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Boat(w)right Family Genealogy in America

Generation 7

7-27. WILLIAM BOOTWRIGHT (JAMES⁷, JOHN⁶, JOHN⁴, JOHN³, JOHN², Not Yet Determined¹) was born 1792 in Richmond, Virginia, and died Dec 1870 in Bowling Green, Caroline County, Virginia. He married (1) SARAH BRYAN 26 Oct 1815 in Henrico County, Virginia, daughter of WILSON BRYAN and ELIZABETH PEARSON. She was born 1798 in Virginia, and died 15 Apr 1831 in Richmond, Virginia. He married (2) ANN M.. She was born 1815 in Virginia.

Notes for WILLIAM BOOTWRIGHT:

William Bootwright Sr. was born in 1792 in Richmond, Virginia, the son of James Bootwright. The name of his mother is not known. He married Sarah Bryan on October 26, 1815 in Henrico County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Wilson Bryan and Elizabeth Pearson, of Richmond.

After Sarah’s death in 1831, William married secondly Ann M. Her last name is not known.

William Bootwright served as a quartermaster in Ambler’s 19th Regiment of the Virginia Militia in the War of 1812. He entered the war as a private and rose to the rank of Sergeant before his discharge. William’s effort to secure the bounty lands due him from his war service is documented in the Library of Virginia (John K. Martin Records, 1777-1907, Accession 12, Business Records Collection). John K. Martin, a Richmond lawyer, served as a claims agent, representing veterans in the area. In 4William’s case, the claim was disputed by the War Department in Washington, as they did not have the records to verify the claim. The needed records resided in the State Government and after several exchanges of viewpoint whether Virginia’s war records should be under the custody of the State or the Federal Government, William finally prevailed and received his claim (bounty lands in the west which he then sold).

William owned several stores during his lifetime. He first operated his own store in the vicinity of his father James’ store on Broad Street. He also operated his father’s establishment when James retired.

The business was located on the Southeast corner of Broad Street (then known as “H Street”) and 1st Street. Evidently William owned several adjacent lots along “H” Street extending eastward from 1st Street towards 2nd Street. Several plats are on file at the Library of Virginia mentioning the Bootwright property.

The property is described in insurance records of the Mutual Assurance Property over the years as follows:

Policy 12655, issued September 1844,

Policy 15843, issued July 1851, shows father James Bootwright’s store located adjacent to William Bootwright’s establishment. James is insured for $4,750, $2,750 for the Dry Goods and $2000 for the adjacent dwelling. The store is described as being 33 by 36 feet and the dwelling as 21 by 36 feet.

Policy 19324, issued in April 1855, shows William Bootwright insuring his father James’ store. It was declared for $5000, $3000 for Dry Goods and $2000 for a dwelling on the premises.

William and his father James were named as original stockholders in a newly formed corporation, the Richmond Theatre Company, by act of the VA General Assembly, Chapter 207, passed March 22, 1842. The corporation owned all theater equipment, including props, the building and the city lot on which it was located.

Theatrical arts in Richmond at the time were rebounding from the catastrophic burning of the original Richmond Theater in 1811, where 73 people, including the Governor, lost their lives when the building burned to the ground (Monumental Church now occupies the site on Broad Street near MCV). Richmond was without a large theater for some time after this, as people were afraid to congregate in large public buildings. Eventually however, the theater revived at 701 East Broad Street in what was known as the Marshall Theater (also known as the Richmond Theater).

According to the Federal Writers Project book “Virginia: A guide to the Old Dominion”:

Richmond’s ‘golden age of the theater’ began toward the middle of the nineteenth century. Great plays were then given, with great actors who remained throughout the season. The names of William Charles Macready, Edwin Forrest, the Booths, and James W. Wallack appeared in the playbills; and William Rufus Blake, Joseph Jefferson, and John Wilkes Booth served at various times as stage managers at the Marshall. A collection of old playbills covering the years 1848 through 1852 [states] ‘Clear night but very wet walking. Mr. Booth was Drunk and Did Not Appear’…The great Jenny Lind sang at the Marshall Theater in 1850…

The new theater burned in 1861. A Federal Courthouse now stands at the location.

William appears in the following cases in Hanover County:

April 28, 1819 – William Bootwright wins $259.24 in principal, plus interest since March 1, 1817 from John D. Hendrick for “non-performances of the promise.” Hendrick took “the oath of an insolvent debtor.”

September 26, 1820 – William Bootwright sued John G. Childress, but didn’t show up in court and so he was charged $32.49 plus the costs of the defendant.

Both William and James Bootwright were active members in the Disciples of Christ movement and sat under the ministry of the leading evangelist of that denomination in the early 1800s, Alexander Campbell. Alexander Campbell’s family background was Scottish and Presbyterian, but he and his father became Baptists in 1812. Campbell became a popular Baptist preacher and editor of a widely circulated paper, The Christian Baptist. Rejecting a variety of Baptist practices of his time, Campbell formed the Church of Christ denomination. Campbell rejected infant baptism and confessions of faith, especially the Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742). Campbell’s maxim was “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” Needless to say, this generated quite a stir amongst Baptists of the day, one writing “while they boast of superior light and knowledge, we cannot but lament in their life and conversation the absence of that wisdom which is from above…a dogmatic sect, who live only in the fire of strife and controversy and seek to remain in connection with existing churches that they may with greater facility obtain material for feeding the disastrous flame” (The Dover Decrees). After leaving the Baptist Church, Campbell began publishing The Millennial Harbinger, in which William and James Bootwright are mentioned as regular subscribers. There are other references to William in the paper as well:

Campbell writes the following in 1832 regarding confusion over his relationship with a fellow minister:

I had scarce reached Richmond on my arrival from Essex, with R. Y. Henley, when it was in circulation that my report of the friendly reception I met with from brother Semple was not true, but the reverse. Upon hearing this brother Bootwright wrote to brother R. B. Fife and brother Leitch of Fredericksburg to know the truth of the matter, upon which be received the following letter,

“Fredericksburg, January, 1832

Brother Bootwright –Your favor of the 16th instant has just been handed me by brother Leitch, in which you request us to state whether in the interviews between brother Semple and brother Campbell anything like hostility existed. Far from it; everything that passed in my presence, was of the most friendly nature, Brother Campbell stayed at my house whilst he remained in this place, except when invited out to dine, or spend the evening, and had but two interviews with brother Semple, one of which took place at my house on the Sabbath morning on which brother Campbell preached. I was present and heard everything that passed. On this occasion little passed between them, it being within a few minutes of the time at which preaching commenced when brother Semple called. They both went to the meeting house. Brother Semple took a seat by the stove, and remained there till he thought brother Campbell had nearly got through with his discourse; he then went into the pulpit, and after brother Campbell thought he had detained the people long enough, reserved the remainder of his discourse till night. Brother Semple remarked that he had no fault to find with what had been said, but thought that more might have been said (respecting the work of the Holy Spirit) and concluded, commending it as the gospel; and prayed most fervently that the blessing of God might accompany the truth that had been delivered; and also for brother Campbell, that God might spare his life many years, and go with him wherever he went, and bless him abundantly in his labors. After preaching they both went to brother Leitch’s, where they dined together; (having company at my house I could not be present.) In the evening the Lord’s Supper was administered. Brother Semple and brother Adams officiated, and brother Campbell was invited to commune with us. Indeed, throughout the service brother Semple seemed to be filled with the love of God. I saw nothing throughout the service that had the slightest appearance of hostility, in matter or manner, in brother Semple to brother Campbell. Brother Adams states that in a conversation he had with brother Semple, that he (brother S.) expressed himself well pleased with brother Campbell.

Please excuse any mistakes in composition, as this was done in haste in my school.
Yours in the Lord, R. B. FIFE”

I concur with the above statement made by brother Fife, in regard to what took place in the meeting-house. Brother Semple and brother Campbell dined with me on Sabbath day, and I saw nothing like unkind feelings existing between brother Semple and brother Campbell, but friendship and brotherly affection. Something was said on church government, and I think all present differed with brother Semple – he thinking something more than the New Testament necessary for the government of the church.

Affectionately yours, ABNER LEITCH

William and James Bootwright both withdrew from Richmond’s First Baptist Church under the teaching of Alexander Campbell’s father Thomas, as seen from this excerpt of the Harbinger, written on September 7, 1832 from Richmond:

Dear Brother Campbell,

YOURS of the 9th ultimo came duly to hand, and I now take opportunity to answer it. The material facts connected with the division of the First Baptist Church and our separation therefrom, are, so far as they have come within my knowledge, as follows: – A considerable number of the members of the church had become satisfied that a reform, both in themselves and in the church, was necessary. They applied themselves diligently to the reading of the New Testament; and used frequently to converse with each other, and other members of the church, on these great leading items of the gospel – faith, baptism, and the Lord’s supper – endeavoring by presenting in a friendly and Christian-like manner, the commands of our Lord and Savior, and the directions and practice of the Apostles, to induce them to believe and practice as the primitive Christians did. We had no idea of separating from our brethren, with whom we considered ourselves in harmony and peace: and our own experience had too severely taught us the powerful force of education and early prejudice, to allow us to fall out with a brother for mere difference of opinion….

Trouble soon arose between those following Campbell and the rest of the congregation, again printed from the Harbinger in 1832:

On Tuesday night, the 14th February, they again met, when the following preamble and resolution, in writing, was offered by the Pastor. –

“Whereas it is evident that a party has arisen in this church, entertaining opinions of scripture doctrine and church government materially different from those of the great body of this church, and all the Regular Baptist churches in Virginia: And whereas, out of these discordant opinions and views a state of feeling has grown very unfavorable to the peace, honor, and piety of the church – Therefore,

Resolved, That this church earnestly recommend to those who have embraced these new doctrines and opinions to withdraw from us, and become a separate people, worshipping God according to their own views of propriety.”

SIMON FRAYSER, Clerk

The Bootwrights, along with many other First Baptist members, soon withdrew:

Resolved, that we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do withdraw ourselves from the First Baptist Church. William Dabney, Curtis Carter and wife Letitia, William M. Carter, Curtis Carter, Jun. Joseph Carter, Mary Hyde, George Radford, George R. Myers, Lucy- Ann Myers, Clarissa Hopkins, Burwell Jones, Francis W. Quarles, Benjamin Ellett, Joseph S. Robinson, Julia-Ann Robinson, E. F. Matthews, James Bootwright and wife Priscilla, Charles H. Hyde, Eliza S. Hyde, William Bootwright, J. B. Bragg, V. W. Bragg, Joseph Woodson, Julia A. Woodson, Robert A. Ligon, S. F. Ligon, Robert Hyde and wife Ann, Frances Ayscough, George Sharpe, C. L. M. Howerton, A. B. Gathwright, John Brooks, Thomas J. Glenn, A. Jones, Jane Ellyson, John Hooper, Sarah Bryan, Clotilda Fisher, Ellen Dogget, James Griffin, Edmund Leneve, Jane Leneve, John G. Davis and wife Malinda, Mary A. Dabney, Sampson Jones, Angelica Jones, Mary Eppse, William A. Matthews, Ann B. Matthews, Onan Ellyson, James R. Ratcliff, Garland Hanes, Emeline S. Hanes, Leander Woodson, Edwin A. Mattox, Mary Kinnard, Daniel Totty, Jun. William Booth and wife Miranda, Sarah Epps, Rebecca White, Sarah Page, Thomas Hix, Mary Clarke.

William Bootwright presented the list of names withdrawing from First Baptist to the clerk. He also had responsibility to collect funds for missionary efforts in Virginia, as seen from this excerpt from the 1905 book “The plea and the pioneers in Virginia: a history of the rise and early progress of the Disciples of Christ in Virginia, with biographical sketches of the pioneer preachers”, by Frederick Arthur Hodge:

Bro. Peter Ainslie was employed by the Christian churches of the Tidewater District in the fall of 1832 to act as general evangelist of Eastern Virginia…Bro. William Bootwright, of Richmond, was appointed to receive contributions both from the churches and from individuals for the support of Bro. Ainsley, who did excellent work in this capacity until the time of his death…

After withdrawing from First Baptist, the Bootwrights began meeting with other followers of Campbell in Richmond. After meeting in each other’s homes for a time, they signed a covenant, penned by Thomas Campbell, to form the “Old Sycamore Church”, whose preamble stated:

We the undersigned immersed believers, having agreed to unite together as a church to be called the Church of Christ on H Street, Richmond, do for the satisfaction of all concerned declare as follows:

1st. That we receive and hold the scriptures of the Old and New Testament as containing a true and perfect revelation of the divine Will, able, thro faith, to make us wise to salvation, thoroughly furnished for all good works, and the New Testament as the only and allsufficient rule for the Worship and Government of the Christian Church.

2nd. That thus receiving and holding the sacred Volume, we stand pledged, thro the grace of God promised to us in Christ, to study to conform to all its holy precepts and examples.

3rd. That conscientiously recognizing the constitutional unity of the body of Christ, we extend our fellowship to all who have been immersed upon a scriptural profession of Faith in Christ and are walking orderly, according to his law, enjoined by his holy Apostles upon the believers.

The congregation organized and William Bootwright was appointed to the committee to purchase land for the church, which was located on the east side of 11th Street, halfway between Broad and Marshall. William also served as one of the Trustees and was the first “collector of funds.” James Bootwright was the first Treasurer.

The church was completed and became known as Sycamore, due to the “sycamore tree which threw its refreshing shade over the entrance to its doors.” The church was used as a Civil War Hospital in the 1860s, but continued to be used for worship until 1870, when it was sold to the state and used by the Court of Appeals. The Richmond Whig of August 3, 1861 states:

As we have heretofore stated, the members of Sycamore Church have established a hospital for sick and wounded Confederate soldiers; and have appointed the Sunday School rooms for that purpose.

The hospital was opened on the 21st inst. Appropriate officers have been appointed; day and night nurses of their own membership and friends secured, and the entire work is now in systematic operation. There are at present some thirty patients in the hospital. The Superintendents, Messrs. Pettigrew and Dickinson appeal to their brethren and friends in the country, and in the South generally, to aid them in this work of patriotism and Christian beneficence. All hospital supplies will be duly acknowledged, and faithfully appropriated to the objects contemplated by the donors.

The establishment of this hospital does not interfere with the worship. The regular Church services will take place to-morrow (Sunday) at 11 A. M. and 4 ½ P. M.

William Bootwright Sr. entered into a business venture with an unscrupulous partner and lost the family business that had been started by his father James. Son William Jr. moved to Warrenton to reestablish himself in 1860. Perhaps the partner was Joel Bragg, with whom Bootwright leased the government’s Boring Mill in Manchester in the 1830s.

Whoever the partner, William’s fortunes took a downturn after he inherited his father’s business in 1853 – within 5 years he was forced to sell not only the business, but his household goods as well.

Source: Frederick Oswald (Pete) Nuckols, Jr.

Obit: Alexandria Gazette, January 3, 1870

War of 1812 Service Records
Name: William Bootright
Company: 19 REG'T (AMBLER'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA.
Rank - Induction: PRIVATE
Rank - Discharge: SERGEANT
Roll Box: 20
Roll Exct: 602

War of 1812 Service Records
Name: William Bootright 
Company: 7 REG'T (GRAY'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA.  
Rank - Induction: PRIVATE  
Rank - Discharge: PRIVATE  
Roll Box: 20  
Roll Exct: 602  

War of 1812 Service Records
Name: William Bootright 
Company: 4 BRIGADE (COCKE'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA.  
Rank - Induction: BRIG.  
Rank - Discharge: QR. MR.  
Roll Box: 20  
Roll Exct: 602

Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850
WILLIAM BOOTWRIGHT
SARAH BRYAN
26 Oct 1815
Henrico County

1820 Census:
Name: Wm Boatwright
Township: Richmond
County: Richmond (Independent City)
State: Virginia
Year: 1820
Roll: M33_131
Page: 169
Image Number: 181
1 male, 16 - 26, 1 male, 26 - 44,
1 female, 0 - 10, 1 female, 16 - 26,
1 male slave over 45, 1 female slave, 0 - 14, 2 female slaves, 26 - 45,
8 total

1830 Census:
Name: Boatwright, William
Township: Richmond Monroe Ward
County: Richmond (Independent City)
State: Virginia
Year: 1830
Roll: 195
Page: 370
1 male: 5 - 10, 1 male: 30 - 40,
1 female: 10 - 15, 1 female: 30 - 40,
1 male slave: 24 - 36, 1 male slave over 45,
1 female slave: 0 - 10, 1 female slave, 10 - 24, 
1 female slave, 36 - 55, 2 female slaves over 55,
11 total

1840 Census:
Name: William Bootwright
Township: Richmond Ward 3
County: Henrico
State: Virginia
Roll: 561
Page: 211
1 male: 5 - 10, 1 male: 15 - 20, 1 male: 40 - 50,
1 female: 0 - 5, 1 female: 15 - 20, 1 female: 30 - 40,
1 female slave: 0 - 10, 1 female slave: 10 - 24, 1 female slave: 24 - 36,
9 total, 2 commerce

1850 Census:
Name: William Bootwright
Date: October 5, 1850
Age: 60
Estimated birth year: abt 1790
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Male
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Richmond, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia
Value of Real Estate: $7,000
Page: 297
Roll: M432_951

1860 Census:
Name: Wm Bootwright
Date: June 28, 1860
Age in 1860: 69
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Richmond Ward 2, Henrico, Virginia
Occupation: Merchant
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: $3,700
Post Office: Richmond
Roll: M653_1352
Page: 287
Year: 1860
Head of Household: Wm Bootwright

U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
Name: Wm Bootwright
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Place of Birth: Virginia
Estimated birth year: abt 1792
Age: 78
Month of Death: Dec
Cause of Death: Paralysis
Place of Death: (City, County, State)
Bowling Green, Caroline, Virginia
Census Year: 1870

Notes for SARAH BRYAN:

Richmond, Virginia Newspaper Obituaries, 1804-38
Prim Name: Mrs. Sarah Bootwright
Loc: Richmond
News: Whig
News Date: 15 Apr 1831
Page: 3

1850 Census:
Name: Ann Bootwright
Date: October 5, 1850
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1815
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Female
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Richmond, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia
Page: 297
Roll: M432_951

1860 Census:
Name: Ann M Bootwright
Date: June 28, 1860
Age in 1860: 44
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Richmond Ward 2, Henrico, Virginia
Gender: Female
Value of real estate: $0
Post Office: Richmond
Roll: M653_1352
Page: 287
Year: 1860
Head of Household: Wm Bootwright

1870 Census:
Name: Ann Bootwright 
Date: June 9, 1870
Birth Year: abt 1817 
Age in 1870: 53 
Birthplace: Virginia 
Home in 1870: Bowling Green, Caroline, Virginia 
Race: White 
Gender: Female 
Post Office: Bowling Green 
Census Place: Bowling Green, Caroline, Virginia; 
Roll M593_1639; Page: 210A; Image: 6; 
Family History Library Film: 553138.
living with daughter Mary and family

Children of WILLIAM BOOTWRIGHT and SARAH BRYAN are:

8-67.    i. RACHEL BOOTWRIGHT, b. 1817, Richmond, Virginia; 
                                d. 27 Apr 1839, Richmond, Virginia.
8-68.   ii. WILLIAM BRYAN BOOTWRIGHT, b. 1822, Richmond, Virginia; 
                                       d. 10 Oct 1902, Richmond, Virginia.

Children of WILLIAM BOOTWRIGHT and ANN M. are:

8-69.  iii. JAMES K. BOOTWRIGHT, b. Aug 1831, Richmond, Virginia; 
                                  d. 05 Aug 1864, Petersburg, Virginia.
8-70.   iv. SARAH A. BOOTWRIGHT, b. 1835, Richmond, Virginia.

8-71.    v. JOHN C. BOOTWRIGHT, b. Feb 1838, Richmond, Virginia; 
                                 d. 19 Aug 1839, Richmond, Virginia.
8-72.   vi. MARY V. BOOTWRIGHT, b. 1840, Richmond, Virginia.

7-28. DANIEL BOOTWRIGHT (JAMES⁷, JOHN⁶, JOHN⁴, JOHN³, JOHN², Not Yet Determined¹) was born 1794 in Richmond, Virginia, and died Bef. 1850 in Richmond, Virginia.

Notes for DANIEL BOATWRIGHT:

1830 Census:
Name: Boatwright, Daniel
Township: Richmond Monroe Ward
County: Richmond (Independent City)
State: Virginia
Year: 1830
Roll: 195
Page: 370
1 male: 30 - 40,
1 female: 5 - 10, 1 female: 10 - 15, 1 female: 30 - 40,
2 male slaves: 0 - 10, 2 female slaves, 10 - 24,
8 total

URL: http://www.boatwrightgenealogy.com

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