William Boston, son of Richard and --- (Benton) Boston, was born in Somerset Co., Md., probably at Annemessex, between 3 July 1701 and 18 Apr. 1702; he died in Somerset Co., probably at Morumsco, before 30 Sept. 1777. He may have married two or three times; his wife in 1747 was Comfort.

Two depositions provide evidence for the date of William's birth. On 19 Apr. 1735 William Boston, aged 33, together with William Catlin, Thomas Williams, Ralph Milburn, and others, gave testimony with respect to the bounds of "Long Ridge," owned by Daniel Hull, and on 3 July 1742, William Boston, aged 40, together with John Williams, Samuel Long, and George Marshall, testified in regard to the bounds of "Harford Broad Oak," owned by William Catlin (Som. Jud. Rec. 1734/36, p. 312: 1742/44, p. 152).

In the June Court of 1732 it was ordered that William Boston, Elizabeth Berminger, and Jane King be paid ninety pounds of tobacco by Francis Coughlin for their attendance three days at court. In Nov. Court 1737 William secured a supersedens against John Louis, from whom he had recovered a debt of £1.5.4 in June Court, ordering Louis to pay (Som. Jud. Rec. 1730/33, p. 218; 1736/38, p. 186).

On 18 Mar. 1746 William secured from Lord Balitmore a patent for a tract of land, "Bostons Lott," on the "east side of Chespeak Bay back in the woods between Annamessex Dam and Murrimisco Dam... in fee as of our Manor of Somerset in free and common soakage by fealty only" (Md. Land Office Liber BY & GS No. 4:15). On 3 Mar. 1753, for £50, William purchased from Dennis and Rachel Adams part of a tract called "Long Ridge," 60 acres near the head of Morumsco Dam (Som. Deeds 22:287).

On 28 Aug. 1777 William Boston, "planter," made his will and signed it with his mark. After the standard preliminaries he made the following bequests:

I give and bequeath to my dutifull son Richard Boston Part of a tract of Land called Long Ridge Lying up Merumsco Dam for a White Oak that I marked for a divisional Bounder between him and my Son Levin Boston thence Running from the said dam north five degrees west to the extent thereof and also the one half of a tract or Parcell of Land Called Bostons Lott except Twenty Acres of Land aforesaid to be the Right and Property of my dutifull daughter Martha Boston during her natural life or twenty pounds Cash paid her by ... Richard Boston to him his Heirs and assigns forever. Item I give ... to my dutifull son Levin Boston my Manner Plantation Whereon I now live called first Choice and also part of two tracts of Land the one known by the name of Long Ridge beginning at a marked white Oak from thence Runing North five degrees west to the extent of the said tract... and also the one half of a tract of Land Called Bostons Lott except twenty acres of the aforesaid Land to be the Right and Property of my Daughter Leah Boston during her natural Life or twenty pounds cash paid her by the said Levin Boston... Item I give... to my Dutifull Daughter Martha Boston one bed and furniture one Cow and Calf six Large Pewter Plates and one Bay Mare called Diamond... Item I give... to my dutifull daughter Leah Boston one young Negro girl named Lottee and one Bed and Furniture... Item I give ... to my Grand son Joseph Roe one young heifer... Item I give... to Nicholas Roe one shilling Sterling money of Great Brittain... Item I give... all the Remainder part of my Estate to Levin Boston, Martha Boston, and Leah Boston to be equally divided between them... Item I do hereby Nominate constitute appoint and Ordain my son Levin Boston to be my... Executor... and I do hereby ... revoke... all.... former Wills...

William Moore, Thomas Beauchamp, and John Milbourn were the witnesses. The will was admitted to probate 30 Sept. 1777 (Som. Wills EB 1:34). On 9 Nov. 1789 Leah and Martha Boston received of Levin their full share of their father's estate (Som. Accts. EB 16:408).

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

1. Richard, b. c1733; d. before 16 May 1809; mar. (Coventry, 21 Apr. 1754) Mary Porter; no children.
2. William, Jr., b. c1740; d. 1770/77: no children.
3. Anne?, mar. Nicholas Roe.
4. Levin, b. 22 June 1747; d. before 29 Jan. 1820; mar. 1st Gurtrude Benston; 2nd Esther Wilson Adams; 3rd Miss Maddux.
5. Martha C., b. before 1769; possibly mar. (license Som. Co. 30 Aug. 1805) Samuel Banks.
6. Leah, b. before 1769; possibly mar. (lic. Som. Co. 27 Aug. 1794) John Taws.

Wise, Matthew M. The Boston Family of Maryland,. 1st ed., 1967. p. 20.