James Bonnewell I

James Bonwell was first named in Northampton County, Virginia, records on 13 December 1653, when he and Neale Mackwellion were headrights for Mr. William Johnson (North. Orders, Wills & C, 1651-1654, p. 210). Johnson was eligible for a patent of 100 acres of land for paying the passage costs of these two men from England to the Virginia Colony.

On 8 Sep 1658, Cape Charles, Northampton Co, Virginia records also show that James Bonwell leased 50 acres of "the Secretary Land" from Col. William Claiborne, Secretary of State, on 8 September 1658. The lease was to run for twenty-one years, beginning from "the next Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle", and payment was to be one barrel of Indian corn each Christmas (North. Deeds, Wills & C, 1655-1657, p. 19). The Secretary's land consisted of 500 acres, set aside in 1620 by the Virginia Company in London, to support the office of the Secretary at Jamestown. Twenty persons were to be seated on the land, plant it, and pay rent. When a problem developed in keeping tenants on the land, the twenty-one-year lease system was substituted. The land was located north of Cape Charles, on the bay side of Virginia's Eastern Shore, between King's Creek and Cherrystone Creek. The area later became known as Town fields. The following is quoted from the lease: To All to whom these presence shall come, I Coll. William Claiborne Secretary of State for the Collony of Virginia ---greetings: Whereas by Act of Court bearing date the 9th of Ober 1658 It was ordered that the Secretary should lease the Land belonging to his place as by the sd order more att large appeareth. Now know ye that I the sd Coll. Will. Claiborne established in the office and place of the Sec. of State and for all the rights and priviledges thereunto belonging doe by these presence grant, devise and to farme lett unto James Bonwell a piece of Land containing by survey fifty Acres Bounded from the head of the Little Creek that divideth Wm. Mountneys Land and his owns and bounds upon the Land of John Wilkins to have and to hold the sd fifty ackers of Land unto the ad James Bonwell his heires Exec: Administr Assigns from the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle next for and during the tearme of one and twenty years thence to be compleate and ended: Yeilding and payinge unto me the sd Co. Will. Claiborne or my Assigns att the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle yearely during the sd tearme of twenty one years the fee rent of one Barrel of good Merchantable Indian Corn provided allwaysthat if the sd Rent be not .yearly payd and satisfied unto the sd Coll. Will. Claiborne his, successors being lawfully demanded by Christmas yearly that then .itt shall and may bee Lawfull for the sd Col. Will. Claiborne either to disteame or reorder. In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this 8th of Ober 1658.

In 1660, James Bonwell appeared in court to answer charges of misusing the land belonging to "'ye heir of John Dorman", land that was adjoining the 50 acres leased "from ye Secretary unto James Bonwell" (North. Wills & Deeds, 1657-1666, p.p. 72). It appears that the 50 acres of leased land was land that Dorman had some interest in and it joined his lands. James Bonwell satisfied the court that when Dorman came of age the 50 acres would be turned over to him. On 13 December of the same year, James Bonwell was appointed surveyor of the highway, "from Otterdam Branch to Coaghes (?) , including ye marks from Bay Side to Sea Side (North. Order Book, 1657-1664, p. 85). The following is a quote from that document: Whereas it appeared In Court a Lease of fifty Acres of Land leased from ye Secretary unto James Bonwell which is adjoyning unto ye Land belonging unto ye heir of John Dorman ye Sd Bonwell being Charged with circumventing ye Heir of ye Sd Dorman who was most Interested In it undoubtedly In answer to which and for full Satisfaction to ye Court ye Sd Bonwell doth here in open Court Declare yt notwithstanding ye Sd Lease be made in ye Sd Bonwells name yet his Sd Intent if & to ye end doth declare & Acknowledge ye Same yt ye Heir of ye ad Dorman Stall enjoy ye Sd fifty acres of Land according to ye Sd Lease when he Shall Come to Age as his own inheritance to him and his Heirs for Ever During Sd Lease &. paying ye Rent of ye Sd Land & this Shall be his Sufficent plea for ye Same & a Bars to ye Plea of ye Sd Bonwell any Law notwithstanding to ye Contrary and Manifestation of ye Same ye Sd Bonwell hath herein to Set his hand this 30th of July 1660.
Acknowledged in open Court
Jno Stringer
Wm. Waters

On 18 September 1663, James Bonwell bought, from John Nicholls of Pungoteague Creek, 400 acres of land on the north side of Onancock Creek in Accomack County (Acco. Deeds & Wills, 1663-1666, p. 21). He paid 4000 pounds of tobacco and casks for this land.

James Bonwell is listed in the Accomack County tax list of 1664 with four tithes, males over 16 years of age (Nottingham, Accomack Tithables, Tax Lists, 1663-1695, p. 2). His name appears in the tithables again in 1666, while in 1667 the "Widdow Bonwell" is shown with two tithes. His land on Onancock Creek stayed in the Bonwell family for many years.

On Jul 16 1667, Mary Bonwell, widow of James, was named to settle his estate. There were no securities.

James married Sarah Hickman about 1657 in Northampton Co., VA. (Sarah Hickman was born about 1620 in England and died 27 Sep 1659-02 Nov 1659 in Northampton Co., VA.)