Latest Page Update:   11 Sep 2007                        Return to In Search of John Bonnell

This page will reflect any and all changes from the BASELINE items
as stated on the In Search of John Bonnell page.

The present hypothesis:
'There is no documentation that has yet surfaced' of the Parents, Siblings, or Birth location
for this John Bonnell (Bunnell), an American Revolutionary War Soldier;
who lived in Paxtang, Lancaster Co, PA; Lycoming Co, PA; and Erie Co, PA; and died there ca 1845.
I am searching for DOCUMENTATION to change this.
If YOU can add more clues, please contact me.

July 2007:
    A. Here is a comparison spreadsheet of several John Bonnell's who were Revolutionary War soldiers.
    This information discerns several of the claims found on the Internet and other sources.

There are several sheets within the spreadsheet file: (see sheets for references used)
  #1 compares several John Bonnell's who were Revolutionary Soldiers (John_1 is this John),
   #2 shows other Revolutionary Soldiers that are relatives to a John Bonnell,
    #3 shows a Time Line of this John Bonnell's assumed life milestones that I can identify,
     #4 shows many other John Bonnell's born around 1700's from Claude A Bunnell's DATABASE,
      #5 shows the John Bonnell's in William R Austin's book: The Bunnell/Bonnell Family in America,
       #6 shows some Military Records of this(?) John Bonnell in Lancaster Co, PA.
        #... more...

    B. On the Unattached Branches page at the Bunnell/Bonnell Newsletter site,
        there is a discussion that was published in October 1994 by
          William R Austin (see #4, above) concerning this John Bonnell, referenced as UB-006.

   C. A very insightful presentation of this John Bunnell's life in Erie, PA
        is at the Erie County (PA) Genealogy - Family Histories site (go about 1/3 the way down the page),
          Rees' Pieces - Part 4 - Neighbors that was published about 2000 - 2002 by   Beth Simmons.

1. John Bonnell BN1 is reported to have been born about 1757, somewhere in NJ. 

• However, there is another documented JOHN BONNELL, born 18 Mar 1757 in Elizabeth, Union Co., NJ, son of Benjamin & Rachel (Van Winkle) Bonnell, but HE married Nancy Day!
       Could this John's historical records of birthdate and location be confused with MY John's  - the John Bonnell BN1 -  birthdate and location?  

See the info for Jon Martin's Family Tree (under 348. Benjamin Bonnell & Rachel Van Winkle) at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/a/r/Jonathan-Jon-J-Martin/GENE5-0027.html .
Jon told me that the FHC provided him with much of the Bonnell information.

• A paragraph in Kraybill's book states: 
  Abraham Bonnell, Jr., Revolutionary soldier, wife Elizabeth Foster, born 1732 and died 1797, was a brother of John Bonnell, Revolutionary soldier, born about 1748 & died in 1845 at age 97.  {KR.411}
         Is this saying that Abraham is this John Bonnell's brother? 

2. John and Nancy {Betsy} (Pandy) Bonnell - married about 1779. {KR.412}        

• WHO were Nancy's Parents? 
• WHO were John's Parents? 
• Was there only ONE marriage?
• What about any of John's siblings?
• Where did John come from - it is assumed that it was Elizabeth, NJ - is this true?

3.  They were reported to live in the Paxton Creek area, around Harrisburg, PA about 1779.{KR.412}

• What do any records in Paxtan show?

4.  Their 7 children:   Sarah, Margaret, Nancy, Thomas, John Jr., George, and William. {KR}
     Are the dates and places accurate?    What about the missing dates and locations?

• Sarah BN11  married John Coover in 1808.
• Margaret BN12,  born in Jersey Shore, married Andrew Coover.
• Nancy BN13,  born 1783, married George Coover.
• Thomas BN14,  born 15 Jan 1775 in Susquehanna Co.,PA; died 06 Oct 1871 at Gospel Hill near Erie, PA;  married   Eve Coover.
      IF the birthdate is true, Thomas was born BEFORE the marriage of his parents!
• John Jr. BN15,  born 10 Jun 1780, died 21 Nov 1874; married (1) Catherine Miller; (2) Sarah English. No children to second wife. He owned the land that the present day Camp Kline Boy Scout Camp is on. He is buried in Jersey Shore, PA.
• George BN16,  born 1787 in NJ, died 1879; married Mary (Polly) English. Buried in the BONNELL Cemetery along Rt. 414 between Camal and Slate Run. (He is my ancestor)
• William BN17,  born 1788. Married Elizabeth Haggerty; moved to Erie, PA in 1794.

5.  John moved to the Jersey Shore area, Lycoming Co., PA about 1785 {KR.411+413}
      Is this a good date? How much of his family came along? 

6.  John moved to Erie, PA about 1802. {KR.413} 
     What records are available in Erie?

7.  John died in 1845 in Erie.
     What records are available?     Do they provide any more info on his background?

8.   John is buried in Waterford, about 15 miles from Erie.
     Can the Grave-site be located?

NOTES:
the BN# refers to the identification code in Kraybill's book,
Pennsylvania's PINE CREEK VALLEY and Pioneer Families
and the {KR.#} refers to the specific page number.

Comments,  corrections,  additions?
Your  INPUT  is wanted & needed
Steven L. BONNELL   slbnl@kbsb.com

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