Amos Botsford UEL (1744 - 1812)

Born 19 Jan 1744 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Chandler) Botsford — married 8 Nov 1770 in New Haven, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 14 Sep 1812 at age 68 in Saint John, St. John, New Brunswick

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Biography

Hon. Amos Botsford UEL served with United Empire Loyalists during the American Revolution.

Amos Botsford was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Proven
Date: 2 Apr 1904

Amos was a member of the 1st Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.

Amos Botsford UEL is Notable.

Amos Botsford was born January 19, 1743/4, the son of Gideon and Bethiah Bennett Botsford of Newtown, Connecticut^{[1] [2] [3]}

He graduated from Yale College in 1763, studied law, was admitted to the Bar, and lectured in law at Yale 1768-69. He was a prominent barrister, practicing in New Haven, Connecticut^{[4] [2] [5] [3] [6]}

On November 8, 1770, Amos married Sarah Chandler, daughter of Joshua Chandler and Sarah Miles of New Haven, Connecticut^{[2] [3] [5] [6]}, a barrister who graduated from Yale in 1763^[4]. Their children included:

1. Sarah, born 11 Sep 1771 at New Haven, CT, who married Jan 1790 Stephen Millidge son of Thomas Millidge^{[3] [6] [5]}
2. William, born 29 Apr 1773 in New Haven, CT,who married 21 Jan 1802 Mrs. Sarah Lowell (Hazen) Murray daughter of William Hazen and Sarah LeBaron and widow of Thomas Murray^{[3] [6] [5]}
3. Ann (Nancy or Hannah), born 3 May 1778, who married Rev. John Millidge, son of Thomas Millidge^{[7] [3][6][5]}

Although Amos practiced law in New Haven as late as November 1778, his Loyalist leanings forced them to abandon their considerable property and withdraw to New York with Sarah's parents and brothers in 1779. In 1782, Amos was appointed by Sir Guy Carleton as agent for the Lloyds Neck Associated Loyalists in 1782, Amos Botsford was sent to Nova Scotia to arrange for settlement of the refugees. A careful survey of the Bay of Fundy and the Saint John River area was conducted and plans were made for settlement upon the arrival of the Loyalists the following year.

Amos Botsford was one of the original grantees of Parrtown where he drew several lots^[8]. They did not settle there but went to Westmorland County and located first on Dorchester Island^[9] where they built a stone house, the first to be erected in the county. In 1790 they sold the Dorchester Island home to Benjamin Wilson and moved to Westcock^[10].

Amos engaged extensively in agriculture and continued to practice law. He also established a retail business. He was clerk of the peace, judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and registrar of deeds for the newly created county of Westmorland. In 1785, he was elected to represent Westmorland County, and on January 3, 1786, he attended the first session of the new legislative body which met at the Mallard House, King Street, Saint John. It was opened by Lieutenant Governor Thomas Carleton and Mr. Botsford was chosen the first Speaker^[11] , an office which he held continuously until his death 26 years later. He was reelected as a member at the general elections of January 1793, September 1795, November 1802, and October 1809 and he sat as a member until his death.

He died September 14, 1812, at Saint John, New Brunswick, while on a visit^{[3] [5] [6][12]}, and is buried in the Fernhill Cemetery^[13]. HIs will was dated September 30, 1807 and proved on February 6, 1813^{[14] [15]}

An article by Edward Chapman Bowes in The Sackville Tribune- Post of July 18, 1984, describes Speaker Botsford One of the 'founding fathers' of New Brunswick... Botsford also founded a family dynasty which would play a significant role in the development of this province during the next century.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630-1870 Newton, Volume 1, page 87 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928 (see page 27 in this database), which states Botsford, Amos, s. [Gideon & Bethiah], b. Jan. 19, 1743/4
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} New Haven genealogical magazine by Jacobus, Donald Lines, 1887-1970; Publication date 1922; Publisher Mount Carmel, Conn. : D.L. Jacobus. See Volume 1, page 236 for Amos Botsford, and Volume 2, page 390 for Joshua Chandler
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} The New Brunswick Genealogical Society First Families listing for Amos Botsford suggests the following references MC1156 Graves Papers: Amos Botsford, 2 pages: see MC1286 Vol. V, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, pages 94-95: Vol. IX, pages 62-63: see MC80/22 Isabel Louise Hill's Some Loyalists and Others, pages 115-120: see MC80/31 W.C. Milner's History of Sackville, New Brunswick, pages 122 and 169: see also MC80/1778 M.E. Millidge's Millidge family history, page 31: see also MC80/1790 Ken Kanner's Early families revisited, pages 36: see also MC80/2262 Frances E. Murray's Memoirs of LeBaron Botsford, M.D: see also MC80/2168 Colin B. Rayworth's George Botsford 1807-1891: see also MC1952 Amos Botsford and William Botsford fonds, 1763-1839: see also MC2580 Botsford family fonds, 4 pages: see Saint John Regional Library: David Russell Jack Bequest: Genealogy, microfilm reel F109, page 9.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Amost Botsford (1763) Colonial Collegians, 1642-1774: Biographies of Those Who Attended American Colleges before the War for Independence Volume Yale, page 1091-2. CD-ROM. Boston, Mass.: Massachusetts Historical Society : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5} The Chandler Family: The Descendants of William and Annis Chandler who settled in Roxbury, Mass., 1637 by by Chandler, George, 1806-1893; Publication date 1883; Publisher Worcester, Mass., Press of C. Hamilton. Sarah's father person 314 on page 252, and Sarah is person 735 on page 476
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Biographical sketches of loyalists of the American Revolution : with an historical essay by Sabine, Lorenzo, 1803-1877; Publication date 1864; Publisher Boston : Little, Brown and Company, Joshua Chandler is presented on page 308, and Amost Botsford on page 238
7. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Daniel F Johnson's New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics : Volume 1 Number 128; Date January 20 1797, County Saint John, Place Saint John, Newspaper The Saint John Gazette, which states m. Tuesday 3rd inst., West. Co., Rev. John MILLIDGE / Ann d/o Hon. Amos BOTSFORD, Speaker House of Assembly
8. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Index to New Brunswick Land Grants, 1784 - 1997 (RS686); Name BOTSFORD, Amos; Volume NS-A; Page 26; Grant number 67; Place Parr Town; County Sunbury; Date 1785-01-07; Accompanying plan No; Microfilm F16301; Comment Re-registered NS Grant of 1784/08/09; Other names on this grant (91)
9. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Index to New Brunswick Land Grants, 1784 - 1997 (RS686); Name BOTSFORD, Amos; Volume II; Page 0; Grant number 86; Place Memramcook River; County Westmorland; Date 1786-10-16; Accompanying plan No; Acres 310; Microfilm F16300; Other names on this grant (19)
10. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Index to New Brunswick Land Grants, 1784 - 1997 (RS686); Name BOTSFORD, Amos; Volume IV; Page 0; Grant number 258; Place Sackville Parish; County Westmorland; Date 1792-09-14; Accompanying plan No; Acres 488; Microfilm ; 16301
11. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Legislative Assembly : Sessional Records (RS24); S1-Z11 ; showing Letter from S.S. Blowers, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia to Amos Botsford, Speaker of the House of Assembly of New Brunswick re.-payment of survey bills. Microfilm F14908. Note to reader, if you follow this link, you will find other, similar records in the NB Archives
12. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Legislative Assembly : Sessional Records (RS24); S22-Z2 ; Motion of Captain Agnew to issue a warrant for the election of a member for Westmorland County in place of Amos Botsford deceased. 5 Jan. 1813, p.6. [Missing]. Microfilm F16287
13. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #168602194
14. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Wallace Hale's Early New Brunswick Probate, 1785-1835; Reference 7462; Family Name BOTSFORD; Given Names Amos; Was there a Will? Yes; Date of Will 1807-09-30; Date Will was proved 1813-02-06; Was an inventory completed? No; County Saint John; Probate is for a woman? No; Abstract references a vessel? No; Abstract Parish of Sackville, Westmorland County. St. John County records. Will dated 30 September 1807, proved Westmorland County 6 February 1813, registered at Saint John 8 March 1813. Wife Sarah one-third of real estate for life in lieu of dower. Son-in-law Revd. John MILLIDGE £50. Grand-children Thomas Botsford MILLIDGE and Ann Botsford MILLIDGE my lands in the County of Cumberland, to wit one thousand acres at Chinimicas and one thousand about four miles from the Court house in Amherst and £300 each. Grand-children Ann MILLIDGE and Phebe Walker MILLIDGE, daughters of my daughter Sarah, lately deceased, £300 each, and her other daughters, Mary, Jane, Caroline and Eliza, £400 each. The difference in the sum bequeathed to the daughters of my dear Sarah bring on a supposition that the eldest and youngest may receive more from their friends at Annapolis than the others. Son William residue of estate. Son William BOTSFORD sole executor. Witnesses: Bedford BOULTENHOUSE, William RILEY, Gideon TOWER.
15. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick Daniel F Johnson's New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics : Volume 1 Number 1351; Date March 22 1813; County York; Place Fredericton; Newspaper The New Brunswick Royal Gazette, which states Est. Amos BOTSFORD Sackville; Exec. William BOTSFORD 8th Mar
16. ↑ Speakers of the Legislative Assembly, Province of New Brunswick, 1786-1985. 1985, Legislative Assembly, Province of New Brunswick, Office of the Clerk, Fredericton, N.B.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Amos_Botsford
• United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada Loyalist Directory listing for Amos Botsford
• Hawley, Emily Carrie. A Genealogical and Biographical Record of the Pioneer Thomas Skidmore (E.C. Hawley, Brookfield, Conn., 1911) Page 79.
• Dexter, Franklin Bowditch. Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College (Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn., 1903) Vol. 3, Page 9.
• Van Dusen, Albert Edward. Connecticut (Random House, New York, 1961) Page 145.