Generation One 1. Conrad Bongard #159185, B. C. 05 December 1751 in Germany, D. 23 January 1840. the Bongard Family Pioneer
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Family of Conrad Bongard compiled by John A. Brebner for the Friends of Sandbanks 26th October, 2020 Generation One 1. Conrad Bongard #159185, b. c. 05 December 1751 in Germany, d. 23 January 1840. The Bongard Family Pioneer Life on the Bay of Quinte, 1904; paged 141 - 146 "In the days before New York city and the territory of the Empire State were known under their present designation, the commercial metropolis of the colony on Manhattan Island was named New Amsterdam. It was largely inhabited by Dutch Protestants and Huguenot exiles, and among the former was the family of Bongards, to which Conrad Bongard belonged. He lived in New York city, but had gone to Germany and served as an artillery man. Returning to New York he went to Philadelphia, and became a prominent citizen. It was here that he had to determine on which side to range himself in the Revolution. It did not take him long to offer his services to the British, to whom his military experience in the German army made him an acquisition. He insisted on raising a battery of artillery, and was given a commission for this preliminary service, which was an earnest of more to follow. His skill as an artillery officer soon won him promotion, and before long he was in command of his battery, with the rank of colonel. He served throughout the war , and at its close threw in his lot with the such noted United Empire Loyalists as Joseph Allen, who had been a successful businessman in Monmouth, New Jersey, but whose property had been plundered by the Colonials, and who had several narrow escaped on his wat to New York to join the band of refugees under Major Van Alstine. "It was during his residence in Philadelphia that Conrad Bongard married a widow named Carr, who accompanied him to Canada. As a field officer, he was entitled under the government, grateful for his services, to five thousand acres of land. He settles himself at Adolphustown, and as it was usual for field officers to sell grants of land to other loyalists of inferior rank in the army, Colonel Conrad disposed of some tracts of land in both North and South Marysburg. His second son and namesake , Conrad, married into the Dulmage family and cared for his father on the old homestead, where the Pioneer passed away about 1850. "Although loyal to the British Crown, Conrad Bongard never lost his attachment to the Fatherland. It was more from choice, probably, than necessity that he continued to speak English with no great concern as to its accuracy in any respect; and this was characteristic of his children after many years of association with those who spoke English. "Conrad, son of Conrad Bongard, served through the war of 1812, attaining the rank of Captain; he drew a pension until his death. His children are widely scattered: John resides at Picton; J. Wilson, at Greenbush; Ezra, at Norwood; William W. at Port Milford; Abraham, at Prince Albert; Conrad, at Toronto; and Jacob, at Utica, New York. "David L. Bongard is a prominent descendant of the Pioneer. Although still a relatively young man he has been county treasurer for over fifteen years; and for some twenty-one years, has been license inspector, discharging his duties faithfully and well. He ranks among the foremost men, not only of Prince Edward, but of the entire Bay of Quinte district. "James J., son of Frederick and grandson of Conrad Bongard, married Isabella Ostrander, and with his two sons, Arthur and Frederick, resides on the old homestead, beautifully located on South Bay, which has been in possession of the family since it was granted by the Crown. He has been an active citizen, sitting for some years as a member of the township, council and still takes a keen interest in political affairs, being a staunch supporter of the Conservative 1 party. His children have inter-married with prominent Prince Edward families; the two son, above names, having both married daughter of the famous old pioneer Church family." Please note that there are a number of errors and omissions in the family genealogy as supplied in Pioneer Life. I have noted these, where found, but should you find any glaring errors, please let me know! Obituary of Conrad Bongard, Senior (1750 - 1840) Christian Guardian, 15 April 1840, page 100 "Died, at his residence in the Township of Marysburgh, district of Prince Edward, on Wednesday, January 22nd, 1840, Mr. Conrad BONGARD, Sen. In the 90th year of his age. He was born in Hanau, near Frankfort (sic), Germany, and was in early life instructed by his parents (who were members of the Lutheran Church) in the principles of the Christian religion. In 1776 he was impressed for a soldier and sent to England; never to revisit the land of his nativity. The pain we feel, when first transplanted from our native soil - when the living branch is cut from the parent tree - is one of the most poignant emotions which we have to endure through life. There are after griefs which wound more deeply, which bruise the spirit and almost break the heart, which leave behind them ineffaceable scars; but seldom, perhaps, do we feel more keenly the want of tender, wakeful, and constant affection than when first we leave the haven of home and are, as it were, pushed off upon the ocean of life. To these feelings are added, in the case of the soldier, physical hardships and numerous privations, which were severely felt my Mr. B. in his first days of service and distinctly remembered through life. "Mr. B., with the Regiment to which he belonged, being destined for American service, was conveyed from Portsmouth to Quebec. He was attached to a regiment of Artillery and placed under General Burgoyne, at whose defeat he was made prisoner at Saratoga. His honesty was strict, almost proverbial; while the advancing columns were traversing fields strewed with the dead and wounded of the enemy and abundant opportunities of enriching himself with the spoils of a fallen foe were afforded, he was never known to appropriate to his own use the most trifling article. He was soon exchanged; continued to serve till the termination of the war in 1783; came to Canada and married in Quebec; obtained lands in Adolphustown where her resided for a time; and then removed to Marysburgh where he lived till his death. "He was a member of the Lutheran Church while its ministers continued in the country, and afterwards became a regular attendant upon the Methodist ministry, for whose use, in conducting divine worship, he prepared a house which is still appropriated to the same worship. His attachment to religion was always evinced by his liberal support of the Gospel, and his steady attendance upon the institutions of divine worship. But it was not till (some?) time previous to his departure that he clearly and satisfactorily experience the power of godliness. (some flowery religious hyperbole omitted here...) "Mr. B. had the satisfaction of living to see all his children walking in the paths of religion. He left nine children, 84 grandchildren and 65 great-grandchildren, in all 158 now living . His widow, in an advanced age, mourns his departure." He married Susannah L. Stauss #159186, c. 14 May 1784 in Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Quebec?,1 b. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,2 d. 1846 in Marysburgh?, Prince Edward County, Ontario.2 Children: 2. i. Marie Bongard #177895. 3. ii. Bernard Bongard #159187. 2 4. iii. Christian Bongard #126766 b. 17 May 1788. 5. iv. Conrad Bongard #73165 b. 1795. 6. v. Frederick Bongard #73155 b. 1797. 7. vi. Mary Bongard #132289 b. c. 1799. 8. vii. John Bongard #109997 b. 1800. 9. viii. Margaret Bongard #159204. 10. ix. Dorothy Bongard #159217. Generation Two 2. Marie Bongard #177895, d. 19 September 1785 in Three Rivers, Quebec, buried 20 September 1785 in Three Rivers, Quebec. 3. Bernard Bongard #159187, b.1. Family settled in North Marysburgh, Prince Edward County, Ontario. He married Phoebe Palmatier #159188. Children: 11. i. Susan Bongard #159189. 12. ii. Phoebe Jane Bongard #75937 b. 1825. 13. iii. Lydia Bongard #101837. 14. iv. Catherine Bongard #159240. 15. v. William Bongard #75705. 16. vi. Conrad J. Bongard #158880 b. c. 1830. 4. Christian Bongard #126766, b. 17 May 1788 in Ontario,3 d. 25 May 1885.4 . (Youngest daughter of Marysburgh pioneer Conrad BONGARD.) 1871: Lived with Frederick ROSE and family in North Marysburgh. She married (1) Augustus Gerolamy #127830,5 d. before 1812. Augustus: Two children... 3 She married (2) Peter Rose #126765, b. 1779,4 d. 17 March 1857/59 in Prince Edward County, Ontario.4,5 Peter: Pioneer Life on the Bay of Quinte, 1904; pages 69 - 71 "The name of Rose is one with which Canadians are familiar. There are various families of the name distinguished in different ways in Ontario; but there is none better known, or more highly esteemed than the family descended from Peter Rose, who settled in Prince Edward County in the early part of the last century. "Peter Rose knew a time when it was hard to maintain communications with the outer world. Usually in the fall of the year he joined with neighbors, who were hardly near, but far apart, in chartering a small vessel, in which they would set sail from South Marysburg for Kingston, carrying with them the produce of their farms, for which they bartered for clothes, boots, harness, etc. And sometime when they were in sore need of shoes, but found it difficult, or perhaps impossible to go so far, they rested content with some ill-tanned leather from the hide of an ox which their own hands had killed.