History of Bedminster Township Somerset County, New Jersey

http://www.nynjctbotany.org/njnbtofc/bedminstertwn.html

History of Bedminster Township
Somerset County, New Jersey

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There are 4 village areas:
Pluckemin – east of I-287;
Bedminster – on the adjacent west side; borders The Hills;
Lamington – in the center of the Township; and
Pottersville – in the Northwest corner; first known as Lamington Falls.

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History:
1740 – the Lamington Presbyterian Church founded. It is part of the Lamington Historic District on the National Register of Historical Places.
1741 – the Lamington Presbyterian Church built.
1746 – John Boylan, son of Aaron Boylan, born.
Since 1747 – members of the Lamington Presbyterian Church have been buried in the graveyard across the street from the church.
1749 – Bedminster Township founded as an agricultural center.
Mid-1700s – the Pluckemin Store, called the Pluckamin Store in early years, founded and still serves the community. (George Vosseller who may have been the son of James Vosseller, was thought to be born on October 21st, 1763 in Pluckemin NJ.)
1750 – Jacob Eoff, a native of Holland purchased five hundred acres of land from the heirs of John Johnstone and built the first inn in Pluckemin. The inn was at the intersection of Route 202-206 and Washington Valley Road.
1751 – Aaron Boylan built the Boylan house in Pluckemin across the street from the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church. His son, John, four stores: at Pluckemin, Liberty Corner, Vealtown (Bernardsville), and Vanderveers Mills.
1750s – William Willet erected mills that would play an important role in Pottersville's early development.
1756 – in Pluckemin, the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church built.
1768 – son Samuel born to John and Eleanor Boylan. Samuel married Mary Eoff, daughter of Jacob Eoff.
1775-1782 – the Revolutionary War.
1776 – in Pluckemin, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church damaged by a British raid. The Briitish wanted to capture Captain Issac VanArsdale but he escaped to the woods.
On a second British raid, British troops went as far as VanderVeer's Mills (toward what is now Bedminster) and took Elias VanderVeer prisoner. (The prisoner was without coat or hat and he died from the after effects of the hardship.)
1777 (January 4 and 5) – Washington and his army camped in Pluckemin on their way to Morristown from the January 3, 1777 Battle of Princeton.
1777 (January 5) – in Pluckemin, Generals Washington, Sullivan, Knox and Dr. Benjamin Rush were on hand for the burial of British Captain William Leslie, son of the Earl of Leven, Scotland, with military honors in the church cemetery of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
winter of 1778-1779 – General Henry Knox and his family lived in the Jacobus Vanderveer House. The fields behind the Boylan house in Pluckemin, where the Hills Development stands today, was the site of a massive Revolutionary war artillery encampment. It included an artillery school established by General Knox, that was the forerunner of West Point.
George Washington and his troops marched through Bedminster.
During the Revolutionary War – Jacob Eoff’s Pluckemin tavern was the meeting place for the committee of safety, and Washington's army. His son Christian Eoff succeeded him and built the "Barracks" on the opposite corner).
1779 – John Boylan and his wife Eleanor Hodge Boylan entertained George and Martha Washington in Pluckemin at the Grand Alliance Ball. The Ball was celebrated to honor the first anniversary of the alliance with France.
1782 – William Willet supplied grain to Washington's Army, but was bankrupted by the devaluation of Continental Currency. He sold his mills to Captain Samuel Potter. Captain Samuel's grandson, Serring, played an important role in the growth and development of the Pottersville. The town became known as "Potter's Mills," and was later officially named "Pottersville." The village is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1793 – death of John Boylan.

Early in the 19^th century – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church torn down when it was no longer safe.
1814 – the Pluckemin inn destroyed by fire.
1831 – a small Methodist chapel built.
1852 – the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church built at the village center over the site of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
1861-1865 – Civil War.
During the 19th century – many wealthy families built estates
1865-1904 – the Temperance Society forced Pluckemin to go completely dry and sell no alcohol.
1885 – Dr. John B. Beekman purchased the Boylan house.
1890s – In the vicinity of Pluckemin, the Kenilworth Inn built where the current A&P shopping center now stands at the intersection of Washington Valley Road and Route 202-206. The alcohol prohibition hurt the inn and it failed. It became a State Police Headquarters.
1892 – the Pluckemin Store burned. The store was then moved diagonally across the street. It also served as a post office.
During the 19th century – many wealthy families built estates.
1897 – the Boylan house modernized.
1905 – the Dr. Beekman sold the house to Nathan Compton. He, in turn, sold it to his son Andrew.
Until 1912 – the old small Methodist chapel served as the Pluckemin School.
1912 – the Pluckemin School built. It served as a primary grade elementary school (referred to as the Pluckemin Grammer School) until the late 1950s.
1913 – Andrew Compton, owner of the Boylan House, participated in an Anniversary Celebration of the original Grand Alliance Ball of 1779.
1950s – the Boylan house was the home and antique shop of Hanscom Antiques.
1961 to 1976 – the Boylan house was home to Fireside Antiques.
1977 to 1988 – the Boylan house was a residence and home based craft shop.
1989 – a real estate firm housed in the Boylan house, it was later converted to an office and retail center called the Courtyards at Pluckemin.
1989 to 1990 – a duplicate of the Boylan house in yellow constructed to accommodate shops and offices.
1928 – in Pluckemin, the old Kenilworth Inn/State Police Headquarters structure burned down.
Late 1950s – the Pluckemin school closed. It later served as offices for local police. The new Bedminster Township School began serving students from Kindergarten through Grade 8.
until 1970s – before this time the Township was a quiet rural. It changed with the coming of I-78 opened along its southern edge, and I-287 crossed at its eastern border
mid 80's – The Hills, with its townhomes, condos, and small lot houses, was developed on Schley Mountain, east of I-287.
1989 – the Jacobus Vanderveer House and property were purchased by the township . The house is situated on part of the 218 acres that make up River Road Park.
1995 – the John Vanderveer house listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
2000 – Township population was 8,302. 65% of Township residents now live in The Hills, set off by the intersection of I-78 and I-287.

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Sources:
Bedminister Township: Township Tour; http://www.bedminster-nj.com/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC={8008C47B-DFD6-4CCA-859B-ED65ABE4DBF9}
Pluckemin History; http://hometown.aol.com/skm658/PluckeminHistory.htm
Historic Preservation; Pottersville Historic District; http://www.tewksburynj.com/history.shtml

The Jacobus Vanderveer House; http://www.jvanderveerhouse.com/

THE SOMERSET BOYLAN FAMILY

https://archive.org/stream/somersetcountyhi06hone/somersetcountyhi06hone_djvu.txt

BY THE EDITOR OF THE QUARTERLY

Among the early important Scotch-Irish families of Bernards and Bedminster 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 indebted 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. 1. 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 (Bernardsville), but another informant states it was near Liberty Corner, in either case Somerset. He is said to have been a pew holder, and perhaps member, 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 Ireland. 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 married Mary Annin and Aaron married Catherine Parkinson, the widow of Richard Shillton. The Parkinsons were of Ireland. James had several 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, afterwards 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 certainly to have been Scotch, and not Irish, as such a surname would imply. 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 Somerset, 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 statement 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 Londonderry, 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. (Quarterly, Vol. Ill, p. 92). Previously, in 1754, an advertised letter in the New York post-office was also addressed to him at Basking Ridge ("N. T. 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 Londonderry, N. H., and went from there to Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1741. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were both Scotch-Irish, from Ireland. During the Indian massacre at Cherry Valley in 1778 his wife was killed in an inhuman manner (see various accounts of the Cherry Valley massacre), whereupon he came to New Jersey, probably to reside with his son-in-law, James Boylan.

Dr. Boylan resided at Vealtown (Bernardsville), Somerset co., where he not only practiced medicine but owned a gristmill and 1355^2 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 Philadelphia 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. 410) that he was probably Lord Stirling's family physician.

During the winter of I/76-'77, when some stray British militiamen made a temporary 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 occasionally 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, Somerset 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 Quarterly (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. 102 Somerset County Historical Quarterly 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, 191 3) 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 picture of the Boylan house at Pluckemin appeared in the Quarterly for July, 19 1 6. 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 appears in the "Story of an Old Farm" (p. 581), showing he wrote a business 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 village 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 beside two distinguished men, who were lay Judges with him, Col. Peter D. Vroom, father of the Governor, and Henry Southard (later Congressman), 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 granddaughter 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. 103 is a tombstone to his memory. His widow Eleanor, by will dated Oct. 10 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 Revolution, in Capt. John Parker's Company, First Battalion, Somerset Militia; in the State Troops and in the Continental Army. Whom he married we do not know, but he doubtless removed soon after 1800 to Mercer co., Pa., where he died, according to the War Department Pension 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 twps. 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 previous 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, X. 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., Somerset 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 Fitzgerald, 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.

10. 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).

11. James, b. 1778. No further trace.

12. Joseph, b. 1780. It is stated that a dau. of Joseph is still living, very aged, at Lebanon, Ohio, and that her daughter, a Mrs. Hartwell, 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 children, 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 Pluckemin, 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 following fourteen (order uncertain) are given as a result of much correspondence):

15. Samuel, b. 1768; m. Mary (dau. of Jacob and Mary Eoff, of Pluckemin). She was previously the wife of Capt. Abram Van Arsdale. 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 105 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 unknown) 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.

16. 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. I, 1777; d. July 15, 1861. (See full sketch of him and also ch., infra).

19. Eliza; m. Oct. 23, 181 1, 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 Somerville, 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, a g e d 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 i8o2-'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 returned 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) Samuel 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 Boylan, 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). 107

26a. Eleanor (supposed); m. John T. West. It is said they went to North Carolina. Both are mentioned in the will of her brother William (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 County, 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 business at Newbern about January, 1775, when the firm of Hodge & Blanchard 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 simply "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 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."

In 1801 the Raleigh Academy was incorporated, Mr. Boylan becoming 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 attained 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 incorporated in 1848, the State made a subscription of $2,000,000 conditioned 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 $1,000,000, 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 McCulloch, 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. 109 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 monument 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 improvement 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 recorded 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 elaborate 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 dwelling 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. no

30. William L., who went to Melbourne, Australia, in 1849; m Charlotte A. Rhalves. Ch.:

(1) Sarah; m. W. Moore.

(2) Charlotte; 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; unm.

2^. 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 hundreds of acres of land on the outskirts of the city of Raleigh. "He was handsome in appearance and possessed of those splendid traits of character 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). in

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. 2", 1872; living at 210 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. Senator Snow is an active and successful lawyer, who has been County Attorney 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; wno 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, a g e d 51 yrs., 1 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. (Marriage 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 l / 2 acre of land at Liberty Corner to Nathan Compton. (Somerset 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. x

William Thompson Boylan of Mercer County

http://mercercountygenealogy.com/biography/724/boylan-william-thompson

Submitted by John Boylan on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 11:51

   

William T. Boylan was born in Deer Creek Township, Mercer County on July 8, 1817 and spent most of his life on the farm where he was born. Wiliam died October 7, 1898 and was buried at Bell (West Deer Creek) Cemetery in Mercer County, PA.

He married Jane Hart who lived on a farm adjacent to the Boylan farm on February 18, 1841. Jane, born on April 11, 1824, was the daughter of James Edward and Amelia Shaffer Hart. She died November 7, 1900. Both William and Jane are buried in Bell (West Deer Creek) Cemetery, Mercer County.

William and Jane had 10 children: Amelia died at age five, James never married and died at age thirty-five, Caleb or Birt, as he was called, had one adopted son. The others all married and had families.

Aaron Boylan 3rd, his father gave a section of the original family farm to his two sons who had remained in the area: William T. Boylan and Nelson Boylan.

William had a reputation for being very industrious; described as "too proud" or stubborn to tell a lie. His aggressive, outspoken, and stubborn nature got him into "hot water" frequently at home. This culminated in an argument with his father after which Bill left home for Erie County where he worked for one of his uncles for a spell. Following this, he returned to Mercer County and worked for a linseed oil mill.

He was a prominent farmer and writer of some note; wrote many articles (refer to extract below) for the Cochranton Times on farming and politics and local history. WT was also a bank director and was active in politics and in church. Family worship and Bible reading were an important part of daily life.

Wiliam died October 7, 1898; Jane died November 7, 1900. They were buried in Bell (West Deer Creek) Cemetery, Mercer County, PA.

Extracts From Pioneer Days In Deer Creek, Pennsylvania
Pulished in Cochranton Times by Wm. T. Boylan (1817-1898)

"I propose to give your reader some reminiscences of the early settlement of Deer-Creek township, Mercer County, and West Fairfield township, Crawford County. This territory originally belonged to Chester County, one of the original in the first settlement of the province, then to Lancaster, organized May 10, 1729; then to Cumberland, organized January 27, 1750; then to Bedford, organized March 9, 1771, then to westmoreland, organized February 26, 1773; they to Allegheny, organized Sept. 24, 1788; then to Mercer and Crawford, organized March 12, 1800.

"The first settlements in these townships were in 1793, and a very few settled along French Creek and Conneaut, in Crawford County, and fewer still on Sandy Creek, in Mercer County. I think James Herrington was the first settler in Fairfield township. He settled at the mouth of Conneaut, on French Creek, and was a surveyor by occupation. The first settler in Sandy Creek township, which then included Deer Creek, was Martin Carringer. He settled on Sandy Creek in 1793. Benj. Stokely came and settled near where Mercer now stands, and surveyed the State land of what now constitutes Mercer and Crawford Counties, and it was opened for settlement, and the State making the following conditions for settlement: Any person, male or female, could settle on any one hundred acre tract not already taken up, and by clearing three acres of land and building a cabin fit for the habitation of man and paying the State twenty cents an acre, could get a patent from the State. After this the settlers began to come, and nearly all the State land along French Creek, Conneaut, and Sandy Creek was taken in a few years.

"In 1799, my grandfather, Aaron Boylan, and David Caldwell, of Redstone, Fayette County, fitted up a canoe with a supply of provisions and started up the Allegheny, poling their canoe to the mouth of French Creek and then up that stream to the mouth of Conneaut Creek. There they found James Herrington, a surveyor, mention above. He, being somewhat acquainted with the country, put them on a line running west from his place, directing them to follow that until they came to a certain numbered corner (the lots all being numbered). Then turn south and continue on until they came to another certain numbered corner, and there they would find on both sides of the line vacant claims. That corner was on what now is the line between Mercer and Crawford Counties. After following the line a hundred rods or more, Boylan espied a spring of water on the east side of the line. He went to it and sticking his staff into the ground, said to his friend, "Dave, I'll take this lot." They then went over the tract west of the line and came to another spring, and Caldwell took that tract. They then went to work and put up cabins on each of their lots of such logs or poles as they could handle, and bushwacked around until their provisions were exhausted, and went back to get a new supply.

"When Boylan came back to his cabin he found a man named Davis in possession of it, who claimed a squatter sovereign's right. Boylan asked what he meant, and Davis said he had peaceable ossession of the cabin and land, and was going to hold them. Boylan asked him if he might come in and warm, it being late in the fall. Davis said he might if he would have no trouble. He went in, and there being a good supply of dry wood, Boylan began to put it on the fire, until it blazed up to the roof. He said to Davis, "Your cabin will burn down." Davis took a pail and went to the spring for water. When he came back Boylan had the fire under control and the door barred, and told Davis he had built the cabin, and now had peaceable possession of it, and he might go about his business. He went, and troubled him no more.

"The lot on which my grand father settled in 1799 was never patented until 1852 and then I patented it myself, but the State threw off the interest from time to time, and it should have thrown of the principal in many instances.

"No one ever thought of locking the house, granary, corn crib or smoke-house. The latch-string was always out, for those who wished to enter. There were very few petty thieves or pilferers in those days. If a stranger happened to come through the country, which seldom occurred in those early
days, he and his horse were cared for, free of charge. Any person who would charge a stranger for entertainment, was considered mean and hoggish. If any of the pioneers were unfortunate and met with a loss, or were sick, or had a fire, the neighbors for miles around would seem to vie with each other in their acts of benevolence and would divide their last loaf with the needy. At all frolics, raisings, loggings and all other kinds of work that a man could not do himself, they would turn out with hearty good will in sufficient numbers to accomplissh the work, whatever it was. In case of want, sickness or destitution, they would hitch up their teams, take provisions, cut and haul wood, and see that the family was provided for. Of course, there was always some benevolent person in each community, who would lead in this sort of work.

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Boylan, Aaron II

Submitted by John Boylan on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 20:45

Born 17 May 1749 in Bernardsville, Somerset County, New Jersey; died 20 Sep 1824 in Sandy Creek Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Aaron and Catherine Parkinson Shilton Boylan of Somerset County, New Jersey. He married Sarah McDade 06 Oct 1772 in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey. Sarah was born 06 Dec 1755 in Somerset County, New Jersey; died in 1861 in Sandy Lake, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Patrick McDade of Bernards, Somerset County, New Jersey.

He was known as a master weaver. He moved to Fayette County, PA during the early part of the Revolutionary War where he left his family while he served his country. He served under Captain Carters Company 1st Battalion, Somerset and also in the Continental Army. He also served under Captain Daniel Piatt, New Jersey. He was in the battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777. Their family home was burned by the British Army when Elizabethtown was captured and burned. His length of service was nine months as shown in the records of officers and men of NJ in the Revolutionary War.

Following the war, he moved to Mercer County, PA in 1800. He came with his family to a place called Sandy Creek Township, near Deer Creek, in the year 1800. In that wilderness country, he planted some fruit trees and carried on his trade as a weaver. Was elected or appointed sheriff but it was never a source of profit for him; the pay was poor and took him away from the farm.

Described as a very handsome man, tall and straight, had very curly black hair and an athlete and did not know what fear meant, was of a social kindly disposition, always had a lot of friends where ever he lived, always drank as most people did in those days, but was never intoxicated. He had such a saintly disposition that he won friends without an effort and his worst fault was his over friendliness for women.

Aaron and Sarah had eleven children. Upon his death, the family farm was divided between two sons. Andrew got the improved part with 100 acres (Sarah and Betsy lived with Andrew for some years); Aaron got 200 acres of wild land worth from three to five dollars per acre; 100 acres lapsed back to the U.S.

A grandson, William T. Boylan, later relates the following narrative about his grandfather’s early pioneering in Mercer County:

“In 1799, my grandfather, Aaron Boylan, and David Caldwell, of Redstone, Fayette County, fitted up a canoe with a supply of provisions and started up the Allegheny, poling their canoe to the mouth of French Creek and then up that stream to the mouth of Conneaut Creek. There they found James Herrington, a surveyor, mention above. He, being somewhat acquainted with the country, put them on a line running west from his place, directing them to follow that until they came to a certain numbered corner (the lots all being numbered). Then turn south and continue on until they came to another certain numbered corner, and there they would find on both sides of the line vacant claims. That corner was on what now is the line between Mercer and Crawford Counties. After following the line a hundred rods or more, Boylan espied a spring of water on the east side of the line. He went to it and sticking his staff into the ground, said to his friend, "Dave, I'll take this lot." They then went over the tract west of the line and came to another spring, and Caldwell took that tract. They then went to work and put up cabins on each of their lots of such logs or poles as they could handle, and ‘bushwacked’ around until their provisions were exhausted, and went back to get a new supply.

“When Boylan came back to his cabin he found a man named Davis in possession of it, who claimed a squatter sovereign's right. Boylan asked what he meant, and Davis said he had peaceable possession of the cabin and land, and was going to hold them. Boylan asked him if he might come in and warm, it being late in the fall. Davis said he might if he would have no trouble. He went in, and there being a good supply of dry wood, Boylan began to put it on the fire, until it blazed up to the roof. He said to Davis, "Your cabin will burn down." Davis took a pail and went to the spring for water. When he came back Boylan had the fire under control and the door barred, and told Davis he had built the cabin, and now had peaceable possession of it, and he might go about his business. He went, and troubled him no more.”3

Aaron and Sarah were buried in Fairfield Cemetery, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

Sources:

1. Boylan, B. L., and James D. Boylan (Co-Historians). The Boylan
Family: The Descendants of Aaron Boylan and Catherine Parkinson Shilton. Ann Arbor, MI: Unpublished, 1942.
2. Boylan, John A. (Project Director). History of the Boylan Family 1710-1976. Cambridge Springs, PA: Caldwell Printing, 1976.
3. Boylan, William T. “Extracts From Pioneer Days In Deer Creek, Pennsylvania.” Published in Cochranton Times, 1817-1898.
4. Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey : a book of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1910, p. 1462.
5. Stryker, Will S., Ed. Official Register of Officers and Men of NJ in the Revolutionary War. Trenton, NJ. 1872. (878p.): pp. 153, 515.

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http://mercercountygenealogy.com/biography/727/boylan-aaron-iii

Boylan, Aaron III

Submitted by John Boylan on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 13:32

 

Born 07 Oct 1784 in Redstone, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died 03 Jan 1871 in Deer Creek Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Aaron and Sarah McDade Boylan. Married Sarah Thompson 20 Dec 1809 in Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Sarah was born 09 Nov 1792 and died 24 Feb 1862 in Deer Creek Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Abel K. and Jemima Kemp Thompson of Erie County.

Aaron migrated from Fayette County to Mercer County with his family at an early age. Family records indicate the year was around 1799-1800, which would make Aaron about fifteen years of age. According to family records, he was a veteran of the War of 1812.1 He received a half-share of the family farm in Mercer County upon the death of his father. He was a farmer and basket maker; he and Sarah had sixteen children.

Aaron and Sarah were buried in Fairfield Cemetery, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

Sources:

1. "Copy of a Letter to John D. Boylan." Edinboro, PA: Collection of Family Records and Documents in Library of John Aaron Boylan, Jr.
2. Boylan, John A. (Project Director)., History of the Boylan Family 1710-1976 (Cambridge Springs, PA, Caldwell Printing, 1976), JABJR library.
3. Boylan, B. L., and James D. Boylan (Co-Historians), The Boylan Family: The Descendents of Aaron Boylan and Catherine Parkinson Shilton (Ann Arbor, MI, Unpublished, 1942.

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Aaron Jr Boleyn-{Boylan} (b. May 15, 1749, d. September 20, 1824

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/b/a/r/Lucille-J-Bartlett/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0407.html

Aaron Jr Boleyn-{Boylan} (b. May 15, 1749, d. September 20, 1824)

Aaron Jr Boleyn-{Boylan} (son of Aaron Ist Boleyn-{Boylan} and Catherine Parkinson-Boleyn) was born May 15, 1749 in Somerset County, New Jersey, and died September 20, 1824 in Sandy Creek, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.He married Sarah McDade-Boleyn-{Boylan} on October 6, 1772 in Somerset County, New Jersey.
Notes for Aaron Jr Boleyn-{Boylan}:
Last name was changed from Boylan to Boleyn in the future generations.
Our line is from Aaron Boylan I's third son, Aaron Jr.he was born in Trenton, Somerset County, New Jersey in May, 1749.He married Sarah McDade in 1772 in Somerset County, New Jersey.Sarah was born in December, 1755 in Somerset County. 
Aaron fought in the Revolutionary War both in Captian Piatt's Company, First Battalion and in Captian Parker's Company, First Battalion, Sommerset County, New Jersey.Aaron's house and nearly all of his household goods were burned at the battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, a battle in which he participated.Such articles as were saved, his wife and her daughter, Betsey, took over into Columbia County, Pennsylvania with an ox team.Aaron also fought in the battles of Mammouth and Brandywine and family record mentions that he was a member of General Washington's staff during the seige of Ft. Necessity.Two other 'Boylan's' were listed as Revolutionary War fighters from Somerset County, John and James, Aaron's brothers.
Probably between 1784 and 1786, Aaron and Sarah moved to Redstone in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.They lived there until 1800, when Aaron and his [by this time] large family moved to the Deer Creek area of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, which was north along the Allegheny river.
Aaron is listed on the tax role of Sandy Lake township in 1801 and theSandy Creek Township in 1802, so he made a couple of short moves before settling.He is recorded as being the first constable of Sandy Creek Township in 1804.
Aaron Boylan's coming to Mercer County as a pioneer in 1800 has a story with it:Aaron and his friend David Caldwell had paddled up the Allegheny River to look for a homestead.They both built small cabins to establish their homestead.After awhile their provisions gave out and they found themselves hungry a great deal of the time.After trying everything to ward off their hunger,they resolved to return to the closest settlement [which was quit a distance away] and replenish their supplies, which they did.Upon their return, however a man named Davis was found standing at the door, claiming the cabin as his own![An unwritten, but accepted "law" of the frontier was that if the fire of a settler was allowed to go out, then the person to find that can claim the property].Aaron had been duped out of his property and he knew that the only way to get it back was by simular means.He then asked Davis if he could come into the cabin for a bit to warm himself and this request was granted.After awhile, Davis excused himself to go down to a spring to get some water.As soon as Davis left, Aaron snuffed out the fire.When Davis came back demanding admittance,Aaron cited the same law and reclaimed his property.After several vain attempts to get back in,Davis knew that he had been outwitted and finally left Aaron in possession of his property.
From the time of their marriage until 1795, Aaron II and Sarah had ten children.They were Polly, Elizabeth [Betsey], James Harris, Ann, Aaron III, William, Katherine, Eli, Andrew, and John.William, John and Ann did not live beyond childhood.In 1792 or early 1793, our ancestor, Eli, was born.One source says that he was born in Ohio County of West Virginia, which is not too far from Fayette County, Pennsylvania. 
Aaron may have moved over to Ohio County for a short while in the early 1790's or this information may not be correct.In any case, as mentioned earlier, Aaron and his family moved to Sandy Creek, Mercer County, Pennsylvania in 1800 and he died there in 1824.Sarah lived to be 109 years old and died in Sandy Lake, Mercer County, Pennsylvania in 1865.
Up to this point, all the records show the family name as being spelled Boylan It appears that Eli is the one who allowed the spelling to be Boleyn in the family who descended from him.In some censuses it is spelled Boland.In Eli's War of 1812 military record, the name is spelled Bowlin.
More About Aaron Jr Boleyn-{Boylan} and Sarah McDade-Boleyn-{Boylan}:
Marriage: October 6, 1772, Somerset County, New Jersey.
Children of Aaron Jr Boleyn-{Boylan} and Sarah McDade-Boleyn-{Boylan} are:

1. Polly Boleyn-Deloney, b. December 6, 1773, d. Bet. 1823 - 1873.
2. Betsey Boleyn, b. July 9, 1775, d. Bet. 1825 - 1875.
3. James H. Boleyn, b. February 22, 1783, d. Bet. 1833 - 1883.
4. Ann Boleyn, b. December 16, 1784, d. Bet. 1834 - 1884.
5. Aaron III Boleyn, b. October 9, 1786, d. Bet. 1836 - 1886.
6. William Boleyn, b. April 14, 1789, d. Bet. 1839 - 1889.
7. Katherine Boleyn-Thompson, b. October 7, 1791, d. Bet. 1841 - 1891.
8. +Eli Boleyn-{Bowlin}, b. February 1793, Virginia, d. 1869, Fayette County, Iowa.
9. Andrew Boleyn, b. September 13, 1793, d. Bet. 1823 - 1893.
10. John Boleyn, b. October 10, 1795, d. Bet. 1845 - 1895.