An American Family History

"[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported.
We have a right to it, derived from our Maker.
But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us,
at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood."

Sergeant Peter Bonham was born about 1741 in Maidenhead, Hunterdon County (now Lawrence, Mercer County), New Jersey. His father was Amariah Bonham.

During the American Revolution, Peter served as a sergeant in Captain Charles West's company known also as Reuben Briscoe's company, Third Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas Marshall. On March 6, 1778 his name was on the Rolls of Samuel Barrit’s return for Maryland. He was appointed Ensign on May 12, 1778. He was made sergeant on April 1, 1778 in Company 6 of Frederick County, Virginia. Peter signed the “Patriots’ Oaths of Fidelity and Support, 1778."

He married Rebecca Lewellyn (Luallen, Luellen, Lewelling) who was born in Pennsylvania about 1751. Philip Luallen was witness to Amariah Bonham's will.

Peter and Rebecca's children included:
Elisha Bonham (1772, married Catherine Dusthimer),
Jesse Bonham (1777, married Hannah Hoover),
Jacob Bonham (1779, married Nancy Chamberlane),
Llewellyn Bonham (1805, married Matilda Fry),
Christian Bonham Yarger (1812), and
Ellenor Bonham (1815).

In 1782 he appeared on the tax rolls of Loudoun County, Virginia.

After leaving Maryland, Peter moved to Sewickley, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was living in Allegheny County in 1803 when his father died.

He appeared on the tax list in Allegheny County in 1814.

In 1820 the household (Peter Bonnim) was in Ohio, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The household consisted of a man and a woman over 45, two men between 16 and 25, a boy between 16 and 18, a boy between 10 and 15, and 3 girls under ten.

He appeared in the 1830 census in Ohio Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

He died in Allegheny County in July, 1833.