Genealogy Report: Descendants of Hugh Boice
Descendants of Hugh Boice
1.HUGH1 BOICE was born 1799 in County Londonderry, Ireland, and died 1880 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.He married MARY J. YOUNG in Ireland, daughter of HUGH YOUNG.She was born 1814 in County Londonderry, Ireland, and died in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Notes for HUGH BOICE:
The William-Rathbone, ship manifest #4473, arriving Port of New York, May 14, 1850 from Liverpool lists Hugh Boyce's occupation as a carpenter, his age as 48 and Mary's age as 35. The children are Hugh, age 14; Matthew, age 8; James, age 7; Mary, age 5; and Mary Elizabeth, age 4. Also listed on the manifest is an Isabella Woodburn, servant, age 17. There are no other Woodburn's listed on the ship's manifest. She may have accompanied the Boyce's and helped with the children.There is, however, no record of her in the 1850 Census for the City of Pittsburgh. She is probably the daughter of John Woodburn, born May 2, 1788, married to Mary Witherow. See John Woodburn's family page.
The 1850 Census for the City of Pittsburgh lists a Hugh and Mary Boice (not Boyce as above in the ship's manifest) and their four children residing in the 7th Ward. Mary (Mary Martha) is not listed and I cannot account for this. Hugh's occupation is listed as a laborer. Hugh and Martha Young are listed as residing with them.
1860 United States Federal Census
Hugh Boice (Sexton)
Age in 1860: 55
Birthplace: Ireland
Home in 1860: Pittsburgh Ward 3, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Post Office: Pittsburgh
Mary Boice 50
Hugh Boice 20 (Carpenter)
Martha Boice 17(This may be Mary who was listed on the Rathbone manifest)
James Boice 15
Mary Boice 14
Annie Boice 11 (May be Nancy)
The 1860 Federal Census for Pennsylvania, which has differences in some of the names and ages from the earlier census, lists Hugh's occupation as a sexton (Oak Alley Reformed Presbyterian Church),Matthew is not listed and may have left home as he was at least 18 years of age or he may have died during this ten year period. I believe that Martha is the Mary listed on the Rathbone manifest and her name could have been Mary Martha. Mary Elizabeth as listed on the Rathbone manifest is listed as Mary. Annie (Nancy) Boice, age 11, is listed as being born in Ireland but in later records is listed as being born in Pennsylvania.
As the 1860 census information in "Historic Pittsburgh" was transcribed from the original records and is in a printed format, it may be that Nancy (five letters) was also incorrectly entered as Annie. I have elected to record it as Nancy. Nancy Y. Boice graduated from Central High School in 1871 and was listed a daughter of Hugh Boice. She is also listed as a daughter, Nanna, of Mary Boice in the 1880 Census. It states that she was born in Pennsylvania which differs from the 1860 census. This leaves open the question as to the identification of Nannie Boyce buried in Lots 28 and 30, Range 4 of Union Dale Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on August 12, 1870. (Note to File - Janet Houston Rhein)
In a letter dated, January 17, 1867, to his sister, Ellen Jane, James Wilson Houston, among other things, wanted to know "...What Uncles Hugh Young and Hugh Boice would advise.." as to his going to work in the Prather's Bros. bank. In a later letter, to Ellen Jane, dated May 29, 1867 he states "... Mother should have Uncle Hugh (this could be either Hugh Boice or Hugh Young) check the records." This was in reference to property that their mother was purchasing in the Birmingham area in the Southside of Pittsburgh.The 1870 Census Roll lists a Hugh Young residing in Birmingham.. Precinct 2. Allegheny County.The 1870 Census for Pennsylvania shows an Isabella Huston (PA536388954) and an Ellen Huston (PA53638895) residing in Birmingham, Precinct 2, Allegheny County. (Note to File - Janet Houston Rhein)
"Recollections of good Hugh Boice come to every High School attendant who knew the kindly old janitor.He never showed any impatience and the boys all liked Hughey.His daughter Nancy, now dead, was of our class of 187I.His son, Rev. Jas. Y. Boice was one of the earlier students who left school to enter the army.Mr. Boice was also janitor of the Oak Alley Reformed Presbyterian Church.Rev.John Douglass - a building and congregation - long since gone as has pastor and Mr. Boice also from among us.We rehearsed our commencement pieces in this old church and had a final rehearsal in the Third Presbyterian Church on Sixth avenue.
HUGH BOICE
"The Old Janitor"
The, bell is silent now;
Old Hughey rings no more,
I almost see him standing in the hall,
The clapper holds he firm,
His eyes are on the clock -
He's just about to ring the well-known call.
How plainly I can see him watching by the clock, with the bell in his hand, waiting for the exact second to ring it; and then his hatchet in hand and a pocket full of nails for patching and mending the stairs as fast as we wore them out with our constant traveling over them. I seem to see him hammering quietly, so as not to disturb the recitations. Some one's Reminiscences in 1883 Annual." (Source - My High School Days, George Thorton Fleming, Press of Wm. G. Johnston, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1904)
Due to the close relationship among the Houston (Huestan, Hueston and Huston), Wilson, Young, Boice (Boyce), Dunlap, Gilmore and Woodburn families, the following summary is inserted in the Notes Section of the first individual listed in each of these family lines.
HUSTON/WILSON/YOUNG/BOICE
John Huston and Isabella Wilson and their three children arrived Port of New York May 14, 1850, on the William Rathbone, from Liverpool. Accompanying them on that voyage were (a) Isabella's sister Martha and her husband Hugh Young, and (b) Mary J. Young, a sister of Hugh, and her husband, HughBoice, and their five children. They all settled in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
On October 19, 1854, John Huston, Hugh Boice and Hugh Young each purchased a 1/3 interest in Lots 28 and 30, Range 4, Section D in Mount Union Cemetery (later Union Dale Cemetery), Pittsburgh, from the Trustees of The First Associate Reformed Church. On October 29, 1874, Hugh Boice sold his 2/3 interest, having purchased earlier the 1/3 interest of Hugh Young, to James Wilson Houston. There are 10 individuals listed as buried in these lots and all have been associated specifically with the existing families, except Nannie Boyce, buried on August 12, 1870.
William Wilson, brother of Isabella, Martha, Mary and Nancy (see Wilson/Dunlap following), married Nancy Young, sister of Hugh. William and Nancy remained in Ireland and are buried at Desertoghill Parish Burying Ground, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry.
WILSON/DUNLAP (DUNLOP)
Nancy Wilson, a sister of Isabella and Martha, married Hugh Dunlap in Ireland about 1843. In a letter dated December 3, 1867, Pittsburgh, to her brother James Wilson Houston, in Plumer, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Hannah Isabella Huston, age 14, states that they (presumably her mother, Isabella, and her sister, Ellen Jane) went over to visit Uncle Hugh and Aunt Nancy Dunlap.She says... "Aunt Nancy is Mother's sister ... and the oldest child is James Dunlap and he is about 23 years of age". Hugh and Nancy apparently came to the United States after 1852 and sometime prior to 1859 as Hannah Huston, sister of John Huston who remained in Ireland, sent in the late 1850's two thimbles to the Pittsburgh area, one for her niece Ellen Jane Huston and one for Elizabeth Dunlap, who is believed to be a daughter of Hugh and Nancy. I have been unable to locate a High Dunlap (Dunlop) Allegheny County on any census for Pennsylvania for the years 1860 or 1870. It may be that Hugh Dunlap never applied for citizenship. Further, I have been unable to locate Hugh, Nancy and James Wilson Dunlap on any ship's records detailing their arrival in the United States.
As seen from the inscriptions from the gravesite marker at First Garvagh Presbyterian Church, below, Hugh Dunlap died in Ireland on March 1, 1905, age 88 years and his wife Nancy died October 18, 1867, age 47 years. Assuming that Nancy died in Pittsburgh on October 18, 1867, it would appear that Hannah Isabella, although 14 years of age would have been aware of this. I am unable to account for the difference in dates in Hannah Isabella's letter and the date of death on the gravesite marker.
A plausible scenario is that Nancy died in Pittsburgh. Hugh remained in Pittsburgh until 1876 when he accompanied his son James Wilson Dunlap, Isabella Wilson Houston and her daughter, Ellen Jane, who was married or about to be married to James Wilson Dunlap, on the ship Indiana on their trip to Ireland and Garvagh. Further, that the remains of Nancy Wilson Dunlap were taken back to Ireland at that time, hence the inscription on the gravesite marker below. Further work will need to be done to resolve this.
Inscriptions from the gravesite marker of Hugh Dunlop-Garvagh at the First Presbyterian Church Graveyard, Garvagh, County Londonderry, Ireland as transcribed by Charles and Lavonne Bradfield and as listed at Bann Valley genealogy follow.
His father Andrew died on October 4, 1850 aged 72 years
His mother Jane on May 24, 1856 aged 67 years
His son James Wilson on June 17, 1844 aged 8 months
His wife Nancy died on October 18, 1867 aged 47 years
His son James Wilson Dunlop died November 18, 1876 aged 29 years
And the above Hugh Dunlop died March 1, 1905 aged 88 years
Also Ina Dunlop died 1912 aged 42 years
Also John Dunlop died July 7, 1937
Also Jemima Dunlop July 12, 1944
WILSON/GILMORE
Jane Wilson, sister of Isabella, Martha and Nancy, married John Gilmore on August 20, 1845 at the Second Garvagh Presbyterian Church. They had four children. Daughter Mary Jane Gilmore married Thomas Cunningham and they immigrated to Australia. Sons James Wilson Gilmore and John Gilmore immigrated to Pittsburgh. James remained a bachelor and John married Annie (nee?) and had a daughter Laura. Jane's husband John died on July 6, 1856 as is buried at Desertoghill Churchyard, Parish of Desertoghill.
Jane married a second time to Hugh Gilmour (relationship, if any to John is not known) on October 3, 1859 at 3rd Coleraine Presbyterian Church. Jane and Hugh remained in Ireland and had two children.
HUSTON/WILSON/WOODBURN
John Huston's father was William Huston, born about 1790 in Tamnymore, Parish of Errigil, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry.He died about 1857.He married a Hannah Woodburn who died after 1857. William and Hannah were married on August 4, 1809 in the First Presbyterian Church in Garvagh.Both William and Hannah remained in Ireland and John Huston's letters refer to the death of his father and mother.
Isabella's father, John Wilson married Mary Woodburn on March 12, 1810 in the First Presbyterian Church in Garvagh. They also remained in Ireland and are buried at the Desertoghill Parish Burying Ground, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry.
Also listed on the ship manifest of the William Rathbone, arriving Port of New York on Mary 14, 1850, is an Isabella Woodburn, servant, age 17. There were no other Woodburn's listed on the ship manifest. She is believed to be the daughter of John Woodburn, born May 2, 1788, married to Mary Witherow, who came to America.
HUTCHESAN
In a letter, dated August 29, 1852, John Huston addresses a Mrs. Hutchesan her maiden name may be Young) as "Dear Cousin".He writes, "We received' your kind and welcome letter we are sorry for the delicate state of your health but glad that you are improving.Mrs. Woodburn left the letter for us and is some three miles out of the city in the Family her son James lives with".John Huston does not refer to Mrs. Woodburn as a cousin. The 1850 United States Census for Pennsylvania lists a James Woodburn, age 22, occupation laborer, residing in Baldwin Township, Allegheny County, with the Chambers family. It may be that Mrs. Woodburn came to the United States after the 1850 Census and was also residing with that family.
In his letter, John Huston inquires as to Mrs. Hutchesan's brother Matthew and sister Nancy.There is a William Hutchinson married to a Nancy from Edinban, who had a son William, born March 9, 1842, baptized June 13, 1842 in the First Garvagh Presbyterian Church.It is listed here for future reference.
B. AND E. WILSON, SISTERS OF ISABELLA, MARTHA, MARY AND NANCY
In an addendum to the Hutchesan letter dated, August 29, 1852, John Huston says "The former part of this letter was written some weeks since & we deferred sinding it waiting for a letter from Ireland to know if our sisters was coming Hugh Boyce has rec'd a letter from Br W Wilson Ballyagan date August 21st & he states that your sister Margaret & our sisters B & E Wilson & one of H Dunlap's sisters was to come by Partrush to Liverpool the next day and that H.D. or him intended coming to Liverpool with them so that if spared they will be with you in a few weeks, we think it would be as well for them to come by railway from Phila to Pittsburgh...
There is a high degree of probability that Mrs. Hutchesan's sister's name is Margaret and is the Maggie Young who died in December 1872 and is buried in Lots 28 and 30, Range 4, Section D, Union Dale Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Sister E. is Elizabeth Wilson who is residing with Hugh and Martha Wilson Young in Pittsburgh in 1870. The given name of Sister B. is not known. She may have later married a Smyth who later immigrated to the United States.
The given name of the Dunlop sister is not known. (Note to File - Janet Houston Rhein)
More About HUGH BOICE:
Fact 1: 1799, Date of birth is 1799 perUnited States Federal Mortality Schedules 1850-1880.
Notes for MARY J. YOUNG:
The 1880 census in "Historic Pittsburgh" lists a Mary Boyce (Boice) head of household, age 70, residing in Oak Alley, Ward 3, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Her date of birth, 1810 is different from that on the William Rathbone ship manifest and in earlier census records.Nanny Boice, age 26, daughter, is listed as residing at that address. James Wilson Gilmore, age 26, boarder is residing at that address. (Note to File - Janet H. Rhein)
More About MARY J. YOUNG:
Date born 2: 1814
More About HUGH BOICE and MARY YOUNG:
Marriage: Ireland
Children of HUGH BOICE and MARY YOUNG are:
i. | HUGH YOUNG2 BOICE, b. 1836, County Londonderry, Ireland. |
Notes for HUGH YOUNG BOICE: |
More About HUGH YOUNG BOICE: Education: 1860, Occupation is listed as carpenter on 1860 Census in Pittsburgh. Residing with his parents. Fact 2: 1890, There is a Hugh Y. (Young?) Boyce listed as an auctioneer at 419 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.1 |
ii. | MATTHEW BOICE, b. 1842, County Londonderry, Ireland. | ||
iii. | MARY BOICE, b. 1845, Ireland. | ||
iv. | MARY ELIZABETH BOICE, b. 1846, Ireland. | ||
2. | v. | JAMES YOUNG BOICE, b. 30 Nov 1847, County Londonderry, Ireland. | |
vi. | NANCY Y. BOICE, b. 1849, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; d. Bet. 1881 - 1883, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. |
Notes for NANCY Y. BOICE: Nancy Y. Boice graduated from Central High School in 1871 and was listed as a daughter of Hugh Boice. She is also listed as a daughter, Nanna, of Mary Boice in the 1880 Census. It states that she was born in Pennsylvania which differs from the 1860 census which is incorrect. (Source - Janet Houston Rhein) |
More About NANCY Y. BOICE: Census: 1880, Census in "Historic Pittsburgh" lists a Nanna Boice, age 26, as daughter of Mary Boyce (Boice). She graduated from Central High School in Pittsburgh in 1871. |