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- Edmund Boots, whose full name is said to have been Edmund Ambrose Boots, was born 12 October 1811, in Sussex County, England. He was baptized 22 December 1811, in the Wesleyan Chapel at Rye, Sussex County, England. The baptismal entry reads:
"Edmund, son of Ambrose Boots of the Parish of Ewhurst, Sussex & of Eliz. his wife was born on the 13th day of Octr. 1811 and christened on the 22 day of Decr. 1811 by B. Leggett."
There is a conflict between the birth date given in the baptismal record and the birth date cited in his obituary, but since the baptismal record is so much nearer the event, it is more likely to be correct. Edmund Boots died 27 December 1890, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He married 1st, in 1831, Eliza COLEMAN, daughter of William COLEMAN, who died a few months later, in 1832. In 1834, he married Mrs. Eliza Dean Caldwell JONES, daughter of Samuel CALDWELL, who was born in 1803 in Pennsylvania, and died 4 May 1881 in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Edmund Boots and his second wife are buried in the North Sewickley Cemetery, North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Four children were born of this second marriage.
From the (1907) memoirs of Mary J. Belles, contained in the Concord Church Booklet:
"Edmund Boots and his wife, Eliza, were good and faithful members for many long years, he being class leader for 21 years. He reared four sons, two of whom are living. He died in a good old age, always humbly claiming that he was a 'sinner saved by grace.'"
The Obituaries of Edmund and Eliza Boots are also contained in the Concord Church Booklet:
OBITUARY of Edmund Boots: "ADVOCATE March 12, 1891. Edmund Boots was born Oct. 12, 1811, in Sussex County, England and died in North Sewickley Township, Beaver Co., Pa., Dec. 27, 1890. He was a member of the Wesleyan Society, in England. He came to America in 1830 and united with the M. E. Church. He was twice married. In 1831, to Eliza COLEMAN, who lived but a few months and in 1834 to Mrs. Eliza Jones, who died about nine years ago. He was a member of the church for 60 years, and sustained the relation of steward, trustee and class leader for a number of years. The last five or six years of his life were spent in great feebleness of body. He leaves a large connection of relatives who are comforted with the thought that he has exchanged the afflictions of life for the rest of heaven."
OBITUARY of Eliza Boots: "ADVOCATE, June 9, 1881. Sister Eliza Boots was born in 1803, and died in North Sewickley Township, Beaver Co., May 4, 1881. She was early taught to fear God, and entered the communion of the Presbyterian Church under the pastorate of Rev. Wm. McClain, which relation she sustained until her marriage in the year 1834, when she united with the M. E. Church. She was a firm believer in the merits of Jesus Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit, striving on her part 'to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.' Having been deprived of natural sight for nearly 12 years, she was patient and thankful that her spiritual vision was still granted unto her. She ever had humble views of herself, conscious of her weakness and inability to meet the trials and afflictions of life without Divine help. The last two years of her life were almost unendurable, causing her to express a desire to 'depart and be with Christ'. Her record is on high.
J. E. Williams"
From a History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, published in 1888, comes the following account of Edmund Boots:
"Edmund Boots, wagon maker, P. O. North Sewickley, was born in Sussex, England, Oct. 13, 1811, son of Ambrose and Elizabeth (Bull) Boots, the former of whom, a carpenter by trade, came to America in 1830, and Oct. 13th of the same year settled on Brush creek, North Sewickley township, this county, here remaining until his death. He had four sons, all born in the mother country, three yet living: John is deceased. Edmund was married in 1831 to Eliza, daughter of William Coleman. She died in 1832, and in 1834 Mr. Boots married Eliza, daughter of Samuel Caldwell. By this union there are four children: Samuel C., James D., Ambrose and Edmund R. Mr. Boots owns the property, consisting of seventy acres, where he has resided since 1830. He has been secretary of the school board of his township for eight years, and has held the office of supervisor two terms. He and Mrs. Boots are members of the Methodist Episcopal church; in politics he is a Republican."
The careful reader will note a couple of discrepancies in the forgoing account, as to birth date and number of sons. Biographical data provided by these early county histories was generally derived as much from oral tradition as from source documents, and often only as reliable as the memory of the person (or persons) who supplied the information.
The Will of Edmund Boots is found in Will Book "I", Page 61, public records of Beaver County, Pennsylvania:
"Last Will and Testament of Edmund Boots, Late of North Sewickley Twp., Registered Jan'y 8, 1891.
"I Edmund Boots of North Sewickly Township Beaver County and State of Pennsylvania Being weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revokeing and making void all former wills by me at any former time made
"And first I direct and order my body be intered in a plain decent manner and that my just debts be paid and satisfied by my Executor hereinafter named as soon as conveinantly may be after my decease I dispose of my property in the following manner I give devise and bequeath to my son Ambrose Boots his heirs and assigns my farms of land forever consisting of about sixty two acres known as the Clark land also a piece of land containing four acres and one half known as the McDanel Lot situated in the above named Township, County and State I farther will order and direct that my son Ambrose Boots shall pay to my son James D. Boots Five hundred Dollars and also to my son Edmund R Boots Five hundred Dollars in one year from my decease but who nevertheless is to have three years from my decease to pay the above legacies by paying four per interest for the same after one year I proceed farther I give devise and bequeath to my Niece Harriet Caldwell her heirs and assigns forever the farm or lot on which I reside containing about seven and one half acres the purchase being made formerly from Coleman and Wilson as the deeds will show being in the township county and state above named I also Will give and bequeath to the aforesaid Harriet Caldwell all my household and kitchen furniture consisting of beds and beding tables chairs sewing machine and cc the discresionary power to be with my Executor wether the personal property be appriased or not I further will give and bequeath to the aforesaid Harriet Caldwell the choice of my Cows.
"I further will and direct that the remainder of my personall property shall be equality divided among the above named legates share and share alike
"I hereby ordain constitute and appoint Edmund R. Boots to be the Executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I Edmund Boots the testator have to this my will written on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal this tenth 10 day of September A.D. 1888.
Edmund Boots (Seal)
"Signed sealed and published and declared by the above named Edmund Boots as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said testator and of each other.
Daniel W. Swick
M. C. Smith
"The State of Pennsylvania
Beaver County
"Be it remembered that on the 8th day of January A. D. 1891, Daniel W. Swick and M. C. Smith personally appeared before me the Register for the Probate of Wills etc, in and for said county, they being the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of Edmund Boots late of North Sewickly township, deceased, and after being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that they were present and saw the said Edmund Boots sign the foregoing instrument of writing and heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of his so doing the testator was of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of deponents' knowledge, observation and belief, and that they signed the same as witnesses thereto at the request of the said testator.
"And now, the testimony of the above named witnesses being sufficient, I do hereby admit the foregoing Will to Probate, and order the same to be recorded as such. Given under my hand the date last above named.
Orin H. Mathews
Register."
The foregoing Document is quoted exactly as it appears in the public records, quaint spelling and all. Of particular interest is the almost total lack of punctuation.
United States Census Records of 1840 for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, show the following:
North Sewickley Township - Page 67:
Head of family - Edmon Boots. Members of family, including head of family:
3 males under 5
1 male aged 20-30
1 female aged 20-30
Two of the three males under 5 would have been Ambrose Boots, born in 1839, and Samuel Boots, born in 1835; the third male under five may have been either a child who did not survive or a visiting relative; the male aged 20-30 was Edmund Boots; the female aged 20-30 was Eliza Boots.
United States Census Records of 1850, for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, show the following:
Name of Individual Age Sex Occupation Value of R/Est Birthplace
North Sewickley Township - Page 166B, Family No. 145
Edmond Boots 39 M Wagon Maker 1500 England
Eliza Boots 46 F Pa
Samuel Boots 15 M Farmer Pa
Ambrose Boots 11 M Pa
James Boots 9 M Pa
Edmond Boots 7 M Pa.
United States Census Records of 1860, for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, show the following:
Name of Individual Age Sex Occupation Value of R/Est Birthplace
North Sewickley Township, Page 563, Family No. 1035:
Edmund Boots 47 M Wagon Maker 2800 England
Eliza Boots 56 F Penna
Ambrose Boots 21 M Farmhand Penna
Edmund Boots 17 M Farmhand Penna.
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