Boas/Boaz Family

Submitted by Bill Morrison

Thanks to my third cousin, George Vance Boas of Seymour, Ind., for providing me with a small green-colored paper back booklet, The Henry Boas Family, 1770-1970, a well-researched and documented piece of work since lost. For the minute details on the Boas family, refer to that booklet if it can be found. What follows here is only a bare outline of the Boas genealogy from Henry I to Judith Boas who married into our Morrison family. ? W. C. Morrison 5th, 5/30/90.

HENRY BOAS I: Born October 30, 1760, in Hanover, Germany, emigrated with his parents to America when about 15 years old. They settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. At the age of 16, he enlisted in the Revolutionary War as a private for six months. He was with General George Washington on that famous Christmas night when they crossed the icy Delaware River to surprise the Hessian soldiers at Trenton, and participated in other battles. He was discharged New Year's Day, 1777, after having suffered severely frostbitten feet, the effects of which left him crippled for life. After the war, he lived for 18 years in Baltimore County, Maryland, where he married Dorothy Baumgartner, who was born in Maryland in 1756. Moved to Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky in 1791. Then moved with Dorothy to Brownstown, Indiana, at the age of 56, where he lived until he bought the old family homestead near Vallonia in 1822. Died March 4, 1838 at Medora, Indiana, and he is buried in the Brown graveyard, Carr Township. His wife died one year later, 1839.

HENRY BOAS II: Oldest of seven children of Henry I and Dorothy, born 1783 in Baltimore County, Maryland, died October 10, 1839, buried in Vallonia Cemetery. Married Judith Adkins, Apr. 23, 1806, in Harrison County, Kentucky, b. 1786, died Feb. 2, 1864. Both are buried in Vallonia, Indiana, cemetery. Henry II appears juxtopposed to Henry I in the federal census in Jackson County, Indiana for 1820.

GEORGE BOAS: Third son of Henry I, probably born in Harrison County, Kentucky. Married Mary Cavender, probably in Harrison County, Kentucky. The 1820 federal census places him and his family in Jackson County, Indiana, engaged in agriculture. Does not appear in later census returns for Jackson County. Dates of birth and death and burial places of both are unknown.

JUDITH BOAS: Daughter of either Henry II or George, above. The author of the aforementioned Boas history has concluded that Judith's father was Henry II (see pages 17 and 35 of the Boas book). However, Judith's death certificate, based on information provided by her son, J. P. Morrison, states that her father was George. (The certificate also states that George was born in Pennsylvania - which we know is wrong - thereby casting some doubt on the accuracy of the death certificate.) A document called "Record of the Prince-Boas Families" (following in said book) further supports the position that George was her father.

Judith was born July 31, 1826, near Vallonia - probably at home on the family farm. Married William C. Morrison II of Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 3, 1843, at Salem, Indiana and lived around Brownstown before moving to Marengo, Iowa prior to 1850. William died in Norfolk, Nebraska in 1897. After William died, Judith moved to Los Angeles where her sons went into the grocery business, and about 1901 moved with her children again to Canon City, Fremont County, Colorado where she lived for two years before her death. Her address was 923 Whipple, where her daughters Della and Clemmie lived 1908 City Directory). There she died on June 9, 1902, at age 75, of bronchial tuberculosis. She was buried June 11, 1902 in Lakeside Cemetery in Canon City.

Notes on names: The surname "Boas" was "Boaz" on the 1840 census. Judith is listed as "Judy" on the 1840 rolls.

The old homestead: The Boas farm a mile southeast of Vallonia, Jackson County, Indiana was purchased in 1822 and remained in the family until 1918.

3rd cousin and source of some information: George Vance Boas, who in 1990 was located and contacted at "George's of Seymour" tire store at 301 East 2nd Street, Seymour, Indiana 47274. He died of cancer of the pancreas and liver on August 13, 1993.

William C. Morrison 5th