Obadiah Bonsall (abt. 1677 - 1732)

Born about 14 Dec 1677 in Ashford,Derbyshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Bethel) Bonsall — married 26 Jan 1702 in Darby, Province of Pennsylvania, British America

Descendants

Died 5 Oct 1732 at about age 54 in Darby, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Problems/Questions Profile manager: D.j. Hogan [send private message]

Biography

Obadiah was a Friend (Quaker)

Obadiah was born in 1677, the son of Joseph Bonsall and Elizabeth Wood.^{[citation needed]} He passed away in 1732. ^[1]

Research Notes

Neither FindMyPast or FreeReg.org.uk return any results for a person of this name (including variants) born England within 10 years +/- 1677. A note found at Ancestry with a bible record which is substantially like that found below reads, "(The Bible Record that follows was sent to me in 1988 from Donald G. Bonsall who stated "Gordon Bonsall Grimm in New Jersey found it at the Pennsylvania Historical Society last week…     It would appear to be information from a bible that an Elizabeth W. Hires copied and sent to Gilbert Cope." The only information found there on Obadiah (absent any sources): "Joseph Bonsall Jr. (s/o Joseph Bonsall Sr.) bapt. 1 Nov 1646; d. unknown; m. ca. 1675 in England to Elizabeth Wood b. ___, d. 6/28/1703
       Their only known children:
       1.     Obadiah Bonsall b. 4/24/1677 in England"
The information on Joseph and Obadian Bonsall said to come from information researched by James Belton Bonsall, Grand Chenier, Louisiana (in England ca. 1979). The research contains no documentation but intimates a Bonsall origin of Richard Bonsall of Codner, Parish of Heanor, Derbyshire, England b. ca. 1536, d. 1612^[2]; m. 6 Dec 1563 at Heanor to Agnes Sowter^[3] 

Note: Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834 BONSALL, OBADIAH. December 18, 1732. Adm. to Joseph Bonsall, son. Sarah widow, renouncing. From Ruby McNeill's page:

BIRTHS Joseph Bonsall, son of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born the 20th of 3d month, about 8 o'clock in the morning 1703 Elizabeth Bonsall, daughter of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born 2nd of 7th month about 11 o'clock A.M. 1705 Mary Bonsall, daughter of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born the 12th of 12th month, about 6 o'clock A.M. 1707 Obadiah Bonsall, son of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born the 21st of 12th month, about 7 o'clock P.M. 1709 Hannah Bonsall, daughter of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born the 9th of 7th month about 4 o’clock A.M. 1712 Rose Bonsall, daughter of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born the 7th of 10th month about 7 o’clock P.M. 1714 Sarah Bonsall daughter of Obadiah and Sarah his wife was born the 25th of the 9th month about 12 o’clock P.M. 1717 Vincent Bonsall son of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born the 23rd of 6th month about 4 P.M. 1720 Samuel Bonsall son of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born 25th of 10th month about 8 P.M. 1722 Rebecca Bonsall daughter of Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah his wife was born the 30th of 1st month about 8 P.M. 1724

DEATHS Obadiah Bonsall, Sr., died 4th of 10th month 1732, aged 54 years 9 months, 22 days and was buried in Darby Meeting House Graveyard the 6th of the same mo. he died of Pleuretic fever and was sick but 5 days Sarah Bonsall, Sr., died 7th mo. 7th 1745 aged 60 years 2 mo. and 18 days and was buried the 8th of the same mo. in Darby meeting House Graveyard. She died of bloody Flux and was sick but 5 days. Joseph Bonsall died 12th mo. 15th aged 60 years 6 mo. and 18 days. He was buried at Darby Meeting House Graveyard the 15th of same mo. 1748. (In margin says 1763.) Elizabeth Phillips formerly Elizabeth Bonsall died 8th mo. 12, 1748, aged 42 years 11 mo. 10 days. She was buried in Darby meeting Graveyard the 14th of same mo. Mary Lightfoot formerly Mary Bonsall died 8th mo 10th a little before noon aged 70 years 5 mo and 6 days. She was buried at Maiden Creek Meeting House Berks Co. Pa., the next afternoon. 1777. Obadiah Bonsall died 22nd of the 3rd mo aged 86 years and 1 mo He was buried in Concord Meeting House Graveyard and Rebecca his wife died the 26th of 12th mo. about half past 10 o’clock A.M. and was buried on the 29th of the same mo 1795, in the same Graveyard. Aged 74 years and 9 mo. Hannah Elliott formerly Hannah Bonsall died 9th mo 28th 1760 aged 47 years 11 mo 20 days. She died at the Red Lion in New Castle Co. and was buried at St. George the 30th of the same month. Rose Bonsall Pilkinton - - - Sarah Bonsall Jr. died 1st mo 30th 1726 about 20 o’clock A.M. aged 8 years 7 mo and 25 days and was buried the following day. She was sick about 10 hours and complained of a pain in her side Vincent Bonsall died 1st mo 10th 1796 about 6 o’clock A.M. aged 75 years 4 mo and 8 days. He was buried in Friends meeting house Graveyard on the 12th of 1st mo. in Wilmington Samuel Bonsall died Rebecca Carter formerly Rebecca Bonsall died on the 28th of 11th mo aged 56 years 7 mo and 18 days and was buried in Friends Meeting Graveyard in Wilmington on the 30th of the same mo 1780 The foregoing copied from records sent by Elizabeth W. Hires of Kansas City, Mo., in letter dated Feb. 26, 1916, in which she says: - "I will enclose with this the copy taken from the old family bible of the Bonsalls. - - - - In reference to the Bonsalls being buried in the Meeting House Graveyard these notes are copies from Jane Bonsall’s bible." Thomas Hannum and Sarah Bonsall, April 30, 1757, Swedes Church, Wilmington, Del. Information supplied by Nancy Speers: "Records of Darby Monthly Meeting, DE 13F:1"

Bonsall Births Children of Obadiah and Sarah (Bethel) Bonsall Joseph 3/25/1703 Elizabeth 7/2/1705 Mary 12/21/1707 Obadiah 12/11/1709 Hannah 7/9/1712 Rose 10/7/1714 Sarah 9/25/1716 Vincent 6/23/1720 Samuel 10/25/1722 Rebecca 1/30/1725 (?) Bonsall Deaths Obadiah 10/5/1732 Sarah 7/7/1743 Children of Obadiah and Sarah (Bethel) Bonsall Sarah 1/30/1727 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Information supplied by Pamela J. Pickering Slinker (email: slinker@@laurel.humboldt.edu) Sept 1998 Sarah Bonsall (b. 1717) according to "Darby MM births & burials 1682-1892" died 30 July 1727. p.179 Obadiah Bonsall (b. 1677) according to same source died 5 Dec 1732. p.181 Sarah Bethel (b. 1682) according to same source died 7 Sep 1743. p. 186 [rsm note: The Bible record states Obadiah d. 4 10mo 1732. The 10th month was called December. This would actually give a one day difference. I would assume that the Bible record would be accurate and the date that the death reported may be in error. However, all dates should be noted with sources rather than make a determination that, unless we were there, we cannot do. I appreciate and welcome all variations that may be found in any records and also appreciate your citing the sources.] emigrated to American 1683 with Uncle Richard Bonsall, Aunt, 5 girl cousins and [his] mother His descendants dropped one "l" from their name in religious dispute in 1850s. July 2, 1696 -- Obadiah purchased 100 acres of land from Joseph Woodhigh (?) along Darby Creek in Ridley Twp., next to Vincent Caldwell and John Morton

___________________________________

Obadiah Bonsall, 14 Dec 1677 - 10mo 5 1732 was received on certificate

dated 22nd day of ye 12th month 1682, (Feb 1683) from Ashford Monthly

Meeting, Derbyshire, England at Darby, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. He came

with his uncle and aunt, Richard Bonsall and his wife Mary Wood.

Obadiah's mother, Elizabeth, and her sister Mary, wife of Richard Bonsall

were both daughters of George Wood. Obadiah's father was Joseph Bonsall,

brother of Richard, and must have been deceased. Their home had been at

Mouldridge, Derbyshire, near Ashford MM.

Such certificates were usually dated just before the individuals sailed.

As the voyage across the Atlantic averaged between eight and ten weeks,

an approximate date of arrival can be established from the dates of the

certificates. The Bonsalls therefore, could have sailed late February or

Early March. The closest port of sailing was Liverpool, and the next ship

to sail to America from Liverpool was the "Liver" 130T, James Kilner,

Master. "Liver" loaded 19-24 April, sailed to Dublin, then sailed to the

Delaware, arriving there by 17 July, 1683. The number of passengers she

carried is unknown. Twenty-one ships arrived in the Delaware in 1683.

Only thirty settlers are known to have brought certificates of removal

which were entered in the records of the meetings of Pennsylvania.

I (Robert G. Parvin) conjecture that the Bonsalls arrived by 17 July,

1683 aboard the "Liver".

Following the records of the land transactions in Chester County, it is

possible to track Obadiah's rise in prosperity.

2 Jul 1696: Obadiah Bonsall of Darby, laborer purchased for 36

pounds,100 acres from Joseph Woods of Darby, yeoman.

7 Mar 1697: Thomas Bradshaw of Darby sold to Obadiah Bonsall of Darby,

yeoman for 63 pds, 2 tracts of land containing 155 acres.

12 Oct 1698: Obadiah Bonsall of Darby, bachelor, sold to Edmond Cartedge

for 40 pds 100 acres. (a four pd profit)

2 Jun 1707 Obadiah Bonsall of Ridley, yeoman, purchased a tract in

Bensalem (on the Brandywine Creek) 875 acres for 200 pds. from Benjamin

Chambers of Kinfissen, yeoman.

14 May 1712 he sells the 875 acres for 232 pds.

Nov 1723: Obadiah Bonsall and Sarah sell 320 acres for 200 pds.

Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834

BONSALL, OBADIAH.

December 18, 1732.

Adm. to Joseph Bonsall, son. Sarah widow, renouncing.

Information supplied by Nancy Speers:

"Records of Darby Monthly Meeting, DE 13F:1"

Bonsall Births

Children of Obadiah and Sarah (Bethel) Bonsall

Joseph 3/25/1703

Elizabeth 7/2/1705

Mary 12/21/1707

Obadiah 12/11/1709

Hannah 7/9/1712

Rose 10/7/1714

Sarah 9/25/1716

Vincent 6/23/1720

Samuel 10/25/1722

Rebecca 1/30/1725 (?)

Bonsall Deaths

Obadiah 10/5/1732

Sarah 7/7/1743

Children of Obadiah and Sarah (Bethel) Bonsall

Sarah 1/30/1727

Sarah Bonsall (b. 1717) according to "Darby MM births & burials 1682-1892" died 30 July 1727. p.179

Obadiah Bonsall (b. 1677) according to same source died 5 Dec 1732. p.181

Sarah Bethel (b. 1682) according to same source died 7 Sep 1743. p. 186

[rsm note: The Bible record states Obadiah d. 4 10mo 1732. The 10th month was called December. This would actually give a one day difference. I would assume that the Bible record would be accurate and the date that the death reported may be in error. However, all dates should be noted with sources rather than make a determination that, unless we were there, we cannot do. I appreciate and welcome all variations that may be found in any records and also appreciate your citing the sources.]

emigrated to American 1683 with Uncle Richard Bonsall, Aunt, 5 girl cousins and [his] mother

His descendants dropped one "l" from their name in religious dispute in 1850s.

July 2, 1696 -- Obadiah purchased 100 acres of land from Joseph Woodhigh (?) along Darby Creek in Ridley Twp., next to Vincent Caldwell and John MortonSurname: Bonsall

Given Name: Obadiah

Title:

Description: Decedent

Residence:

Date:

Prove Date: 18 Dec 1732

Remarks: Bonsall, Obadiah. December 18, 1732. Adm. to Joseph Bonsall, son.

Sarah widow, renouncing.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 01 October 2022), memorial page for Obadiah Bonsall (14 Dec 1677–5 Oct 1732), Find A Grave: Memorial #141081608, citing Darby Friends Cemetery, Darby, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Emma (contributor 47510049.
2. ↑ St Lawrence Parish Church Register, Heanor, Derbyshire, Burial 4 Aug 1611, Accessed 11 Feb 2024
3. ↑ England, Phillimore Marriage Registers, 1531-1913, Derbyshire Marriage Registers, Vol 15