Early Life and Family

Luke Bonney was born in June 1752 in Pembroke, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony. According to The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Luke and Charles were twins. His father, Job C. Bonney, was 44 years old at the time of Luke's birth, and his mother, Ruth Bisbee, was 38. Luke was christened on June 21, 1752, in Pembroke, continuing the Bonney family's presence in Massachusetts that had begun with Thomas Bonney over a century earlier.

Luke grew up during a time of increasing tension between the American colonies and Great Britain. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was ongoing when he was a child, and by the time he reached adulthood, the colonies were on the brink of revolution.

Marriage and Family

On November 5, 1772, Luke Bonney married Mercy Thomas in Hardwick, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony. This marriage occurred just three years before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and the couple would raise their family during one of the most transformative periods in American history.

Luke and Mercy were the parents of at least nine children: six sons and three daughters. Their children included:

• Luke Bonney Jr. (1774-1819), who would serve in the War of 1812 and was the father of Prentiss Franklin Bonney
• Mary Bonney (1776-)
• Benjamin Bonney (1777-)
• Abigail Bonney (1779-)
• Lewis Bonney (1781-)
• Amos Bonney (1783-)
• Jonathan Bonney (1787-)
• Josiah Sears Bonney (1789-)
• Sophia Bonney (1795-)

Public Service and Civic Leadership

Luke Bonney's commitment to public service and civic leadership was evident throughout his life. He lived in Chesterfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, for about 10 years, where he became an active member of the community. In 1789, he served as Clerk of the Baptist Church in Chesterfield, a position that required trust, literacy, and organizational skills. The church clerk was responsible for maintaining church records, documenting meetings, and preserving the official history of the congregation.

His most significant contribution to American history came during the Revolutionary War era. Luke Bonney served as a delegate to the convention that formed the Massachusetts State Constitution from 1779 to 1780. This was a critical moment in American history—the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, drafted by John Adams, became a model for the U.S. Constitution and is the oldest functioning written constitution in the world.

As a delegate to this convention, Luke Bonney was part of the process that established the framework for state government in Massachusetts, helping to create the structure of executive, legislative, and judicial branches that would influence the federal constitution. His participation in this foundational moment demonstrates his standing in the community and his commitment to the principles of self-governance that had been developing in America since the time of his ancestor Thomas Bonney.

Later Life and Legacy

After his years in Chesterfield, Massachusetts, Luke Bonney moved to Broome, New York, where he died in June 1807 at the age of 55. His death was noted in the Otsego Herald of Cooperstown, New York, on August 13, 1807, with an obituary that described him as "Colonel Luke Bonney, a Gentleman highly respected, and beloved, as a parent, husband and neighbor, his charity and hospitality was conspicuous and diffusive, his loss will be deeply deplored by the public."

The title "Colonel" suggests he may have held a military rank, possibly in the militia or during the Revolutionary War, though specific military records are not available. The obituary's emphasis on his character—his charity, hospitality, and the respect he commanded—reflects the esteem in which he was held by his community.

Family Connections and Continuity

Luke Bonney's life represents an important link in the Bonney family's journey through American history. He was the descendant of Thomas Bonney, who had emigrated from England in 1634, and the father of Luke Bonney Jr., who would serve in the War of 1812. His son Luke Jr. would in turn be the father of Prentiss Franklin Bonney, who would continue the family's westward migration to Missouri and California.

Luke Bonney's participation in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention places him at a pivotal moment in American history, helping to create the governmental structures that would define the new nation. His life spanned the transition from British colonial rule to American independence, and his service as both a constitutional delegate and church leader demonstrates the Bonney family's continued commitment to civic engagement and community service.

Read More: Thomas Bonney | Prentiss Franklin Bonney | Revolutionary War Service Records | Family History Timeline

Sources: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850; Missouri Bonney Family Genealogy by Gregory N. Bonney; Otsego Herald (Cooperstown, NY), August 13, 1807.