Frederick BONNINGTON was born 1844 in Chesterfield Derbyshire England.

He emigrated to New Zealand before 1865 and settled in Nelson, Marlborough.

He married Mary Ann SAYWELL on 21st February 1865 at her father George Saywell's residence in Richmond, Nelson (her mother was Susan GOATHAM of Bredgar, Sittingbourne, Kent). Mary Ann was the 12th of their 15 children. Her sister Susan Quafe Saywell married Frederick's brother, Herbert Bonnington

In 1873 Frederick and Mary Ann Bonnington left Nelson and settled in Ashburton (which is 86km south of Christchurch, Canterbury) - they actually settled and farmed in Tinwald, which is 3km south again ...
- Tinwald was originally the only settlement within a 10km radius. When the European settlers arrived they finally managed to cross the Ashburton river thus forming the next settlement, Ashburton.
The Tinwald school opened in 1879

On 4th August 1873 at 11 o'clock am they held an auction sale of all their effects:
* 6 useful trap horses, quiet and handy
* 1 saddle horse, a weight carrier
* 60 sheep, ewes and lambs
* 20 first-class pigs
* 1 splendid bred boar
* 1 milk cow in full milk
* 1 steer and heifer calf
* ducks, fowls, and turkeys
* harness - 2 sets harness, plated 1 set cart harness
* carts- 2 spring carts in excellent condition, 1 horse cart
* farming implements - plough, harrows, forks, spades, shovels, grind-stone, chaff cutter
* household furniture - tables, chairs, arm chairs, easy chairs, sofas, washstands, carpets, bedsteads, pictures, lamps, clocks, &c, &c
first class harmonium in musical condition, splendid tuned violin and bow * Grover and Baker sewing machine
* dairy utensils - cheese vats, milk pans, tubs, brine tubs, large
* iron tank
Lunch provided


Frederick and Mary Ann had 13 known children:

1865 - Herbert Edward Bonnington Bonnington
- Herbert married marianne PARRY in 1895
- he died in Ashburton in 1934 aged 69

1867 - Frederick William Bonnington
- Frederick married Mennine McFARLANE in 1907
- he died in 1924 aged 57

1868 - Edgar Charles Bonnington
- Edgar married Sarah Jane DRAKE in 1898
- he died in Ashburton in 1946 ged 78

1870 - Albert George Bonnington
- Albert died in Richmond Nelson in 1873 aged 2

1872 - Bertha Mary Bonnington
- Bertha married Thomas Henry UNDRILL in 1896
- she died in 1923 aged 50

1876 - Rosamond "Rosie" Bonnington
- Rosie married Thomas PETHICK in 1914
- she died in 1975 aged 99

1878 - Eleanor Maria Bonnington
- Eleanor died in 1878 aged 4 months

1879 - Ernest Thomas Bonnington
- Ernest died in 1879 aged 9 weeks

1880 - Clarence Henry Bonnington
- Clarence married Annie GALE in 1904
- Annie died the following year in Ashburton aged 21
- Clarence married Annie WILLIAMS in 1911
- he died in 1925 aged 44

1882 - Stanley John Bonnington
- Stanley married Ethel May PASSMORE in 1907
- he died in 1972 aged 90

1885 - Elsie Maud Bonnington
- Elsie married Percy Gerald RICKARD in 1915
- she died in 1949 aged 63

1886 - Emma Fleetwood Bonnington
- Emma married Walter Warner REDDECLIFFE in 1915
- she died in Hororata, Canterbury in 1959 aged 72

1888 - Lilian Amy Bonnington
- Lilian married Arthur RAIT in 1911
- she died in Christchurch in 1980 aged 92

Frederick died in 1907 in Ashburton aged 63
Mary Ann died in 1912 in Ashburton aged 66