He was also a maker of household items, such as ovens and fireplaces, some of which are still known to exist to this day. At a farm called Bridge Meadows, near Crawley, there is a bread oven door, in cast iron, marked "JOHN BONFIELD 1858". Although, the main output of the foundry would most probably have been the manufacture of farm tools and implements for the use of farmers and smallholders of the region.
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1848 Kelly's Directory
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Chardstock
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Crowley
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BONDFIELD, John, Ironfounder & farmer
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1851 Hants Dorset Directory
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Chardstock
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BONFIELD, John, Ironfounder & machine maker, Crowley.
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1841 Census of Chardstock
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Name Cond. Stat. Age Occupation Where Born County
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Crawley
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John BONFIELD 50 Carpenter Dorset
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Grace BONFIELD 48 "
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John BONFIELD 20 "
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Samuel BONFIELD 20 "
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George BONFIELD 15 "
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Lucy BONFIELD 14 "
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James BONFIELD 11 "
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Robert BONFIELD 10 "
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Sarah BONFIELD 8 "
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Joan BONFIELD 10 "
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Wm BONFIELD 19 "
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1851 Census of Chardstock
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Crawley Bottom
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John BONFIELD Head Marr 67 Carpenter/master emp. 9 men & Farmer of 10 acres emp. 1 man Wambrook Dorset
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Grace BONFIELD Wife Marr 50 Yarcombe Devon
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John BONFIELD Son Unm 35 Carpenter's son Chardstock Dorset
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William BONFIELD Son Unm 26 " " "
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Lucy BONFIELD Dau Unm 24 Farmer's daughter " "
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James BONFIELD Son Unm 22 Carpenter's son " "
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Robt BONFIELD Son Unm 19 " " "
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Joan BONFIELD Dau Unm 15 Farmer's daughter " "
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Saml BONFIELD Brother Unm 50 Carpenter's lab? Wambrook Dorset
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John GAGE Servt Unm 18 " Axmouth Devon
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Ruth BONFIELD [G.dau] Lodger Unm 7 Winsham Somerset
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Jane BONFIELD [G.dau] Lodger Unm 5 Chardstock Dorset
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1861 Census of Chardstock
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Crawley
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John BONFIELD Head Marr 77 Carpenter & Ironfounder emp. 4 men & 1 boy Wambrook Dorset
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Grace BONFIELD Wife Marr 67 Carp. & Ironfoundr's wife Yarcombe Devon
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John BONFIELD Son Unm 44 Smith Membury Devon
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William BONFIELD Son Unm 38 Carpenter " "
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Samuel BONFIELD Brother Unm 60 " Wambrook Dorset
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Lucy DENING Dau Wdr 34 Shopkeeper Chardstock "
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Ruth BONFIELD Grd-dau Unm 17 Dairymaid " "
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Jane BONFIELD Grd-dau Unm 13 Housemaid " "
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John LAWRENCE Serv Unm 18 General servant Yarcombe Devon
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Eli PIKE Serv 14 Carter " "
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\\
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Crawley
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Robert BONFIELD Head Marr 27 Engineer Chardstock Dorset
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Jane BONFIELD Wife Marr 25 Engineer's wife Thorncombe "
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Ellennett BONFIELD Dau 2 Engineer's daughter Chard Somerset
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Eliza HOCKEY [Mth.-in-law] Visitor Wid 47 Dressmaker Thorncombe Dorset
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John made his will in May 1867, in which bequeathed to his wife, Grace, "the rents and profits of all my dwellinghouses and land situate at Crawley". His two sons, John and Robert, would appear to have taken over the running of the foundry as he leaves to them "(during the life of my said wife Grace) the joint use of my Workshops together with the stock in trade now carried on by me at Crawley". George, one of his other sons was singled out "to pay the sum of Fifty pounds for value received". The explanation of this "value received" is unknown, but it may be that his father had helped George financially in his occupation as a farmer. The witnesses to the will were Robert BONFIELD, probably his brother, and Dinah VICKERY, his youngest brother, Abraham's, daughter.
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1867 May 28, Will of John BONFIELD
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I John BONFIELD of Crawley in the Parish of Chardstock in the County of Dorset Wheelwright and Ironfounder being in perfect health and sound mind memory and understanding do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say, First I give unto my wife Grace (after my just debts and funeral expenses are paid) after my decease the rents and profits of all my dwellinghouses and lands situate at Crawley aforesaid with the use of the furniture therein for and during her life and I give unto my two sons John and Robert (during the life of my said wife Grace) the joint use of my Workshops together with the Stock in trade now carried on by me at Crawley aforesaid to and for their own use and benefit but not to waste or damage the same and after the decease of my said Wife I will
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