Time for some housekeeping. I’m trying to wrap up my “brief” survey of the documentary life of Mequon pioneer (and Clark House brother-in-law) Alfred T. Bonniwell, and I need to thin out my collection of “not-specifically-Alfred, but still interesting and Bonniwell-related” documents that currently crowd my “to do” list. Today’s gem is a view and description of the Bonniwell family’s hometown of Chatham as it was in 1832, the year they left England and sailed to North America:

Picturesque views…

This image is one of a set engravings based on drawings by the eminent English artist J. M. W. Turner and published as Picturesque views in England and Wales, from drawings by J. M. W. Turner, engraved under the superintendence of Mr. Charles Heath. With descriptive and historic illustrations by J. E. Lloyd, (London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1838). You can view the whole book online, free, at Hathi Trust.

Chatham, Kent

The view of Chatham, 1832, is followed by these descriptive paragraphs:

THE town of Chatham, situated on the river Medway, notwithstanding the immense importance which it has attained by its naval establishment, is in fact considered as a suburb of the city of Rochester, to which it is adjoining. The naval arsenal, disposed in vast magazines and warehouses , contains stores of every kind; and all the operations for the most extensive naval architecture are carried on. The dock-yard, including the ordnance wharf, is about a mile in length; the sail-loft is above 200 feet long, and there are large store rooms, one of which is 658 feet in length. The new ropehouse is 1128 feet in length and 47 in width, in which cables 101 fathoms in length and 25 inches in circumference are made. Though there is such a vast assemblage and variety of stores, everything is arranged in such order that it can be furnished without the smallest delay. The ordnance wharf was the original dock, where the guns belonging to each ship are now arranged in tiers, with the names of the vessels marked
above them.

Chatham is defended by the castles of Upnor and Gillingham, the former built by Queen Elizabeth , nearly opposite the dock, on the west side of the river. The latter is a strong fortress, by which the river is completely commanded. The church contains some handsome marble monuments , and there is a chapel of ease, of Norman architecture, supposed to have been part of an hospital for lepers. The dock chapel is a neat, elegant, and extremely light building, completed in 1811, for the accommodation of the officers, artificers, and their families. Fort Pitt, a strong fortress, contiguous to the New Road, was erected in 1803, and originally intended for a military hospital. The Lines are very extensive fortifications, defended by ramparts, palisadoes, and a broad deep ditch, and, next to Portsmouth, Chatham may be considered as the most complete and regular fortress in the United Kingdom. The lower, or marine barracks, are spacious and uniform brick buildings; the upper barracks, also of brick stand near Brompton and are very spacious and convenient. The artillery barracks are much superior in the elegance of their architecture to the others. They were built in 1804 for 1200 men, and officers in proportion.

Distant 30 miles E. of London

More info

As always, for the best background on Mequon’s pioneer Bonniwell family, I recommend George B. Bonniwell’s handsome and engaging book The Bonniwells: 1000 Years, published by the author, 1999. I also suggest you use this blog’s “SEARCH” function. Try the search terms “Bonniwell” and “Alfred T. Bonniwell” for starters; you’ll get lots of results, including links to information and documents that have surfaced in the decades since The Bonniwells: 1000 Years was published.

If you would like your own copy of The Bonniwells: 1000 Years, copies are still available from the author (and we may have a copy or two still for sale at the Jonathan Clark House, too). I believe the cost is $35 (although with shipping costs going up, that may have changed). For details, send me a note via the CONTACT link, and I’ll put you in touch with the author.

Coming up

I have some more previously unknown (at least to me) Bonniwell/Chatham documents and links to share, and then—I promise—I’m going to get the Bonniwell expedition home from the California gold rush and get Alfred married to Mary (Turck) Clark’s sister Sarah. After that, it’s time to take another look at Jonathan Clark’s possible roots in Lower Canada circa 1811-1833. There will also be a post or two examining some of the essential writing tools of the mid-1800s—including a special Clark House artifact—and a look back at the Bonniwell Bible and ephemera, one year after its arrival at the Clark House museum. Plus the usual assortment of historical odds & ends…and the occasional bit of nonsense.

See you next time.