William Boylan- Old North State biography - done

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA "OLD NORTH STATE" EDITION https://ia800208.us.archive.org/19/items/cu31924092215486/cu31924092215486.pdf WILLIAM BOYLAN ''NE of the early journalists of Raleigh was William Boylan, editor of the Minerva, and a man of State-wide prominence. This gentleman was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, on September i, 1777. He was a son of John Boylan, and the maiden name of his mother was Eleanor Hodge. Young Boylan came to North Carolina to work in the office of his uncle, Abraham Hodge, one of the State's early printers. Mr. Hodge first engaged in business in North Carolina about the beginning of January, 1785, the firm being Hodge & Blanchard, publishers of the State Gazette of North Carolina, at New-Bern. Shortly thereafter Henry Wills succeeded Mr. Blanchard, and the firm became Hodge & Wills. Judge Iredell prevailed on Hodge & Wills to remove to Edenton about the year 1787. The firm afterward removed from Edenton to Halifax, and in the latter town began publishing the North Carolina Journal, in July, 1793. It was in 1797, when he was but twenty years old, that William Boylan (subject of this sketch) became a member of the firm of Hodge & Boylan, publishers at Fayetteville of the North Carolina Minerva and Fayetteville Gazette. The paper last named was later removed to the State capital. In its new location it was first called the North Carolina Minerva and Raleigh Advertiser, and afterward simply The Minerva The facts above enumerated are taken from a work by Doctor Stephen B. Weeks entitled "The Press of North Carolina in the Eighteenth Century," which also contains a sketch of the life of Mr. Hodge. It was about 1799 that Mr. Boylan became a citizen of Raleigh. In addition to his newspaper business, he had a bookstore, and also became president of the State Bank, succeeding Colonel William Polk. Both Boylan and Polk were Federalists of the deepest dye, and strong friends. For many years Hodge & Boylan were printers to the State, and held that position as long as their party remained in power. By the laws of 1801, the Raleigh Academy was incorporated, and Mr. Boylan was one of its Board of Trustees. His associates on that board were John Craven, William White, Sherwood Haywood, Theophilus Hunter, John Ingles, Nathaniel Jones of White Plains, Matthew McCullers, William Hinton, Simon Turner, Samuel High, Joseph Gales, John Marshall, and Henry Seawell. In this famous school were afterward educated many eminent men, including William Rufus King, Vice-President of the United States; Leonidas Polk, the bishop and Confederate general; James Iver MacKay, of Bladen, chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means in 1845 ; and others who attained distinction in public life. When the publication of the Minerva began in Raleigh, its rival paper was the Raleigh Register, edited by Joseph Gales. Boylan and Gales, being political opponents, were often not on good terms personally, and their differences culminated in a personal attack on -Gales by Mr. Boylan in December, 1908. For the injuries he received on this occasion Mr. Gales instituted a civil suit and recovered £100, which he donated to the Raleigh Academy. When political animosities had somewhat cooled, better relations existed between these gentlemen, and their descendants grew up as friends and neighbors, so remaining at the present time. When the old capitol at Raleigh was burned on June 21, 1831, and it had been decided to erect a new building, Mr. Boylan was appointed one of the commissioners to cause the erection of the present edifice. The sum of $50,000 was appropriated to cover the cost of building. The commissioners thought this amount was a good enough start, so invested the whole sum in a foundation. Then they put up a building more in keeping with the dignity of North Carolina, and it cost the State $530,000. It was for many years regarded as the finest public building in America. In the course of time Mr. Boylan's business ventures brought him a handsome fortune, and he retired from editorial work. He gave his newspaper outfit to his brother, Abraham Hodge Boylan, who soon disposed of it. Long after he had retired from newspaper work it was a custom with William Boylan to visit the printing offices in Raleigh and chat with the compositors. Having been a practical printer in his younger days, he was always interested in the welfare of the craft. Mr. Boylan was owner of plantations in North Carolina and Mississippi, and also held much property in slaves, which latter was, of course, swept away by the war. In his Tucker Hall address at Raleigh, August 24, 1867, ex- Governor Swain tells the following anecdote of our subject : "The late William Boylan, the first editor of the Raleigh Minerva, and the immediate successor of Colonel Polk as president of the State Bank, was a gentleman sedate and grave in a manner to a degree that to a stranger might have been taken for austerity. Traveling from Raleigh to Pittsboro about 1800, he and Mr. Peace, on reaching the election ground at Brassfields, found a multitude assembled engaged in dancing and other rural sports in the free and easy manner characteristic of the time and place. Mr. Peace was comparatively at home. Mr. Boylan stood aloof until a rowdy approached and invited him to enter the ring with the dancers. On his declining, a dozen came forward prepared to coerce the submission of the proud aristocrat. In an instant Mr. Peace, with great solemnity, beckoned the leader of the band aside and whispered : 'My friend, be careful how you act. Bless your life, that is Mr. Boylan, the man who made the almanac, and can foretell eclipses and thunderstorms.' The reference to the almanac-maker secured at once the most deferential respect for the distinguished visitor." Prior to the invention of the cotton-gin very little cotton was raised in North Carolina, or, in fact, anywhere else. About the time of his removal to Wake County, when the new mechanical invention was taking shape, Mr. Boylan began planting cotton, and prevailed on his neighbors to do likewise. This was. the first ever raised in Wake County^ Even before he came to Raleigh, Mr. Boylan had done some experimental work as a raiser of this staple. In addfition to his private interests, Mr. Boylan was a man deeply interested in industries affecting the general pubHc, and strongly advocated public improvements. At the session of 1848 the act of Assembly was passed incorporating the North Carolina Railroad Company, the State making a subscription of $2,000,000, conditioned upon $1,000,000 being subscribed by individuals. The friends of the work addressed themselves zealously to the task of raising this $1,000,000 of private stock, but at first failed to accomplish it. Eventually Governor Morehead, Mr. Boylan, Mr. Calvin Graves, and some others made an extensive canvass of the State in the interest of the work, and still quite a large amount of stock remained to be taken. In this emergency Mr. Boylan joined with others and subscribed for the remaining shares, and thus secured the State aid. The efforts of Mr. Boylan and his associates in this matter deserve to be held in grateful remembrance by all who realize the great benefit the construction of this important railroad has been to the people of the State. He set an example of patriotism that is worthy of emulation. Mr. Boylan was twice married : first, to Elizabeth McCuUoch ; second, to Jane Elliott. His first wife was a daughter of Benjamin McCulloch, of Halifax, and a granddaughter of the Honorable Alexander McCulloch, member of the King's Council of North Carolina in colonial days. Mr. Boylan left a large family, but the only descendants who bear his surname are a son and the grandchildren of the late William Montfort Boylan, of Raleigh, who was one of the sons of his father's first wife, Elizabeth McCulloch. William Montfort Boylan left two sons, William and James, the latter now deceased; and two daughters, Mrs. George H. Snow and Mrs. Joseph A. Haywood, the last named being dead also. William Boylan, our present subject, died in his eighty-fourth year at Raleigh, on July 15, 1861. His remains were interred in his family plot in the Old City Cemetery. On the monument which marks his resting place we find the following epitaph : "He removed in his early youth to North Carolina, where he resided until his death, beloved and respected by all. He was a patriotic and public-spirited man, and ardently devoted to the interests and improvement of his adopted State." Marshall DeLancey Haywood.

James and Aaron

http://www.boylan.de/Migration/James_and_Aaron/james_and_aaron.html

The Midwest Boylans descended from James and Aaron were originally Northern Irish Protestant - in contrast to the many Boylans who left the Republic of Ireland and are either still Catholic or converted at some later time. (Note by the Webmaster - This is only history, not a theological debate).

Much of this Boylan story is not verified but has been passed down through various branches of our extended family. As we have it two brothers whom we signify as James I b;1710? and Aaron I b; 1716? ran away from being made wards of an older brother Roger at the death of their father (unidentified) from Northern Ireland near Coleraine, in approx 1730.

They either endentured themselves for passage to the States (colonies) or stowed away and when found were indentured... As the story has it the relative or someone remaining in Ireland evidently payed off the debt as they became freeholders (land) shortly after settling in or near Somerset,Co. NJ.(Note by the Webmaster there is a town in New Jersey called Freehold).

Every son of James and Aaron who had sons for the first 3 or 4 generations named them James, Aaron, John and Samuel, causing no little confusion. Who can solve the mystery of Sam and Aaron?

Find out more about James descendants

Find out more about Aarons descendants

Boylan, Aaron I

Aaron I married Catherine Parkinson and reportedly had 4 sons James b;1743, John b: 1746,,Aaron*** ,,Samuel,, we have a possible Daughter Ann.... James was a surgeon and some of his surgical instruments are on display in the Rev. War. Museum in Morristown,NJ... Some confusion here about Samuel and Aaron - see James I...

John was a Merchant, he supposedly served in the Rev. War as a Supply Officer, he and his wife supposedly entertained George and Martha Washington in their home which is a nat. landmark in Pluckeman , NJ..

The descendants*** of Aaron II hold an annual reunion in Cambridge Springs PA.

*** The mystery of Samuel and Aaron:

Samuel and Aaron II were brothers. We know that from a letter that Samuel wrote. It also tells us that Aaron II served in the revolutionary war. There is no evidence of there being more than one Samuel and more than one Aaron in the second generation. Yet both James 1 and Aaron 1 are thought to have had sons called Samuel and Aaron. Why? - > Alonzo Boylan was sure that his grandfather Samuel b 1766 was the son of James I, while Aaron IIs descendants claimed that grandfather Aaron II b 1748 (Samuels brother?!) was the son of Aaron I.
Sam and Aaron II lived in New Jersey with their father. After the death of his father (unidentified) Aaron II  pioneered in western PA with his wife Sarah McDade and younger bro. Samuel, settling in what is now Crawford/Mercer Co's. Aaron II b 1748 founded the Pennsylvania clan. Later Samuel returned to NJ married and homesteaded in Livingston Co. NY at what was orig. Boylan's Corner, NY and is now Caneseraga, NY...

Modern day PA Boylans are Dr John Boylan at Eidenburgh College, Eidenburgh PA and his brother Ralph Boylan of Owego NY.

Welcome to the Webportal PA Boylans!

Daughter of the American Revolution Hildegarde Hitchcock

https://books.google.com/books/content?id=2gERAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA168&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U2LNdFnkbZPGsjCcrL7O38PDtYC7A&ci=114%2C946%2C841%2C460&edge=0


MISS HILDEGARDE W HITCHCOCK 43442 Born in Erie Pennsylvania Descendant of Aaron Boylan Daughter of Daniel Webster Hitchcock and Adaline Hayden Boylan his wife Granddaughter of Andrew Boylan b 1793 and Eleanor McGona gee his wife Gr granddaughter of Aaron Boylan and Sarah McDade b 1755 his wife m 1772 Aaron Boylan 1749 1824 served as a private under Capt Daniel Piatt and took part in the battles of Princeton Brandy wine and Monmouth In 1837 his widow received a pension in Venango Co Penna for nine months actual service of her husband in the New Jersey line

THE SOMERSET BOYLAN FAMILY

THE SOMERSET BOYLAN FAMILY
BY THE EDITOR OF THE QUARTERLY
AMoNG THE early important Scotch-Irish families of Bernards and Bed
minster townships, Somerset County, was the Boylan family, which,
while large in Revolutionary days, began to migrate afterward, so that
scarcely any of the name now reside near their ancestral home. For
many of the following important particulars of this family we are in
debted to Mr. John F. Boylan, of Madison, N. J.; Miss Martha F.
Haywood and Mr. Rufus T. Boylan, of Raleigh, North Carolina; Mr.
John A. Powelson, of Pluckemin, N. J., and Mrs. Noyes R. Thomas, of
Newark.
I. AARON BoyLAN came to N. J. from Coleraine, Ireland, date not
known, but probably about 1732. It is said he landed at Perth Amboy
and settled near Long Hill; if so, it could have been either in Somerset
or Morris county. A descendant thinks it was at Vealtown (Bernards
ville), but another informant states it was near Liberty Corner, in either
case Somerset. He is said to have been a pew holder, and perhaps mem
ber, of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian church. His date of birth is
placed conjecturally between 1710 and 1716. The fact that he came
from Coleraine with a brother James, and that the name of his wife was
Catherine Parkinson appears from a very brief sketch which his grandson,
William Boylan, of Raleigh, N. C., wrote out in 1833, and is all we know
of Aaron's origin:
“Roger, James and Aaron O'Boylan were of Coleraine, in Ire
land. Roger was prepared for the Church, did not preach but became
a teacher of a classical school. James and Aaron ran away from their
guardian, Roger, and worked their passage to New Jersey. James mar
ried Mary Annin and Aaron married Catherine Parkinson, the widow
of Richard Shillton. The Parkinsons were of Ireland. James had sev
eral children, who are of distant States. Aaron had two sons, James
and John.”
Miss Haywood, a living granddaughter of William Boylan, further
States :
“My grandfather told me that he had always heard that the little
boys had been left orphans with considerable property in Ireland under
the guardianship of their uncle, were unkindly treated and had run
away and hid on a ship and came to America as stowaways. There they
were sold by the captain of the vessel, and their uncle in Ireland, after
wards hearing of it, sent money to redeem them.”
It will be noticed that, in the first quotation, the surname is said to
be “O'Boylan,” but we doubt if this is correct. The name seems cer
tainly to have been Scotch, and not Irish, as such a surname would im
ply. However that may be, no such surname was used by the family in
America, and it is certain the early Boylans were Presbyterians and not
Roman Catholics.
Aaron Boylan married into the Parkinson family, of which we can
give no further particulars. He probably married her after his arrival
in New Jersey. In 1775 there was a Parkinson (or Parkison) of Somer
set, but we have obtained no further clue to the family.
In Lee's “Gen. and Mem. Hist. of N. J.” (p. 1462) there is a state
ment which, from lack of any other record, was naturally followed in
the QUARTERLY (Vol. I, p. 157), to the effect that Aaron Boylan had
come from Derry or Londonderry, New England, to New Jersey,
but this seems not to be authenticated by the town records of these two
places, and we now believe the statement was founded simply on the fact
that one of Aaron's sons, Dr. James Boylan, married a wife whose
parents came from Londonderry, N. H. (See under James (2) below).
It is quite certain, however, that Aaron sailed from the port of London
derry, Ireland, which is near Coleraine.
The date of Aaron's death is unknown, and mentions of him in our
local records are few. In 1756 he was a contributor to the building of
St. Paul's Lutheran church at Pluckemin (Snell's “History,” p. 716).
In 1763 his name is given as one to whom application could be made for
lottery tickets for the Bound Brook bridge, his residence, or perhaps
only his post-office address, being given as at Basking Ridge. (QUARTER
LY, Vol. III, p. 92). Previously, in 1754, an advertised letter in the
New York post-office was also addressed to him at Basking Ridge (“N. I.
Archives,” Vol. 19, p. 395). We have been unable to find any recorded
deed of any land owned by him.
What became of Aaron's brother James, who married into the
Annin family, is unknown; he must have gone to one of the adjoining
States, as William (18) stated his children were in other States.
In the memorandum of William Boylan above referred to, he states
that Aaron had two sons, James and John. This omits a son Aaron, and
does not mention daughters, of whom there were probably some, although
the name of one only has reached us, and we are not certain of its
COrrectneSS.
CHILDREN OF AARON BOYLAN AND CATHERINE (PARKINSON) SHILLTON:
2. JAMES, physician, b. Aug. 14, 1743 (old style); d. May 19, 1823;
m., about 1767, Ann Dunlop (dau. of Rev. Samuel Dunlop and Elizabeth
Guest), who was b. Jan. 17, 1746 (old style), and d. Jan. 9, 1831. The
father of Ann Dunlop and cousin of Aaron Boylan was a pastor in Lon
donderry, N. H., and went from there to Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1741.
He and his wife, Elizabeth, were both Scotch-Irish, from Ireland. Dur
ing the Indian massacre at Cherry Valley in 1778 his wife was killed
in an inhuman manner (see various accounts of the Cherry Valley mas
sacre), whereupon he came to New Jersey, probably to reside with his
son-in-law, James Boylan. Dr. Boylan resided at Vealtown (Bernards
ville), Somerset co., where he not only practiced medicine but owned a
gristmill and 135% acres of land.
In various local histories Dr. Boylan is stated to have served in the
Revolutionary War, and the record referring to him is probably that
of the James Boylan who served as a corporal in Capt. Jacob Ten Eyck's
Co., and also in a Somerset battalion from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4, 1776." He
*The records at Trenton also show that another James Boylan served in Capt.
Jacob Ten Eyck's Co., enlisting in April, 1776, serving until Dec., 1779, when he
was taken prisoner and confined for two months. He was b. in 1755 and in 1832
was living at Batavia, Genesee co., N. Y. (as per Washington Pension records).
He may have been a son of James Boylan who immigrated with Aaron (1); if
not, we cannot identify him. There was also a James Boylan serving in Philadel
phia and Chester co. (Pa.) regiments as 1st Lieut. and Captain between 1783 and
1790. (Pa. Archives, 5th Series, Vol 5, pp. 842, 843).
is also said to have acted as surgeon to the wounded after the Battle of
Princeton; and it is suggested in Mellick’s “Story of an Old Farm”
(p. 4Io) that he was probably Lord Stirling's family physician. During
the winter of 1776-'77, when some stray British militiamen made a tem
porary raid into the northern part of Somerset, they took property of
his appraised at £25 (QUARTERLY, Vol. I, p. 282). He died in 1823
intestate, and he and his wife are said to have been buried in the Basking
Ridge churchyard, though the published tombstone inscriptions do not
record their names. (See QUARTERLY, Vol I, p. 125). A surgeon's
saw, said to have belonged to Dr. Boylan, is among the preserved relics
in the Washington Headquarters at Morristown. One of his sons went
to Cincinnati, O., and it is said a descendant of this son, Dr. Halsted
Boylan, is in Paris, France. (For ch., see infra).
3. JoHN, b. 1746; d. Mar. 4, 1793; m. Eleanor Hodge (dau. of
Samuel Hodge and Lyle, both probably Scotch-Irish, of Coleraine,
Ireland), f who was b. about 1751 and d. Feb. 3, 1846, when, after
being a widow for fifty-three years, she died at the age of 95. It is
stated that, at the time of her marriage, she was but fifteen years of
age (“Our Home,” p. 533), but this has not been verified.
“Captain” John Boylan (the name being then pronounced and oc
casionally spelled in print “Bullion”) usually went by that title during
his later life, although in 1777 he became a lay Judge of the Somerset
County Courts, after which he was properly “Judge” John. He was
a prosperous man during the Revolution having, it is said, four stores
in Bedminster and Bernards townships, viz., at Pluckemin, at Liberty
Corner, at Vealtown (Bernardsville) and at Vanderveer's Mills. (Snell,
p. 712; “Story of an Old Farm,” p. 582). In the statement made by his
son William, he says that Capt. Boylan first resided at Liberty Corner
and then removed to Pluckemin. That the Captain served for a brief
time as a Revolutionary private soldier appears from a record in the
Adjutant-General's office at Trenton, which states that “John Boylan
served as private in Capt. Gavin McCoy's Company, First Battalion, Som
erset co., N. J., militia.” He probably received his title of “Captain”
from service in the militia subsequent to the Revolution.
Further references to “Captain” Boylan are as follows: His son
William stated that he was a “merchant and publisher” when at Liberty
Corner. Of his being a “publisher” we have no other clue. Snell (p.
712) says he was an extensive manufacturer of potash and “is said to
tIn the “Story of an Old Farm” (p. 163), it is stated that his wife was the
daughter of Jacob Eoff, and from these authorities it was repeated in the QUAR
TERLY (Vol. V, p. 234). But his own son, William, stated otherwise, and we know
from other sources who she was. It was Samuel (15), a son of John, who married
into the Eoff family.
have entertained Washington in some of his visits to Pluckemin,” a
matter not improbable, as he and 'Squire McEowen were the two most
prominent men of that village while Washington's army was quartered
there. In the recent celebration (February 21, 1913) at Pluckemin of
the grand fete and ball commemorating the French Alliance, which was
held by Washington, Knox and other Generals at that place on February
18, 1779, the old house of Captain Boylan was opened for about seventy
five guests, and the present owner, Mr. Andrew Compton, with Mrs.
Martha Powelson, acted as General and Lady Washington, and “served
bountiful refreshments from a large centre table lighted with tallow
candles, and the blue ware used had seen service during the trying days
of the American Revolution.” (QUARTERLY, Vol. II, p. 154).” A pic
ture of the Boylan house at Pluckemin appeared in the QUARTERLY for
July, 1916. From various sources it can be gleaned that the Boylans
were acknowledged leaders in social affairs at Pluckemin and Vealtown
in Revolutionary days. A receipt in the Captain's own handwriting ap
pears in the “Story of an Old Farm” (p. 581), showing he wrote a busi
ness hand, and it was certain he was a man of education for that day.
Besides owning stores, he possessed 150 acres of land north of the vil
lage of Pluckemin. (See QUARTERLY, Vol. V, p. 234). In 1773 it is noted
that he was one of the managers of a “Lottery for the disposal of certain
lands in the township of Bridgewater.” (“N. J. Archives,” Vol. 28, p.
348). The exact object of this lottery we have not ascertained. He was
a man of wealth for those days. We know that he, and also his wife
Eleanor after his death, made many mortgage investments in Somerset,
as the records show. -
When Judge Boylan took his seat on the Somerset Bench it was be
side two distinguished men, who were lay Judges with him, Col. Peter
D. Vroom, father of the Governor, and Henry Southard (later Congress
man), father of the Hon. Samuel L. Southard.
Judge Boylan died March 4, 1793, when only 46 years of age, and
was buried in the old Basking Ridge church burying-ground, where there
**The late Mrs. Paul Vandervoort, of Burnt Mills, near Pluckemin (a grand
daughter of this John Boylan), who, before she died in 1916, was probably the
oldest living descendant of the line, stated some years ago that “General and Mrs.
Washington were several times entertained at Mr. Boylan's house, and Mrs. Boylan
had the honor of dancing with the General;” that “the white satin slippers and
square silver buckles which she wore in the dance are still preserved in the family;”
and that “the china buff and gold set, together with the silver service used in the
entertainment are or were in the home of Horace Bannard, of Long Branch.” At
the time of her death Mrs. Vandervoort was about 76 years of age, and certainly
obtained the facts from her mother, a daughter of John and Eleanor Boylan.
To Mrs. Van Dervoort descended many of Captain Boylan's books and his desk,
or secretary, a mahogany sideboard, etc., now possessed by her daughter, Mrs.
Noyes R. Thomas, of 88 S. 13th street, Newark, N. J.
is a tombstone to his memory. His widow Eleanor, by will dated Oct.
Io 1844, probated March 26, 1846 (Somerset Wills, Book F, p. 162),
mentioned only her daughters Sarah and Hannah and grandchildren
Sarah Jane and Mary Van Derveer, and gave her house and lot to her
son William, of Raleigh, N. C. (For ch., see infra).
4. AARON, b. 1749; d. Sept. 20, 1824. He also served in the Revo
lution, in Capt. John Parker's Company, First Battalion, Somerset Mili
tia; in the State Troops and in the Continental Army. Whom he mar
ried we do not know, but he doubtless removed soon after 18oo to
Mercer co., Pa., where he died, according to the War Department Pen
sion records, although, upon inquiry in Mercer county, we have found
no record of a will or administration upon his estate.
4a. ANN. No proof of this daughter, but we have been informed
that there was an Ann and that she died very young).
CHILDREN OF DR. JAMEs BoyLAN (2) AND ANN DUNLOP:
5. SAMUEL, b. 1768. He was living in Bedminster twsp. in 1798.
6. RoBERT, b. 1769. No further trace.
7. JoHN, b. 1771; d. 1847. He was probably a physician, like his
father, and certainly lived at Bernardsville. If a physician, he is the
same mentioned by Dr. McDowell in “Our Home” (p. 533), who tells the
anecdote of him that, when a man had broken his thigh and the doctor
was sent for in a hurry to set it, the latter had first to attend to a previ
ous call, and said to the messenger: “Wait a minute; take this emetic;
give it to the man, and I will be along shortly.” We have not learned
that he was married. By his will of Sept. 28, 1843, probated April 12,
1847 (Somerset Wills, Book F, p. 239), he left all his property to his
sister Catherine.
8. AARON, of Newark, N. J., b. Jan. 11, 1774; d. Dec. 21, 1858;
m., June 20, 1806, Phebe Breese (dau. of Stephen Breese and Nancy
Baily), who was b. Aug. 25, 1783, and d. Apr. 25, 1862. He studied law
with Hon. Aaron Ogden, of Elizabeth; was admitted to the New Jersey
Bar at the September Term, 1797. Practiced in Bernards twsp., Somer
set co., where he was owner of various tracts of land, until 1825, and
thereafter at Newark until his death. He had eight children, three of
whom, Aaron Ogden, David Kirkpatrick and James Harris, became
lawyers and practiced in Newark. One of the daughters of James Harris
Boylan, named Osee Melinda, m. John Driscoll Fitz-gerald, one of
whose sons was the late Methodist Bishop James Newbury Fitz-gerald,
who d. in China in 1907, while another, Aaron Ogden Fitz-gerald, is now
the head of the Fitz-gerald Company Varnish Works, of Newark. (This
particular family is carried out in Lee's “Gen. and Mem. Hist. of N. J.”).
9. HENRY, b. 1775; d. 1782.
Io. CATHERINE, b. 1778; d. about May, 1863; unm. She resided
at Bernardsville and owned considerable real estate, conveyed to her by
her father. She is said to have possessed the old family records, now
unfortunately missing. By her will she bequeathed her estate to her
adopted daughter, Margaret C., wife of Charles S. Quimby. (Somerset
Wills, Book H, p. 398).
II. JAMEs, b. 1778. No further trace.
12. JosePH, b. 1780. It is stated that a dau. of Joseph is still liv
ing, very aged, at Lebanon, Ohio, and that her daughter, a Mrs. Hart
well, resides at Little Rock, Ark.
13. BENJAMIN, of Basking Ridge, N.J., b. July 7, 1782; d. May 21,
1839; m. Elizabeth Alward (dau. of Benjamin Alward and Sarah Ayres).
He removed to Newark about 1832, but after his wife's death went to
Lebanon, Ohio, where he died. (For ch., see infra).
14. JAcob, b. 1789. No further trace.
CHILDREN OF JUDGE JOHN BOYLAN (3) AND ELEANOR HoDGE:
(According to the late Dr. McDowell there were “fifteen chil
dren, most of whom lived to grow up.” (“Our Home,” p. 533). One
of these children, William (18), in the memorandum before referred
to, simply said: “John and Eleanor had children, to wit: Samuel, who
moved to the State of Ohio, where he died, leaving several children on
the Great Miami. William, John and Andrew, who moved to North
Carolina to their uncle, Abraham Hodge, the State Printer. Abraham
Hodge during the Revolution conducted the Whig Press of Samuel
Lowdon of the City of New York, and just before the close of the
Revolutionary war he conducted General Washington's traveling press
while the army was stationed at Valley Forge. Most of the daughters
of John and Eleanor Boylan are married and live in and about Plucke
min, except Margaret, the wife of James Shaw, the late sheriff of the
city of New York, and Lydia, who married Jacob Suydam, who removed
to the Great Miami in Ohio. He died, and she married Robert Lawrence,
of Cincinnati, merchant.”
It seems rather strange that all the children were not mentioned.
While we are unable to name or place all the fifteen children the fol
lowing fourteen (order uncertain) are given as a result of much cor
respondence):
15. SAMUEL, b. 1768; m. Mary (dau. of Jacob and Mary Eoff,
of Pluckemin). She was previously the wife of Capt. Abram Van Ars
dale. Samuel was known as “Captain” Samuel, being captain of the 4th
Regiment of N. J. Infantry, which was sent to Western Pennsylvania
to aid in quelling the Whiskey Insurrection in 1794. He served from
Sept. 24. to Dec. 24 of that year. He was at one time collector of taxes
for Bedminster twsp. His daughter Maria m., Feb. 5, 1817, Jaquis O.
Quick, and resided at Flemington. As before stated, Samuel removed
(after 1811) to the Great Miami country, State of Ohio, where he left
various descendants. A Samuel Boylan (whether his son or not is un
known) of Pluckemin was a private in Capt. John Logan's Co., 3rd
Regiment, N. J. Detailed Militia, in the last war with Great Britain,
serving from Sept. 12, 1814, to Dec. 9, 1814.
I6. JoHN, who is said to have gone to North Carolina, but of whom
we have no further knowledge.
17. ABRAHAM HoDGE, who also removed to North Carolina with
his brother William and was unm.; was living in 1861, because mentioned
in the will of William (18).
18. WILLIAM, of Raleigh, N. C., b. Sept. 1, 1777; d. July 15, 1861.
(See full sketch of him and also ch., infra).
19. ELIZA; m. Oct. 23, 1811, Samuel Sloan, of Bedminster twsp.,
who went to Vicksburg, Mississippi. A son, William, lawyer, resided
and also d. at Vicksburg, Miss.
20. MARY, b. about 1781; d. Sept. 2, 1848, aged 67 years; m. (1)
Samuel Wilson, and (2), 1813, John Davenport, of Pluckemin, being
his second wife. Mr. Davenport was b. at Bury, Eng., in 1777, and d.
Sept. 18, 1830. He was the most prominent and enterprising business
man there of his day. She is said to have been a remarkably estimable
lady. They had six children: Margaret Davenport, who m. George
Van Nest and is living between Pluckemin and North Branch; John
Davenport, who m. Hester Voorhees; Thomas Davenport, of Somer
ville, who m. Frances Smith; Eleanor Davenport, who m. William L.
Jones; James S. Davenport, of Raritan, who m. Maria Remsen; and
Samuel W. Davenport, of Somerville, who m. Amelia Besteder. Thomas,
James S. and Samuel W. Davenport composed the firm of Davenport
Brothers, of New York City, which was noted in the china and glassware
business for forty years. By Samuel Wilson, Mary Boylan had one
son, Robert, who settled in the West.
21. SARAH, of Pluckemin, b. about 1776; d. Sept. 7, 1872, at the
age of 96; m., Dec. 1, 1830, Eli Parker, who d. Aug. 16, 1867, aged 76
yrs. There were no ch., but there was a step-son, John Parker, who
m. Sarah Parker's niece, Mary Van Derveer, dau. of Anne (26). Mrs.
Parker also adopted Mary Eugenia, her grandniece, named under (26).
22. HANNAH, of Pluckemin, b. about 1778; d. 1864, aged 86 yrs.;
unm. She resided with her sister Sarah.
23. LYDIA; m, Nov. 23, 1814, Jacob Suydam, and removed to the
Great Miami, Ohio. Had a son, Simon. After Mr. Suydam's death she
m. Robert Lawrence, a merchant of Cincinnati.
24. MARGARET, who m. James Shaw, once sheriff of the city of
New York. Had 5 ch.: (1) Rev. James Boylan Shaw, D. D., pastor of
the Brick Presbyterian church at Rochester, N. J., who was Moderator
of the Presbyterian General Assembly at Brooklyn in 1865. (2) Eliza,
who m. a Webster (said to have been a brother of Noah Webster, the
lexicographer), and d. at Pluckemin Dec. 19, 1871. She was highly
educated; is said to have been a classmate of Harriet Beecher Stowe at
Litchfield, Conn.; was at one time a school teacher in the “Dutchess”
neighborhood between Pluckemin and North Branch, and was a fine
musician. (3) Jane, who m. a Rev. Mr. Wyncoop. (4) William, who
was an insurance agent in New York City. (5) Son, name unknown.
(Order of foregoing uncertain).
25. CATHERINE, who m. a Wilson, cousin to Samuel Wilson (20).
Both died in New York City of yellow fever somewhere about 1802-'5.
Had two ch.: (1) Catherine, b. 1800; d. 1886; m. Peter Garretson, of
Burnt Mills, later of Pluckemin. When very young she was taken
to Raleigh, N. C., and brought up by her uncle William (18), but re
turned North before marriage. Mrs. Jane Gaston (widow of Hugh) of
Somerville is a living daughter. (2) John, who was also taken to
Raleigh and lived there. When grown up he went to New York with a
large amount of money to use for his uncle, William, and was never
heard from afterward; supposed to have been robbed and, perhaps,
murdered.
25a. DAUGHTER, name unknown; m. a Ward and went West, had
a son, Boylan Ward.
26. ANNE, who m. Peter Van Derveer (probably son of John Van
Derveer and Jane Van Pelt), of Pluckemin. Their ch. were: (1) Sam
uel Van Derveer, of Pluckemin, b. 1820; d. Jan. 4, 1841; m. and had
ch. : Sarah Jane, who m. Sept. 11, 1859, John W. Teeple, and whose
dau, Mrs. William Henry Whittemore, resides at 12 N. 16th street, East
Orange; and Mary Eugenia (wife of Paul Van Dervoort, of Burnt Mills),
who d. July 27, 1916, aged about 76 yrs., whose two ch. are: Sarah Boy
lan, wife of Noyes R. Thomas, of 88 S. 13th street, Newark, N. J., and
Paul C. Van Dervoort, living at Burnt Mills. (2) John Van Derveer,
of Pluckemin; d. (after 1870); m. Margaret Collier and had ch.: John
C., who m. Margaret Blackwell Van Dervoort; Sarah, who m. Elias
Walk; Eliza, who m. Andrew Gulick, of Pluckemin; and Ann, who m.
John De Mott. (3) James Van Derveer, of Chester, who had a son
John, now living there. (4) William B., of Pluckemin. (5) Mary Van
Derveer, who m. John Parker (named under 21).
26a. ELEANOR (supposed); m. John T. West. It is said they went
to North Carolina. Both are mentioned in the will of her brother Wil
liam (18); also “my niece, Eleanor West.”
SKETCH of WILLIAM BoyLAN, of RALEIGH, N. C.
As the above Mr. William Boylan (18), a native of Somerset Coun
ty, N.J., became one of the most successful and influential of the noted
men of the State of North Carolina, it may interest our readers to have
more than the usual dates concerning him. From some of his descendants
and from Ashe’s “Biographical History of North Carolina,” published
in 1907, and a few other sources, we learn that Mr. Boylan, when a very
young man, went to North Carolina to work in the office of his uncle,
Abraham Hodge (brother to his mother, Eleanor Hodge). This uncle
was one of the State's early printers. Mr. Hodge first engaged in busi
ness at Newbern about January, 1775, when the firm of Hodge & Blanch
ard became publishers of the “State Gazette of North Carolina.” Later
the firm became Hodge & Wills, removing to Edenton about 1777 and
subsequently to Halifax, N. C., where they began publishing the “North
Carolina Journal,” in July, 1793. Another account states that Mr. Hodge
conducted, in the early part of the Revolutionary War, the Whig press
of Samuel Lowden, of New York City, and that just before the close of
the war he conducted a traveling press for General Washington, the
time of the latter being stated as “while the army was stationed at
Valley Forge.”
In 1797, when twenty years of age, William Boylan became a
member of the firm of Hodge & Boylan, publishing at Fayetteville the
“North Carolina Minerva” and the “Fayetteville Gazette.” The latter
newspaper was later removed to Raleigh and the name changed to the
“North Carolina Minerva and Raleigh Advertiser,” and afterwards simp
ly “The Minerva.”
It was about 1799 when Mr. Boylan became a citizen of Raleigh.
He opened a book store in addition to his newspaper business. For
many years Hodge & Boylan were printers to the State, and regularly
published Almanacs, as well as printed some miscellaneous books. An
early anecdote of him as almanac-maker is thus given by Governor
Swain in an address in 1867:
“Traveling from Raleigh to Pittsboro about 1800, he and Mr. Peace,
on reaching the election ground at Brassfields, found a multitude assem
bled engaged in dancing and other rural sports in the free and easy
manner characteristic of the time and place. Mr. Peace was compara
tively at home. Mr. Boylan stood aloof until a rowdy approached and
invited him to enter the ring with the dancers. On his declining, a
dozen came forward prepared to coerce the submission of the proud
aristocrat. In an instant Mr. Peace, with great solemnity, beckoned the
leader of the band aside and whispered: ‘My friend, be careful how
you act. Bless your life, that is Mr. Boylan, the man who made the
almanac, and can foretell eclipses and thunderstorms. The reference
to the almanac-maker secured at once the most deferential respect for
the distinguished visitor.”
In 1801 the Raleigh Academy was incorporated, Mr. Boylan becom
ing one of its Board of Trustees. In this famous school were afterward
educated William Rufus King, Vice-President of the United States,
Leonidas Polk, Bishop and Confederate General, and other men who at
tained distinction in public life. When the old capitol at Raleigh was
burned, on June 21, 1831, Mr. Boylan was appointed a commissioner on
the erection of a new building, which still stands, and which cost the
State $530,000. When the North Carolina Railroad Company was in
corporated in 1848, the State made a subscription of $2,000,000 condi
tioned on $1,000,000 being subscribed by individuals. The Governor of
the State, with Mr. Boylan and some others canvassed for the stock, but
when the plan was about to fail, Mr. Boylan, with great sacrifice but
high faith in the enterprise, subscribed for the untaken shares. His
labors in this direction received high encomiums. Mr. Boylan was also
the second president of the State Bank of North Carolina, succeeding
Colonel Polk, and was President of the Raleigh & Gaston R. R. Co., now
part of the great Seaboard Air Line Railway system of the South.
When Mr. Boylan, by his business ventures, had acquired a fortune,
he retired from editorial work and gave his newspaper outfit to his
bachelor brother, Abraham Hodge Boylan, who soon disposed of it.
Mr. Boylan owned plantations both in North Carolina and in Mississippi.
He raised the first cotton in Wake county, N. C., and at one time owned
over 1,000 slaves. At his death he left an estate of about $1,000,ooo,
which he had accumulated by his own industry and business sagacity.
The fine Boylan mansion was originally built by Col. Joel Lane, who
d. in 1795, when it became the property of one Browne, a lawyer, who
sold it, with a fine miscellaneous library, to Mr. Boylan in 1818. (A brief
account of a visit to this mansion by Dr. A. W. McDowell, of Pluckemin,
appeared in “Our Home” for 1873, p. 534).
Mr. Boylan was twice married: first, to Elizabeth Stokes McCul
loch, dau. of Benjamin McCulloch, of Halifax, N. C., and a granddau.
of Hon. Alexander McCulloch, member of the King's Council of North
Carolina in Colonial days; second, to Jane Elliott, who survived him. The
McCullochs were from Ireland and were related to Lord Macartney,
who was English Ambassador to China.
Mr. Boylan died at Raleigh in his 84th year, on July 15, 1861, and
was buried in the family plot in the old City Cemetery. On his monu
ment is the following epitaph:
“He removed in his early youth to North Carolina, where he resided
until his death, beloved and respected by all. He was a patriotic and
public-spirited man, and ardently devoted to the interests and improve
ment of his adopted State.”
It is stated that Mr. Boylan was “sedate and grave in manners to a
degree that, to a stranger, might have been taken for austerity.” But his
portrait, taken from an engraving (see frontispiece in this number), does
not show this, and it is certain he had a kind, warm heart, not only toward
the public but toward his relatives. He often made handsome presents
to his mother Eleanor Boylan, and was liberal to his sister, Mrs. Parker.
(See “Our Home,” p. 534). His will of June 18, 1858, with two
codicils, probated Nov. 18, 1861, in Wake county, N. C., was also record
ed in this (Somerset) county in order to give title to the real estate at
Pluckemin bequeathed to him by his mother and which he willed to his
sister, Sarah Parker. (Somerset Wills, Book L, p. 263). In this elab
orate will he mentions not only children and grandchildren, but, by
specific name, a large number of slaves. Besides the large bequests to
the widow and family, he devised his numerous plantations specified as
in Wake and Chatham cos., and at Cape Fear, N. C.; also in Yazoo co.,
Miss. To his unmarried daughter Catherine he gave his handsome dwell
ing house and plantation called “Wakefield,” with his library, etc.
Singularly enough, while Mr. Boylan had eleven children, yet of
his descendants, which were many, the only ones now to bear his surname
descend from his youngest son, William Montfort Boylan, of Raleigh.
CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN BOYLAN (13) AND ELIZABETH ALwARD:
27. ANN, who d. aged 22 yrs.
28. SARAH, who m. W. Huff, and resided in Newark. Ch.: (1)
Ferdinand; m. Emily Hulen; have ch. living in Newark. (2) James; m.
Adelaide Gardner. (3) William; m. Agnes Brown. (4) Frank, of
White Lake, N.Y.; m. Precilla Collins.
29. JoHN, of Newark, N. J.; m. Mary A. Graham (dau. of Guy
and Ann Graham). Ch.: (1) W. Cassius; d. aged 7 yrs. (2) Kate A.;
m. Eugene Ward; living in Newark, and has ch. Mary Eva and Eugene
Graham. (3) Eva; d. aged 11 yrs. (4) John F., of Madison, N. J.,
b. July 24, 1856; m. Elizabeth Guerin (dau. of S. T. Guerin, of Newark,
and Sarah Boyd), and had ch. Madeliene and Theodore, both deceased.
Mr. John F. Boylan is with Browning, King & Co., of New York City.
(5) William C., of Newark; unm.
-:30. WILLIAM L., who went to Melbourne, Australia, in 1849; m.
Charlotte A. Rhalves. Ch.: (1) SARAH; m. W. Moore. (2) CHAR
LoTTE; d. unm. (3) GEORGE R.; living in Brooklyn; m., first, Mary
Henshaw, and second, Emily Dana, and had ch. (by M. H.) RoBERT, and
(by E. D.) JoHN and MYRA.
31. JAMEs B.; m., first, Katherine S. Webster, and second, Mary F.
Weeks. Ch. (by K. S. W.) JAMEs B., Jr., of Hoboken, who m. Emma
Van Velsor, and had ch. BENJAMIN D., HENRY B. and RAYMOND; and
ELIZABETH, of Newark, who m. J. D. Orton.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM BoyLAN (18) AND ELIZABETH S. McCULLocH:
32. JoHN HoDGE, of Chatham co., N. C., b. Jan. 5, 1803; d. 1870;
U11mm.
33. ALEXANDER MCCULLOCH, b. Aug. 16, 1804; d. Oct., 1834; m.
Priscilla Hall. Ch.: WILLIAM, WELDON EDWARDS and ALEXANDER
PLEASANTS, who m. Cooper, of Tennessee, and had one ch., Kate
Weldon Cooper.
34. WILLIAM, b. July 2, 1806; d. 1828; unm.
35. BENJAMIN McCULLOCH, b. Apr. 14, 1808; d. 1809.
36. ELEANOR ELIZA, b. Feb. 12, 1810; d. Aug., 1848; unm.
37. SAMUEL McCULLocH, b. Nov. 22, 1812; d. 1845; m. Mary
Collins, of Mississippi. Had one son, John, who d. 1870.
38. MARY ADELAIDE, b. Nov. 2, 1814; d. 1825.
39. JAMEs, b. Oct. 26, 1816; d. 1842; unm.
40. CATHERINE, b. Aug. 25, 1818; d. 1895; unm.
41. SARAH, b. Dec. 10, 1820; d. 1821.
42. WILLIAM MonTFORT, of Raleigh, N. C., b. Sept. 5, 1822; d.
Feb. 3, 1899; m. Mary Kinsey, of Newbern, N. C. This Mr. Boylan was
a successful planter, occupying a beautiful home surrounded by hun
dreds of acres of land on the outskirts of the city of Raleigh. “He was
handsome in appearance and possessed of those splendid traits of charac
ter and disposition which made him one of Raleigh's best-known and
most popular citizens.” (For ch., see infra).
CHILD OF WILLIAM BoyLAN (18) AND JANE ELLIOTT :
43. JANE ELLIOTT, b. Feb. 28, 1833; m. William E. Green.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM MonTFORT BoyLAN (42) AND MARY KINSEY:
44. JAMEs, b. 1842; d. May 14, 1905; m. Margaret Tucker. He
was a successful merchant, leaving a fine business conducted at present
by his oldest son, William Montfort Boylan, under the firm name of
Boylan, Pearce and Co. “James Boylan was known and loved by all
classes of people in Wake county.” (For ch., see infra).
45. WILLIAM, of Raleigh, N. C., b. 1844; d. 1914; m. Placide
Engelhard. Ch.: (1) WILLIAM; d. unm. (2) JosePHINE ENGELHARD;
m. Ellsworth Van Patten, and has ch., Ellsworth, Jr.
46. MARY ALICE, b. June 9, 1847; m. Joseph A. Haywood, of
Raleigh. Ch.: (1) William Boylan Haywood, b. Sept. 13, 1870; d.
aged 16 yrs. (2) Martha Helen Haywood, b. Sept. 27, 1872; living
at 21o S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh, founder and editor of the “North
Carolina Booklet.” We are indebted to her for much data concerning
this North Carolina branch. (3) Catherine Haywood, b. Sept. 7, 1876;
m. Jan. 10, 1900, Benjamin W. Baker, and has ch., Katherine Boylan
Haywood Baker, b. Mar. 24, 1902, and Elizabeth Whitely Baker, b. July
30, 1904. (4) Elsie Bryan Haywood, b. Aug. 13, 1881.
47. ELIZABETH McCULLocH, b. 1848; m. George H. Snow, of
Raleigh, N. C. Ch.: (1) Mary Boylan Snow, b. Mar. 18, 1872; m.
Charles Baskerville, and has ch. : Charles, now at Cornell University,
and Elizabeth McCulloch. (2) William Boylan Snow, b. Mar. 12, 1873;
m. Alice Stronach, and has ch., William Boylan and John Kennall. Sen
ator Snow is an active and successful lawyer, who has been County At
torney for Wake co., City Attorney of Raleigh, State Senator, and is
at present Prosecuting Attorney in the City Court of Raleigh. (3)
George Hodge Snow, b. Mar. 17, 1875; who d. unm. (4) Adelaide
Boylan Snow, b. Mar. 1, 1880; m. Francis Cloud Boylston, of Charleston,
S. C. Ch.: Adelaide Boylan Snow Boylston, b. Oct. 27, 1905.
48. BENJAMIN; d. young.
CHILDREN OF JAMES BoyLAN (44) AND MARGARET TUCKER:
49. FLORENCE TUCKER; d. unm.
50. MARY KINSEY; m. Steadman Thompson, of Raleigh, N. C., and
had ch., George and James.
51. MARGARET JoRDAN; m. Claiborne Carr, of Durham, N. C., and
had ch., Claiborne, Montfort, Boylan and John Wesley.
52. WILLIAM MoNTFORT; unm.
53. KATHERINE; unm.
54. RUFUs TUCKER; unm.; now with the Raleigh Banking &
Trust Co. We are also indebted to him for facts and courtesies in the
preparation of this article.
In addition to the foregoing Boylans, we have found on Somerset
records, without being able to certainly place, the following members of
the family, all of Bedminster or Bernards twsps.:
John Bullion (doubtless Boylan), who m., Feb. 28, 1815, Betsey
Blair. -
Joseph Bullions (perhaps Boylan), who m., Jan. 2, 1823, Jane
Whitenack.
Ann Boylan, who d. Oct. 5, 1845, aged 51 yrs, I mo., 16 dys.
(Grave at Basking Ridge).
Mary Boylan, who m., Dec. 30, 1846, Freeman Ayres.
Lavinia Boylan, who m. Jan. 24, 1833, Daniel D. Reader. (Mar
riage by Rev. John Kirkpatrick).
William R. Boylan, who, on Dec. 21, 1807, mortgaged one acre of
land in Bernards twsp. to John Smith. (Somerset Mortg., Book G, p.
189).
Jonathan Boylan and Catherine, his wife, who, on Mar. 12, 1828,
mortgaged 34 acre of land at Liberty Corner to Nathan Compton. (Som
erset Mortg., Book J, p. 508).
That the name was pronounced “Bullion” in Somerset even fifty
years ago is certain, as a lady now living testifies.
The Boylan name remained in Ireland at least a century after the
coming to Somerset county of Aaron Boylan, as is proven by the fact
that a William H. Boylan, architect, now residing in New Brunswick,
states that his father, William Boylan, came over from County Kildare,
Ireland, about 1835. He died in 1881, aged about 85.
J% &

William Bell marries Lavinia Boylan

Samuel T. Bell, director and secretary of the County Home Poor
Farm of Mercer county, resident of Sandy Creek township, is one of the
oldest and most influential Republicans in this part of the state, and
prior to assuming his present responsible duties was for many years per
haps the most influential citizen of the county in matters educational.
Pie is a veteran of the Civil war and well represents a family which for
more than seventy years has stood for all that was substantial and honor
able in the progress of agricultural and public affairs. He is a son of
William Bell, a native of Ireland, a grandson of Sir William Bell, of
Scotland, and a great-grandson of Lord John Bell, colonel of a Highland
dragoon regiment of that country and afterward promoted to a general
ship. William Bell, the father, was born in 1788 in the parish of Killade,
county Antrim, Ireland, receiving his higher education at a college in
Belfast and being especially trained as a civil engineer for the India
service. Instead of going east, however, he emigrated to Quebec in
1826. On the passage his son James died, and as the vessel was fol
lowed by sharks the superstitious sailors refused to have the corpse
buried at sea. The body was carried aboard for four days and finally
cast overboard at the entrance of the St. Lawrence river, in latitude 46
degrees. The young Irishman of Scotch blood taught school in the city
of Quebec for a time, later cultivated a farm at the head of Lake Chau
tauqua. New York, and afterward located at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,
where he both farmed and taught. He then removed with his family to
Trumbull county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm and became a neigh
bor of five families which afterward formed with his own household a
colony which located in Mercer county. Among these were the Whites,
the Palmers, the Stewards, Morisons of Hadley. Selling their farms
in Trumbull county, for which they received gold, the heads of these
families started with one team and wagon, in which they loaded their
wives, children and household goods, and, with the coin of the realm
in a bag hanging from a pole (borne by the men), the caravan finally
arrived in Sandy Creek township. Here the gold was divided and the
newcomers paid five dollars per acre for their land in .the locality.
William Bell bought the old Woods farm of sixty-five acres, in a clearing
of five acres standing a crude log house. His first crops were potatoes
and corn. Not long after his arrival his first wife (nee Catherine
McChain, of Ireland) passed away, the mother of William J., Arthur,
James and a daughter who died in early infancy.

A year later he married Miss Lavina Boylan, 
daughter of Aaron Boylan, of Red Stone, Erie
county, Pennsylvania. Her father was one of the pioneers of Deer
Creek township, coming from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1800.
His comrade was David Caldwell, the two paddling up the Allegheny
river and French creek to the cabin of James Herrington, in Crawford
county, by whose direction they found the vacant land on which they
settled. They erected two cabins, each twelve feet square, and their pro
visions were gradually reduced to coarse baked corn dough and nothing
else whatever. When the latter stage of their fortunes was reached they
started for the nearest settlement for relief, but when they returned with
their small stock they were met at the door of one of their houses by a
man named Davis, who claimed their land by virtue of the unwritten law
that whenever the fire of a settler went out he thereby relinquished all
title to his property. This happened to be Boylan's cabin. Its first occu
pant appeared to accept the situation, but requested of Mr. Davis the
privilege of entering to warm himself, and when the latter left the house
for a near-by spring, Mr. Boylan put out the fire and closed the door.
He thus regained his title, according to the land law of the times, and
held to his property. This sturdy founder of the family in Mercer
county became an active citizen with the settlement of the country; held
most of the township offices, and died in 1863, at the age of seventy-nine.
The grandparents were New Jersey people, the great-grandmother living
to the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. The maternal
great-grandfather, Abel Thompson, was a native of Union Mills, Erie
county, born March 2. 1757. By the marriage of William Bell to Lavina
Boylan were born the following nine children. Charles J., whose sketch
appears elsewhere ; Samuel T., of this biography ; Hananh C., widow of
Dr. I. C. Feather ; Sarah A., deceased ; Nellie M., wife of W. E. Robin
son : David W., deceased; Joseph H.: Jane A., widow of Dr. J. C.
Feather ; and John, deceased. Mrs. Lavina Bell died in 1875. in her
sixty-third year, her husband surviving her until February 16, 1878, when
he passed away at the advanced age of ninety-five years, nine months and
fifteen days. The grandfather of Samuel T. (Sir William, already men
tioned) was killed in Belfast, Ireland, as the result of a duel with a lord
of the upper house of parliament.

Samuel T. Bell, of this biography, was born July 3, 1844, on the old
homestead in Sandy Creek township, and on January 14, 1862, enlisted
at Sheakleyville in Company K, One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsyl
vania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain J. J. Pierce, of Sharpsville.
Pennsylvania. On the 28th of April the regiment was sent to Camp
McKim, Baltimore, and Winchester was the first engagement in which it
participated. Mr. Bell participated in all the skirmishes to Harper's
Ferry and Culpeper Court House, being under continuous fire for seven
teen days; was in the second battle of Bull Run; narrowly escaped death
at Antietam, a bullet being deflected from his belt ; was sent to the
hospital at Harper's Ferry and was with his regiment again from Shenan
doah Valley to Chancellorsville. At the latter battle he was twice
wounded—one bullet glancing from his forehead and the second passing
through his knee-cap. At Gettysburg he was wounded in the right ear,
breast, left arm and finger of the left hand, and was afterward sent to
various hospitals, completing his recovery at the general hospital, Harwood,
Washington, from which he was discharged and returned home.
After the war Mr. Bell resumed farming in Sandy Creek township,
but subsequent to his marriage in 1874 learned the carpenter's and the
stone mason's trades. These vocations, in connection with the operation
of the homestead farm, occupied the active years of his life, the conduct
of the public affairs of the township with which he was entrusted adding
weight and honors to his citizenship. He is a charter member and quar
termaster of the Sheakleyville Post No. 417, G. A. R., and has always
been an earnest Republican. He served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff
Ebcrmon, and has held all the township offices except the assessorship,
but his record has been especially commendable for his fine work in fur
thering the interests of the common schools. His service as a member
of the school board covered a period of twenty-three years, eighteen years
of which was spent as its secretary. He is school director and secretary
and justice of the peace at this time.

Mr. Bell wedded Miss Ada Zilla Amon, who was born March 25,
1850, and was a daughter of David and Maria (Foulk) Amon. Her
father, who was a stone mason by trade, died in 1893. The mother, a
daughter of J. Foulk, of French Creek township, is a resident of
Franklin. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel T. Bell were as
follows: Edith E., born July 18, 1869, wife of William Conway, a resi
dent of Pittsburg and mother of VTelma, William and Erma ; Charles A.,
born December 27, 1871, who married Miss Lena Patton, is the father
of Mabel and Vere and engaged in carpentry and contracting work at
Pittsburg ; Florence, born January 4, 1873, who married Professor C. F.
Montgomery, superintendent of schools of Allegheny county, and has
become the mother of Ada, Alice, Freda, Martha, Charles, and a daughter-;
Laura, born January 8. 1876, now Mrs. Mouck, wife of a Vernon township
farmer and mother of Gladys, Archie, Paul and Twila ; Elsie M., born No
vember 28, 1878, wife of George Arbuckle, a farmer of Deer Creek town
ship ; David J. Garfield, born September 21, 1881, and a carpenter of British
Columbia, Canada ; Bessie R., born February 10, 1884, who married
O. C. Martin, a mill worker of Sandy Creek township, by whom she has
become the mother of Edna and Madge: Albert T., born April 5, 1886,
who is engaged in farming in Oregon Lake county ; Francis L. and Han
nah T., both living with their father—the former born July 21, 1889, and
the latter September 13, 1891. Mrs. Bell, the faithful mother and wife,
died March 17. 1898, after a lingering illness, which so tested her
strength and Christian fortitude. By her death the family suffered an
inexpressible loss and the entire community felt that practical goodness
and heavenly spirituality had been taken with her departure. She was a
devout and stanch supporter of the Presbyterian church and for many
years most active in its missionary work.

William Montfort Boylan Hall

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montfort_Hall

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montfortmontfort Hall is a home and registered historic landmark located in the Boylan Heights^[2] neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina. It is one of the few mansions in Raleigh that survived during the American Civil War era. The house was built for William Montfort Boylan in 1858 and is an example of Italianate architecture. The centerpiece of the house's interior is a rotunda supported by four Corinthiancolumns and lit by a stained glass window located on the roof. Montfort Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as Montford Hall and is a Raleigh Historic Landmark.^[3]

Montfort Hall
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	308 Boylan Ave., Raleigh, North Carolina
Coordinates	35°46′34.82″N78°39′3.99″W
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1858
Architect	William Percival Briggs & Dodd
Architectural style	Italianate
NRHP reference #	78001979[1]
Added to NRHP	March 8, 1978

HistoryEdit

William Montfort Boylan was the youngest son of prominent Raleigh businessman, William Boylan. The younger Boylan was born in the former home of Joel Lane after his father had purchased it along with the Wakefield Plantation in 1818. In addition to Wakefield, the senior Boylan owned plantations in neighboring Johnston and Chathamcounties and in Mississippi, making him one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina. Boylan deeded his son William 100 acres (0.40 km²) on the west side of Raleigh in 1855.

William Montfort Boylan chose William Percival to design his home in 1858. In addition to designing Montfort Hall, some of Percival's work included renovations to the State Capitol and designing the New East and New West dormitories at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. William Montfort Boylan died in 1899 and the land around Montfort Hall was sold and subdivided as Boylan Heights, one of Raleigh's first planned suburban neighborhoods. Since then, Montfort Hall has passed through a succession of owners, but the building still retains much of its original character.^[4]

See alsoEdit

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wake County, North Carolina

ReferencesEdit

1. ^ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. ^ "Historic Boylan Heights Neighborhood". Boylanheights.org. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
3. ^ Mary Ann Lee (n.d.). "Montford Hall" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
4. ^ "National Park Service, retrieved on March 16, 2008". Nps.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-18.

Last edited 2 years ago by JJMC89 bot

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