Background
John Bonner was born in 1643 in London, came to Boston about 1670.
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John Bonner
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John Bonner began his career in Boston in 1670 by purchasing the Recovery, in which his first extended venture was in 1671-1672 from Boston to Virginia, Barbados, England, Ireland, and back to Boston, a charter-party with Henry Ashton and others. He became owner or master of many other vessels, including the Amity, Speedwell, Crown, Mary (in Phips's Canada Expedition of 1690), Two Brothers, Three Friends, and the brigantine Hope (a flag of truce to Quebec in 1706) in which he brought home the Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, author of The Redeemed Captive (1707).
Bonner was a member of a committee on building the Province Galley in 1693 and of a committee on repairing a later Province Galley in 1709; chief pilot of Admiral Walker's disastrous expedition, 1711; maker of a draught of the entrance of Boston Harbor, 1716; and member of a committee to inspect another draught of the same and report on the necessity of a second lighthouse, 1718. Only two copies of the original exist: one in possession of I. N. Phelps Stokes of New York, and the other at the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.
Achievements
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
"Bonner was a Gentleman very Skillful and Ingenious in many Arts and Sciences; especially in Navigation, Drawing, Moulding of Ships, & etc. One of the best acquainted with the Coasts of North America, of any of his time; of great Knowledge and Judgement in Marine Affairs; was very much consulted, improved and relyed upon by the Government as a Principal Pilate, in our Marine Expeditions; and with diligent Care and Faithfulness discharged his Trust. In short, he was brave, hardy, healthy, sober, industrious, honest, good natur'd, as well as Religious; and much belov'd by all that knew him. " - the Boston Newsletter of February 3, 1726
Connections
John Bonner was married four times: (1) to Rebecca Greene; (2) to Mary Clark, who died April 20, 1697; (3) to Persis Wanton, on September 28, 1699; (4) to Susannah Stilson, on June 2, 1709, who died in January 1710.
