Bonus , John , 1720-1784 , slopseller

John Bonus (c 1720-84) was the son of John Bonus of St John Wapping, a waterman and later a slopseller. In 1736 he was apprenticed to William Jesser, slopseller of Billingsgate and freeman of the Merchant Taylors' Company. John Bonus gained his freedom of the Merchant Taylors' Company on 2 August 1749. He married Ann Child on 30 August 1752 in St Dunstan in the East and had one son, John. His business operated from Thames Street, possibly in conjunction with William Jesser and his son, William. He took on as apprentices his niece Elizabeth in 1749, nephew James in 1753 and his son, all of them subsequently becoming free of the Merchant Taylors' Company. James Bonus set up as a slopseller in Tower Hill, but went bankrupt in 1765. He died in 1804. Elizabeth Bonus married Stephen Child (presumably a relative) in 1758 in St Botolph Aldersgate. John Bonus joined the Court of Assistants on the Merchant Taylors' Company on 19 July 1780. He died in 1784, his will being proved on 29 April.

NB-a slopseller produced and sold cheap, ready-made clothing.