Mamie Manning, wife of Forbis Manning

Great grandfather Forbis Manning was first married to Judith Holt, second he married Great grandmother Laura Griffith and third he married Mamie Estill.  Other family members have not researched Mamie and hardly ever mentioned her.  In reviewing information I have about Forbis, I was reading his obituary.  He died in 1929 and Great grandmother Laura died in 1923.  However, in his obituary it states that he was survived by his wife and five children.  Interesting, I thought.  I looked at his death certificate and it too states he was married at the time of his death.  I learned his third wife's name was Mamie when reading a letter written by his daughter Lizzie after he died.  Lizzie is writing to her brothers and sisters about settling Forbis' estate.  She stated she wanted to be sure that  "Mamie got her share".

I began by looking for a marriage license and found one in Bryan county, Oklahoma where F. Manning, age 51 married  Mrs. Mamie McGuire, age 32 on June 8, 1924.  That's just about one year after Great grandmother Laura died.  Seeing her labeled as Mrs. McGuire meant she had previously been married.  The certificate also showed that she was from Granger, Texas which is in Williamson county.  When I searched for Mamie McGuire, born 1892 in Texas, the very first census that appeared was the 1920 Williamson, Texas census with Mamie McGuire, who was widowed,  and her three children living with her uncle Tom E. Miller.  Her children were James, Verna and Bobbie McGuire. Then searching for a marriage record I found that R.J. McGuire married Mamie Estill on Jan 21, 1912 in Williamson county.  R. J. McGuire was Robert J. McGuire who was born in 1888 and died in 1915 in Williamson county.  In back tracking census records, I found that in 1910 Mamie age 17 and her mother Anna Estill (widowed) were living with Mamie's sister Hattie Hill and husband Tom Hill, again in Williamson county.  Mamie's father James Arthur Estill was born in 1849 and died in 1895 and her mother Anna died in 1918.

Here are the events I knew at that point.
1892 Mamie Estill was born
1895 James Estill, her father died
1910 Mamie and her mother live with her sister
1912 Mamie married Robert J. McGuire
1913  James McGuire was born
1914  Verna McGuire was born
1915 Mamie's husband, Robert died
1916 Bobbie McGuire was born
1918 Mamie's mother, Annie Miller Estill died
1920 Mamie and her children live with her Uncle, Tom E. Miller
1924 Mamie and Forbis get married in Bryan county, Oklahoma
1929 Forbis Manning died

I began to feel sad for Mamie having lost both parents and being widowed twice by age 37.  On the 1930 census, Mamie Manning and her three children are living in Tillman county, Oklahoma. Her children are listed with the last name Manning.   I am very curious about how and why Mamie went to Bryan county.  Did she meet Forbis in Bryan county or in Granger, TX?  And why did she leave Bryan county and move to Tillman county after Forbis died.  Did Forbis adopt the McGuire children?  Mamie never married again.  The Social Security Death Index shows that Mamie Manning born May 30, 1892 died in March 1980 in Grandfield, Tillman county, OK.  I haven't yet found where Mamie is buried and have not found any other records of her children.

Here's a picture of Great grandfather Forbis Manning.  There is no family photo of Mamie Manning.

Matilda Bonner and David Ross- Part I

On February 4, 2011 I wrote about Matilda Bonner and David Ross.  Today I would like to update the information.  In reviewing what I had written and doing some more research, I gained additional information.   One of the keys that sent me looking was the 1900 census where Matilda indicated she had given birth to 13 children and 10 were still living.  I went back to the earlier census information and identified other children of Matilda and David.  Originally on February 4, 2011, I had named the following children of David and Matilda Ross.
William
Edward
Margaret
George
Matilda
Ann
Alma
Charles G.

The 1861 New Brunswick census names David and Matilda Ross and their children and birth year.
John Ross 1852
James T. Ross 1854
Ann C. Ross  1856
William E. Ross 1858
Isabella J. Ross 1860
All five of the children were born in New Brunswick, Canada.  It was a challenge finding them all because the  1861 census lists only individual listings and not the whole family on one page.  The way I located them was that first I looked for David Ross and noted he was listed on sheet 10, line 371.  Then I found Matilda on sheet 10, line 372.  From there I just began looking for Ross children who could be found on sheet 10, in proximity to lines 371 and 372. I found a Ross family member on page 10 for lines 371-377.

Margaret Ross was also born in 1864 in New Brunswick, 3 years after the 1871 census. She is present on the 1871 Kemptown, Colchester, Nova Scotia census.  Other children of the Ross family that were born in Nova Scotia and on the 1871 census include:
Ann C. (noted to be Christy A.) 1856
Isabella J. 1860
Margaret 1864
Alfred and Albert Ross twins were born in December 1865 in NS, but only Albert is listed on this census.  That is curious because I located the death record of Alfred in 1903 in Massachusetts.
George Henry Ross  1867, NS
Matilda Ross 1869 NS

So far, that's ten children of the 13 Matilda reported on the 1900 census.  Other Ross children I have found include  Ada M. Ross born in 1872 in Nova Scotia, Charles G. Ross born in 1874 in Maine and then David Brooks Ross was born in Maine.  The marriage records for David indicate he was born in 1866 in Maine, but that's very inconsistent with the birth years and birth locations of the other children because in 1866, the family was in Nova Scotia.   I suspect he was born in 1876.

In 1880, the family is in Portland ME.  Those appearing on this census are David and Matilda and their children:  Edward age 19, Margaret age 15, George age 11, Ann age 9, Alma age 7 and Charles G. age 5.  David Brooks Ross does not appear on this census.

I have found nothing about John Ross who was born in 1852 in New Brunswick.  Regarding James T. Ross,  there is an interesting extraction from a New Brunswick newspaper in 1870 about James Thomas Ross.  It is as follows:

Date:  March 7, 1870
County:  Saint John
Place:  Saint John, New Brunswick
Newspaper:  The Daily Telegraph


Runaway- A lad about 10 years old was found by Police Saturday eve. in the bar room of a man by the name of Mr. Warburton on Duke St. (St. John)  He says his name is James Thomas Ross and has been living for at least 6 or 7 years with his grandfather, James Bonner, farmer who lives between Truro & Riversdale, N.S.  He wanted to see his father, David Ross, Carpenter, Fredericton.


This is an interesting extraction because the names and places all fit for James T. Ross.  His grandfather's name was indeed James Bonner, Matilda's father. The Ross family was in Nova Scotia at that time, but I have no official record that James Bonner was also there, except this newspaper article. The next record I found related to James T. Ross was his death record in 1907 in Chelsea, MA.  He died on 16 Oct 1907 with stomach cancer.  He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, MA.

Ann C. Ross who was born in 1856 is seen on the 1861 New Brunswick census.  She again appears on the 1871 census as Christy A. Ross.  In the marriage records of Massachusetts,  Christina the daughter of David and Matilda Ross is noted to be marrying Tisdale B. Talbot on 03 Jan 1903 in Boston..  In this marriage record, she is named as Christina Doyle, so she must have married before marrying Mr. Talbot, but I found no record of the marriage to Mr. Doyle.  In 1910, Tisdale and Christina appear on the census in Boston.  I have found no other records for Christina Ross Talbot or Tisdale Talbot.

William E. Ross was born in 1858 in New Brunswick.  He is on the 1861 New Brunswick census but not on the 1871 Nova Scotia census.  He does appear in 1880 on the Portland ME census.  He is listed as Edward, age 19 which suggests he was born in 1861.  Although the 1858 birthdate and the 1861 date don't match exactly, I do believe Edward is William E. Ross.  Edward Ross died in Worcester MA on 10 July 1911.  He was living in the Worcester State Hospital in Worcester MA.  It was an insane asylum.  His death record indicates he was born in New Brunswick in 1862, had been in the hospital for 6 months and 11 days.  It indicates that he died of paralysis which he had for 2 years, as well as heat exhaustion he had for 5 days.  Edward is buried at the Glenwood Cemetery in Everett, MA.  There is quite a bit written about the history of Worcester State Hospital.  Just googling the name will bring many links to information as well as photos.  Here is one of the links:    http://www.opacity.us/site56_worcester_state_hospital.htm

There are many photos of the hospital and descriptions of some of the "treatments" that patients received.  Insulin shock therapy and sweat therapy were just a few.  If you have an interest in "old abandoned asylums", Worcester will give you plenty of information.

I'll stop Part I here and continue with Part II on the next blog entry.  There is more to write about the children of Matilda Bonner and David Ross.  Scroll down further on this page to read Part II.

Matilda Bonner and David Ross-Part II

I will continue with information about the children of Matilda Bonner and David Ross.
Isabella J. Ross was born in 1860 in New Brunswick.  She appears on the 1861 New Brunswick census and on the 1871 Nova Scotia census.  Beyond the two census records, I have found nothing more about Isabella.

The next child of Matilda and David Ross is Margaret Ross who was born in 1864 in New Brunswick.  Margaret appears on the 1871 Nova Scotia census and on the 1880 Portland ME census.  Maggie Ross is noted to be the daughter of Matilda and David Ross on the 1889 marriage record in Chelsea MA.  Maggie married Charles T. Clark on 23 Nov 1889.  His full name was Charles Tupper Clark.  He was born in 1865 and was the son of Arthur W. Clark and Sarah.  Maggie Ross and Charles Clark had three children that I have identified.  Nellie Clark was born 17 Aug 1890, Charles Arthur Clark was born 26 Feb 1893 and Baby Girl Clark was born 25 Dec 1898.


In 1865 twin boys Albert and Alfred Ross were born in Nova Scotia.  Their birth record indicates clearly that they were twins.  Albert appears on the 1871 Nova Scotia census, but there is no listing for Alfred.  I have found nothing more for Albert Ross except that 1871 census.  I did locate a death record for Alfred Ross.  I wonder if the name on the 1871 census should have been Alfred rather than Albert.  Alfred Ross died 25 Feb 1903 in Boston.  Cause of death was a skull fracture acquired after falling down stairs.  He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett MA.  That is the same cemetery where James T. Ross is buried.

George H. Ross was born in 1874 in Maine.  He appears on the 1880 census in Portland ME.  George married Margaret Finlayson on 22 Sept 1890 in Massachusetts.  Margaret was born in 1872 and the daughter of John Finlayson and Adaline Cothran.  The marriage record indicates that George was a machinist.  I identified two children of George and Margaret Ross.  Adeline M. Ross was born 20 Nov 1893 and Madge G. Ross was born in December 1896 in Everett MA.  Sadly, George died on 17 Dec 1898.  He committed suicide with a pistol.  George is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett MA.  His wife Margaret appears on the 1900 and 1910 census in Boston living with her mother Adaline and her young daughter Maggie Ross. In 1920 and 1930 Margaret and Madge are living with Margaret's brother Richard Finlayson.  Margaret is noted to be widowed.  The child, Adeline M. Ross does not appear on these census. On the 1930 censes, Madge G. Ross is noted to be a teacher.  I came across a list of graduates of the Boston State Teachers College in 1938.  In that list Madge G. Ross was awarded a Masters Degree in Education.  A Massachusetts Death record shows that Madge died 20 Sept 1988.

Throughout my review of census records I have been confused by the children Ann and Alma.  On the 1880 Portland ME census, what is transcribed as Ann Ross appears to be Ada when you look at the original document.  She would be Ada M. Ross born in 1872.  The Mary A. Ross who appears on the 1900 census in Chelsea MA is Alma. who was born in  1877 or 1879.  By tracing Mary A. Ross' marriage records, I found her known as Alma Ross on the record of one of her children.

Ada M. Ross who was born in 1872 married John B. Austin on 11 Sept 1894 in Boston.  She was 22 years old.  They had 7 children:  Ethel M. Austin born in 1895, Albert Frederick Austin born in 1900, John A. Austin born in 1901, George Irving Austin born in 1903, unnamed Austin born in 1905, Francis Dale Austin born in 1906 and Frank D. Austin born in 1907.  Frank Austin died 19 Aug 1907.  Young John A. Austin died 10 Nov 1908.  His death record indicates that he fell from a street car.

Ada M. Ross Austin died 04 April 1912.  The cause of death was Phthisis Pulmonales, which in today's terms was tuberculosis.  She was only 36 years old and left five children and her husband John.  Ada is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, MA.

Mary A. Ross is also known as Alma Ross was born in either 1877 or 1879 in Maine.  Alma married John W. Arnault on 03 Jan 1902 in Boston.  They had three children: Ella Mary Arnault born in 1905, Lottie E. Arnault who was born and died in 1908, and Alma Arnault who was born in 1912.  Mary A. Ross' name appears as Amy on the 1910 and 1920 census and it appears as Amy Alma Ross on Ella's birth record in 1905.

Charles G. Ross was born in 1875 in Maine.  He appears on the 1880 and 1900 census in the family home.  In a 1912 Directory of Chelsea MA he is named as is Matilda Ross.  Matilda was noted to be the widow of David.  On his 1917 draft record, Charles indicates that Mary O'Brien would know his whereabouts.  In 1920, Charles is a boarder of Ms. O'Brien's.

I did find a death record for David C. Ross which indicated he died in 1908 of "old age" and was buried
at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett MA.  I do not have a death date for Matilda.  On several records, including the Pension File of Matilda's brother, Thomas Henry Bonner, it was indicated that the family lived at 58 Blossom Street, Chelsea MA.  I was able to find a current photo of 58 Blossom St and a description. It was built in 1900, was a duplex with a total of both sides that included 10 rooms, 6 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  Here is a current photo of 58 Blossom St.

As you can see this home has been well kept all these many years.  All of the Ross family is gone, but their home remains.  This will end my discussion of the family of Matilda Bonner and David Ross.  If anyone who might read this has any additional information, please contact me.

The Search for Austin Bonner

My last blog entry was May 20, 2011 and now I'm ready to get back to work. While researching great grandfather Thomas Henry Bonner, I have learned a whole lot about the Bonner/Bonnar family and made some great contacts with other Bonner descendants.

Today I have a rather complicated entry to make. I'll try to make it easy to read. Great Grandfather, Thomas Henry Bonner had a brother named Henry Bonner. Henry married Amanda Pond. I wrote about them on February 24, 2011. They had four children: Robert Douglas, Ernest Alfred, Austin and Henry. In the Feb. 24 entry, I mentioned that I had information about everyone except Austin Bonner. I have since gained information about Austin Bonner. Oddly enough what sent me in the right direction was the obituary of his brothers, Robert Douglas Bonner and Ernest Alfred Bonner. In Robert's obituary in 1933, Austin is mentioned as a surviving brother. In Ernest's obituary it states he is survived by his neice, Mrs. Helen Bonner McInnis of Portland ME. What confused me was that I had never heard of Helen and I was surprised that the obituary didn't name the four children of Ernest Alfred Bonner.

Here is his obituary from the Portland Maine Telegraph, March 16, 1947.

I still don't know why his children aren't mentioned except perhaps the person writing the information wasn't aware of them. Ernest had been divorced since about 1920 from his wife Belle Hazelton Bonner. I began searching Helen Bonner McInnis and found that in 1910 Helen Bonner was age 6 and living at Swans Island, Maine with Hattie and Horace Stanley. She also lived with Hattie Stanley in 1920. I'm not sure of their relationship because the census stated that Helen was a boarder, even at age 6. So by backtracking in the Maine Deaths and Marriages for someone with the last name Bonner, I found Helen's parents. They were Nellie M. Cook and Austin Bonner. Nellie Bonner died in October 1903 at Swans Island after giving birth to Helen in July 1903.

Helen first married Charles Parker in 1923 and they had one child Edna Hilda Parker. Secondly she married Horace McInnis. Helen died in 1994 in Portland ME and in her obituary she is survived by her daughter Edna and it states her parents were Austin Bonner and Nellie Cook Bonner.

Although I have only gained one additional shred of information about Austin Bonner, I don't know what happened to him after his wife Nellie died. It appears that he left Swan Island and perhaps remarried, leaving his daughter in the care of Hattie Stanley. There is still no census information or death information that I've found about Austin after the 1903 death of Nellie Cook Bonner, until he is mentioned in the 1933 obituary of his brother.

I found a nice photo of Hattie Stanley, the woman who raised Helen Bonner McInnis.

I will keep searching for Austin Bonner, just don't quite know where to look.

Happy Birthday Ross Bonner

Today is the 90th birthday of my Uncle Ross Bonner. He is best known as Buddy Bonner. He was born in Caddo, Bryan county, Oklahoma. His parents were Ross Bonner and Eula Manning Bonner. Uncle Buddy has always been an inspiration to me. He is a real family man and has always looked out for his children and other family members, like me. Buddy was in the Marines and served in WWII. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart for his service in Tarawa. He decorates his room in his retirement home with lots of family photos and memorabalia from the Marine Corp. Since I didn't really know the meaning of Semper Fi, I looked it up. I learned that it means, "Always Faithful". That fits Uncle Buddy perfectly. He is a faithful Marine and an extremely faithful family member. Happy Birthday Buddy!!!

Robert Nelson Bonnar, New Brunswick, Canada

Robert Nelson Bonnar was the youngest son of James Bonnar and Margaret Chambers. James and Margaret immigrated from Ireland to New Brunswick in 1835. Robert Nelson was born October 20, 1857 in York, New Brunswick. On November 24, 1874 he married Johanna Harris. Johanna was born in 1859 and was the daughter of Moses Harris and Johanna Curtis. Robert and Johanna had seven children.

M. Maude Bonnar, born December 23, 1880
Beverly Robinson Bonnar (son), born October 21, 1881
Ada M. Bonnar, born December 22, 1883
Franklin (Frank) Moses Bonnar, born November 15, 1885
Margaret Alwilda Bonnar, born April 4, 1888
Annie L. Bonnar, born 1890
Benjamin York Bonnar, April 9,1891

In 1881, Robert and Johanna appear on the census in Douglas, York, New Brunswick. Robert is 26 and noted to be an engineer. Johanna is 24, listed as Jewish and a member of the Church of England. Maud was age 3, Beverly R. was just 3 months old. Also in the household was Margaret Harris, age 21, listed as Jewish and a member of the Church of England. Margaret may have been Johanna's sister. In 1891, Robert and Johanna appear on the census in Douglas, York, New Brunswick. Robert is 36 and Johanna is 36. Next to Johanna's name in the column for church attended, Salvation Army is written as the church. Their children on this census are Maud age 13, Beverly R. age 11, Ada M. age 9, Franke age 6, Alwildie age 4, Annie L. age 1 and Benjamin Y. age 1/12.

In 1901, Robert and Johanna are found on the census in York, New Brunswick. Their last name is spelled Boner. In the household are Maud age 20, Beverly age 19, Ada age 17, Frank age 15, Ollie age 13 and York age 9. The child Annie L. does not appear on the 1901 census. In 1911, again in York, New Brunswick, Robert and Johanna Bonar are living in the household with son Beverly, age 30 and a child named Marion, age 6. Marion was listed as their daughter. I have since learned that Marion was not their daughter, but their grand daughter and the daughter of Maud.

M. Maud Bonnar

Maud Bonnar, oldest daughter of Robert and Johanna, married Ludlow Elmer Pangburn on July 9, 1906. Ludlow was born in 1888. Maud and Ludlow had four children. Hazel Mae Pangburn was born April 27, 1907. Joseph A. Pangburn was born in 1909. Robert Burns Pangburn was born July 24, 1911 and Clarence A. Pangburn was born January 27, 1913. In October 1917, Ludlow enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He was in Regiment #336100, 65th Battery. On his enlistment application, he listed his wife as Maud Pangburn and stated that her residence was the Provincial Hospital in St. John, New Brunswick. The Provincial Hospital was an insane asylum. Sadly, Ludlow died on May 13, 1918. He died in the C. C. Hospital in Carlton county NB. His cause of death was pneumonia. He is buried at the Holmesville Cemetery in Carlton, NB. His death left his wife in an asylum and his children without parents to take care of them.

On the delayed birth certificate of Hazel Mae Pangburn, her birth was verified by her uncle Stephen Taylor on July 15, 1948. On the birth certificate, Mr. Taylor states, " Her father is deceased...her mother is ill and unable to understand what is said to her, or to understand the making of an affadavit." That suggests that Maud Bonnar Pangburn's mental illness continued from Ludlow's 1917 enlistment date until at least July 1948. Her illness may have been present before October 1917, because in August 1917 Maude is the departure contact on a Boarder Crossing to Houlton, ME for her son Robert with Stephen Taylor as the arrival contact. In April 1921, Maude Pangburn is the departure contact for daughter Hazel in a Boarder Crossing into Maine. On the obituary of Hazel Mae Pangburn Carpenter it states that she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Steve and Adelaide Taylor. The Taylors lived in Aroostook, ME. The following is Hazel Mae's obituary which appeared in the Bangor Maine newspaper in 2003.


HOULTON – Hazel Mae Carpenter, 96, quietly ended a long and active life on Sept. 14, 2003, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. She was born Hazel Pangburn, April 27,1907, in Woodstock, New Brunswick, the daughter of Ludlow and Maude (Bonner) Pangburn. Hazel moved to Ludlow as a child where she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Steve and Adelaide Taylor. After graduating from Ricker Classical Institute in Houlton, she moved to Haverhill, Mass., to pursue a nursing career. While in Haverhill, she married Charles “Red” Miller, and they had two daughters, Joyce and June. She later returned to Houlton and was married to Jasper Carpenter. Hazel traveled to Europe to visit her daughter, June’s family in the 1960s. After her husband’s death, she split her time between Haverhill and Shalimar, Fla., where she lived with her daughter, June and her family. While in Shalimar, she was active in the Eglin Catholic Chapel Community, where she was affectionately known as “Mom.” She was preceded in death by her husband, Jasper Carpenter, and her daughters, Joyce, Mrs. John Cronin and June, Mrs. Don Giroux, both of Haverhill, Mass. She was dearly loved by many friends and relatives, and is survived by nine nephews and nieces and six grandchildren. Graveside services and interment will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at the Evergreen Cemetery, with the Rev. Rod Black officiating. Donations in her memory may be sent to Covenant Hospice, 101 Hart St., Niceville, FL 32578. A service of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton.




Joseph A. Pangburn was born in 1909 and appears on the 1911 census in New Brunswick. However, I have found nothing more about son Joseph Pangburn.
Robert Burns Pangburn was born July 24, 1911. He too was taken to Maine in 1921. No departure contact person was named on his Boarder Crossing record. Robert died April 9, 1998 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His obituary states he attended Boston University and graduated from the University of Maine. He was in the aircraft business for over 30 years. He married Mildred Gerry in 1933 in Maine and had several subsequent marriages. Robert is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City.


Clarence A. Pangburn was born January 27, 1913. He was taken to Maine in October 1921 by his grandmother Hannah Pangburn. Hannah's husband, Edward, died in September 1921. It is likely that Clarence had been living with his grandparents after his father died and until 1921. In 1930, Clarence appears on the census in Houlton, ME living with his Uncle Stephen and Aunt Adelaide Taylor. Clarence married Helen Alice Parks in 1935. They had nine children, three daughters and six sons. Clarence died November 22, 1999 and his wife Helen died December 29, 2010. Clarence's obituary also states he was raised by Stephen and Adelaide Taylor.
Maude Bonnar's daughter Marion Bonner was born before Maude married Ludlow Pangburn. The name of Marion's father is not known. Another Bonner researcher stated that Marion had one daughter in 1936 and the daughter was living in Media, Pennsylvania in 2005.

Beverly Robinson Bonnar

Beverly Robinson Bonnar , son of Robert and Johanna, was born October 21, 1881 in New Brunswick. I haven't found much information about Beverly. He and his brothers, Frank and Benjamin, migrated to Western Canada from New Brunswick. Beverly married Grace Clifford on December 8, 1914 in Vancouver, Canada. Grace was born in 1882 in Pennsylvania and she died July 25, 1931 in Vancouver. Beverly died on October 5, 1939 in Vancouver. On his death certificate he is listed as a widower, the son of Robert and Joanna H. Bonner and that he was born in New Brunswick. Rather than having the middle name of Robinson, it is listed as Robertson. Beverly is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

Ada M. Bonnar

Ada M. Bonnar , daughter of Robert and Johanna, was born December 22, 1883. She married Harry Allan Palmer on March 17, 1903 in New Brunswick. Harry was the son of Bevaley and Augusta Palmer and he was born in 1881 in Jewitt's Mill, NB. Ada and Harry had a daughter, Maudie Augusta Palmer who was born September 13, 1903 in Devon, York, New Brunswick. Their second child was John V. Palmer who was born January 1, 1906 in New Brunswick. Although I have not found a death certificate for Ada, she died between 1906 and 1908. Harry Palmer married Frances Swode in 1908 and it states on their marriage certificate that Harry Palmer was a widower.

After Ada Bonnar Palmer died and Harry Palmer remarried, Maudie Augusta Palmer is not living with her father Harry and his wife Frances. On the 1911 census, Maudie was living with Charles and Eliza Palmer and her aunt, Pearl Palmer in York, NB. In 1911, son John Palmer is also not living with his father Harry Palmer. He is living with George and Augusta Newell. Augusta Newell was Augusta Palmer, his grandmother who remarried George Newell about 1887. On the 1911 census, young John is listed as the grandson of Augusta Newell.

The situation with the Palmer children seems to only get worse. In November 1920, Maudie Augusta Palmer is sent by her father to live with her Uncle Walter M. Jardine. Mr. Jardine had married Maudie's aunt, Pearl Palmer. Pearl was the sister of Harry Palmer. They lived in Vanceboro, ME. Then I found a death certificate, number 052363, for son John V. Palmer who died November 30, 1927 at age 20 in New Brunswick. The cause of death was an accidental gunshot wound to the abdomen. He is buried at Millville Cemetery in New Brunswick.

On April 11, 1923, Maudie Augusta Palmer married Roy Millan Nelson in Brookline, MA. I do not know if they had children. Maudie Augusta Palmer Nelson died October 5, 1978 and Roy died November 30, 1985. They are buried at the Fredericton Rural Cemetery in Fredericton, NB.

Franklin Moses Bonnar

Franklin Moses Bonnar, son of Robert and Johanna, was born November 15, 1885. Frank, as he was known, appears on the 1901 census with his parents in New Brunswick. In 1911, Frank is in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. On the 1911 census, Frank is 24 years old and is a lodger in the home of George H. Hodskis, his wife May and daughter Nora L. Hodskis. There is a second lodger in the home named Francis E. Evans.

On July 7, 1915, Frank M. Bonnar married Mildred Marguerite Eichman in Bucyrus, Crawford, Ohio. Mildred, known as Millie, was born in 1889 and was the daughter of M. B. Eichman and Augusta Boedecker. The Eichman family immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1866. In 1916, Frank M. Bonnar and Mildred are listed on the census living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Mildred's father, Max Barnhardt Eichman died in 1932. Mildred is mentioned in his obituary. The obituary states that in 1932, Mildred was living in Winnipeg. Frank and Mildred had one son, Franklin Edward Bonnar born in 1916.

On Frank and Mildred's marriage certificate, Frank's occupation is listed as "financial broker". In a review of the archives of the Manitoba Free Press, I found numerous advertisements for Frank's businesses. In 1914, he had the company "MacLean and Bonnar, Financial Agents". Then from 1916-1923 there are ads for the "F. M. Bonner & Co.", rental agent. It appears he was managing rental properties because the ads were for cottages and bungalows. In 1922, he also had an ad, "Money to Loan on First Mortgages, F.M. Bonner". It was very interesting to see the advertisements.

I have not found dates of death for Frank or Mildred. I learned from a descendant of the Eichman family that in 1972, Frank was living at 326 Ashland Avenue in Winnipeg. He was 86 years old at the time. The Eichman family member also sent me about five pages of family photographs that included Frank and Mildred. On the photograph, Mildred was identified as Millie. According to the Eichman family member, Millie was the youngest of nine children.

Margaret Alwilda Bonnar

Margaret Alwilda Bonnar, daughter of Robert and Johanna, was born April 4, 1888. On the various census records, her name varies from Alwilda and Alwildie to Ollie. Here is a very pretty picture of Margaret Alwilda that I found on the internet.




There is an article in the American Journal of Nursing that mentions her name. However, I have been unable to access the article. It is said that Margaret Alwilda was very active with the Salvation Army. Family members also know that she never married and for a number of years she and her sister Maud lived together in New Brunswick.

Annie L. Bonnar

Annie L. Bonnar appears on the 1891 census, age 1, with her family, but she does not appear on the 1901 census. I have found no other mention of her and no death certificate. (On September 5, 2011 I found a burial record for Annie Louise Bonner, daughter of Robert and Johanna. She died August 11, 1890 at age 4 months, 6 days. She is buried at St. Marks Cemetery in York county.)

Benjamin York Bonnar

Benjamin York Bonnar, the youngest child of Robert and Johanna, was born April 9, 1891 in New Brunswick. On June 24 1915, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He served in Regiment #521017. On his enlistment record he was living in Vancouver, British Columbia and his wife was Emma Louise Bonnar. His occupation was listed as traveller. I'm not certain, but I think that name was given for traveling salesmen or sales representatives. His height was 5 ft. 8 in. and he had a dark complexion, gray blue eyes, and black hair. His church preference was the Wesleyan Church.

His wife was Emma Louise Kells Weir and she was born in 1894 in Ireland. She was the daughter of William Weir and Elizabeth Jane Kells. The Weir family immigrated from Ireland to the United States in the early 1900's and ultimately moved to the Vancouver area. Emma Louise Bonner died January 4, 1988 at age 93. Benjamin York Bonnar died April 13, 1965. I have not identified the burial location of Benjamin and Emma, but they died in Vancouver, British Columbia. Benjamin and Emma had one son.

In reading over this blog entry, it is apparent that Robert Nelson Bonnar and Johanna Harris Bonnar had a very diverse family. Robert died June 26, 1928 in Devon, York, New Brunswick. The cause of death was valvular disease of the heart. His daughter Alwilda was the informant on the death certificate. Johanna Harris Bonnar died in 1914, but I am not sure of the date.

I will continue to add updates about the Bonnar Family of New Brunswick, as more information becomes available. Gathering information about them has been a challenge, but it has also been very rewarding. All of the Bonnar family members have left an admirable legacy for those of us who have followed.

Bonnar Death Certificates

I recently received the death certificates of Margaret Bonnar Pond, Robert Nelson Bonnar and Robert Douglas Bonnar. They reveal that Margaret and Robert Nelson Bonnar were the children of James Bonnar and Margaret Chambers, rather than Chalmers. James and Margaret were born in Ireland, according to the certificates and as the census revealed.

Robert Douglas Bonnar was noted to be the son of Henry Bonnar and Amanda Pond rather than Amanda Horne. Amanda Pond was the sister of Henry David Pond who married Margaret Bonnar. I was happy to get the verification of the parents Robert Douglas because some sources that I have referenced stated that he was the son of James and Margaret Bonnar. In fact, the plat maps for the property lot #31 show R. D. Bonnar as the owner and the land patents have R.D. Bonnar. That is either an error in penmanship or Robert Douglas Bonnar was the person who owned and sold the Bonnar homestead in 1911.

Now I can proceed to write about the family of Robert Nelson Bonnar, the son of James and Margaret. I have waited until I received the death certificates to know that he was the son of James and Margaret and the brother of my great grandfather, Thomas Henry Bonner. So, as I continue to research Robert Nelson, I will add that to this blog. Fortunately, I have made contact with some descendants of his and have better information than I had previously.

Any reader who might want a copy of these three death certificates, just let me know. I am very happy to share them. Now, if only I could find a death certificate for my great grandfather, Thomas Henry Bonner, that would be an accomplishment.