JAMES BOULDEN
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
The Boulden family were early planters
on the Eastern shore of Maryland. Their
story goes back to Jamestown 1610 when Thomas
Boulden came to Virginia. He moved up the
Chesapeake Bay to Kent Island and was buried
there in 1665. The family continued expanding north
into Cecil County and eventually across the state
line into Delaware.
Estelle Smith Kepler wrote The Boulden Family
.which gave us a first look at the extensiveness of this
family. I am sure the Cecil County Historical
Society has a copy. The name has a number of
variation and I will use the spelling within the document
noted.
James Boulden was born Sept 4,1712 to William Boulden and Thomasin Nash Boulden.
from St. Stephen's Parish records as noted on page
38 of Early anglican church Records of Cecil County by
Henry C. Peden, Jr. He may have been
their youngest child.
Daughter of American Colonists' Lineage Book 1779 about 1735 state that James Boulding wed Elizabeth Phillips . The wedding may well have taken place in St. Stephen's but I don't have any source. Elizabeth's father, Nathan Phillips named her Elizabeth Boulding in his Will probated May 24, 1748
5. James Jr. said to wed Rebecca Thompson and that he died Se.t 9, 1826James and Elizabeth Boulden lived on a plantation in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County Delaware. This is right next to Cecil County Maryland. They had 8 known children in an unknown order: The birth dates of Nathan and Augustina are given in the St. Stephen's Records, but the others are unknown. Except for Elijah's wife Sarah, all other spouses are in various web family trees, but I have no documentation for them or their birth dates.
1. Nathan, born Feb. 22, 1737, said to wed Sara Bolling and he died Sept 28, 1802 and is buried in Old Welsh Track Baptish Church Cemetery in Newark De. re Find a Grave
2. Augustina born Oct 21, 1741 married Thomas Boulden Jr. her first cousin
3. Elijah married Sarah Ford, her first name was in James' will. Elijah died 1782
4. Elisha said to wed Elizabeth, and he died Feb. 1821 in New Castle DE.
Elijah and Elisha were twins - re another Boulden researcher ie catawba
6. Rachel spouse unknown - she was not married when James' will was written in 1783
7. Jesse said to wed Mary, and that he died Aug. 24, 1772
8. Thomas said to wed Jane Bunker and that he died 1821
Re the History of Cecil county Maryland by George
Johnston written in 1881, on page 102 Augustine
Herman made the first patent to "Misfortune" later
to be called Three Bohemian Sisters. It contained
1339 acres, was on the north side of Chesapeake City and
extended to the Delaware River. This was well before
the Delaware - Chesapeake Canal was built.
James Boulden on some date before 1762 came into possession of a portion of Three Bohemian Sisters.
On April 3, 1762 James Boulding sold to Henry
Ward Pearce 130 acres of a part of that tract. Maryland
Land Records, Vol 9, page 430. described as
from a Red Oak next to Willam Tice's land southeast to Old
Kings Rd, then north to Long Creek then back to Red Oak.
On Jan 16, 1770 Henry Pearce sold to James
Bouldin, both of Cecil County, 414 acres of Three
Bohemian Sisters. Maryland land Records, Deed Book 11,
page 496. The description has many turns, and
trees involved but its start is a tree near an Ancient
Road called Choptank Rd, crosses the main branch of Long
Creek, eventually to the north east corner of Samuel
Glenns's land, more along Long Creek, with too many
twist and trees to enumerate.
A few months later Robert Lowry sold to James
Boldin, both of Cecil county part of a track called
Jones Green springs containing 40 acres and 34
perches. Maryland Land Records, Deed Book 12,
page 16. It is described as beginning
where southwest line of Charles Camp crosses the Old
Meeting House Rd. running along said rd southeast,
with many jogs & trees till it turns north and back to
the start.
Sometime after 1770, James moved his family to Pencader
Hundren in Delaware. In June 29, 1778 James and
his son Nathan Boulden took the Oat of
Allegiance. I believe this was in Delaware.
Still need the actual source.
In 1781 he bought land in Pencader Delaware, and may have
moved there some years before. This land is in New
Castle County De. Deeds, Vol D-2, Folio 337.
But I do not have that deed in hand, so do not know what
it refers to.
On the 1783 Cecil Tax List for Middle Neck, Bohemia
Manor and Back Creek we find the following Bouldins
from this family:
James Boulden - plantation Jones Green Spring with
4 white inhabitants
Thomas Boulden - no site given, with 8 white
inhabitants
James Boulden - no site given, with no white
inhabitants.
I don't believe that James, the first one listed,
as the tax list did not add Jr. or Sr. to either James,
actually lived at Jones Green Springs, but that Sarah
and her children lived there. See will distributions
below.
James Boulden died early 1784. His will
was signed Jan 4, 1783 and proved Feb. 17, 1784.
from Calendar of Delaware Wills, New Castle county,
1682-1800, page102 from Will book M7. It
states he was of Pencader Hundred. Mentioned in the
will are:
wife, Elizabeth Boulden
sons, James, Thomas, Nathan, and Elisha Boulden
daughter Rachel
children of son Jesse, daughter Augustine,
son Elijah
John & Hannah Faries
Robert Lowry
Widow of Elijah, Sarah Boulden
Executor of the will was son James Boulden
James Jr. received the dwelling plantation
with some additional land which James Sr. had purchased
from John and Hannah Faries some time before
1780. also 15 acres purchased from Robert Lowry.
part of Jones Green Springs
Thomas received plantation previously given to Elijah
- now deceased plus 25 acres purchased from Lowry.
This is probably the Three Bohemian Sisters plus the Jones
Green Springs.
Elijah's widow, Sarah Boulden is given
permission in the will to stay on the plantation for six
years while she raises her children.
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Date created 3/7/2019
Date edited 2/15/2020
Date updated 6/23/2022
Date edited 11/11/2022