Various Joseph & Joshua Bouchers by Nancy Hughes

Deceased

By no means is this information to be assumed to be totally accurate as I have transcribed much of it from my own entries into my working family tree and which may create some errors. So, feel free to bring such to my attention. My purpose in creating this list is to help us sort out the various fellows by these same names. This is only a brief list of all the many entries found in the records for these fellows. I will continue to attempt to log as much of the data by dates and locations, hoping to clarify just which one the record references.

According to records of Augusta Co., VA (1745-1800) and Notes from Botetourt Co., VA, Tithable Book 1, pp 66, 105, 124, 132, 149, 186, Joshua Boucher, Joseph Boucher, and Elisha Pepper are found migrating contiguously from 1772-1775 together, moving from Augusta Co., VA into the newly created Botetourt Co, VA; then, later into Washington (Russell & Lee) County.

The children of these three men are the Boucher relatives who migrated from Russell Co. VA to Madison Co. KY around 1787/89 and scattered in all directions from there.

Based upon Y-DNA testing for the Boucher/Butcher Project, we now have evidence that Robert Boucher (abt 1960/65) of Lee Co., VA, Thomas Boucher (abt 1774) of Lee Co, VA and AL, and Joshua Boucher (abt 1781/82) of VA, KY, TN, who became a Methodist circuit preacher and who settled in Limestone Co., AL) are related! This provides the possibility that we will now be able to connect others who traveled and moved with these three men.

While there are more Joseph Bouchers than those I have listed below, I have listed those who are pertinent to our earliest research. The others are mostly the descendants of those listed here. The same is true of the list for Joshua Bouchers.

By no means have I listed all the data whereby one of these men witnessed a deed, or was named in a court record.  Those records have been found in Augusta, Fincastle, Botetourt, Washington, Russell, and Lee Counties, VA as well as in Madison Co., KY and others. Many of you already have some of this data. The spelling of the name varied from record to record.
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Various Joseph Bouchers

1. Joseph BOUCHER in PA:  married 19 Oct 1771 in Province of PA
Records found by Jane Pizzoferrarto while she was doing research at
Fairfax, VA; Annapolis, MD; Libr. of Congress.  My notes do not state
who he married, however.  Perhaps Jane will be able to find that. This
Joseph may be one of our own Josephs who migrated on down the
western side of Virginia and into KY.

The next three Josephs are associated with other Boucher men as well as with these names: James Campbell, Thomas Campbell, Charles Cocke (Cox), Joseph Martin, Patrick Porter, Samuel Porter, Elisha Pepper, John Miller, Aron Lewis, and others of the Faris and English families. They appear to be together early on in Augusta Co., in Fincastle Co., in parts of Virginia which are actually parts of KY today as well as in areas which are in West Virginia today. All of this area was still the frontier of Virginia in the 1700s.

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2. Joseph BOUCHER I (b. abt 1700/1705):

While I only speculated that he may have been born around the beginning of the 18th century, I have labeled him as the oldest of the three because of the following reasons:

The following men were listed as receiving pay for service (from the 1st of May to the 30th of June 1777) at Rye Cove Fort in Russell Co., VA (in today’s Scott Co.)   under the command of Capt. Joseph Martin and Col. Evan Shelby. The average time drawn was 61 days duty.

Joseph Boucher, Sen’r
Joseph Boucher, Jun’r
Joshua Boucher
James Campbell
Thomas Campbell

1777 Petition of the North of Holston Men

“The Petition of a number of inhabitants in the lower parts of Washington County was made which stated: We the petitioners were greatly injured in the division of Fincastle in the year 1776 by the manner in which the line was directed to be run, . . . . .” The petition is quite lengthy.  It continues, “and this was done at a time when many of your petitioners, and most of the Principal People in both counties were engaged on the Cherokee Expedition, and therefore had no opportunity to prevent such measures as was carried off by our said Representative; by Shewing the Injustices . . . .” It is signed by at least 350 men. Among the men named are:
Joshua Boucher              James Campbell
Joseph Boucher              Thomas Campbell

c.   February 15 1782:  Joseph Butcher is named again in another land record (not his):   “Also four hundred Acres of Land lying on the Middle fork of Powells River joining Joseph Butchers conditional line with Thomas Campbell to include said Campbells Improvement at that place.”

d.   Capt. Alexander Barnett’s Powell Valley Tithables Washington Co., Virginia – 1782
Bucher, Joseph
Butcher, Katherine (Mrs.)
Campbell, James

e.   At a Court held in Washington Co., May the 2nd 1783: ;”Ordered that James Campbell and his wife give Counter security for the Administration of the Estate of Joseph Butcher, deceased and that they be summoned to appear here at the next Court.”

NOTE: There was a Joseph, Sr. and a Joseph, Jr. who served at Rye Cove Fort in 1777. Remember, one Joseph died by May, 1783. In 1786, Russell County, VA was created out of Washington Co. On the 1877 tax rolls for Russell County in the Lower District (which later will become Lee Co.) were:

Joseph Boucher, Sr.
Joseph Boucher, Jr.
Richard Boucher
Robert Boucher  ( He is possibly. an older Robert than my
Robert. I will explain later.)

Thus, the Joseph Boucher, Jr. listed at the Rye Cove Fort in 1777 has become the Joseph Boucher. Sr.; and, ten years later (from 1777), there is a new Joseph Boucher, Jr. appearing on the tax rolls in 1787.

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3.  Joseph BOUCHER, Sr. (II) (b. abt 1725/35) He would be the Joseph, Jr. listed at Rye Cove Fort in 1777. He is most likely the one listed in most of Washington & Russell Co., Court records.

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4.   Joseph BOUCHER, Jr (III) (1757/1766) He appears on the tax rolls of Russell Co., VA in 1787.
In Madison Co., KY Court Order Book A 1787 – 1791:   ( bef. Aug. 1791),  we find
the following:  “Joseph Boutcher appointed guardian to Joseph Boutcher, Jr.
orphan of Joshua Boutcher, deceased whereupon he entered into bond
conditioned.”   CAUTION:   This may be Joseph II or Joseph III.

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5.  Joseph BOUCHER (b. abt. 1775) (orphaned son of Joshua Boucher, Jr. who was killed by Indians in Russell Co, VA along with his father, Joshua, Sr., and his brother-in-law, Elisha Pepper). He was appointed a guardian by the courts of Madison Co., KY in 1791. Was this “guardian” Joseph, Sr. or Joseph, Jr. as listed on the tax rolls of Russell Co., VA in 1787?

The widow of Joshua Boucher, Jr (killed in 1781) was Susannah, who later married a William Fork. Could it be that Susannah had died by 1791 and that is why a guardian had to be appointed? More research is needed,. Joshua, Jr. and his wife, Susannah, had two sons at least. One was Joseph mentioned above and the other was Joshua (III) who was said to have been raised by a grandfather in Kentucky. That would indicate that the grandfather had to be the father of Susannah as his paternal grandfather was also killed by Indians at the same time (1781). So, who might the grandfather be that raised Joshua?

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6.   Joseph BOUCHER (b. abt.1788-d. 1848), oldest son of Robert Boucher (b. abt. 1756/65). Robert had three sons. They were named Joseph, William, Elisha. It is speculated that Robert’s father was named Joseph, probably the Joseph, Sr. listed on the 1777 tax rolls of Russell Co., VA. This is merely speculation at this time, based upon the fact that Robert named his first son, Joseph.

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VARIOUS Joshua BOUCHERs

1.   Joshua BOUCHER, Sr. ( d. 1782) married to Katherine. He was said to have been killed, along with his son, Joshua, Jr. and his son-in-law, Elisha PEPPER, by Indians.

a.   in the early 1770s.  According to records of Augusta Co., VA (1745-1800) and Notes from Botetourt Co., VA, Tithable Book 1, pp 66, 105, 124, 132, 149, 186, Joshua Boucher, Joseph Boucher, and Elisha Pepper are found migrating contiguously from 1772-1775 together, moving from Augusta Co., VA into the newly created Botetourt Co, VA; then, later into Washington (Russell & Lee) County.

b.  The following men were listed as receiving pay for service (from the 1st of May to the 30th of June 1777) at Rye Cove Fort in Russell Co., VA (in today’s Scott Co.) under the command of Capt. Joseph Martin and Col. Evan Shelby. The average time drawn was 61 days duty.

Joseph Boucher, Sen’r
Joseph Boucher, Jun’r
Joshua Boucher
James Campbell
Thomas Campbell<

c.   14th day of August 1780  –  Washington Co., VA: “Robert Preston surveyor of this County enters by Virtue of a Treasury Warrant bearing date the 14th day of August 1780, two hundred acres of land lying in the Rye Cove about two miles from the Station on the Waters of Clinch River known by the name of the rich land to include a sinking spring and Frederick Adams Cabin. Also two hundred acres of of Land in Powells Valley on the middle fork of Powells River to join the conditional line made between Joshua Butcher and Thomas Campbell, running thence to include said Campbells Improvement at that place.” (My notes do not state to whom this land was issued.It is apparent that Joshua and Thomas Campbell already had their lands.)

d.  Washington Co., VA Will Book 1 (1777-1792),   March, 1781: page 41:  There is a record which states “Inventory & Appraisement of the Estate of Joshua Butcher, dec’d and also of Joshua Butcher, Junr., dec’d.  29 March 1782. On page 42 is the order for Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Elisha Pepper. (Same date.) Some research states that these men (all related) were in the process of moving from Washington Co., Virginia to Kentucky. This has no court documentation, however. It is also likely that they were in the process of defending their own valley area from the frequent Indian attacks which were being made in this period of history.

e.   In court session of Washington County, VA 1882: “On Motion of Katherine Butcher administration is granted her on the Estate of Joshua Butcher Deceased who made Oath thereto and Entered into and acknowledged her Bond in the Sum of 200 pounds with Samuel Newell and Charles Cox her Securitys. Ordered that William Blackmore, William Cowan,. Josiah Payne and Thomas Campbell or any three of them Being first sworn appraise the Estate of Joshua Butcher Sen., Deceased and make return to Court.”

f.   Capt. Alexander Barnett&#146;s Powell Valley Tithables (Lee Co.)
Washington Co., Virginia – 1782
Bucher, Joseph
Butcher, Katherine (Mrs.)
Campbell, James

g.  Lee Co., VA court records:  “Katherine Butcher – <U>granted 14 Jan 1800, 250 acres on SS Powells River adj. James Trotters survey.”

NOTE:Could this have been a military payment in land on behalf of Joshua Boucher’s service? There is research which states that a Joshua Butcher (Boucher) was given a military promotion not long before these men were killed.It does not distinguish just which of the Joshua Bouchers (Butcher) received this promotion.

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2.      BOUCHER, Jr.  (II) (by 1755): Son of Joshua Butcher/Boucher, Sr. and Katherine. Killed along with his father and his brother-in-law, Elisha Pepper in early 1782 by Indians in Washington Co., VA (probably in area of what is now Lee County, VA).

a.   Will Book 1 – March, 1781:  His wife, Susannah, was named as Administrator of his Estate:  “On Motion of Susannah Butcher, Administration is granted her on the Estate of Joshua Butcher, Deceased who made Oath thereto and entered into and acknowledged her Bond in the Sum of three hundred pounds with Thomas Campbell and Josiah Payne her Securitys.  Ordered that Charles Cox, John Campbell, James Campbell, James Price or any three of them being first sworn appraise the Estate of Joshua Butcher Deceased and make return to next Court.”

Nate:  This order appeared in the same  Court session whereby administrators were named and Appraisers were named in regard to the Estates of Joshua Butcher, Sr. and Elisha Pepper, also killed at the same time.

b.    Russell Co., VA Court Order Book –  “21 Jun 1787:  Commissioners present:  Henry Smith, Andrew Corvan, Samuel Ritchie, Thomas Carter and John Thompson.  John Carter Pltff. against Susanna Fork administrator of Joshua Boucher deceased, deft.  (In Debt) By agreement of the parties it is ordered that this suit be dismist and that the defendant p;pay to the Plff 100 pounds of tobacco for his cost.”

NOTE:  Susannah had married William Fork after the death of her husband, Joshua, Jr.  Apparently, this court order is in regard to a debt owed by Joshua, Jr. to John Carter previous to his death.

Joshua Boucher/Butcher, Jr. and Susannah had at least two sons:  Joseph Boucher (already noted above) and Joshua (III) who will be described next.

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3.      Rev. Joshua BOUCHER, III (b. 1781/1782? &amp; d. 1845 – AL):   Orphaned infant son of Joshua Boucher, Jr. and the grandson of Joshua Boucher, Sr.   His mother was Susannah who later married William Fork.  His paternal grandmother was Katherine.

There is far too much data regarding this fellow for me to list here.  He became a Methodist circuit preacher and traveled all over TN and AL.  He married Sarah Reneau (Reno) 9 Oct 1804 in Cumberland Co., TN.  They had a large family of at least 12 children.  He is found in many books regarding Alabama and/or Methodism.

Both Judie White and Gwen Boucher also have accumulated much data of this particular Joshua.  It is this Joshua who we now have Y-DNA evidence to support the fact that he is related to my Robert Boucher and also to Thomas Boucher.    As the Y-DNA project continues, I am hopeful that there will be even more matches of other Boucher men who will be related as well.

We know that this fellow is descended of Joshua, Jr. and of Joshua, Sr.  who are found to be with the Joseph Boucher men.  Therefore, we need to discover just how the three older Josephs were related.  While I have my theories,  I would like to know what you think.

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4.      Rev. Joshua BOUCHER (b abt 1797 &amp; d. 1876 in MO.)  He also served as a minister with the United Methodist Conference of TN, AL, MS, and OH.  It was said that he was a nephew of the Rev. Joshua Boucher (III) of Limestone, AL.

He married  2 April 1821 Lucinda Munsell (b. 31 Mar 1800) and they lived in several counties of Ohio from  1827 – 1860s including the counties of Miami, Clark, and Hamilton, Ohio.  He is listed in Caldwell Co., MO on the 1870 census.  According to information within one of the books on Methodist history, he died in MO in 1876.   That is the only source I have regarding his death.

Another source states that “he was a kinsman of a preacher of the same name and who was a long while a member of the Tennessee Conference, and who died at Athens, Alabama in 1845.”

This Joshua participated in the Underground Railroad efforts preceding the Civil War.  He strongly opposed slavery.  He was also a member of the secret society of Free Masonry while serving as a minister in AL and continued his membership after going to Ohio.  This brought his much controversy while  working in Alabama.

Joshua and Lucinda were the parents of five sons and four daughers, including another Joshua!
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There are many more Joshuas who are among the descendants of the early Joshua, Thomas, Richard and other Boucher men believed to be related to this line.  That is also true of the the younger Josephs who continue the family heritage from our earliest Joseph.