Isaac Boston, II

Isaac Boston, only son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Long) Boston, was born in Somerset Co., Md., probably at Morumsco, about Aug. 1694; he died in Somerset Co., probably at Morumsco, before 20 Sept. 1751. He married, about 1722, Rachel Tomlinson, daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Seward) Tomlinson; she was born in Somerset Co. about 1703; she died after 23 Nov. 1769.

It was probably for this Isaac Boston that a cattle mark was recorded 17 Mar. 1698 (Som. Deeds IKL:1). in the Aug. Court for Somerset Co. in 1728 it was recorded that James McClester pay Isaac Boston 150 pounds of tobacco for attendance 5 days witness in behalf of McClester against Samuel Riggin (Som. Jud. Rec. 1727/30, p. 129). In the Nov. Court, 1737, a Negro girl named Jenney, belonging to Isaac, was adjudged by the court to be fifteen years old (ibid. 1736/38, p.131).

On 26 Aug. 1740 Isaac Boston, "planter," gave bond to Samuel Adams in the amount of £100 until the following May 10 with repect to a dispute over the bounds of a tract originally called "Saywards Purchase" but lately "Bostons Purchase," on the east side of Morumsco Creek. Isaac was ordered by 10 May next to "shew unto the arbitrators," Robert King, George Dashiell, David Wilson, and John Walters, "all such writings as he hath concerning the said Land that was particularly in dispute." The arbitrators found for Adams; Isaac was to replace a decayed stump marking the original grant with a good cedar post; the stump was shown to the adjusters by Daniel Long. Isaac signed with his mark (Som. Deeds 20:228-29).

Two dispositions of 1740 and 1744 provide what evidence there is for the birth of Isaac. In November Court 1740 were presented depositions of Isaac Boston, George Marshall (his half-brother) , and Teague Matthews. On 26 Aug. 1740, "Isaac Boston of Somerset County, Planter, aged forty-five years or thereabouts, sown on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposeth as follows: that about fifteen years agoe, when Robert Taylor resurveyed a certain tract of Land whereon the said Robert now lives and on which he did then reside, called Dublin, this deponant was in Company with the said Robert Taylor, Thomas Wood, Jeofry Long, and Thomas Adams and sundry other persons at the place between the said Plantation of the said Robert and the marsh side where they seemed satisfied the second bounder of the said tract of Land Dublin had before that time stood, that Thomas Adams or the said Jeofry Long had strided the Land of the said Thomas Woods across, contiguous to the aforesaid tract Dublin and by that method of measuring the distance across the said Wood Land did correspond and agree with the place where the said Company was, that there was there an old Stump near which the said Robert Taylor and Thomas Wood allowed to be marked a small saplin Oak instead of teh tree so fallen, cutt down, or decayed. This deponant further sayeth that a few days thereafter he was informed by the said Robert Taylor that his little boy had cut down the said saplin and that the tree now marked with eight notches as the place where the said second Bounder stood is very near the spott which the said Taylor and Wood had allowed as aforesaid." Isaac signed with his mark (Som. Jud. Rec. 1740/42, pp.43-45).

At a court held 21 Aug. 1744 appeared Sampson Wheatley and Samuel Addams, who had qualified in March 1744 to settle a land dispute, and presented depositions of Phillip Addams and Isaac Boston, "aged fifty," who "deposeth that he was present... when the Longs were running out a tract of Land called Bostons Adventure... and that they all agreed that the pine that Phillip Addams... makes mention of was the first bounder" (Som. Jud. Rec. 1742/44, p. 263). On the basis of the somewhat conflicting testimoney, it would appear that Isaac Boston was born about August 1694.

On 8 Dec. 1750, with his cousin Esau Boston, Isaac signed an agreement to settle a dispute over "Boston's (originally Sayward's) Purchase"; John Waters, Sampson Wheatley, James Trahern, and Samuel Addams were arbitrators (Som. Deeds 22:153-54). Meanwhile Isaac had received from Lord Baltimore on 16 Sept. 1746 a grant of "Boston's Purchase," 182 acres which escheated from Richard Brittain who died intestate, plus 173 acres of vacant land on the north side of Pocomoke Bay and the west side of Morumsco Creek, a total of 355 acres (Md. Land Office, Liber BT & BY No. 3, p. 1).

On 30 Apr. 1751 Isaac Boston, planter, of Somerset Co. in the Province of Maryland dictated his will; after the customary preliminaries he made the following bequests:

Imprimis I give... to my well beloved Son Isaac Boston to him and his heirs for ever my Negro Man Jeffrey if in case that he will pay my Son Samuel... ten pounds hard money, and likewise I give my Son Isaac half the benefits of my Orchard this Year and my hand Mill and one Bed and Covering that I let him have some time ago and one Ewe and Lam and one old Gun called the Black Gun. Item I give... to my well beloved Son David Boston all the land and marsh from the Creek called Moromsco Creek runing up Westward to the Middle of the Woods between the fields called the farm field and the field that formerly Samuel Marchel that he lived in to goe Right across the track of Land, and also I give him my Negro Boy Adam upon provisers that he will pay my son Solomon Boston twenty pounds paper Money when my said Son Solomon shall come of Age, and also one Mare that goes by the Name of Davids Mare to him and his heirs for ever. Item I give... to my well beloved Son Samuel Boston... one half of the Remainder part of my Land upon the Westernmost Side of Morumsco Creek, and also one Cow and Calf and one Ewe and Lam. Item I give... to my well beloved Son Nabuth Boston one half of the Land on the Westernmost Side of Morumsco Creek that was not given to my Son David, and also I give my Son Nabath the first child that my Negro Woman Amy brings to be received by my said Son when he comes of age. Item I give... to my son David Boston the half of the Crop that is made this Year and for him to be at age for himself at my death, and my will is that all that belongs to my two Sons Solomon and Naboth should be keep by my said Son David till they come of age and for the use of Solomons portion he shall give him one years Schooling and to have him bound to a trade at Sixteen. Item I give... to my well beloved Daughter Rebecca Boston the Second Child that my Negro Woman Amy shall happen to bring... to be received by my daughter when she is of age. item I give... to my well beloved Daughter Abigail White one small oval table. Item I give... to my well beloved Daughter Sarah Boston my Negro Woman Amy after death or Marridge of my well beloved Wife and also one Bed and Coering and one Cow and Calf... Item I leave my well beloved Wife Rachel the half of my plantation that I Now live on during her life or Widowhood and for my Son Isaac Boston to gather five hundred fence Rails a Year for five Years and to get her fire Wood for two Months in a Year and likewise I give her one Young Mare and my Will is that my beloved Wife should have the keeping of my three Children that is to say Martha Boston, Rebecca Boston and Daniel Boston and what they have till they come of age. Item I give.. to my well beloved Son Daniel Boston my Negro Boy London... and for them both to be bound to a trade when they are Sixteen Years old. Item the Remainder part of my Estate my lawfull debts and legacies being paid and funeral Charges discharged I give leave to be Equally divided between and amongst my Children as followeth that is to Say Solomon Boston, Naboth Boston, Rebecca Boston, Martha Boston, Daniel Boston to them and their heirs. Item my will is that Jeffrey Long and Purnell Outten should be appraisers of my Estate and Deviders of it amongst my Children and also I leave Jeffrey Long and Thomas Marshel as Gardeners [Guardians] to see that my children is taken Care of. Item I do hereby Nominate appoint and Ordain my well beloved wife Rachel Boston to be my whole and Sole Executrix of this may last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disalow Revoke and Disanull all other Wills.

Isaac Boston placed his mark on the will in the presence of Purnell Outten, Lazarus Boston, and Esau Boston "sener". The will was admitted to probate 20 Sept. 1751, the three subscribing witnesses appearing to testify (Som. Wills 28:198).

On 25 Oct. 1763 Rachel Boston submitted an account, which itemized money due and paid to Sarah Wise, John Cohoon, Thomas Marshall (Isaac's half brother), Sarah Long, Cornelius Ward, David Boston, Samuel Boston, David Mattews, James Trehearne, and Lazarus Boston for proving the will. Rachel reserved her third after debts were paid (out of an inventory valued at £216.12.9), and legacies were paid to Isaac (£131.17), Sarah (£7.5), Samuel (£2.2), and David (£31.10). The balance of the estate, as per will, was £49.14.4 (Ann. Accts. 50:108).

The ages of Isaac's five youngest children are based on the fact that in 1751 Solomon was not yet 16, and the five are listed in Isaac's will in the order given below; therefore, Daniel could scarcely have been more than 7 or 8 when his father died.

Children (born in Somerset Co., Md., probably at Morumsco):

1. Isaac, b. c1722; d. c1767.
2. Abigail, b. 24 Feb. 1724; living in 1756; mar. Henry White.
3. Samuel, b. c1726; d. before 15 Apr. 1765; no children.
4. Sarah, b. c1728; d. 1761/84; mar. Mr. Evans.
5. David, b. c1731; d. by 3 Sept. 1761; no children.
6. Solomon, b. c1736; d. before 26 Jan. 1807; mar. Elizabeth (Litchfield?).
7. Naboth, b. c1738; d. before 5 Aug. 1785; mar. Mrs. Sarah Wharton.
8. Rebecca, b. c1740; d. before 9 Nov. 1784; single.
9. Martha, b. c1742; d. after 1784; single.
10. Daniel, b. c1744; d. before 16 Nov. 1832; mar. 1st Sarah Collins; 2nd Sally ?.

Wise, Matthew M. The Boston Family of Maryland,. 1st ed., 1967. pp.17-19.