Mary Kidd

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• Reference Number: 8288

Notes:

James' plantation house is located in Cumberland County, near Boatwright Island.

James owned Boatwright Island, located in the James River, between Cumberland and Fluvanna counties, Virginia.

The names, birth dates, and death dates of James Boatwright, his wives, children, and their children, are drawn from a variety of sources, the most reliable of which are bible entries.

Elizabeth Blackburn Boatwright, the wife of James' oldest son Benoni, called Benjamine, recorded births, deaths, and marriages, including those of some of the family slaves, in her Bible. The entries are somewhat haphazard and are not complete for each family line, but it must be assumed that what is written is correct, particularly since much of the material is corroborated by other sources.

Entries in Elizabeth's Bible are provided by Dennis Guy Boatright of Texas. He had received a copy of the pertinent pages of Elizabeth's Bible from Denny Boatright of Missouri. The actual bible was last known to be in the possession of Mrs. Joe Adams, a grand daughter of William Letcher Todd and Eliza Ann Boatwright Todd.

Chesley Hood Boatwright, the youngest son of James, had a bible, last believed to be in the ossession of Clara Boatright Laningham of Arkansas, in which were found two neatly folded sheets of paper containing a list of all of the children of James Boatwright and their birth dates. At the bottom of the list is written, "The above register was drawn from his Father's family bible by his youngest son February 5th, 1843." It is signed "C. H. Bootright."

Source: David C. Rains

It should be noted, however, that the spelling of the surname itself is a cause of confusion. In most sources, one finds that the name as used by the early members of the family is spelled Boatwright. Generally, although not in all cases, the "w" was dropped in later generations. However, in the following will of James, written in 1814, the name is spelled "Boatright" throughout. The reason could be that the will was written by an attorney for James and, as seems to be the custom of the times, he spelled the name the way he saw fit. Nonetheless, in a handwritten list of siblings and their birth dates compiled by James' youngest son, Chesley Hood, Chesley spells the name "Bootright". In Elizabeth Blackburn's Bible, the name is spelled both "Boatwright" and "Boatright." To make the matter even more uncertain, she spells the surname of her husband Benjamine, James' oldest son, without the "w" as she does James'. She also spells her married name without the "w" in the Bible, but on her tombstone the "w" is included.

Inconsistency abounds in the spelling of the Boat(w)right name, particularly in this line of the family. It seems best not to become too concerned over the spelling of the surname, realizing that our earlier ancestors seemed to have spelled it as the mood struck them on any given day.

Source: The actual will above is owned by Dan Boatwright.

The will of James Boatwright can be found in the Cumberland County, Virginia, Circuit Court records, Will Book 5, Page 86:

"In the name of God amen, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I James Boatright of Cumberland County and State of Virginia, being in my right mind and of disposing memory, do make this my last will and testament.

1st. I give to my son Leonard Boatright, my island on the James River known by the name of Daniels Iland and also my Punch Creek tract of land by him paying in two years after my death two hundred dollars to my estate, to him and his heirs forever.

2nd. I give to my son John Boatright my tract of land in the County of Fluvanna, which I purchased of Mathew Wills, containing one hundred and twenty four acres be the same more or less, by him paying fifty dollars in two years to my estate after my death, to him and his heirs forever.

3rdly. I give to my son Chestly Boatright my tract of land on which I live, of one hundred and nineteen acres be the same, as also my still and still vessels provisor that the said Chestly Boatright lets my daughter Drucilla Boatright remain in the mansion house on said plantation with him after my death and boarding free until she marrys, to him and his heirs forever.

4thly. I give to each of my children as they may need that have not received heretofore one bed and furniture.

5thly. I give to my son Drury Boatright ten dollars in addition to what I have deeded him proviso that he obligates himself to give free liberty or use of the spring called Drummons.

6thly. I give the balance of all my estate not heretofore mentioned or willed, to be equally divided between my sons Samuel Boatright, James Boatright, Benj'n Boatright, Daniel Boatright, and William Boatright and my daughters Ann Steger, Judith Martin, Drucilla Boatright, Patsy Boatright, and Polly Boatright, giving to my son Samuel my negro Tarlton at valuation, giving to my son James Boatright my negro George at valuation, giving to my daughter Ann Steger my negro Sally at valuation, giving to my son William Boatright my negro Nelson at valuation, giving to my daughter Judith Martin my negro Julia at valuation, and giving to my daughter Drucilla Boatright my negro Cloe at valuation, each of them paying the overplus should there be any at the division and, lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons Benjamin, Samuel, Leonard, and Chestly Boatright Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by me heretofore made.

In witness there of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my hand and affixed my seal this 10th day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen (1814).

Signed, sealed, published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the named James Boatright in the presence of us.

D. Shields
Wm. Montague
Abraham Daniel
James (His Mark) Boatright"

It is apparent from the signature at the end of this will that James, for all his land and property holdings, was unable to read and write. As he obviously did not write this will himself, it would account for the misspellings, particularly of family members. The names of his children Chesley and Drucillah, are spelled incorrectly throughout this document. The accurate and correct spelling of these names is well documented in letters, bible records, etc., some of which are written by the same family members whose names are misspelled in the will.

It is interesting to note that the "Daniel's Iland" willed to his son Leonard can be found on a current (1998) map of Cumberland County and is now known as "Boatwright's Island".

Source: David C. Rains

Public Service Claims Certificate #65-2764 8-1-1784: "The Commonwealth of Virginia is indebted to James Boatwright for the delivery of thirty-one, and three quarters pounds of Bacon to be discharged at Twenty Dollars per pound. Ben Wilson, D.C.."

Daniel Boatright to James Boatright 5-27-1793, Bk 7, Page 262, 200 Acres.

Mary married James Boatwright 1778, Virginia, USA. James (son of Benoni Boatwright) was born 1745, Hanover, Virginia, USA; died 10 Jan 1815, Cumberland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet]

1. John Boatwright was born 1 Oct 1780, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died Abt 1790, Cumberland, Virginia, USA.
2. James Boatwright was born 4 Jan 1782, Cumberland, Virginia, USA.
3. Nancy Ann Boatwright was born 5 Apr 1783, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died Apr 1833.
4. William P Boatwright was born 29 May 1784, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died 8 Aug 1875, Madison, Arkansas, USA.
5. Durury Boatwright was born 11 Jun 1785, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died Abt 1860, Carroll, Georgia, USA.
6. Susan Boatwright was born 22 Jan 1787, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died Bef 1814.
7. Mary Boatwright was born 27 Mar 1788, Cumberland, Virginia, USA.
8. Judith Boatwright was born 27 Oct 1789, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died Jun 1858.
9. Drucillah Boatwright was born 27 Apr 1791, Cumberland, Virginia, USA.
10. Leonard D Boatwright was born 3 Apr 1793, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died Abt 1856, Cumberland, Virginia, USA.
11. John Wade Boatwright was born 22 Aug 1795, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died 3 Aug 1860, Madison, Arkansas, USA.
12. Chesley Hood Boatwright was born 25 Nov 1797, Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died 27 May 1867, Madison, Arkansas, USA.