Can anyone find Bonhard in Shotts?

Post by **Anne H** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:27 pm

I have an 1833 OPR birth in Shotts which reads, in part...

1833 John Allan, Coalier at Bonhard and Elizabeth......

Can anyone pinpoint where Bonhard might be? I would assume (maybe incorrectly) that it could be a miners row of houses, or possibly a colliery where he worked. I know it exists but I can't find it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,
Anne H

Post by **paddyscar** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:14 pm

Scotlands Gazeteer http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns/t ... t8976.html lists Bonhard in West Lothian 1 1/4 mile north east of Linlithgow.

It lists Shotts as being in North Lanarkshire.

There are maps on that site that you can view - both 19th and 20th century

The points of latitude and longitude for both locations given on that site, when entered in GoogleEarth, give current directions and a distance of 20.8 miles from Bonhard to Shotts.

Hope this is helpful.

Frances

marypryde · Post by **marypryde** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:26 pm

Anne - try this one:

Bonhard
West Lothian
A location in E Falkirk council area, Bonhard is located 1¼ miles (2 km) southeast of Bo'ness and a similar distance northeast of Linlithgow. The location comprises several farms, Bornhard Cottages and Bonhard Old Mill.

I'm new at this but I have found a very useful tool for locating places. It's a website at www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns. I found it by Googling "gazeteer for scotland." Hope it helps - if not now, later.

Mary Ellen

Post by **Anne H** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:30 pm

Hi Frances,

I should have mentioned that I knew there was a Bonhard in West Lothian...I had actually had a look at Scotlands Gazeteer and many other sites over the past couple of days. I also know that this family had connections to West Lothian (they had a daughter born in Carriden in 1828...they named this poor wee soul Robert - she was afterall the third child so was called after the mothers father but you would have thought they would have stuck an 'a' on to the end of her name).

Anyway to get back on tract...

There also seems to be a Bonhard in Shotts...it's mentioned several times on the Shotts Mortality Book (this is a great source, by the way...for those interested take a look http://www.shottshistorygroup.co.uk/mor ... 20book.htm ).

The hunt goes on!

Regards,
Anne H

Post by **Anne H** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:31 pm

Thanks Mary,

I tried your link but it idn't work. Maybe someone can fix it.

Regards,
Anne H

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:36 pm

Hi Anne,
The link worked for me, but it took a minute. Try again and go make a cup of tea. When you get back it might be up!

Regards,
Sarah

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:07 pm

Might help;
http://xweb.geos.ed.ac.uk/~scotgaz/

Post by **AndrewP** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:09 am

Hi Anne,

One branch on my family tree lived in Benhar, parish of Shotts. It is possible that Bonhard is the spelling used by the session clerk of the day for Benhar.

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **Anne H** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:59 am

Had my dinner and my tea, Sarah.

After I opened Lesley's link (thanks, Lesley

), I had a look again at Mary's link and realized there was a full stop in with the link...hence it didn't open for me.

Mary...I didn't think to look at those maps...thanks for the reminder.

Regards,
Anne H

Post by **Anne H** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:06 am

Hi Andrew,

That thought had crossed my mind but wanted to be sure. I took another look at the Shotts Mortality Book and I think you're right.

The name seems to be interchangable...possibly whatever took the Session Clerk's fancy at the time. At various dates from at least 1795 through 1814 it seems to be written as Benharr, Easter Benharr, East Benharrr West Bonhar, Bonhar and Bonhard.

I'll see what I find on Benhar now to fill in the blanks!

Thanks everyone!

Regards,
Anne H