Colonel James Bonner (August 20, 17191782) was a Patriot from Beaufort County, North Carolina during the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
. He commanded the Beaufort County Regiment and also founded the town of
Washington, North Carolina
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States, located on the northern bank of the Pamlico River. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. It is commonly known as "Original Wa ...
.
Early life
His father Thomas Bonner was a landowner in Hyde Precinct in 1715. James died in
Beaufort County, North Carolina
Beaufort County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,652. Its county seat is Washington. The county was founded in 1705 as Pamptecough Precinct. Originally included in Bath Cou ...
in 1782 and was buried in the town of Washington, which was founded on his land. His grave was across the present "Main Street" from the present St. Peter's Episcopal Church, which was built at an earlier date, on land which he donated for "the building of a church." His remains were removed to the churchyard (southwest corner) between 1888 and 1893.
Career
Bonner founded the town of
Washington, North Carolina
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States, located on the northern bank of the Pamlico River. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. It is commonly known as "Original Wa ...
. He donated land for public buildings, streets, and a church. Bonner, his brother Major Henry Bonner and their brother-in-law Colonel Edward Salter were three Commissioners appointed by the Colonial Assembly for founding the town. They laid off 60 lots, which were distributed by lottery. Bonner held various offices in
Beaufort County. He was appointed on December 5, 1760, by the Governor and Council at Wilmington as
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
in Beaufort County. He was appointed
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
of the
Beaufort County Regiment of the North Carolina militia on September 9, 1775. His brother, Thomas Bonner, Jr. (1719-1787), was also in this regiment and led it as colonel in 1778-1779.
He (or his son James) was a member of the
Constitutional Convention. He represented Beaufort County at the General Assembly in
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
on December 5, 1769, and November 12, 1771.
Family
James was married twice; first to Anne (or Mary) Snoad, who died before 1782. She was the daughter of Colonel John Snoad and his wife Elizabeth who came to North Carolina and settled in the Pamlico Section about 1720 and died there in 1743. James married secondly to Mary Maule. Mary was the daughter of Dr. Patrick Maule and his wife Elizabeth of
Bath, North Carolina
Bath is a town in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. Located on the Pamlico River, it developed a trade in naval stores, furs, and tobacco. The population was 249 as of 2010. North Carolina’s first town and port of entry, it w ...
who died before June 1736.
Bonner's will was written 25 December 1782, and recorded at Beaufort County Courthouse in their Will Book OW on pages 177-178-179.
Children
* John Bonner (b. 15 Sep 1746)
* Sarah Bonner
* Samuel Bonner
* Mary Bonner
* Joseph Bonner
* Anna Bonner
* James Bonner (b. 26 Jun 1753)
* Elizabeth Bonner (b. 1 Jul 1755)
* Henry Bonner (b. Abt. 1775)
* Wilson Bonner (b. 14 Mar 1760)
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonner, James
1719 births
1782 deaths
People from Beaufort County, North Carolina
People of colonial North Carolina
North Carolina militiamen in the American Revolution
People from Washington, North Carolina