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Bonnell of Virginia; Burke & Screven Counties



Anthony Bonall is listed in the Virginia Census of 1624: "Anthony Bonall, James Bonall and LaGuard, Frenchmen, are dwellers at Elizabeth City, near Hampton. These persons arrived in 1622, in the Abigail, to impart information relative to the raising of silk. Two of them were related to John Bonoel, or Bonall, silk-worm raiser to the King." From this venerable person survives the Bonnells who came to Georgia. Anthony Bonnell was born 1741, died in Screven County, Georgia in 1805, his LWT dated 19 November 1804, wherein he named a wife, Mary, and son, William; also, a daughter, Elizabeth, and grandson, John. Also mentioned were: Archibald Mills, Henry Bryant, Anthony Bonnell, Jr. and Thomas F. Lovell or Lovett. He served as an Ensign in the Georgia 4th Regiment of Burke County, Georgia in 1774; promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the 1st Company in 1778. He was a Revolutionary War Soldier, having been granted land in Burke County, which later became Screven County. Unfortunately, the Burke County records were burned. "Died at his plantation in Screven County last Tuesday, Anthony Bonnell, in his 68th year." [1] Issue:[2]

  1. William Bonnell, born 1774, died 1830, married Rebecca Magee. He was Justice of the Peace in Burke County in 1813. Issue:
    A. John Bonnell.
    B. Jane Bonnell, born 1804 Screven County, married Benjamin Lane, Revolutionary War Soldier.
  2. Elizabeth Bonnell, married Archibald Mills (born 28 December 1765, died 26 February 1818), buried in the Old Colonial Cemetery at Savannah. They had a son, Thomas Mills, born 1 January 1782, who married Nancy Lanier.

  3. Rebecca Bonnell, married Thomas F. Lovett of Screven County.

  4. Anthony Bonnell, Jr., his LWT dated 8 July 1825, probated 5 November 1825 in Emanuel County, Vol. A, page 6-7. Wife, Rebecca. Issue:
    1. Sary Ann Bonnell.
    2. Jane Bonnell.
    3. Anthony Bonnell.
    4. William Bonnell.
    5. Mary Cassandra Bonnell.
    6. Mary Ann Bonnell.
  5. Daniel Bonnell. [3] "The State vs. Daniel Bonnell, the younger. October 12, 1784. A report of the Summary of the Trial, Verdict and Sentence in this case being made and the same duly considered by Council, unanimously advise that the executive authority due interpose, but on the contrary leave the law to its course, which is accordingly resolved and determined upon by the board."[4]
References: [1] The Republication and Savannah Evening Ledger published on 27 April 1809.

[2] Roster of Revolutionary War Soldiers in Georgia by McCall; Screven County Wills.

[3] The Georgia Gazette dated 21 October 1784 carried the news that Daniel Bonnell was executed for robbery on 18 October 1784. Previous to that, however, Daniel Bonnell held public office, having been appointed Magistrate for St. Mathews Parish in 1776, Effingham County where he also served as a Justice of the Peace. In Liberty County, John Mikel and Daniel Bonnell, executors of the LWT of James Thomson of South Carolina, deceased, gave notice to debtors and creditors, on 3 August 1796.

[4] Revolutionary Records of Georgia by Candler, Vol. III.

Last Will and Testament of Anthony Bonnell

Last Will and Testament of John Bonnell