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Boat(w)right Family Genealogy in America

Generation 7

7-153. WILLIAM L. BOATWRIGHT (LEONARD D.⁷, JAMES⁶, BENONI⁵, JOHN⁴, JOHN³, JOHN², Not Yet Determined¹) was born 21 Sep 1816 in Cumberland County, Virginia, and died 20 Oct 1860 in Cumberland County, Virginia. He married MARY P.. She was born 1820 in Virginia.

Notes for WILLIAM L. BOATWRIGHT:

1850 Census:
Name: William Boatright
Date: September 4, 1850
Age: 34
Estimated birth year: abt 1816
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Male
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Cumberland County, Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Page: 319
Roll: M432_941

1860 Census:
Name: Wm S Boatright
Date: July 7, 1860
Age in 1860: 39
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Not Stated, Cumberland County, Virginia
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: $0
Post Office: Columbia
Roll: M653_1341
Page: 956
Year: 1860
Head of Household: Susan S Boatright

Virginia, Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917 
Name: Wm L Boatwright 
Birth Date: abt 1816 
Birth Place: Cumberland County, Virginia 
Death Date: 20 Oct 1860 
Death Place: Cumberland County, Virginia 
Death Age: 44 
Race: White 
Gender: Male 
Mother Name: S. Boatwright 
FHL Film Number: 30774 

Notes for MARY P.:

1850 Census:
Name: Mary Boatright
Date: September 4, 1850
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1820
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Female
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Not Stated, Cumberland County, Virginia
Page: 319
Roll: M432_941

1860 Census:
Name: Mary Boatright
Date: July 7, 1860
Age in 1860: 34
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Not Stated, Cumberland County, Virginia
Gender: Female
Value of real estate: $0
Post Office: Columbia
Roll: M653_1341
Page: 956
Year: 1860
Head of Household: Susan S Boatright

1870 Census:
Name: Mary Boatwright 
Date: August 27, 1870
Birth Year: abt 1820 
Age in 1870: 50 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Home in 1870: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia 
Race: White 
Gender: Female 
Post Office: Columbia 
Census Place: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll M593_1642; Page: 9A; Image: 21; 
Family History Library Film: 553141.

1880 Census:
Name: Mary P. Boatwright 
Date: June 21, 1880
Home in 1880: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia 
Age: 60 
Estimated birth year: abt 1820 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Relation to Head of Household: Mother-in-law 
Father's birthplace: Virginia 
Mother's birthplace: Virginia 
Occupation: At Home 
Marital Status: Widowed 
Race: White 
Gender: Female 
Census Place: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll T9_1362; Family History Film: 1255362; Page: 17.1000; 
Enumeration District: 76;
living with daughter Virgilia and family

Children of WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT and MARY P. are:

8-481.    i. VIRGILIA ADELAIDE BOATWRIGHT, b. 14 Sep 1841, Cumberland County, 
                                            Virginia; d. 04 Aug 1899, Lynchburg, 
                                            Virginia.
8-482.   ii. ROBERT HENRY BOATWRIGHT, b. Jun 1842, Cumberland County, Virginia;
                                       d. 05 May 1909, Lynchburg, Virginia.
8-483.  iii. SUSAN FRANCES "FANNIE" BOATWRIGHT, b. 06 Aug 1844, Cumberland  
                                                 County, Virginia; d. Aft. 1899, 
                                                 Powhatan County, Virginia.
8-484.   iv. JAMES BOATWRIGHT, b. Abt. 1847, Cumberland County, Virginia.

7-154. JAMES ALLEN BOATWRIGHT (LEONARD D.⁷, JAMES⁶, BENONI⁵, JOHN⁴, JOHN³, JOHN², Not Yet Determined¹) was born 27 Apr 1818 in Cumberland County, Virginia, and died 03 Jun 1864 in Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia. He married MARY LOUISA SANDERSON 1849 in Cumberland County, Virginia, daughter of THOMAS SANDERSON. She was born 1831 in Virginia.

Notes for JAMES ALLEN BOATWRIGHT:

James married Mary L. Sanderson in 1849 by Elder Isaac S. Tinsley. She was the daughter of Thomas Sanderson. Marriage Notices, The Religious Herald, 3-29-1849.

James died at the battle of Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia on June 3, 1864.

The Battle of Cold Harbor, the final battle of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign during the American Civil War, is remembered as one of American history's bloodiest, most lopsided battles. Thousands of Union soldiers were killed or wounded in a hopeless frontal assault against the fortified troops of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Grant said of the battle in his memoirs "I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made. I might say the same thing of the assault of the 22d of May, 1863, at Vicksburg. At Cold Harbor no advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained." Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

As some of you are aware, I have copies of letters written between Charles E. Porter and Virgilia Boatwright during the civil war. They were donated by one of my Fredericksburg cousins to the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center and one of the volunteers there graciously contacted me about them. Last week I went up there and obtained copies which I am now painstakingly transcribing.

The process is quite time consuming, but I am getting there. Knowing that each of you would be anxious to read what I have already transcribed, I thought to send drafts to you. Then, I realized that as I went along, I was becoming better accustomed to the language and handwriting. Upon returning to earlier transcriptions, I found that I was able to identify words that I hadn’t at first.

My solution is to send to you excerpts of letters once I get to the point where I believe their transcriptions to be reasonably complete. I feel that by the time I have been through them all (over twenty documents, including a poem and a letter from James A. Boatwright), I will send you the “final” versions. Note that I have footnoted some names, places, etc. I am compiling a reference index of sorts to indentify or add commentary for these. Also, the words italicized, are those which I had a low confidence in my transcription.

Source: Dr. James A. "Jay" Porter, III,

This letter is from James Allen Boatwright, uncle of Virgilia. He was killed on June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor. This was written to his wife, Mary Louisa (Sanderson) Boatwright:

Kingston North Carolina

Jan. 31st, 1864

Dear Louisa,

We arrived at this place yesterday evening by rail at about 4 oclock and the xxx & all gone toward November…. they are expecting a battle soon.

I have been detailed and left here to take care of the baggage. I may not see them in a week. I am glad Capt. Cooke detailed me for it is thirty or forty miles to Neborn and I don’t think I could hold out to march that far.

We have the most beautiful spell of weather I ever saw in Jan. The sweet songs of the merry birds and the budding of trees is like sweet spring but the winter is not gone yet.

…I oft think of and pray for you all.

I left two shirts and two pair of drawers also a pair of breaches for willer

… in Petersburg at Mr. John T. Phillips near the south east corner of Poplar lawn. I had enough without them to bring. If any of you get sick and have to send for the Doctor get a certificate from him stating your condition and send it to me by the first mail and I think they well give me a pass on it. when you write direct your letter to Coarse’s brig instead of Garnell’s and put your stamp on the title.

This leaves me well write soon and write me a long letter. Mr. Cinton is well I hope to give him my best respects and tell him I have not forgotten him.

My very best love to all and kiss all the children for me. more when I xx more.

In haste. yours til death

Jas. A. Boatwright

PS I have one blanket you need not send the other now.

Footnotes: A Confederate hospital was located at Poplar Lawn in Petersburg. After the Battle of the Crater (July 30, 1864), the wounded prisoners were treated there. There was a Dr. John T. Phillips in practice as a physician at Ivor, Virginia for the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad during the war. Ivor is located about 37 miles southeast of Petersburg.

1850 Census:
Name: James Boatright
Date: September 4, 1850
Age: 32
Estimated birth year: abt 1818
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Male
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Not Stated, Cumberland County, Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Page: 319
Roll: M432_941

1860 Census:
Name: J A Boatwright
Date: July 5, 1860
Age in 1860: 42
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Not Stated, Cumberland, Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: $1,550
Post Office: Cartersville
Roll: M653_1341
Page: 954
Year: 1860
Head of Household: J A Boatwright

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles 
Name: James Allen Boatwright 
Enlistment Date: 23 Apr 1861 
Rank at enlistment: Private 
Enlistment Place: Cumberland County, VA 
State Served: Virginia 
Survived the War?: No 
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Virginia 18th Infantry Regiment on 23 Apr 1861.
Mustered out on 03 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Sources: The Virginia Regimental Histories Series

American Civil War Soldiers 
Name: James Boatwright 
Enlistment Date: 23 Apr 1861 
Enlistment Place: Cumberland County, Virginia 
Side Served: Confederacy 
State Served: Virginia 
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 23 April 1861.
Enlisted in Company E, 18th Infantry Regiment Virginia on 23 Apr 1861.
Killed Company E, 18th Infantry Regiment Virginia on 3 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

1850 Census:
Name: Mary Boatright
Date: September 4, 1850
Age: 19
Estimated birth year: abt 1831
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Female
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Not Stated, Cumberland County, Virginia
Page: 319
Roll: M432_941

1860 Census:
Name: Mary L Boatwright
Date: July 5, 1860
Age in 1860: 27
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Not Stated, Cumberland, Virginia
Gender: Female
Value of real estate: $0
Post Office: Cartersville
Roll: M653_1341
Page: 954
Year: 1860
Head of Household: J A Boatwright

1880 Census:
Name: Mary L. Boatwright 
Date: June 22, 1880
Home in 1880: Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Virginia 
Age: 47 
Estimated birth year: abt 1833 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) 
Father's birthplace: Virginia 
Mother's birthplace: Virginia 
Occupation: Dressmaker 
Marital Status: Widowed 
Race: White 
Gender: Female 
Census Place: Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Virginia; 
Roll T9_1391; Family History Film: 1255391; Page: 440.2000; 
Enumeration District: 138; .

Children of JAMES BOATWRIGHT and MARY SANDERSON are:

8-485.    i. MARY FRANCES BOATWRIGHT, b. 1849, Cumberland County, Virginia.

8-486.   ii. WILLIAM T. BOATWRIGHT, b. 1851, Cumberland County, Virginia.

8-486A  iii. ROBERT H. BOATRIGHT, b. 1854, Cumberland County, Virginia; 
                                   d. Jun 1854, Cumberland County, Virginia.
8-487.   iv. WALTER C. BOATRIGHT, b. Dec 1856, Cumberland County, Virginia.

8-487A.   v. SUSAN T. BOATWRIGHT, b. 1863, Cumberland County, Virginia.

7-155. ROBERT D. BOATWRIGHT (LEONARD D.⁷, JAMES⁶, BENONI⁵, JOHN⁴, JOHN³, JOHN², Not Yet Determined¹) was born 31 May 1820 in Cumberland County, Virginia.

7-156. CATHERINE J. BOATWRIGHT (LEONARD D.⁷, JAMES⁶, BENONI⁵, JOHN⁴, JOHN³, JOHN², Not Yet Determined¹) was born 08 Jan 1823 in Cumberland County, Virginia. She married JOHN M. SHEPHERD 1840 in Cumberland County, Virginia. He was born Apr 1820 in Virginia.

Notes for CATHERINE J. BOATWRIGHT:

1850 Census:
Name: Catherine Shepperd 
Date: September 4, 1850
Age: 27 
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1823 
Birth Place: Virginia 
Gender: Female 
Home in 1850(City,County,State): Cumberland, VA 
Census Place:  , Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll: M432_941; Page: 319; Image: 212.
living with Leonard Boatwright and family

1870 Census:
Name: Catherine Shepherd 
Date: August 26, 1870
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1820 
Age in 1870: 47  
Birthplace: Virginia  
Home in 1870: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia 
Race: White  
Gender: Female  
Post Office: Cartersville  
Census Place: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll: M593_1642; Page: 7; Image: 14.




1880 Census:
Name: Catharine J. Shepherd 
Date: June 26, 1880
Home in 1880: Fork Union, Fluvanna, Virginia 
Age: 50 
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1830 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Relation to Head of Household: Wife 
Spouse's Name: John M. 
Father's birthplace: Virginia 
Mother's birthplace: Virginia 
Occupation: Keeping House 
Marital Status: Married 
Race: White 
Gender: Female 
Census Place: Fork Union, Fluvanna, Virginia; 
Roll: T9_1365; Family History Film: 1255365; Page: 486.1000; 
Enumeration District: 51; .

1900 Census:
Name: Catherine J Shepherd
Date: June 12, 1900
Home in 1900: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia 
Age: 77 
Birth Date: Jan 1823 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Race: White 
Ethnicity: American  
Gender: Female  
Relationship to head-of-house: Wife 
Father's Birthplace: Virginia  
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia  
Mother: number of living children: 5  
Mother: How many children: 6  
Spouse's Name: John M 
Marriage Year: 1840  
Marital Status: Married  
Years Married: 60  
Residence : Hamilton Township (West Part), Cumberland, Virginia 
Census Place: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll: T623_1705 Page: 7A; 
Enumeration District: 64.

Notes for JOHN M. SHEPHERD:

1850 Census:
Name: John Shepperd 
Date: September 4, 1850
Age: 30 
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1820 
Birth Place: Virginia 
Gender: Male 
Occupation: Farmer
Home in 1850(City,County,State): Cumberland, VA
Census Place:  , Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll: M432_941; Page: 319; Image: 212.
living with Leonard Boatwright and family

1870 Census:
Name: John Shepherd 
Date: August 26, 1870
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1820 
Age in 1870: 50  
Birthplace: Virginia  
Home in 1870: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia 
Race: White 
Occupation: Farmer
Gender: Male  
Value of real estate: $1,962 
Post Office: Cartersville  
Census Place: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll: M593_1642; Page: 7; Image: 14.

1880 Census:
Name: John M. Shepherd 
Date: June 26, 1880
Home in 1880: Fork Union, Fluvanna, Virginia 
Age: 60 
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1820 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) 
Spouse's Name: Catharine J. 
Father's birthplace: Virginia 
Mother's birthplace: Virginia 
Occupation: Farm Manager 
Marital Status: Married 
Race: White 
Gender: Male 
Census Place: Fork Union, Fluvanna, Virginia; 
Roll: T9_1365; Family History Film: 1255365; Page: 486.1000; 
Enumeration District: 51; .

1900 Census:
Name: John M Shepherd
Date: June 12, 1900
Home in 1900: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia 
Age: 80 
Birth Date: Apr 1820 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Race: White 
Ethnicity: American  
Gender: Male  
Relationship to head-of-house: Head 
Father's Birthplace: Virginia  
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia  
Spouse's Name: Cathrine J 
Marriage Year: 1840  
Marital Status: Married  
Years Married: 60  
Residence : Hamilton Township (West Part), Cumberland, Virginia 
Census Place: Hamilton, Cumberland, Virginia; 
Roll: T623_1705 Page: 7A; 
Enumeration District: 64.

Children of CATHERINE BOATWRIGHT and JOHN SHEPHERD are:

        i. ROBERT J. SHEPHERD, b. Mar 1842, Cumberland County, Virginia.

       ii. MARY JOSEPHINE SHEPHERD, b. 1845, Cumberland County, Virginia.

      iii. SARAH SHEPHERD, b. Feb 1850, Cumberland County, Virginia.

       iv. RENA B. SHEPHERD, b. 1860, Cumberland County, Virginia.

7-157. MARY A. BOATWRIGHT (LEONARD D.⁷, JAMES⁶, BENONI⁵, JOHN⁴, JOHN³, JOHN², Not Yet Determined¹) was born Dec 1829 in Cumberland County, Virginia, and died 28 Aug 1862 in Cumberland County, Virginia.

Notes for MARY A. BOATWRIGHT:

1850 Census:
Name: Mary Boatright
Date: September 4, 1850
Age: 28
Estimated birth year: abt 1821
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Female
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Cumberland County, Virginia
Page: 319
Roll: M432_941

1860 Census:
Name: Mary A Boatright
Date: July 7, 1860
Age in 1860: 30
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Not Stated, Cumberland County, Virginia
Gender: Female
Value of real estate: $0
Post Office: Columbia
Roll: M653_1341
Page: 956
Year: 1860
Head of Household: Susan S Boatright

Virginia, Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917 
Name: Mary A Boatwright 
Birth Date: abt 1823 
Birth Place: Cumberland 
Death Date: 28 Aug 1862 
Death Place: Cumberland County, Virginia 
Death Age: 39 
Race: White 
Gender: Female 
Mother Name: Susan T. Boatwright 
FHL Film Number: 30774 

URL: http://www.boatwrightgenealogy.com

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