow in 1891 census. I have found the death of a John in Melbourne in 1918, with parents and wife names unknown, however the age given on the death certificate would have made that John born approximately 1840. The death certificate states that John Bonham's address was 33 Barry Street, Carlton at the time of his death. Further research will be required to ascertain if this the correct John Bonham.

I have ruled out the deatah of John Bonham at Stawell Victoria in 1898. His occupation is given as Carpenter and Miner and his father's name is given as Caesar there is no details of marriage or children, but it is stated on the death certificate that he was born in England and had been in Victoria for 42 years which would make his arrival in approx 1856. His age is given as 86 on his death certificate which is 10 years out, but the death was recorded by the Secretary of the Stawell Hospital, so it may be inaccurate. This John and his wife Anne appear to have arrived in Victoria on 1854 on the Ship the British Empire.

Another possibility is a John Bonham,
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Tuesday 14 November 1916 page 6 <http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/393186
An old pioneer, Mr John Bonham -who landed in Victoria in 1854, died at Drysdale on Friday night
I have not been able to find a corresponding death in either the Victorian online death index, or on Ancestry.com.au.

I have obtained the death certificate of a John Bonham who died at Wentworth NSW in 1886. This John Bonham is said to have been 67 at his death, therefore born c. 1819. Unfortunately it gives no information on parents, or marriage. His occupation is given as farm labourer. Aug 2015

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence, 1841, Toxteth, Lancashire, England. ^2446,3842 Occupation given as carpenter.

2. Residence: 27A James Place, 1851, Toxteth, Lancashire, England. ^2446,3843 Occupation shipwright.

John married Matilda Scott HAMILTON [3447] [MRIN: 1054] on 14 Nov 1847 in Toxteth, Lancashire, England ²⁴⁴⁶.^,3839 (Matilda Scott HAMILTON [3447] was born about 1829 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England and died before 1911.)