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Name: BONSER, Carvil
Birth Date: 27 May 1881 Newton Harcourt, Leics.
Death Date: 1961 Thrapston, Northants.
First Date: 1904 from Johannesburg
Profession: Waggon builder, farmer, timber merchant 1921
Area: Fort Hall, Nairobi, 1922 Nakuru, Hut C. Bonsor 1922 Elmenteita saw miller
Married: single in 1939
Book Reference: Gillett, SE, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Playne, Pioneers, Drumkey, Red 22, Land, Advertiser, Gazette, Nicholls, North, EAHB 1907, SKP, Leader14, mini-SITREP XXXIII, Rift Valley, Red Book 1912
General Information:
First went to the Fort Hall District to try the cultivation of rubber trees. This did not prove a success because of the excessive rain, so in 1908 he started waggon building in Nairobi and later established a successful business.
Appears in Stephen Ellis's ledger as "Wheelwright" in Oct. 1908
Playne - Mr C. Bonser came to BEA in 1905 from Johannesburg, and went to the Fort Hall District to try the cultivation of rubber, cotton and rice. This, however, had to be given up on account of the excessive floods. He therefore started business in Nairobi in 1908 as a waggon builder, the wood used being imported and local. Mr Bonser undertakes to build any class of waggon or cart, as well as repairs, and a guarantee for 5 years is given on all work turned out complete. His workshop, of wood and iron, covers a stand and a half, that is to say, 100 by 175 feet, and he employs 1 European and 4 Indians. There is a fair demand for good work, and he intends shortly to start farrier's work.
Red 22 has C. Bonser, Nakuru AND C. Bonsor, Elmenteita
Land - 1909 - C. Bonser - Agricultural, 39 acres, Maragua River, 6-7-06, Registered 11-5-09
Advertiser - 25/9/1908 - Advert - C. Bonser - Wheelwright & Blacksmith (Colonial Experience)
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Nairobi District - C. Bonser, Lambert's Ltd.
EAHB 1907 - Meragua (Fort Hall)
SKP - 1938 - Society of Kenya Pioneers - over 30 years in Colony - arrived 1904 - Nakuru
mini-SITREP XXXIII - Legion of Frontiersmen - 1912 - Farrier Sergeant Major - C. Bonsor
Rift Valley - Member of the Rift Valley Sports Club - Jan 1929 - Elected - 21 Oct 1924 - C. Bonser
Red Book 1912 - Blacksmith, Nairobi
Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - C. Bonser - Timber Merchant - Nakuru
1939 England and Wales Register living, single, in Thrapston as 'Farmer abroad. Now motor tractor ploughman'.