Hello Maureen, I don't have your Bonfields in my tree, but here are my thoughts for what they are worth (though possibly not adding anything new to what you have already done). 1. 1841 census. Ages were rounded down to the nearest 0 or 5, so Emma's apparent age could fit. However, if Sarah was at least 55, this makes having a child, Caroline, in 1833 at the age of 47 unlikely. Possibly though Caroline's actual birth date was prior to 1833 (this being a baptism date) - one of my ancestors was baptised 10 years after his birth, even though his brothers and sisters had been born and baptised in between (perhaps his parents forgot) ! It is, though, something to put you on guard. 2. The Rushden to which you refer is, of course, the village in Hertford, not the town in Bedfordshire. I'm not quite sure how Emma and Sarah would have moved counties if they lacked means of support, and if they did, why the Bedfordshire authorities would not have sent them back to Hertfordshire to avoid the cost of maintaining them. Do you know when William, Emma's father, died - or at least the date of the last record you have of him ? If you have your great great grandfather's 1844 marriage certificate, is Robert's father shown as deceased ? 3. 1851 census. Have you found Robert & Mary on the 1851 census ? This should confirm Robert's place of birth and remove the doubt that the immigration records reference to 'Hereford'. 4. Samuel's ancestry. The marriage of Samuel Bonfield to Maria Lawson on 20 July 1851 at Sandy will have recorded his father's name and occupation. To avoid buying the certificate (as he is not a direct ancestor you might have some reluctance), perhaps some kind person on this list who has access to the parish register could look it up for you (unfortunately I do not live nearby or I would have done this). On the evidence so far, it is very likely you are right - Samuel's age is correct and I.G.I. gives the names of his children which include Emma, William, Anne, & Sarah (the same names as his probable siblings). There were several Bonfield families in the villages around Rushden, particularily in Weston. However, Wallington looks a likely candidate for William's birth and his parent's marriage. Good hunting, Michael Walsby Researching different BONFIELD families in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, as well as DRAPER and FROG(G). ----- Original Message ----- From: "BonTyler" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 12:56 PM Subject: [BDF] FW: Bonfield of Rushden and Bedford Union Work House > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: BonTyler [mailto:[email protected]] >> Sent: Friday, 25 April 2008 4:22 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Bonfield of Rushden and Bedford Union Work House >> >> >> >> >> I am wondering if the Emma Bonfield born 1824 at Rushden to William >> Bonfield and Sarah is the same Emma Bonfield recorded at the Bedford Union >> Workhouse in 1841. It could be her mother recorded with her. Emma is >> 15 and Sarah is 55. It seems that Emma died at the workhouse in 1848. >> There is a Samuel Bonfield born to these same parents in 1826 at Rushden >> and could be the Samuel I have found recorded at Sandy, Bedford. >> >> Samuel was at Sandy, Bedfordshire after he married right up until the 1901 >> census (aged 74), and in 1841 he was possibly the Samuel Bonfield, taylor >> apprentice, living with John Fields, who was a taylor, and his family at >> Bedfordshire - however, he must not have liked it or some other reason >> stopped him from becoming fully qualified because he was a labourer for >> the rest of his life. On the night of 30th March, 1851 Census there is a >> Samuell Bonfield, Rushden, Lodger, with a Cox family at Rushden and >> interestingly enough there is a visitor from Sandy in Bedfordshire named >> Elizer Lawsen born 1825 and is noted as the same age as Samuel - must be a >> relation to his bride, Maria Lawson, who he married 4 months after the >> census on 20th July, 1851 (she was a bit older than Samuel and Eliza as >> far as I can tell). >> >> Their brother, Robert Bonfield born 1822 at Rushden is my great great >> grandfather and came to Australia in 1856 >> >> Assisted immigrant, sailed to NSW on the Lloyds on 28th May,1856 and >> arrived in Sydney on 4th September, 1856. Reel 2138, 22474. The family >> consisted of: >> Robert Bonfield 34 - Hereford (possibly mistranslated Hertford) >> Mary Bonfield 39 - Hertfordshire >> Frederick 2 >> Richard W 4 >> Robert 9 - Middlesex >> Robert Snr, Mary and Robert Jnr were all listed as being able to read and >> write and their religion was Church of England. >> >> Robert's death certificate named his father as William Bonfield, >> Wheelright, and his mother as Sarah Burns - however, the surname may be >> incorrect and perhaps was actually Burroughs. >> >> There is a William Bonfield married to Sarah Burroughs who was a publican >> up until their last child was born in 1833 and then he is recorded as a >> Wheelwright. >> >> Does anyone have a member of the following children of William and Sarah >> Bonfield in their tree? >> >> William Bonfield Rushden, 28/3/1819 >> Rebecca Bonfield Rushden, 28/3/1819 >> Anne Bonfield Rushden, 24/12/1820 >> Robert Bonfield Rushden, 20/10/1822 >> Emma Bonfield Rushden, 25/12/1824 >> Samuel Bonfield Rushden, 25/12/1826 >> Susan Bonfield Rushden, 25/12/1828 >> Sarah Bonfield Rushden, 28/2/1830 >> Caroline Bonfield Rushden, 24/9/1833 >> >> I am keen to link up with anyone interested in the same branch of my tree. >> >> Maureen >> >> > > > > The List Guidelines > > http://bedfordrootsweb.blogspot.com/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message >

Hello Michael, Thank you so much for trying to help me with my tree. I have replied to your suggestions in UPPER CASE typing, copied it onto a word document and attached it. I don't know what ever became of Sarah. A possibility is the Bonfield Publican Recorded in the 1841 Census at Rushden. It is very faded (probably pencilled) it seems that the Enumerator started to write Sarah as the head of the household as she probably held the liquor licence for the public house, then wrote over the top of it with some other name. If William was still alive, it should have been William, Wheelwright, as the head. Then Sarah as Publican. Then John Wright next as the head of their daughte, Rebecca's household within a household with their baby daughter Ali??? 11 months old. Anyway the first name is a real baffler. I can't make it out at all. I think I've found the 1841 Sarah Bonfield in the 1851 Census and she was born in Uttoxer, Staffordshire, England pauper at Bedford St Peter, Bedfordshire which is the Bedford Union Workhouse. How on earth did she arrive at the Bedford Union Workhouse? She must have been married to someone in Bedfordshire! Anyway, I thank you again. and happy hunting for Drapers and Frog(g)'s. Maureen Gibbs, nee Bonfield