Thomas boaz, christopher wayne miller, james cloyd

Compiled by

The following genealogy traces family relationships from Thomas Boaz (17141780) through the male line to Trevor John Boaz (2001- ) and Allison June Boaz (2001- ). The information included here is largely drawn from The Thomas Boaz Family in America with information collected and prepared by Bishop Hiram Abiff Boaz, second president of Southern Methodist University, and published by the Parthenon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1949.

As Bishop Boaz acknowledges in the preface to this volume, John D. E. Boaz, great-great-grandfather of Trevor and Allison Boaz, began gathering information about the Boaz family. He traveled extensively and collected considerable data from government records, wills, land grants, and family Bibles. He intended to publish a Boaz family genealogy but became discouraged and gave up on the idea. Instead, he paid Bishop Boaz a visit and offered the material he had compiled. Bishop Boaz later extended upon that research and published the volume.

Robert V. Boaz compiled over forty years a volume completed in 1999, The Boaz Family: Ancestors and Descendents. He used Bishop Boaz’s book as a point of departure in seeking to piece together his own forebears. He states, “My original intent was to verify the work of the Bishop, not to differ with him. However, when I have found differences, I have tried to document those differences and my conclusions with reference to the many other published works, census records, tax records, Bible records, vital records, etc. that I have searched…”.

Most notably Bishop Boaz and Robert V. Boaz differ on where and when Thomas was born, where and when he died, and to whom he was married. With compelling evidence and argument he disputes Bishop Boaz’s claim that Thomas Boaz was born September 27, 1721, in Scotland, died September 13, 1791, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and was married in Ireland to Agnes and had four children before coming to America.

THOMAS BOAZ (17211791)
Robert V. Boaz concludes “Thomas Boaz Sr. was born ca. 1714 probably in Virginia and died August 15, 1780 probably in Buckingham County, Virginia. He had married Elenor Archdeacon ca. 1736. She was born ca. 1718 in County Kilkenny, Ireland, came to Virginia with her parents and siblings about 1730/5 and died September 25, 1787, probably in Buckingham County, Virginia.” Their children and probable birth dates and places (all in Virginia counties) are as follows: Thomas, Jr. (II), ca. 1737, Goochland; Archibald, ca. 1739, Goochland; Edmond, ca. 1741, Goochland; Daniel, ca. 1743, Goochland; Gemima, ca. 1745, Albemarle; Polly, ca. 1747, Albemarle; James, May 20, 1749, Albemarle; Shadrach, ca. 1751, Albemarle; Meshack, ca. 1753, Albemarle; Agnes, ca. 1755, Albemarle; Eleanor “Nellie,” ca. 1757, Albemarle; and Abednego, February 6, 1760. James Boaz, in his Revolutionary War pension application stated that he was born in Buckingham County in 1749. At the time of the application he was using the then current name of the county of his birth.

On September 12, 1738, he received a land grant for 400 acres located in Goochland County, Virginia on the north side of the Appomattox River and below Fish Pond Creek. A second patent was granted on July 10, 1745 for 600 acres that included the original patent of 400 acres granted in 1738 plus an additional 200 acres never before granted. On November 9, 1758, Thomas Boaz Sr. deeded to his oldest son, Thomas Boaz, Jr., 100 acres of his land, it being in Albemarle County at the time and retained 500 acres for his own use. Three years later in 1761 the land became part of Buckingham County and in 1764 Buckingham County made a List of Tithes, that is, property owners and all males residing there above the age of twenty-one. Included in the list was Thomas Boaz who owned 500 acres and had three tithes, one for himself, one for his son Edmond and one for his son Daniel. Also in the tithe list was Thomas Boaz, Jr. who owned 100 acres of land but without a tithe, because he had vacated his property in Buckingham County and patented 1577 acres of land in Halifax County on May 23, 1763 where he established his residence.

Although Thomas was too old to fight in the Revolutionary War, his descendants are entitled to membership in Sons of the American Revolution or Daughters of the American Revolution. In the courthouse records at Chatham, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, may be found in Order Book No. 4, July Court, 1777, and March Court, 1783, that Thomas Boaz was appointed surveyor of roads in place of James Fulton and took the oath of allegiance. The D. A. R. Magazine of March, 1930, lists Thomas Boaz as a Pittsylvania County patriot.

The inventory of his possessions found in the Chatham court records includes the following: eleven Negroes, sixty hogs, nine horses, twenty-seven sheep, thirty-nine geese, forty-four head of cattle, ox-carts, powder tubes, desks, chairs, money scales, books, flesh forks, quilts, and many kinds of tools and all the accessories needed on a farm at that time.

The children of Shadrach and Isabel were William (June 27, 1778October 27, 1852), Thomas (November 17, 17801833), Nancy (March 6, 1782n.d.), Phoebe (June 10, 1785n.d.), Rosana (December 3, 1787n.d.), David Rutherford (April 24, 1790January 19, 1862), Elenor (November 13, 1792), Lydia (May 19, 17951863), Rebecca (December 17, 1797n.d.), and Mary Anthony (Polly) (June 3, 1800June 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 some time 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 herein after 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 in former 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, may be 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 97375).

Thomas was licensed to preach by the Strawberry (Primitive) Baptist Church in Pittsylvania County (eleven miles out from Chatham) during August, 1806, and he was ordained to preach August 7, 1808. It appears that he became quite active in the Baptist Church and was one of its most distinguished ministers. One of his sons, Elihu, became a preacher and an authority on Baptist doctrines and practice. A grandson, R. H. Boaz, was also a Baptist preacher. Some of his descendants were still members of the Strawberry Baptist Church and living in the same community in 1947.

During the year 1816, soon after he and his wife were dismissed by certificate from the Strawberry Baptist Church (August 14, 1816), they and seven children emmigrated to Middle Tennessee and settled on a farm sixteen miles southeast from Nashville, the famous "Hermitage" of Andrew Jackson being only nine miles north of the Boaz farm. There they lived and prospered for many years. There were fourteen children in the family, eight boys and six girls. Eleven of them reach maturity and had families of their own. The Davidson County records show that Thomas Boaz, the minister, became a man of considerable wealth and for a time owned quite a few slaves. These records also show that long before the Civil War, 1827, he sold to one, Benejah Gray, a number of slaves "for $1.00 and love considerations." He educated his children in the schools of the district and in Nashville.

Lucinda Davis Boaz died December 31, 1821, when she was only forty-three years of age. Bishop Hiram A. Boaz visited the Thomas Boaz III farm during the summer of 1923 and found the old Boaz cemetery and the place where the old house stood in Thomas's day. It was marked by the remains of the chimney and goodsized trees were growing up through the old hearthstones. On a sandstone marking one of the graves in the cemetery he found the words, "Lucinda Boaz died Dec. 31, 1821, age 43. She bore 16 [14] children in 18 years. A loving wife, a pious Baptist."

In due time after the death of Lucinda, Thomas married Mollie Tait of Tennessee and to this union two children were born: Zephaniah Henry Tait (August 20, 1825November 1889) and a daughter who died in infancy.

The children of Rev. Thomas and Lucinda Davis Boaz were Shadrach (November 9, 1804September 4, 1860), William (October 29, 18051870), David (November 9, 1806February 2, 1876), Sally D. (January 2, 1808n.d.), Samuel (March 9, 1809June 28, 1894), Joshua (May 18, 1810March 7, 1890), Elihu (September 1, 1811September 16, 1880), Nancy R. (January 30, 1813n.d.), Lydia R. September 30, 1814n.d.), Thomas (December 20, 1815August 20, 1892), Lucinda (May 7, 1817November 1, 1820), Josiah (August 5, 1818January 24, 1852), Annie Lewis (March 22, 18201868), and Polly J. (November 12, 1821December 25, 1821).

When David was ten years old his father, with his family, emmigrated to Middle Tennessee (Davidson County), where he settled on a Revolutionary grant of land inherited from his father, Shadrach. Here David grew to manhood, attending the schools of the community and at Nashville, sixteen miles away, where he secured a thorough education. At the age of twentyone David Boaz was married to Lucinda Whitis of Tennessee. At the time of her marriage she was nineteen, having been born April 2, 1808, the daughter of William Nelson and Nancy Jane Whitis. To this union ten children were born: James Nelson (January 1, 1829March 12, 1875), Lucinda Jane (18311835), Sally Ann (June 30, 18331855), William Thomas (February 10, 1835February 28, 1876), Samuel Shadrach (March 24, 1837 January 14, 1901), Mary Elizabeth (October 28, 1839n.d.), David Franklin (October 28, 18411876), Nancy Rutherford (November 10, 1843July 25, 1924), Martha Isabelle (February 18, 1846June 8, 1923), and George Pierce (January 10, 1850March 28, 1922). All of them reached their majority, married, and established homes of their own, except one girl who died in infancy and one son who never married.

For ten years after their marriage, David and Lucinda lived in Davidson County, Tennessee, near his father's home. In 1837 he, with several of his brothers and sisters, emmigrated to "Jackson's Purchase," Kentucky, and entered a section of land in the northern part of what is now Graves County. He was a Captain of a company of Kentucky Militia in 1849. Joshua, a younger brother, who had married Polly Whitis, sister of Lucinda, entered a section adjoining, and to the south, while Shadrach, William, and others of the family settled near where Fulton, Kentucky, now stands.

David Boaz became a man of means, owning a number of slaves. Some of these he had inherited from his father. Land was cleared and put in cultivation, corn, wheat, oats, and tobacco being the principal crops. Orchards, too, were planted.

David Boaz early donated land for the establishment of a public school, which was largely maintained by him and his brother, Joshua, during that time when the state gave little assistance. This school for many years, and in fact to this day, is one of the leading schools of the county. It is known as "Boaz School, District Number 72." In this school as well as in other schools of the county two of his sons, two nephews, and a number of grandsons have been prominent teachers.

David Boaz was a Democrat of the Jackson type. He had been reared only a short distance from the "Hermitage." He inherited slavery from his father but early decided to dispose of his slaves gradually, which he did by selling a number and freeing others before the Civil War broke out. He remained loyal to his state and was neutral throughout the war. David and his brother, Joshua, who was living on an adjoining section south, were on different grounds: Joshua joined with the South and gave one son to the Confederate Army. David's son, Samuel Shadrach, ". . . had a crippled arm that prevented him from serving. [H]e was examined for Union service and rejected, but the truth of the matter is that if he had been able to serve, he would already have been gone as a member of the Orphan Brigade of the Confederate forces. David, although sympathetic to his friends, was very proUnion and took the oath of allegiance to the Union, for which his son, Sam, never forgave him." (Statement from a letter of Malcolm R. Boaz, a grandson of David, dated February 1, 1982, and quoted in T. D. Boaz, Jr., and Ann Riley Heath. David Boaz (18061876) and His Descendants. McLean, Virginia: 1982.) David's two Negro servants, the only ones kept by him at the time he disposed of his slaves, remained in his home until his death in 1876.

David Boaz was a most popular man in his community, and his home was an open house to friends from everywhere, in the old Kentucky style of hospitality. He and his wife, Lucinda, were consistent members of the Primitive Baptist Church, and for a number of years he was an officer in the Mount Pleasant Church, which was located only a short distance from his home. He was often called upon to administer estates, until he had more of that kind of work than he could well attend to and at the same time look after his own estate. Believing it the best way to start his children right in the world, he began to deed to them land for a home as they married and established homes of their own; and as a result most of them established homes near him. To this day many of his descendants live in that part of the county.

David Boaz was a man of medium build, square shoulders, rather heavy set, weighing about 165 pounds, and had a fair complexion and blue eyes. He had a broad forehead, open, frank, and pleasant address, and a kind disposition. He and his wife, Lucinda, were known and loved by many far and near. He was a man who practiced his religion, and those who needed assistance found him a friend indeed. Many years before their death, David and Lucinda Boaz expressed the desire that they be taken at the same time. They died two hours apart, February, 1876, and were buried in the same grave, but in separate coffins, in the family graveyard near their home

The family graveyards may be located as follows: From Paducah, KY take US45 south of I24 for 5 or 6 miles, turn left (east) on 1241, go 1 mile east on 1241 to 348 (large cemetery on the left at this intersection), turn right (south) on 348 and go 3.6 miles to the intersection with 994 (The Old Mayfield Road), proceed south on 348 for 2.6 miles following 1684 as it forks with 348 a couple of tenths of a mile before the Hardmoney Missionary Baptist Church (on the right), proceed south on 1684 for 1.6 miles beyond the Hardmoney Missionary Baptist Church (HMBC is just south of the county line between Crack and Graves counties on 1684) to Boaz Cemetery Road (on the right), take Boaz Cemetery Road west 0.4 mile to the cemetery on the right. David and Lucinda are buried here along with their son, James Nelson, and his wife, Martha Evers. Proceed around looping road, turning right at the intersection with its self back to 1684. One may then turn right (south) on 1684 and go 1.2 miles to the Joshua Boaz Cemetery which is on the left (east) side of the road.

JAMES NELSON BOAZ (18291875)
James Nelson Boaz was born on January 1, 1829, in Davidson County, Tennessee. He was the first born child of David and Lucinda Whitis Boaz. He was a farmer and schoolteacher in Graves County, Kentucky. He was of medium build, had dark hair and gray eyes and weighed about 165 pounds. He reared a large family. In addition to his duties as a farmer and teacher he built a small schoolroom in his yard where he spent two hours each day in teaching his children. He was not a slave owner, and his sympathies lay with the North during the Civil War. He died on March 12, 1875, and he is buried in the David Boaz Cemetery, south of Hardmoney, Kentucky.

In 1849 he married Martha Evers, daughter of John Alexander Evers and Cynthia Brookshire. She was born January 22, 1831 and died in February of 1899. To this union ten children were born, three of whom died in early manhood: Alice Rosalie (May 6, 1853March 25, 1899), George Washington (September 18, 1854April 21, 1877), Benjamin Franklin (April 13, 1856October 31, 1948), Linn Boyd (February 7, 1858May 13, 1903), Mark Wilton (April 11, 1859April 6, 1884), Thomas Dick (May 25, 1861November 8, 1919), Lorenzo Dowell (July 14, 1863n.d.), Abraham Sherman Grant (18651866), John David Evers (January 26, 1867December 23, 1943), and William Penn (December 11, 1868July 31, 1887).

Nancy Katherine Knox Gardner (1845-1888), mother of Annette Jane Gardner Boaz, was the daughter of Benjamin Knox and Margaret Elizabeth Harper who were married September 1, 1838 at the home of Angus Polk in Obion County, Tennessee. Benjamin Knox was the seventh child of John Knox (1708-1758) and Jean Gracey (1708-1772) who came to the colonies about 1740. John Knox was great-great-great-great grandson of John Knox, the famous Scottish Reformer, and was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, around 1708. They came to the colonies by way of Northern Ireland. (Jane Knox, daughter of Captain James and Lydia Gillespie Knox, married Major Samuel Polk. They were the parents of James Knox Polk, eleventh President of the United States. James Knox was the brother of Benjamin Knox.)

Later John D. E. Boaz was Assistant Post Master at Union City. He was a Republican and all the Harpers were Democrats, and politics was taken very seriously in Tennessee. He took employment with the Oliver Typewriting Company. Working for this and other typewriting companies, he and his family moved from Union City to Knoxville and from there to Nashville and to Memphis and to Chicago and finally to Oklahoma City, where they settled in 1911. Here, after operating for a short time as an insurance agent, he returned to the typewriter business in which he remained for most of his later life. While engaged in this work he undertook the collection of information concerning the Boaz family in America. In this task he traveled extensively and collected many very valuable facts. Much of the information found in the volume published by Bishop Hiram A. Boaz was collected by him and from members of his family whom he visited in person.

John D. E. Boaz was divorced from Annette Gardner Boaz in 1922. He was married twice after that, but each marriage was short lived and to him no children were born of either of those marriages. His first wife, Annette Gardner Boaz, died in Oklahoma City, August 21, 1942. He was struck by a truck or automobile in Salem, Illinois, and died of compound skull fractures on December 23, 1943. He lived the last ten years of his life in Salem, and was married to Mary at the time of his death. He is buried in Eastview Cemetery, Salem, IL.

To him and Annette Gardner Boaz five children were born, the first of which died in infancy: David Franklin (November 30,1900, Union City, Tennessee—February 7, 1901), Knox Gardner (January 6, 1902, Union City, TennesseeMay 3, 1977, Sun City, Arizona), Evers Harper (August 10, 1908, Union City, TennesseeMarch 8, 1983, Ft. Pierce, Florida), Ruth Baird (August 22, 1912, Oklahoma City, OklahomaFebruary 1, 1976, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), and Joseph Nowlin (July 20, 1917, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ).

Knox married Felma Louise Carden (daughter of Mrs. W. W. Cochran Butler) in 1935. Their children were Knox Gardner Boaz, Jr. (1938-died in infancy), Nancy Annette Boaz Morrison (1939- ), and James Knox (1945- ). He attended Central High School, Oklahoma City, and the University of Oklahoma. He was employed by Security National Bank and in 1925 became a paint sales manager for the Oklahoma City office of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. In 1949 he was transferred as branch manager of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Joplin, Missouri, office. Next he was made branch manager of the Springfield, Missouri, office. In 1963, officed in Kansas City, he became District Manager of PPG, the post he held until he was 67, two years beyond the company’s normal retirement age. Then, for several years he managed a suburban Kansas City country club, finally retiring with Felma to Sun City, Arizona. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Ruth married Frank Duane Wood (September 11, 1911-March 13, 1955) in 1935, and they were divorced in 1942 without having any children. With truly remarkable secretarial abilities, she possessed a typing skill by which she could reach a speed that produced a virtual hum on a manual typewriter. She first worked as secretary to the manager of the Oklahoma City branch of International Harvester Company. For 15 years, she was the Secretary of Oklahoma City’s Downtown Kiwanis Club, where with an outgoing personality she took special pleasure in working with “her” members and producing their weekly newsletter. She went into business operating a secretarial service and finally worked as a legal secretary. She attended Oklahoma City schools and the Draughon School of Business, and enjoyed many years of dedicated membership in Sigma Sigma Chi and The Sorority Council, women’s business clubs. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Joseph ("Joe") was five in 1922, the year his parents divorced. Knox was 20, Evers 14, and Ruth was 10. For many years the constant interstate traveling of John D.E. had left the home and child rearing to the warm heart and capable hands of their mother. With the divorce, Knox--who had worked part time since an early age--left the University of Oklahoma (O.U.), immediately assumed financial responsibility for the family, and began sharing many other home responsibilities with Annette. He was an instant father figure for Joe and continued to be a caring older brother for the younger Boazes. Evers began part time work that year, and three years later became Knox's partner in home finances, to be joined by Ruth three years later. Joe started work at nine, attended public schools in Oklahoma City, was graduated by the University of Oklahoma, B. Architecture and B.S. Architectural Engineering, 1940 and by Columbia University in New York City, M.S. Architecture, 1941. He interned in Washington, D.C., and New York where, in 1944, he became a registered architect and was certified by the National Council of Registration Boards. He was licensed for practice in New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Connecticut, North Carolina and Georgia. In 1955 in Oklahoma City, after a two year courtship, Joe married Helen Fast Byrd (1917-1998), and that year with her two children, John H. Byrd, Jr., 8, and Jane Marie Byrd (now Melton), almost 6, the new family moved to Raleigh, NC. At this 2006 writing the children, some of the grandchildren and a great-grandson live in North Carolina, a few hours from Joe/Dad/Pop in Clemson, SC. Joe's professional pursuits included several intervals away from practice, including four months of travel and study in Europe in 1948; Teaching Assistant, Columbia University Extension (evenings), 1944-45; Asstistant Professor of Architecture, Yale University, 1950-51; six five-week terms as Visiting Critic for 4th year classes, twice each in the 40s and 50s, at Cornell University, Syracuse University and Virginia Tech (then "V.P.I."). In 1962 he joined the faculty at North Carolina State University, where in 1969 he resigned as a full professor to return to private practice. In 1970 a total revision (6th edition) of the standard drafting room reference Architectural Graphic Standards was published. The project required six years to complete with Joe serving as the Editor under a contract with the American Institute of Architects. During those years he made over 100 trips to the project offices in NYC at John Wiley and Sons, publishers.