William Bonar, Jr

William Bonar BIRTH 1751 Virginia, USA DEATH 23 Jul 1830 (aged 78–79) Ohio County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL West Liberty Cemetery West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia,

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48172295/william-bonar

From: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db...

WILLIAM BONAR II, 1751/1752 - 1830. JANE MCCULLOCH Abt. 1764 - d. March

8, 1849. William II, was born on the Roanoke River in Brooke Co.

(W)Virginia. Jane lived with her parents George McCulloch and Catherine

Hedges near West Liberty, (W)VA, prior to her marriage. Jane is buried in

Old Christian Church, West Liberty, Ohio Co., WVA. William came to what

is now Brooke Co, December 9, 1774, he lived with Oliver Gorrell. The

Gorrell plantation became the R. M. Wells farm, and later c. 1924, was

listed as the Mary Caseman farm. In 1776 William bought the improvements

of Isaac Meeks and in 1777 made a settlement thereon. He received a land

grant signed by then Governor Patrick Henry, for 239 acres, July 5, 1786,

which included his 1777 settlement. The original land grant is held by

James William Bonar of Power, WVA, grandson of William. William paid

thirty shillings sterling for the grant to this parcel. (Note that Brooke

Co. was part of Ohio Co. prior to 1797.)

In 1806 William and Jane sold 52+ acres of this grant to Thomas

Armstrong. On October 7, 1777 William Bonar, OliverGorrell, George

McCulloch along with most of the male citizens of the then Ohio Co.

signed an Oath of Allegience to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and did

swear to renounce and refuse all allegience to George III, King of

England.

William engaged in several expeditions against the Indians; his name is

listed in "The Shepard Papers" (Revolutionary War records and accounts of

Col. David Shepard, which comprise of 5 vols. of the "Draper

Manuscripts." ; he is also listed as a Revolutionary Patriot from Ohio

Co. by DAR historians.

Brooke Co., VA was referred to as "the wilderness" by frontiersmen.

"Pioneer West Virginia" p. 128 tells of the earliest settlers in Brooke

Co and William Bonar is listed as one of those early homesteaders. Here

on their plantation William and Jane lived and died and reared a family

of 4 sons and 6 daughters. In times of danger, Fort Rice near the site

where Bethany College is located, Fort Sheppard at the forks of the

Wheeling Creek, Fort VanMeter near Clinton, and Fort Henry at Wheeling

served as refuges for the family. It is said that daughter Catherine was

born at Fort Henry, during Indian trouble.

The settlement of William's estate lists a subscription to a

"meeting-house" (church), they were probably followers of Alexander

Campbell, since some of the children who remained in Brooke Co., were

charter members of the Disciples of Christ.

The Will of William Bonar

In the name of God Amen. I William Bonar of the State of Virginia and

County of Brooke being of sound mind and memory tho weak in the

bodyconsidering the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death Do

make my last will and testament.

1st I resign my body to the grave and commend my soul to God who gave it

- hoping that by the mercies of God through redemption of the Lord Jesus

Christ I may obtain a happy immortality in the Kingdom of Heaven.

2d I enjoin my executors hereafter mentioned to see me decently

buried the expenses of which to be paid out of my personal estate.

3d I will and bequeath to my wife Jane all my property both real and

personal that I may die possessed of for her sole use and occupation

during her widowhood after deducting what may be sold for the paymjent of

debts and legacies for which purpose I hereby direct my executors to sell

much of my live stock as will satisfy my debts and legacies and if there

should not be sufficient of stock then the ballance to be made up out of

any personal property that is sold for the payment of debts or legacies

is to be sold at publick sale to the highest bidder.

4th I further will and bequeath to my two sons George Bonar and

Greenbury Dorsey Bonar the plantation I now live on to be equally divided

between them with the appurtenances thereunto belonging in fee simple

they to take possession of

William was twenty-two when he moved in 1774 to Oliver Gorrell's plantation in Ohio County, Virginia which later became West Virginia. In 1776 he bought land a mile east of the plantation.

William Bonar was about twenty-six and Jane McCulloch was about fourteen when they married about 1777 in Ohio County, Virginia.

William, Oliver Gorrell, George McCulloch and most of the male citizens of then Ohio County, Virginia, signed the "Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia" and did swear to renounce all allegiance to George III, King of England on 7 October 1777.

William was engaged in several expeditions against the Indians. He was in the Revolutionary War and his name is listed in "The Shepherd Papers" (Revolutionary War records and accounts of Col. David Shepherd).

The 1810 census revealed they were living in Brooke County, Virginia. Household members: William Bonar (45 & over), Jane (45 & over), James (16-25), David & George (10-15), Greenbury (under 10), Rebecca, Elizabeth & Jane (16-25) and Tabitha (under 10).

The 1820 census revealed William and three other household members were engaged in agriculture. They were living in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. Household members: William Bonar (45 & over), Jane (45 & over), David, George & Geenbury (16-25), one female (26-44), Tabitha (10-15) and one female (under 10).

The 1830 census revealed household members: William Bonar (70-79), Jane (50-59), two males (30-39), one female (30-39), two females (20-29) and two females (10-14).

Their known children:

Catherine Bonar (McIntire)(b.1782 d.1865) Sarah Louise Bonar (Kirk)(b.1784 d.1835) James Bonar (b.1786 d.1877) Rebecca Bonar (Brady) Elizabeth Bonar (Bedwell)(b.1792 d.1870) Jane Bonar (Henderson)(b.1795 d.1876) David McCulloch Bonar (b.1796 d.1873) George Bonar (b.1798 d.1882) Greenbury Dorsey Bonar (b.1800 d.1874) Tabitha Bonar (Hough)(b.1804 d.1880)

They had been married about fifty-three years when William died on 23 July 1830 in West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia.

William lived to age 79.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48172295/william-bonar

William was engaged in several expeditions against the Indians. He was in the Revolutionary War and his name is listed in "The Shepherd Papers" (Revolutionary War records and accounts of Col. David Shepherd).

Children Photo Catherine Bonar McIntire 1782–1865

Photo Sarah Louise Bonar Kirk 1784–1835

Photo James Bonar 1786–1877

Elizabeth Bonar Bedwell 1792–1870

Jane Bonar Henderson 1793–1876

Photo David McCulloch Bonar 1795–1873

Photo Greenbury Dorsey Bonar 1800–1874

Photo Tabitha Bonar Hough 1800–1880

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48172295/william-bonar

Children Photo Catherine Bonar McIntire 1782–1865

Photo Sarah Louise Bonar Kirk 1784–1835

Photo James Bonar 1786–1877

Elizabeth Bonar Bedwell 1792–1870

Jane Bonar Henderson 1793–1876

Photo David McCulloch Bonar 1795–1873

Photo Greenbury Dorsey Bonar 1800–1874

Photo Tabitha Bonar Hough 1800–1880