Rev. Chesley Hood Boatright

6-47. CHESLEY HOOD BOATRIGHT (JAMES7, BENONI6, JOHN5, JOHN4, JOHN3, ROBERT2, Not Yet Determined1) was born 25 Nov 1797 in Cumberland County, Virginia, and died 27 May 1867 in Madison County, Arkansas. He married LOUISA TAYLOR 29 Mar 1818 in Grainger County, Tennessee, daughter of HUGHES TAYLOR and ELIZABETH CANNON. She was born 16 Aug 1801 in Bean's Station, Grainger County, Tennessee, and died 23 Dec 1875 in Madison County, Arkansas.

Notes for CHESLEY HOOD BOATRIGHT:

Unless otherwise noted, sources for information concerning the descendants of Chesley Hood Boatright are Verna Boatright Milstead, Dennis Guy Boatright, Ruth Boatright Parker, Kristin Vaughn, Norman Ricker, Betty Busbee, and David Michael Boatright.

Cemetery information and photo source is Craig's page:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~boatrightcemetery/ 

The following paragraph concerning Chesley Hood is taken from the "History of Northwest Arkansas", the chapter on Madison county, Page 1102. It is an excerpt of a biography which discusses Charles S. Keeney, his wife Mary Elizabeth Boatright, and Charles' family.

"The mother was a daughter of the Rev. Chesley Boatright, a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. The Boatright [p.1102] family of America belonged to the King's body guard, and escaping settled in America prior to the Revolution, in which they took an active part. A number of the family also did honorable service in the War of 1812. The Rev. Chesley Boatright was a native of Virginia, and came to Madison County as a missionary of the Baptist Church when the country was but sparsely settled. He established the first Baptist Church in Northwest Arkansas, and was one of the best known men in the Cherokee Nation."

Chesley Hood Boatright was ordained a Baptist minister in 1833 at the Hebron Church, Knox County, Tennessee.

Buried in Boatright Cemetery, east of Buckeye, Madison County, Arkansas.

Will of Chesley Hood Boatright:

Last Will and Testament of C. H. Boatright, deceased. In the name of God, Amen. I, Chesley H. Boatright of Madison and State of Arkansas, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being so found and blessed by Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following; that is to say I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Louisa Boatright, the following described real and personal effects, to wit all my lands, farming implements, household and kitchen furniture and two head of horses, and all other stocks and property indiscriminately, to have and to hold as her own and to fully enjoy the same during her life. I do also appoint my eldest son, James H. Boatright, as guardian to see to and superintend all business for my beloved wife, Louisa and pay all my just debts and to collect all money coming to me. I do also will and bequeath unto my daughter, Mary E. Keeny the sum of two hundred and forty four, already having been paid, dollars. I also give and bequeath Rietta J. Johnson the sum of seventy five dollars. I also do will and bequeath unto my two grandchildren, Mary Louisa Johnson and James Q. Johnson the sum of thirty dollars, each, to be paid to them term of five years after the death of my beloved wife Louisa. And also having paid unto Harvey W. Boatright, while living in the State of Arkansas and Madison County, the sum of one hundred dollars leaving him no more heirship in my real or personal effects and I also will and bequeath unto my daughter, E. V. T. Evans the sum of one hundred dollars. I also will and bequeath unto my daughter Martha E. J. Hamor to a comfortable support for her and her daughter, C. W. Hamor and a full right to live on and enjoy a full privilege during her widowhood or natural life. And also I will and bequeath unto Joseph M. Evans a horse and saddle to be valued at forty dollars if he remains subject to the will and order of my beloved wife, Louisa, until he be twenty one years old. But and if he, the said J.M. Evans refuses to be obedient and should become recreant, then this part of my will is to be null and void. And I also will and bequeath unto my son, James H. Boatright, at the decease of my beloved wife, Louisa, and at the death or end of widowhood of my daughter, M. E. J. Hamor, that James H. Boatright is to be the full and legal possessor and owner of all my property, real and personal and I hereby make this my last will revoking all previous wills heretofore by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 17th day of May 1867. C. H. Boatright {seal} Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named C. H. Boatright to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to the same. L. R. Furgerson {seal} R. S. Sheilds {seal} W. W. Evans {seal} I, W. A. Gage, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio recorder of Madison County, Arkansas, hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the will of C. H. Boatright as the same appears of record in the record of wills in my office. Witness my hand and seal this 23 day of Jan. 1880. W. A. Gage, Clerk

Burnett, James John, Sketches of Tennessee’s Pioneer Baptist Preachers, (Marshall and Company, Nashville, 1919), pp 59-60. 

Chesley Hood Boatwright was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, Heretofore I have spelled it “Boatwright” and sometimes “Bootright” (having the impression that someone of his early ancestors was a maker of “boots). But the people generally have spelled him Boatwright, and doubtless he is connected, historically, with the Boatwrights of Virginia. So I have changed the spelling. In his twentieth or twenty-fist year young Boatwright came to Grainger County, Tennessee, and married Louisa Taylor, a daughter of Elder Hughes Owens Taylor, one of the early settlers of the “new country of Grainger”. About the year 1825 he moved to Anderson County. In 1830 he was “licensed” to preach by Mt. Hebron Church in Knox County. The first Friday in November 1833, he was ordained by the authority of Bethel Church, Anderson County, which had just been constituted (March 29, 1833) of sixteen constituent members mostly from Mt. Hebron Church, and recognized by a “presbytery” consisting of Elders Joshua Frost, Issac Long, Noah Cate, and Samuel Love. Doubtless some or all of these men officiated in the ordination of the subject of this sketch. Elder Boatwright served Bethel Church as pastor from 1840-1845, and from 1848 to 1851. In the fall of 1831 he engaged himself to teach a school of several months near Coal Creek. About the same time he began a meeting in the neighborhood, preaching nights. Elder Joshua Frost and James Hickey joined him in the meeting, ably assisting in the work.

…” A revival broke out, Clear Branch Church (now Longfield) was the result. Boatwright became the first pastor and continued as pastor and moderator of the church till he moved to Arkansas in October of 1849, a period of about fifteen years. He died in Arkansas, but the date of his death, and the place of his burial are not known to the writer.” (W. L. Riggs)

In 1846 Clear Branch Church (C.H. Boatwright, pastor) was the largest church in the Northern Association, reporting a membership of 228. This association was formed in 1839; it came off the Powell’s Valley Community, on account of its opposition to the cause of benevolence. This new and vigorous interest entered at once into the business of domestic missions, employed Messrs. C.H. Boatwright, J. Aldridge, and William Hinckle to travel and preach among their feeble churches, and in destitute regions around them. In 1842 their missionaries reported as follows: “ Traveled upward of 3,000 miles, and baptized 300, save one.” (Benedict).

This exhausts my “notes”. It is a regrettable fact that so little definite information is obtainable in regard to a minister of so great prominence and of such ability and personal force as Chesley H. Boatwright seems to have had. He was active in the ministry for twenty years, before leaving the State and was widely known in several counties and associations. He was a strong man, and made an impression wherever he went. I have heard many of the old people of the country speak of him with profound respect, and incidentally, have noted his name in connection with the founding of churches and the ordination of ministers not a few. 

On Friday, 1 November 1833, Chesley H. Boatright was ordained as a minister of the Bapist church, by the authority of Bethel Church in Anderson County, Tennessee (2).

About 11 o’clock on Saturday, 13 October 1849, Chesley and his family began their journey to the State of Arkansas (3). After settling in Madison County, he established the first Baptist Church in Nothwest Arkansas. * He also did some missionary work with the Indians of Oklahoma. Goodspeed (in History of Northwest Arkansas) states that Reverand Chesley H. Boatright was one of the best known men in the Cherokee Nation.

The book, Histroy of Arkansas Baptists, lists C.H. Boatright, Huntsville, under the heading - Missionary Baptist Preachers - 1855.

Their daughters, Cynthia Emily and Rachel Louisa, both died in 1840, aged 16 years and 12 years, respectively.

Their oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, married Calvin L. Keeney in 1842 in Anderson County, Tennessee (4). Their sons James Hughes and Harvey Woodson, also married in Tennessee.

At the time Chesley H. and Louisa Boatright moved to Arkansas, they had one son, Chesley Taylor, and five daughters left at home. Chesley Taylor was 15 years old at the time they moved to Arkansas, and he later returned to Tennessee (5). James Huges Boatright and his family moved to Arkansas in 1854, and Taylor made the trip with them on horseback, riding with the wagons. Taylor went back again to Tennessee, and back to Arkansas, until he made five trips from Tennessee, all on horseback (6).

Rietta Jehoshebeth was the first of the daughters to marry in Arkansas; she was married on December 24, 1851 to Jacob Queener Johnson.

Edna Ann, the next to the youngest daughter, died Febuary 23, 1862 at the age of 20.

Chesley Taylor Boatright married Elizabeth West in January 1861. Just two years later, on January 11, 1863, he died while serving in the Army.

Source: David C. Rains

Old Boatright Cemetery

High atop a beautiful little hilltop in Madison County AR. sits what is now called the "Old" Boatright Cemetery. It rests on what used to be known as "Boatright Mountain" It is on private land, and is somewhat difficult to reach. It is in what is basicaly, pasture land for cattle and is unkept. (There are now plans, with gracious permission from the landowner, to put up a fence around this quiet little resting spot to protect it. (It has been partialy bulldozed at least once) It seems that it never had more than ten graves in it. Unfortunately, these are the only remaining stones which have names inscribed on them, they were carved by James Hughes Boatright, who used the "Bootright" spelling for a time.The stone for his son Wm. T., who died in 1885, has the "Bootright" spelling. (See Boatright Cemetery) James Hughes died in 1910, his stone reads Boatright. Source is Craig's page:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~boatrightcemetery/ 

Chesley Hood Boatright Grave: Louisa Boatright Grave: Edna Ann Boatright Grave: These are the names for the graves with no name, or which are unmarked: Henry Chesley Boatright Born Dec.12, 1884, died July 4, 1887 at the age of 2 1/2 of "chronic diarrhea". He was the son of James Kennon and Louisa Catherine Hiett Boatright, who later moved to Texas. Chesley Taylor Boatright, born June 13, 1834, died Jan. 11, 1863. Son of Chesley Hood and Louisa Taylor Boatright. He was killed in the civil war. Lucy Amanda Laws Hiett, born Aug. 15, 1835 in Tenn. She was James Kennon Boatright's Mother-in-law. She and her husband, John Jackson Hiett had moved to Cook Co. Texas where he died in 1877, shen then moved back to Madison Co. AR.

Sources:

Family History: Southern Genealogies #1, 16OOs-I800s

Historical Southern Families, Vol. XIII, Chesley Hood Boatright and Records of the Baptist Church, Hawkins County, Tennessee, Page 123, Genealogy.com, July 9, 2001 1830 Census: Name: Boatright, Charley H Township: Not Stated County: Anderson State: Tennessee Year: 1830 Roll: 175 Page: 184 Household: 1 male: 0 - 5, 1 male: 5 - 10, 1 male: 30 - 40, 1 female: 0 - 5, 1 female: 5 - 10, 1 female: 10 - 15, 1 female: 20 - 30, 7 total

1840 Census: Name: Chesly H Bootright Township: Not Stated County: Anderson State: Tennessee Roll: 517 Page: 25 Household: 1 male: 5 - 10, 1 male: 10 - 15, 1 male: 15 - 20, 1 male: 40 - 50, 2 females: 0 - 5, 1 female: 5 - 10, 1 female: 10 - 15, 1 female: 15 - 20, 1 female: 30 - 40, 10 total

1850 Census for Madison County, Arkansas

1. 113 - PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP Chesley H BOATRIGHT 51 m VA Baptist minister $350 Louisa 45 f TN Reeta 18 f TN Chesley 16 m TN farmer Martha 14 f TN Nancy 12 f TN Edna 10 f TN Eliza 8 f TN Gerry CLAYPO 19 m MO laborer

1850 Census: Name: Chesley H Boatright Date: October 10, 1850 Age: 51 Estimated birth year: abt 1799 Birth place: Virginia Gender: Male Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Prairie, Madison County, Arkansas Occupation: Baptist Minister Value of Real Estate: $350 Page: 255 Roll: M432_27

1860 Census: Name: C H Boatright Date: July 10, 1860 Age in 1860: 62 Birthplace: Virginia Home in 1860: Richland, Madison County, Arkansas Occupation: Baptist Minister Gender: Male Value of real estate: $1,170 Post Office: Wesley Roll: M653_45 Page: 405 Year: 1860 Head of Household: C H Boatright

Notes for LOUISA TAYLOR: 1850 Census: Name: Louisa Boatright Date: October 10, 1850 Age: 45 Estimated birth year: abt 1805 Birth place: Tennessee Gender: Female Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Prairie, Madison County, Arkansas Page: 255 Roll: M432_27

1860 Census: Name: Louisa Boatright Date: July 10, 1860 Age in 1860: 59 Birthplace: Tennessee Home in 1860: Richland, Madison County, Arkansas Gender: Female Value of real estate: $0 Post Office: Wesley Roll: M653_45 Page: 405 Year: 1860 Head of Household: C H Boatright

Burial: Boatright Cemetery, Boatright Cemetery near Buckeye, Madison County, Arkansas

Children of CHESLEY BOATRIGHT and LOUISA TAYLOR are:  7-160.    i. MARY ELIZABETH BOATRIGHT, b. 22 Mar 1819, Grainger County,

                                       Tennessee; d. 1889. 7-161.   ii. JAMES HUGHES BOATRIGHT, b. 21 Feb 1821, Grainger County,

                                     Tennessee; d. 08 Sep 1910, Madison

                                     County, Arkansas. 7-162.  iii. CYNTHIA EMILY JANE BOATRIGHT, b. 17 May 1823, Grainger County,

                                           Tennessee; d. 11 Jan 1840, 

                                           Grainger County, Tennessee. 7-163.   iv. HARVEY WOODSON BOATRIGHT, b. 02 Nov 1825, Grainger County,

                                       Tennessee; d. 01 Nov 1853, Campbell

                                       County, Tennessee. 7-164.    v. RACHEL LOUISA BOATRIGHT, b. 23 Feb 1828, Grainger County,

                                      Tennessee; d. 10 Mar 1840, Grainger 

                                      County, Tennessee 7-165.   vi. RIETTA JEHOSABETH BOATRIGHT, b. 26 Feb 1832, Grainger County,

                                          Tennessee; d. 26 Sep 1912, Johnson,

                                          Washington County, Arkansas. 7-166.  vii. CHESLEY TAYLOR BOATRIGHT, b. 13 Jun 1834, Grainger County,

                                       Tennessee; d. 10 Jan 1863, Madison

                                       County, Arkansas. 7-167. viii. MARTHA ELEANOR JANE BOATRIGHT, b. 08 Sep 1836, Grainger County,

                                            Tennessee. 7-168.   ix. NANCY KESIA "KAY" BOATRIGHT, b. 21 Feb 1839, Arkansas; 

                                          d. 26 May 1864, Fayetteville, 

                                          Washington County, Arkansas. 7-169.    x. EDNA ANN BOATRIGHT, b. 11 Jun 1841, Arkansas; d. 23 Feb 1862, 

                                 Madison County, Arkansas. 7-170.   xi. ELIZA VIRGINIA BOATRIGHT, b. 05 Nov 1843, Arkansas.

http://boatwrightgenealogy.com/johnboatwright6.3.html#6-47