The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: SC/NC
Qualifying Service: Soldier
Take KY-80W / US-68 W Turn Left on KY-94C, go approx. 4.6 miles Turn Left on KY-280 / Pottertown Rd., go approx. 4.5 miles Turn Left on Beane Rd., Go 0.6 Miles Take first left onto Dowdy Trail. Go 0.2 Miles … proceed straight onto Bonner Cemetery Ln. in the curve. Cemetery is on the left
Photo: 1 of 1
Author: George Geoffrey Baggett // Neal E. Rowe
William Bonner was born in Hertford County, North Carolina in 1756. He married Elizabeth Richards around 1775 in North Carolina.
In1776 he entered the service of the United States in the North Carolina militia under Capt. Robert Alexander for a tour of three months against the Cherokee Indians. He again entered the service as a militia volunteer for three months under Capt. Jonathan Potts and Colonels Hart & Hagens. This tour was against the British & Tories. His unit joined General Greene’s army just before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, but he was not involved in that action or any other combat engagements during his second three-month term.
He volunteered for a third enlistment under a Capt. McKnight and belonged to Col. Irwin's Company, attached to General Sumpter's Brigade. This brigade marched from North Carolina to South Carolina. During this three-month enlistment he fought in the Battle of Hanging Rock. He was discharged soon after that battle.
On May 19, 1781 he enlisted yet a fourth time as a substitute for Joseph Beal for a term of twelve months in South Carolina in a company commanded by Capt. Samuel Martin in the 3rd South Carolina Regiment of Dragoons of the South Carolina Line, commanded by Col. William Polk. He served in that Regiment as a private soldier against the common enemy until the 7th day of April 1782, at when he received from Colonel William Polk an Honorable Discharge.
William Bonner moved his family to the frontier of Calloway County, Kentucky, around 1820, after the region was opened by the “Jackson Purchase” of western Kentucky from the Chickasaw Indians in 1818. He and his family were in the pottery business, and Bonner named the area where they lived, “Pottertown,” a name that is still used today.
Bonner was pensioned at the rate of $71.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for ten months service as a private in the cavalry and nine months service as a private in the infantry in the North Carolina militia.
He died in Calloway County, Kentucky, on December 29, 1834, and was buried in the Bonner Cemetery near his home in the Pottertown Community. His grave was unmarked for many years until SAR Compatriot Barry Grogan successfully petitioned for a headstone from the Veteran’s Administration in 2013. The stone was installed in the fall of 2013 and a Grave Marking ceremony was hosted by the Captain Wendell Oury Chapter, KSDAR, and the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter, KYSSAR, on April 11, 2014. DAR and SAR Patriot bronze markers were mounted on a granite base and added to the grave site.
Family records from his pension file:
Births W. (William, Jr.) Bonner was bornd March the 15th1801 Sally Bonner bornd September the 14 1804 Marry Jane Bonner bornd Decemberthe 12th 1823 Elizabeth Jane was bornd febuarry the 8th 1825 Susan was bornd Apriel the 25th1827 William Parker was bornd Apriel the 2th 1829 John Richard was bornd Apriel the 2th 1831 Wesley Kirkman Bonner was bornd the 8thday of May AD 1834 James H. Bonner bornd March the 23 day 1836
Deaths Elizabeth Dececed on the first of October 182[last digit torn off]
ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHY: Neal E. Rowe, #161812, Raleigh Chapter, North Carolina
William Bonner was born about 1756 in Hertford Co, NC and while from Hertford County NC was in the Continental Army and fought at Hanging Rock in South Carolina. He would later live in Lincoln County NC. He received a Land Grant in TN where his oldest living son would take over when he desided to try out Kentucky and after several moves he and the most of the remaining children would end end up in Galloway County in the far west corner of the state.
He married Elizabeth Richard about 1775 in Hertford Co, NC and died about 1834 in Galloway Co, KY.
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