Solomon Boston

Solomon Boston, son of Isaac and Rachel (Tomlinson) Boston, was born in Somerset County, Md., probably at Morumsco, about 1740 (he was not yet 16 when his father died in 1751); he died in Accomack Co., Va., probably at Messongo, before 26 Jan. 1807. His wife, whom he married about 1766, was Elizabeth, possibly Litchfield (their daughter Polly appears to have named a son Henry Litchfield Wessells); she died between Oct. 1800 and July 1806.

In June Court of Somerset Co. in 1759 Solomon, "late of Coventry Parish," was fined 10 shillings on an indictment of assault. It was charged that on 8 May 1759 "with force and arms" Solomon "upon a certain Susannah Dize in the peace of God... an Assault did make and the said Susannah then and there did beat, bound and evilly treat so that her life it was much despaired and other wrongs to the said Susannah." The sheriff had been ordered to "take" the said Solomon, who appeared in court but did not contest the charge (Som. Jud. Rec. 1757/60, p. 175).

On 27 May 1760 with his brother David and with Robert Taylor, Solomon witnessed the will of Stevens White; Solomon signed with his mark. When the will was admitted to probate 6 May 1761 Taylor was "the only witness in ye County to be had" (Ann. Wills 31:295).

In 1764 Solomon brought an action of libel against Stephen Riggen, suing him for £100. The sheriff was ordered to take Riggen, to answer before the March Court, 1764, to Solomon Boston. After postponements the case was heard before the March Court, 1765. It is recorded that "whereas the said Solomon is a good honest and leige Subject... hitherto has himself behaved and governed and from all murder or any such base and wicked crime free, clear, unspotted, and unsuspected... all the time aforesaid hath behaved and continues by protest, whereof the said Solomon much good will and friendship of his Neighbors and others of Credit... to whom Solomon was known did procure; nevertheless there did Stephen not Ignorant of the premises but wickedly plotting and malitiously intending the said Solomon of his good name aforesaid to deprive and him into Publick Contempt and Infamy to bring, the ill will of his Neighbours aforesaid to procure and the danger and pain of Death and the loss of his goods... did falsely and malitiously there speak, publish and pronounce with a loud Voice false, feigned and malitious Scandalous words, speaking of and to the said Solomon of the death of a certain David Boston, brother of the said Solomon, who before that time was actually dead. [Riggen had accused,] You killed your brother David." Riggen pleaded guilty as charged, and Solomon was awarded 50 shillings and 432 pounds of tobacco for costs (Som. Jud. Rec. 1763/67, pp. 194-5).

Probably in the following year Solomon married and established a home at Messongo, in Accomack Co., Va., across the mouth of the Pocomoke River from Somerset Co. Described in a deed of 1772 as a "mariner," he subsequently became a "planter." On 12 Oct. 1772 for £100 he bought his first tract of land, 148 acres plus 12 acres of marsh, in Michael's Neck, adjacent to Bloxoms, from Ezekiel LItchfield and his wife, all of Accomack Co. The next year, 2 June 1773, for £107.15 he bought from Southy Northam another tract, next to Francis Litchfield and bounded on the north by Messongo Creek; he sold this on 28 Nov. 1775 for £150 Maryland currency to Nathan Melbourn (Accomack Deeds, Bk. 1770-77, pp. 150, 199, 466).

Betty and Solomon Boston, with Nathan Riggen, on 19 Mar. 1777 witnessed the will of Francis Litchfield. Between 17 Feb. and 30 May 1779 Solomon Boston of Accomack Co. is recorded in "old loan records" to have turned in to the continental loan office in Virginia the sum of £906, one of the larger sums in the list (Natl. Genealogical Soc. Quarterly, Vol. 46, No. 4, Dec. 1958, p. 163).

By the will of sister Rebecca in 1784 Solomon and his brother [Naboth] jointly received a bond, and 7 yards of linen apiece; Solomon's wife Betty received a striped linen gown and a striped petticoat.

On 21 July 1785, for £35, Solomon bought of John and Susanna Litchfield 20 acres, part of the tract where Litchfield was living, "beginning at the second bridge from the head of Mesongo on Assawoman road." On 31 July 1792 for £230 he also bought from John Blake 200 acres near the head of Assawoman Creek, and on 19 May 1795 Solomon, described as "Senr.," bought 2 acres from Jacob and Sally Northam (Acco. Deeds 6:246, 7:661, 8:224). Solomon witnessed the will of Jacob Bird, 4 Mar. 1794.

On 30 Oct. 1797 Solomon Boston, Sen. and wife Betty sold to John Kelly for £15 part of a tract "Gales Land" adjacent John Burton, Selby Bird, Bennet Mason, and Azariah Bloxom (Acco. Deeds 9:125), and finally on 27 Sept. 1800, for 1000 Spanish milled dollars equal in value to £300, they sold to Jacob Outten the 200 acres purchased in 1792 (Acco. Deeds, Bk. 1797-1800, p. 125; Bk. 1800-4, p. 425).

Solomon Boston was listed in the Accomack Co. Federal Census (1800). In Oct. 1801 he was appointed administrator for the estate of his daughter, Sally Warner, and guardian for her son, Solomon. In 1804 he was appointed administrator for the estate of his son, Joshua Boston (Acco. Order Bk. 1804-5, p. 408). Solomon made his own will 1 Aug. 1806:

I Solomon Boston Senr of the County & parish of Accomack and State of Virginia being in a resasonable state of health and of sound memory thanks be unto Almighty god for the same. Therefore in this State I think prudent to make constitute & ordain this may last will & testament in manner & form following. Imprimis. I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Solomon Bosotn Junr my Negro man Isaac... and no more. I give... unto my grandson Solomon Warner one Dollar and no more. I give... unto Anna Boston widow of Joshua Boston decd. one shilling sterling and no more... I give... unto my daughter Polly Boston my riding carriage or chair & saddle thats called Pollys to she her heirs and assigns forever. I also give... unto my two daughters namely Polly Bostson and Nanny Small all the property called my wifes... All my wearing apparel I give to be equally divided between my two sons namely Solomon Boston Junr and Daniel Boston. And All the real property both Lands and moveables of every description I give... to be equally divided between my son Daniel Boston and my two daughters Nanny Small and Polly Boston to be equally divided among them... I also nominate and appoint my son Daniel Boston to be my only and sole executor...

Solomon signed the will in the presence of Teackle and Peggy Shay and Arthur Watson; it was admitted to probate 26 Jan. 1807 (Acco. Wills Bk. 1806-9, pp. 36-7).

In the inventory of the estate, of which Arthur Watson had become administrator, there were three slaves: two Negro men, Pompey, valued at £85, and Jacob, £80, and a Negro boy Levin, £50. Also in the list was a debt due from Daniel Boston, probably Solomon's younger brother (though possibly Solomon's son), in the amount of £11.5.6, in the form of Somerset County Notes. In the distribution of the estate Anne (i.e. Nancy) Small received Pompey, Daniel Boston received Jacob, Walter Wessels received Levin (Acco. Wills, Bk. 1806-9, pp. 402-411).

On 19 May 1807 Daniel Bosotn, Walter Wessels and his wife, Polly, and Nancy Small, widow of James, for £31.0.6 sold to John Rue 22 1/2 acres on Messongo Creek belonging to the late Solomon Boston, and on 17 June 1807 Nanny Small and Walter and Polly Wessels sold to Daniel Bosotn 150 acres of land formerly belonging to Solomon Boston, and Nancy Small on the south, and Azariah Bloxom (Acco. Deeds, Kb. 1804-7, pp. 771, 773).

Solomon's younger son, Daniel Bosotn, who never married, continued to buy and sell real estate for nearly half a century. On 4 Feb. 1808, for $500, he bought 255 acres, two tracts of land and marsh bounded on the north and east by Messongo Creek, on the southwest by Teackle Taylor and the southwest by Robert Chaes and John Drummond. He bought additional tracts in 1830 (25 acres on Messongo Creek), 1848 (20 acres adjacent to his niece, Elizabeth Burton, and next to his own land), and 1852 (25 acres, "Pipe Stave," on Messongo Creek). On 25 Aug. 1845 he secured, apparently in trust (for a mortgage?) for the nominal sum of $1 from his nephew, Henry L. Wessells, 100 acres joining his own land and that of Robert Chase and Samuel T. Taylor (Acco. Deeds 12:133, 24:440, 36:356, 38:657, 34:424).

Between 25 Oct. 1810 and 20 July 1851 he sold 465 acres of land for a total of $3045; he had bought 510 acres at less than $2.50 an acre, and the 465 acres brought better than $6.50 an acre. Most of the tracts were described as on Messongo Creek, some between Messongo and the head of Cattail Creek, and one called "Berry Ridge" adjacent Obed Bird. Other neighbors mentioned were Levin White, Eli Chesser, William Nock, and Daniel's sister, Nancy Small (Acco. Deeds 13:231, 371, 14:70, 16:117, 17:322, 27:342, 28:582, 31:556, 35:396, 37:306). The most remunerative sale was that of 20 Ju;y 1851 to Henry Davis; for $1100 Daniel sold 150 acres bounded on the north by Messongo Creek (Acco. Deeds 38:134).

Solomon Boston entered the birthdates of all his children in a Book of Common Prayer, printed in Philadephia by W. Young and F. Ormrod, 1795. The book, in the possession of Harry L. Wessells, was saved from the fire in Dec. 1937 which destroyed the old Wessells home, built in 1765.

Chilren (born Accomack Co., Va., probably at Messongo):

1. Sally, b. 15 Jan. 1768; d. by 26 Oct. 1801; mar. Isaac Warner.
2. Nancy, b. 6 Apr. 1772; d. by 31 May 1847; mar. James Small.
3. Solomon, Jr., b. 19 Feb. 1775; d. 6 July 1819; mar. Sarah Hinds.
4. Joshua, b. 6 Oct. 1778; d. 1804; mar. Anna ?; no children.
5. Elizabeth, b. 8 May 1781; d. before 1806.
6. Daniel, b. 3 Oct. 1783; d. 20 Oct. 1854; single; it is reported that he hanged himself near Messongo, on Beech Ridge, and legend has it that his ghost long haunted the area; he was a farmer, listed in the 1830 census as "Captain Daniel Boston."
7. Polly, b. 3 Feb. 1786; d. 7 Feb. 1838; mar. Walter Wessels, Jr.

Wise, Matthew M. The Boston Family of Maryland,. 2nd ed. pp. 21-22.