Lazarus Boston

Lazarus Boston, son of Esau and Ellis [Dennis?] Boston, was born in Somerset Co., Md., probably at Morumsco, about 1727; he died, probably near Dividing Creek, Somerset Co., by Apr. 1789; he left no will nor estate. He married, at Coventry Church, Rehobeth, 14 Oct. 1751, Grace Matthews, daughter of Teague and Elizabeth (Adams) Matthews; she was born about 1731; she was still living in 1800, when money was due her from the estate of her son, Esau.

Lazarus and his wife appear to have been regular members of Coventry Church at Rehobeth (Somerset Co.), for six of their children were baptized there. Lazarus appears to have moved to Worcester Co. (just across Dividing Creek from Somerset Co.) about 1749 and to have remained there until at least 1762. On 7 Mar. 1749 he purchased from John and Solomon Donoho, for £37.10, a tract of 70 acres, called "Boston's Venture," or "Bacon," on the north side of the Pocomoke River "in a fork of the Dividing Creek's Main Branches above Perrihawkin"; he sold the tract 19 Nov. 1762 to James Atkinson for #70 (Worc. Deeds B:224, E:414).

It is recorded (Som. Jud. Rec. 1763/65, p. 88) that on 17 Oct. 1763 "Lazarus Boston late of Coventry Parish, planter... with force and arms... in and upon a certain Betty Smith... an assault did make and her the said Betty then and there did beat, wound, and ill treat so that of her life it was much dispaired, and other harms to the said to the said Betty." the sheriff had been ordered to "take and keep" Lazarus to present him before the court at Princess Anne on the third Tuesday in Mar. 1764 to answer the charge. He had a hearing and was fined 5 shillings, which appears to be a merely nominal fine.

By his father's will (1768) Lazarus was bequeathed a "big pott and one small port and one cow and calf and two young steers and one plow and Harrow and one wooling wheel." In the 1783 tax list for Somerset Co. Lazarus is listed in Dividing Creek Hundred as a "pauper," that is, landless.

On 7 Apr. 1789, Grace Boston was the recipient of property from her sister, Tabitha, widow of James Otwell (they were married at Coventry in Feb. 1776). The deed included title to a "Negro named Abraham, one bed and furniture, four chairs, one pewter bason, one pewter dish & three pewter plates, one oval maple table, one horse, one yellowish coulered cow abt seven years old, a yearling of the same coulor, sow & seven pigs, one ewe & lamb." It also included Tabitha's dower interest in a tract of land formerly owned by her husband (Worc. Deeds M:511). A marginal notation indicated that the deed was delivered to a John Boston, apparently a mistake for Joshua Boston. The land is identified as that purchased for £12 on 19 Dec. 1766 from Teague Riggin by James Aughtwell, a 43 acre tract, "Riggins Discovery," on the east side of a branch issuing out of Dividing Creek's main branch (Worc. Deeds G:96). Its subsequent sale has not been traced.

Children (born probably in Worcester Co., Md., near Dividing Creek; baptized Coventry):

1. Joshua, b. 20 July 1752; d. by 19 Aug. 1817; mar. 1st Sarah Williams; 2nd Nancy Turpin.
2. Esau, b. 28 Sept. 1753; d. 23 June 1795; mar 1st Sarah Ward; 2nd Priscilla Heath.
3. Elizabeth, b. 7 May 1755; she was apparently living in 1800; according to the Federal Census for Worc. Co. (1800) an Elizabeth Boston, over 45, was living in Pitts Creek Hundred, near (her first cousin) Esau (31); her household included a male and a female, both born 1774/84, possibly to be identified as her nephew and niece, James and Sally, children of her brother Esau.
4. Priscilla, b. c1758; d. c1804; mar. Philip C. Adams.
5. Lazarus, b. 29 Mar. 1760; probably d. young.
6. Stephen, b. 3 Nov. 1761; probably d. young.
7. James, b. c1763; d. 1810/20.
8. Henry, b. 1 Jan. 1766; d. c1810; mar. Nancy Graham.
9. ?Charlotte, b. c1770; possibly it was a daughter of Lazarus named Charlotte who mar. (lic. Som. Co. 16 Jan. 1816) Collins Adams (her brother-in-law?).

Wise, Matthew M. The Boston Family of Maryland,. 2nd ed. p. 26.