SHADRACH BOAZ (1751-1817)
Shadrach Boaz, the sixth son and eighth child of Thomas and Elenor Boaz, was born in
Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1751, married Isabel Rutherford in 1777, and died in 1817. It has been impossible to prove from court or federal government records that Shadrach was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Four of his brothers, Edmond, James, Meshack, and Abednego, left such records. Family tradition says that he was a soldier, and it maybe that he enlisted from Buckingham, or some other county, where the records have been burned in courthouse fires. The children of Shadrach and Isabel were William (June 27, October 27, 1852), Thomas (November 17, 1780-1833), Nancy (March 6, 1782-n.d.), Phoebe (June 10, 1785-n.d.),
Rosana (December 3, 1787-n.d.), David Rutherford (April 24, January 19, 1862), Ellinor November 13, 1792), Lydia (May 19, 1795-1863), Rebecca (December 17, 1797-n.d.), and Mary Anthony (Polly) (June 3, June 28, 1880). Court records show that Shadrach owned considerable lands. The will of Shadrach is recorded in Will Book 1 A, page 2, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and dated January 2, 1817. It was probated on April 30, 1817, indicating he died at sometime between those two dates. A brief excerpt of the certified will follows IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Shadrach Boaz of Pittsylvania County and State of Virginia being low in body but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit It is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid by my executors hereinafter mentioned. Item I lend my beloved wife, Isabel, during her natural life all my lands whereon I now live together with all my goods and chattels, occupy during her natural life or widowhood in lieu of her dower. And I do further give to my beloved wife Negroes Isaac and Betty during her natural life or widowhood" He then mentions his sons, William and Thomas, and declares that he had already given them their part of his estate in certain tracts of land that had been deeded to them informer years. To each of his daughters he wills lands and Negroes. To some of them other properties are given in addition to the lands and servants. To his son, David, he wills the home place on which he was then living. At the death of his wife all chattels and moneys were to be equally divided among his seven daughters. The inventory of Isabel, the widow of Shadrach Boaz, maybe found in Book of Accounts Current 11, page 140, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The inventory was dated January 29, 1835, showing that she lived about eighteen years after the death of her husband. Her personal property, not counting lands, was estimated at $3,330.20, a sizable sum for that early day. For information on Isabel's family, see Rutherford, William K. and Anna C. Rutherford.
Genealogical History of the Rutherford Family. Rev. ed, 2 vols) Lexington, Missouri 1979. Note especially in Volume 2, pages 177, 180, 188, and 973-75).
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