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Descendants of James Boggs




Generation No. 1


1. JAMES1 BOGGS (ANDREWA, ALEXANDERB, WILLIAMC, JAMESD) was born 1745 in Philadelphia Co., PA or Ireland, and died September 30, 1783 in Westmoreland, PA. He married MARTHA ELLIOTT Abt. 1766 in PA. She was born Abt. 1745, and died August 08, 1815 in Allegheny City (Pittsburgh), Allegheny Co, PA.

Notes for J
AMES BOGGS:
JAMES BOGGS, born Philadelphia or Ireland about 1745. Died Westmoreland County (from which Allegheny County was derived later) 30 September 1783. Family tradition says he was killed by a falling tree while clearing land. He is reputed to be the first white man to own land west of the Allegheny River, settling in what is now Pittsburg about 1760. He is listed in the DAR Patriot Index as a soldier from Pennsylvania. Info from Ardelle Reed, John I. Boggs, Guy Stamm, History of Lancaster Co. PA, and Wharton Papers say he was son of Andrew Boggs and Ann Patton. Older brother born PA, so he may have been also. He was most likely born in Philadelphia County about 1745. His residence at the time of his death was probably Westmoreland County, from which present-day Allegheny county was derived.
From Fern Brewster: 1750, John, James Boggs and sister Jane Dunlap and family went to Shippensburg in Cumberland Co. About 1760 James went to Pittsburgh. James Boggs, soldier in Illinois Regiment. See PA Archives, 5th series, V. 4, page 620. See also Va. State Library, 8th annual report, page 50. Their property was on the Susquehana River, just opposite 3-Mile Island, where the town of Bainbridge now is. Notes and Queries from the members of Donegal church in 1776, page 196. James Boggs removed to Derry and I do not know what became of him. Derry Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County. There are no further records.
DAR Patriot index - centennial edition Part 1 has a James Boggs born c1745 in Ireland, d p 9-30-1783 PA m Martha --- Sol PA
From Bob Bair: James Boggs received a tract of the Reserve Lands at Pittsburgh, possibly in consequence of Revolutionary War service. This was confirmed by an order from a Brig. Gen. Irvine on 30 Sept 1783, as reported in the PA Archives, Series I, Vol. 10, Page 115. This land was situated at what is now Federal Street, on the river, and at the present site of the Sixth Street Bridge. James Boggs is regarded as the first permanent white settler north of the Allegheny River at what is now Pittsburgh, and was reportedly living on the land long before the State's formal action in 1783.
His death under a falling tree while clearing this land was therefore after 30 September 1783. His widow's petition in January of 1785 to remain on the land (PA Archives, Series I, Vol. 10, Page 699) mentioned that he had built a cabin, and cleared "eight or ten acres" of the land. L.D. Baldwin also reports in "Pittsburgh--The Story of a City", University of Pittsburgh Press, 1938, that James Boggs was the first white settler north of the Allegheny River, and that he built his cabin in 1760. If this date is correct, this means that James and eventually his wife Martha were actually resident on this site for about 23 years. Baldwin also confirms Boggs' death under a falling tree, and his widow's remarriage to James Robinson. The Pennsylvania Supreme Council authorized Martha Boggs to remain on the land in an action on 4 March 1785. See PA Archives, Colonial Records, Vol. 14, Page 373.
From Fern Brewster: In marriage notice for daughter Nancy and Samuel Duncan, says that James Boggs had operated a ferry across the Allegheny River at Pittsburgh in the early days.
WFT # 351 Died 9/30/1783
From Stephen Kerr: Letter to Virginia Allison Sandlass from Aunt Margaret Leona Boggs Blayney. James Boggs born in Ireland 1745. Settled on reserve tract opposite Fort Pitt in Westmoreland Co. Killed by falling tree. Served in Rev. War as private in Capt. Alexander Preebles Co., also in 1st Battalion Cumberland Co., militia commanded by Col. James Dunlap 1779. Served as a private in Capt. William Campbell's Company, 7th Battalion, Cumberland Co. militia commanded by Col. James Purdy 1780-1781. Also served as a private in Capt. James Hassell's company volunteer company of the 7th Battalion against the Indians from 15th to 25th of August 1782. See pages 57, 435, 500, 508 Vol. 6 PA Archives, Harrisburg. This information stamped by Penna Seal was sent to me by request. (I wrote) in 1918.
PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES 1783 PAGE 115
INSTRUCTIONS FROM BRIG. GENERAL IRVINE TO JAMES BOGGS, 1783
Fort Pitt, Sept'r 30th, 1783
You are to take charge of the tract of land opposit Fort Pitt reserved for the use of the State of Pennsylvania, and not suffer any waste of distruction to be done of timber, or cut or carried off the premises except what is herein mentioned. You will on no account allow roads to be made through the tract, or landing places other than the old one formerly used by the Indian traders, and lately by the garrison---you will cautiously avoid giving offence to the commandant at this Post, and if any trespasses are committed or violence used you will lodge regular complaint to Michael Hoffnagle Esq., or some other Justice of the Peace for Westmoreland county. You are for your trouble and care, allowed to clear land and raise crops so as not to exceed one hundred acres, and you may keep stock, not to exceed twenty horned cattle and six horses. You are not to permit any buildings whatsoever to be erected, except for the use and convenience of your own families, you may however allow the troops of this Garrison to cut and carry off fire wood, if the Commanding officer finds it expedient to take from them, but you must keep and render an acc' to council of the quantity so taken you will also hereafter govern yourself by such orders or instructions as you may receive from his excellincy the President of the state and you will render peaceable possession when required by Him, or the lawfull agent of the honerable and council; or take such lease as they shall think proper.
I engage to act conformably to the above instructions from General Irvine. JAMES BOGGS
Witness, David Duncan.
N. B. --- Until the tract is surveyed it is considered to extend two miles down the Ohio River and two miles up the Aligany and two miles back.*
Endorsed, 1783, September 30th. Instructions to James Boggs, for occupying land opposite Fort Pitt. \
* See page, 109.
History of Butler Co.,PA found on the Cranberry Township website says that James Boggs, father of Nancy who married Samuel Duncan, operated a ferry across the Allegheny River.

Notes for M
ARTHA ELLIOTT:
Second marriage to a James Robinson, said to be a leading pioneer in the Pittsburgh area. Robert Bair says he has good evidence that Martha's maiden was Elliott. From Bob Bair: Martha's prompt remarriage was typical of the times. With four children to raise, there was little choice available. Neither widows nor widowers with children found survival alone on the frontier an easy matter in those days. One may also speculate that her right in the tract of land may have been a quite attractive dowry. James Robinson's dwelling was shown on a map of Pittsburgh in 1795 reproduced in Stefan Lorant's "Pittsburgh--The Story of An American City" (1980). The dwelling was shown at the intersection of what is now Federal Street and the river, on the west side of the street. The area along the river on both sides of Federal Street was shown as cultivated. The total cultivated area appears equivalent to perhaps four city blocks.


     
Children of J
AMES BOGGS and MARTHA ELLIOTT are:
  i.   MARY2 BOGGS, b. Abt. 1767.
  ii.   MARGARET BOGGS, b. Abt. 1769; m. MOORE.
  Notes for MARGARET BOGGS:
Fern Brewster has Margaret by the name of Martha married to a Moore. Bob Bair also calls her Martha.
WFT Vol 11 Tree 039 has Martha.

  iii.   ANDREW BOGGS, b. Abt. 1770, PA; d. June 18, 1843, PA; m. MARY.
  Notes for ANDREW BOGGS:
Died at age 73. Fern Brewster gives his spouse's name as Rosanna.

2. iv.   SQUIRE ROBERT BOGGS, SR., b. March 08, 1772, Allegheny Co., PA; d. March 11, 1844, Evans City, Butler Co., PA.
3. v.   NANCY BOGGS, b. Abt. 1774, Butler Co., PA; d. Abt. 1830, Butler Co., PA.


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