Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Thomas BOYLSTON, Jr.

Big changes have come to Genealogy.com — all content is now read-only, and member subscriptions and the Shop have been discontinued.

Learn more

[ Home Page | First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page ]

Descendants of Thomas BOYLSTON, Jr.

10. NANCY⁵ BOYDSTUN (DAVID⁴ BOYDSTON, WILLIAM³ BOYLSTON, THOMAS², THOMAS¹) was born 30 Jun 1745 in Piney Ridge, Dorchester Co, MD, and died 29 May 1824 in Montgomery Co, KY. She married JOSHUA YEATES 30 Jun 1761 in Loudoun Co, VA, son of SAMUEL YEATES and JOHANNA ... He was born 28 Jan 1740/41 in Baltimore Co, MD, and died 06 May 1834 in Montgomery Co, KY.

Notes for NANCY BOYDSTUN:
Cheryl Midnight shows Nancy's birth as occuring in Prince William County, Virginia. While this could be correct, it does not conform with the births of the other children, generally accepted to have occurred at Piney Ridge in Dorchester County, Maryland.

However, she shows the couple married in Loudoun County, Virginia, which lends weight to the birth in Virginia. She cites the birthplace as coming from William Yates Publishing records.

Notes for JOSHUA YEATES:
This family name is often also found as Yeates.

Cheryl Midnight has the Yeates/Yates family Bible record and is a descendant of this family. She also cites "William Yates Publishing records" and "Temple papers" as sources of information about Joshua and Nancy and their children. Other sources are posted at their appropriate places.

Although I previously had Joshua born in Loudoun Co, VA (a Revolutionary Patriot), Cheryl shows him born in Baltimore County, Maryland and cites the family Bible as the source, but this may be for the date only.

She shows his death occuring in Montgomery County, Kentucky. I previously had noted that he probably died in Clark Co, Kentucky as he was living at Strouds Station in 1785.

Children of NANCY BOYDSTUN and JOSHUA YEATES are:

SEBBELLA⁶ YEATES, b. 17 Aug 1763, Loudoun Co, VA; d. 30 Jan 1809, prob. Montgomery Co, KY; m. WILLIAM OWSLEY, Unknown; b. Abt. 1765; d. Bet. 1823 - 1834.

Notes for WILLIAM OWSLEY:
Cheryl Midnight's notes: William is thought to be an illegitimate child of Sarah Owsley. She was charged with this crime by the church wardens in Loudoun County, Virginia. According to the Owsley Family Historical Society, no father will probably be found. Sarah is the child of Thomas Owsley II.

US Census records for William Owsley can be found:
1800 - Montgomery County, Kentucky
1810 - Gallatin County, Kentucky.

William and Willis fought over land in St. Michael's Township, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, in 1815 (Cheryl does not say who Willis might be).

	ii.		WILLIAM YEATES, b. 26 Nov 1765; d. Unknown; m. SUSANNAH HIGGINS, 26 Nov 1793; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
	iii.		BENJAMIN YEATES, b. 17 Dec 1767, SW Virginia; d. Bef. Jan 1839; m. VERLINDA LORD, 16 Jan 1794; b. Bet. 1765 - 1775; d. Unknown.

Notes for VERLINDA LORD:
I previously had the wife's name as Vineta Ford, but Cheryl Midnight supplied the marriage date, citing "Temple papers" as proof of the marriage.

iv.

NANCY YEATES, b. 30 Mar 1769, Loudoun Co, VA; d. Unknown.

Notes for NANCY YEATES:
Nancy is probably the same person as Mahala, whom I previously had listed as a child born about 1770.

	v.	JOSHUA YEATES, JR., b. 06 Jul 1772; d. 24 Mar 1849, Age 73; m. NANCY HIGGINS, 1800; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
	vi.	SAMUEL YEATES, b. 17 Sep 1774, Loudoun Co, VA; d. Unknown.
26.	vii.	GEORGE YEATES, b. 30 Aug 1776; d. 20 Mar 1841.
	viii.	ENOCH YEATES, b. 26 Mar 1779; d. 15 Mar 1863.
	ix.	SALLY YEATES, b. 14 Feb 1782; d. 19 Jun 1835; m. JOSEPH CLARK, Unknown; b. Unknown; d. 19 Jan 1835.
	x.	ELIJAH YEATES, b. 26 Mar 1784; d. 1856; m. MARY ANN WOODRUFF, 1807; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
	xi.	ELIZABETH YEATES, b. 11 Dec 1787, Kentucky; d. 12 Feb 1864; m. SAMUEL FORD, 30 Aug 1811; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

11. JAMES⁵ BOYDSTUN, SR. (DAVID⁴ BOYDSTON, WILLIAM³ BOYLSTON, THOMAS², THOMAS¹) was born 23 Sep 1747 in Green Co, PA SEE NOTES, and died 06 Feb 1814 in Russellville, Logan Co, KY. He married MARY PRUITT 15 Aug 1761 in (Fredericksburg, MD? See Marriage Notes, daughter of SAMUEL PRUITT and ELIZABETH HAWKER. She was born 21 Jan 1744/45 in (or Prewitt) b. (Fredericksburg), Frederick Co, MD, and died 22 May 1809 in (prob. Logan Co, KY).\\\\\\\\\\

Notes for JAMES BOYDSTUN, SR.:
Again the date discrepancy arises. Some popular lines say that James Boydstun Sr. was born 23 Sep 1738 in Piney Ridge, Dorchester Co, MD (or Paisley, PA) (or another says near Hardwick, MA), andd married 1) Mary Pruitt (Prewett) 15 Jun 1758 in Frederick Co, MD (or 1761); and 2) Tabitha Smith about 1767 in Dorchester Co, MD. Shirley Nobles Erickson (shirley@htcomp.net) is one of these researchers.

The Hardwick MA version seems to be the root of the "Snow" connection, which for many years was believed by descendants. Mehitable Snow, the supposed mother of James Boydstun Sr., was (also supposedly) a direct descendant of Stephen Hopkins, of the Mayflower. The Mayflower Society has rejected this lineage at least a dozen times.

Some researchers who attribute the 2nd marriage show Thomas as son of Tabitha; born 1770 near Raleigh, Wake Co, NC; d. 21 Mar 1835 in Ripley, Tennessee. One such researcher (WFT Vol 13 #344) has all children, Mahulda, James Jr., Jesse, Samuel, John, William, Sarah, Tabitha, Mahala, Benjamin, Sabra, and Malinda at first wife, Mary Pruitt. The interesting thing is that these children are shown born 1758, 1760, 1762, 1764, 1766, 1768, 1772, 1774, 1776, 1778, 1780.

Then Thomas is shown as born to Tabitha Smith, and born in 1770.

Note that this source shows the following "new children":
      Mahulda b. 1758 Frederick MD md. Thomas Hill 1780
      Jesse b. 1760 Frederick MD d. 1780
      Sabra b. 1778 md. Samuel Lusk
      Malinda b. 1780 md. William Adams

Jacob, Reubin, and Bartlett are not listed in the WFT #344 lineage.

David Smith shows the children of James Sr. (b. abt 1738 Eastern Shore, Maryland; died 6 Feb 1814 Logan County, Kentucky) and Mary Prewitt (b. abt 1742 MD; died 22 May 1809 Logan Co, KY) as follows:
1. Cynthia md. William Adams
2. Mahulda md. Thomas Hill
3. Malinda md. James Warren
4. Sabra md. Samuel Lusk
5. James Jr. b. abt 1760 Hagerstrom (sic), Frederick Co, MD, md. Sarah Neely
6. Samuel b. ca 1762 Fredrick (sic) Co, MD md. Sarah Reed
7. William b. ca 1764
8. John b. ca 1766, Frederick Co, MD, d. ca 1829 Warren Co, KY md. Nancy Ann Gardner
9. Sarah b. 29 Nov 1768
10. Thomas b. ca 1770
11. Tabitha b. ca 1772 md. Harmon Reed
12. Mahala Mary b. ca 1774, Montgomery Co, SWVA, d 1 Apr 1851, Knox Co, IL md. Thomas Arnold
13. Benjamin b. 18 Sep 1776 WV, d. 1 Apr 1851 Illinois md. Mary Gardner.

Note that some previously known/suspected children, Mehitable Nancy, Bartlett, Reuben, Jacob, are not on the above list.

Then, if that weren't bad enough, Penny (Cecil) Bloodhart (Pence234@aol.com) writes in August 1999 about ANOTHER possible child, Priscilla Boydstone/Bilestone/Boylestone (etc) who was probably born about 1762 and married Benjamin Sollers Cecil about 1783.

Penny cites records of Mccorkle's Store in Pulaski County Virginia from 1774 onward which show the names of James Boydstone, Samuel Cecil and William Cecil. (Samuel Cecil was Benj. S. Cecil's father, and William was his brother.)

She goes on to say that in Montgomery County, Virginia, Capt. Joseph Cloyd's Company, sworn September 1777, includes the names of James Boydston, Jno. Pruit, Wiliam Boydstone, Benj. Sol. Cicil, John Cecil, Benjamin Pruitt and James Boydstone, Junr.

Her ancestors Benjamin and Priscilla Cecil sold their 380 acres of land in Virginia and moved west, living both in Kentucky and Tennessee. Their son, Joseph, migrated to Arkansas iwth his brothers and several other Boydstons, including John Pruitt Boydston.

She notes the similarity of names in the Cecil family and also the fact that her Cecil line moved from Frederick County, Maryland to Western Virginia about 1767 or 1768.

I have dissiminated this information to the Boydstun researchers to see what they think (August 1999).

Preliminary report on above situation regarding Priscilla Boylston. Chuck Boydstun believes Priscilla is probably part of the New England Boylstons. Ruth Walton has explored the Cecil/Boydstun connection with no real solution. However, one researcher she has exchanged information with submitted a group sheet on this family to her, and the information conforms with what Penny has given.

Ruth muses that the age would be about right for the Priscilla (daughter of David) who married John Box. (This one was born about 1761). Given Mrs. Domonoske's problems in the early years of the family, Ruth could very well be onto something here.

Shirley Nobles Erickson (shirley@htcomp.net) lists the children of James Sr. and Mary Prewitt as:
1. Samuel (Boylston)
2. William (Boylston)
3. John (Boylston)
4. Sarah (Boylston)
5. Thomas (Boydstun)
6. Tabitha (Boydstun/Boidstone)
7. Mahala Nancy (Boydstun/Boidstone)
8. Benjamin (Boydstun)

Revolutionary Service - James Boydstun Jr.

Place of residence during the Revolution was Rutherford County, North Carolina. Revolutionary Army Records Accounts for North Carolina: Vol. 1, p. 17, folios 2 & 3; Army Book, Vol. 1, p. 14, folio 2. Washington & Sullivan Counties, Tennessee: Army Accounts of Tennessee soldiers in Revolution in North Carolina gives William, James Boilstone, James Boyldson, William Boylstone, this list made by Bledsoe, Carter and Williams, indicating they were living in Washington and Sullivan Counties during service payments 1782 - 1783.

Roster of Texas Daughters of the American Revolution Ancestors, 1982:

BOYDSTUN, James, born September 23, 1747, in Greene or Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Died February 6, 1814 in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky. Married Mary Prewett in 1761. She was born January 21, 1745 in Fredericksburg, Maryland, and died in Logan County, Kentucky on May 22, 1809.

Service: Soldier, Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Children:
      1. Samuel born March 15, 1782, married Sarah Reed.
      2. John, born 1766, married Nancy Ann Gardner
      3. Mehitable Nancy, married Seth Arnold
      4. Benjamin, born September 18, 1776, married Mary Gardner
      5. Thomas
      6. Bartlett
      7. Tabitha, married Harmon Reed
      8. James
      9. William
      10. Reuben
      11. Jacob

Members: Dorothy Elizabeth Harper #484286; Beulah Graves Brown, #327251

=========

DAR National Numbers
51941 -
280692 - Roberta Dukes Richardson
295095 -
327251 - Beulah Graves Brown
484286 - Dorothy Elizabeth Harper
551051 -
573159 -
577425 - Gladys Boydstun Domonoske

(SEE ALSO: Notes at Marriage field)

There have been two known books written on the Boydstun family -- One in the 1930s by Gustine Weaver, and one in the 1980s by Gladys Boydston Domonoske. The latter, by far is the most completely documented and raises some serious questions about the family line as set forth by Mrs. Weaver.

It must be noted, however, that the Daughters of the American Revolution rejected Mrs. Domonoske's proposed lineage, involving James and David Boydstun, inserting on her DAR application papers those dates, places, children and spouses which more conform to Mrs. Weaver's original outline.

While Mrs. Domonoske's research seems excellent and thorough, it's difficult to image that an organization so devoted to accuracy in lineage (many of the early lineages accepted by DAR have now been questioned by DAR itself, and current applicants forced to re-prove them) is in total error.

Mrs. Domonoske's book, while loaded with source data from Bibles and census in particular, also contains a large number of errors and typos.

Therefore, until there is a better researcher than Mrs. Domonoske (or myself), I have entered the lineage of James Boydston, Sr. and David Boydston as accepted by DAR, and as gleaned from the records of Mrs. Weaver and several sets of application papers for DAR, and other published sources. It should be noted that I question the complete accuracy of this lineage myself, as did Mrs. Domonoske. No great effort has been made to insert contradictory information except where those conflicts bring family lines to a screeching halt. Interested researchers can find both Mrs. Weaver's and Mrs. Domonoske's books in the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. as well as at many other libraries.

Margaret Richardson Bates
September 1997

"Over The Misty Blue Hills -- The Story of Cocke County, Tennessee"
by Ruth Webb O'Dell

"James Boydston, a Tennessee Revolutionary soldier (McAllister's "Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War, p. 264), was an older brother of William, and seemingly one of the two Boydstons who were in the battle of Point Pleasant, on the Ohio, October 18, 1774. James later moved from what became Cocke County to Rutherford County, North Carolina, where he had a grant of land in 1790. They served in defense of the frontier under Captain Daniel Smith, who was later Secretary of the Southwest Territory (William Blount, Governor), and twice elected to the United States Senate from Tennessee. He took part in defending Castlewood, too."

File 0171. No. 714. State of North Carolina, Rutherford County.
      100 acres in said county surveyed for James Boyilston 4 Jan 1790.

File 811, Book 79, Page 428, Rutherford County, North Carolina
      28 Nov 1792
      Grant of 100 acres to James Boydston joining his own and Ann Mills
      Lines on Boydstons Creek.

No. 3878, Book 8, page 98, Logan County, KY, August 1803
      Certificate 815 granting 400 acres by survey on either side of Big
      Whipperwill, etc.; filed with governor at Frankfort 22 Mar 1810,
      18th year of the Commonwealth.

========

Chuck Boydstun (boydstun@mindspring.com) reports that the following was found on the Internet at ancestry.com concerning Kentucky Land Grants, Volume I, Part 1, Chapter IV Grants South of Green River (1797-1866), The Counties of Kentucky, p. 276.

Grantee: Boydston, James
Acres: 400
Page: 98
Date Survey: 6-4-1804
County: Logan
Watercourse: Big Whipporwill

Chuck says he believes this is James Boydstun Sr. who died in Logan County, KY. It appears to me that it is the same land grant that is listed above in 1803.

Notes for MARY PRUITT:
Lyndall J. Hayes shows a death location of Frederick County, Maryland, but land grants place the family in Kentucky before that time.

Children of JAMES BOYDSTUN and MARY PRUITT are:

27.	i.	JAMES⁶ BOYDSTUN, JR., b. Bet. 1760 - 1776, Frederick Co, MD -- (SEE NOTES!!); d. Bet. 1822 - 1830, Hornsby, Hardeman Co, TN.
28.	ii.	SAMUEL BOYDSTUN, b. 15 Mar 1762, Frederick Co, MD; d. 02 Oct 1847, Neshoba Co, MS (or Perry Co, AL).
	iii.	WILLIAM BOYDSTUN, b. 1764, Frederick Co, MD; supposedly went to Washington D.C.; d. Unknown; m. MARY NEWPORT, Unknown, 2nd wife Betsy \\; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
29.	iv.	JOHN B. BOYDSTUN, b. 1766, Frederick Co, MD; d. 23 Oct 1820, Warren Co, KY.
30.	v.	MARY BOYDSTUN, b. 13 May 1766; d. 09 Dec 1857, Selma, Dallas Co, AL.
31.	vi.	SARAH BOYDSTUN, b. 28 Nov 1768, near Raleigh, NC (Buncombe Co?); d. Sep 1828, Galena, Jo Daviess Co, IL, or Randolph Grove, IL.
32.	vii.	THOMAS BOYDSTUN, b. 1770, Raleigh, Wake Co, NC; d. 21 Mar 1835, Tennessee, probably Lauderdale County/Ripley Co, MS.
	viii.	TABITHA BOYDSTUN, b. 1772, Montgomery Co, VA; d. Unknown; m. HARMON REED, Unknown; b. Unknown; d. Unknown, lived Barren Co, KY.
	ix.	MEHITABLE NANCY BOYDSTUN, b. 1774, (or Mahala Nancy) b. SW Virginia?; d. Unknown, (Illinois?); m. SETH ARNOLD, Unknown, married both Seth & Thomas Arnold?; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

Notes for MEHITABLE NANCY BOYDSTUN:
Some sources give this daughter's name as Malinda. Note that there is an obvious discrepancy with Mehitable being married to "Seth" Arnold.

Cindy Owens, an Arnold descendant, has researched the Arnolds, and recently (November 2002) determined that her Thomas Arnold's wife, Mary Bidestone, must be a child of James Boydston Sr. She says that she has never seen Seth, but has ample evidence on Thomas, and that Thomas Arnold and wife Mary migrated closely with the Boystduns.

Notes for SETH ARNOLD:
Some records say Mahala/Mehitable Nancy married Thomas Arnold, some say Seth Arnold, some say both. See also information for Mary.

33.	x.	BENJAMIN G. BOYDSTUN, b. 13 Sep 1776, Hagerstown, MD; d. 01 Apr 1851, Cedar Twp, Knox Co, IL.
	xi.	BARTLETT BOYDSTUN, b. Abt. 1778; d. Unknown.
	xii.	REUBEN BOYDSTUN, b. Abt. 1780; d. Unknown.
	xiii.	JACOB BOYDSTUN, b. Abt. 1782; d. Unknown.

[ Home Page | First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page ]

Search for Family - Learn About Genealogy - Helpful Web Sites - Message Boards - Guest Book - Home