Hello Alford/Halton Holegate area subscribers,
I am trying to find two persons in my Bonnett ancestry, both without any real degree of success. The first is the father of Mary Bonnett/Bennett/Burnett (b. abt. 1817) Secondly the father of the aforemntioned Mary's eldest son/son's:
Mary Burnett/Bennett/Bonnett was an illegitimate daughter of Martha Burnett possibly by a Jackson as Mary was christened Mary Jackson Burnett in 1817 at Waddingworth. Martha was the 2nd. daughter of Thomas Burnett (1760-1820) and Judith Wingat (1769-1846) and she was born at Belleau and Aby in 1800. After the birth of Mary, Martha moved to Alford, where in 1819 another illegitimate child, Richard Burnett, was born. Martha had two elder siblings born at Swaby, John (1791-1854), who had issue, and Mary (1795-1880). Mary narried (1823) a William Holmes who died relatively young and she is the Mary Holmes (Great) Aunt who looked after her brother Richard and Niece Mary's children at Halton Holegate. After moving from Swaby to Belleau and Aby the Burnetts then moved to Alford where they remained until their deaths. Whilst at Alford they had two more children, now called Bonnet/Bonnett, Richard (1804-1838), who had issue, and Charles (1807-1830). The names Bonnett/Bennett/Burnett would seem to be interchangeable at this time, sometimes each were spelt with either one or two t's.
Mary Burnett/Bennett/Bonnett, had an elder son William born at Alford in 1840, his father is currently in some dispute (possibly, but doubtfully, a Walmsley) and there may have been another son Charles Richard (b. 1844, Halton Holegate), but these points need to be verified. Lewis Myers (b. 1847, Halton Holegate), whose paternity I know, was Mary's illegitimate son by John Myers of Skendleby, and finally Jemima whose father may have been a Bridge of Halton Holegate, was born in 1852 at Halton, but not christened until 1869, HH, at the age of 14. All three married and had issue. Charles Richard, if he is who I think he might be, died young. If William (called Walmsley. b. abt. 1841) is a brother of Charles Richard (bapt. 1844) and they are not two totally different persons, then William Walmsley was also baptised at Halton Holegate, along with his brother Charles Richard in 1844. Unfortunately the baptism entry for them gives their parents as being a William & Diana Bonnett?
So if anyone can help in unraveling the above, it would be much appreciated.
Best regards,
Wolftone (John Gage)