WILLIAM CHARLES BONNER

WILLIAM CHARLES BONNER 1850 -

William Charles was the 2nd child of James Bonner and Mary Aldred, he was born late May/June 1850, his mother Mary died after his birth on 3rd June and he was baptised on 7th June 1850, his mother was buried the same day. The infant William Charles was taken to live with his uncle James Aldred and his wife Ann Shrubb. The 1851 census shows the family living at Summer Hatch Green, James age 27 a Farm Labourer, Ann his wife age 24, William Bonner his nephew age 10 months and a Lodger George age 22 a Farm Labourer.

I can only assume that James and Ann brought William up as their own son, they did not have any children of their own. The 1861 census shows James now 38 an Agricultural Labourer, Ann age 34, and William Bonner nephew age 11 a scholar.

By the 1881 census, they have moved to Batts Corner, William Bonner now age 30 is working as an Agricultural Labourer and is still living with his uncle James age 57 and widowed, James is now a Farmer of 10 acres, and they have a house keeper and Boarder, Jane Punter age 45 with her 2 children James age 5 and Mary age 1.

William I believe kept in close contact with his Aldred relations, and when his uncle Thomas married Alice Etherington in 1886, William was a witness. He was certainly a witness at his niece Mary Matilda Bonner's wedding to Charles William Stallard in 1892. The family story says he kept in regular contact with her, giving her pocket money whenever he went to visit her. He was also supposed to have been very well to do. Further investigation will find out how he rose from humble agricultural labourer to a man of means.

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