War of 1812 Record of Powhatan Boatright, a citizen of Union Parish Louisiana, 1835 - 1880 Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 10/2004 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= War of 1812 Record of Powhatan Boatright of Virginia ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Note: Powhatan Boatright arrived in north Louisiana in about 1824, settling in what was later Claiborne Parish. He moved to the Zion Hill community of what is now Union Parish in about 1835 or 1836. He was one of the earliest settlers to move into that region, preceded by Lawrence Scarborough and Francis Turpin. Boatright served as a police juror in the 1840s and helped select the location of the Zion Hill Baptist Church. The modern location of the church is on land Powhatan originally purchased from the United States government. Powhatan had six sons, five of whom perished during the War Between the States. Boatright Creek was named for Powhatan Boatright, and many of his descendents remain in Union Parish and the surrounding region today. His descendents stated that Powhatan was one-quarter Cherokee Indian, although we have yet to find supporting documentation for this claim. Powhatan Boatright was born in Amherst County Virginia on 13 July 1790, the son of John Joseph Boatright and Frances Elizabeth Tinsley. Along with several of his brothers, he joined the army during the War of 1812. The following records transcribe his military record from the National Archives as well as his 1856 application for "bounty land" given to War of 1812 Veterans by the United States government. This application includes a transcription of his parole which he had apparently kept with him for over forty years. In 1872, Powhatan also applied for and was granted a pension from the United States government for his military service. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Abstract of Powhatan Boatright's Compiled Service Record from the War of 1812, National Archives ================================================================================== Powhatan Boatright served as a Private, 5 Regiment Virginia Militia, War of 1812 ++ Appears with the rank of Pvt. on a Muster Roll of Capt. Parke Bailey’s Company of Infantry, Virginia Militia, from 17 Reg’t, Cumberland County, at present attached to 5 Reg’t at Norfolk commanded by Col. Edward Jones, for 28th Feb to Mch 24, 1814. Roll dated Camp peach Orchard rear of Fort Norfolk, Mch 24, 1814. ** Date of appointment or enlistment: Feb 28, 1814 ** To what time engaged or enlisted: June 10, 1814 ** Present or absent: Present ++ Appears with the rank of Pvt on a Pay Roll of Capt. Parke Bailey’s Company of Infantry, 5 Reg’t Virginia Militia, at Norfolk, for Feb & Mch 1814. ** Roll dated Mch 24, 1814 ** Commencement of service or of this settlement, Feb 28, 1814. ** Expiration of service or of this settlement, Mch 24, 1814. ** Term of service charged, 25 days ** Pay per month, 8 dollars ** Amount of pay, 6 dollars, 47 cents. ++ Appears with the rank of Pvt on a Muster Roll of Capt. John Coles’ Company of L. Infantry [probably 'Light Infantry'] detached from 5 Reg’t Virginia Militia in the Light Corps commanded by Major Charles Fenton Mercer, for 12 Mch to June 9, 1814. ** Roll dated Norfolk, June 9, 1814. ** Date of appointment or enlistment, Feb 18, 1814. ** To what time engaged or enlisted, June 9, 1814. ** Miles from Norfolk to place rendezvous home, 160 ** Present or absent, Present ** Note: This company is composed of 3 different detachments: one from 47 Reg’t from County of Albermarle, which marched from said county under command of John Coles, one from 117 Reg’t, Campbell County, which marched under command of late Capt. Davenport, and one from 17 Reg’t, Cumberland County, which marched under command of Ensign Randolph. ** Remarks and alterations since last muster: Mustered 24 Mch & read no pay ++ Appears with the rank of Pvt on a Pay Roll of Company of Infantry commanded by Capt. John Coles, of the Light Corps commanded by Major C. F. Mercer, of 5 Reg’t Virginia Militia, at Norfolk, for 13 Mch to June 9, 1814. ** Roll dated June 10, 1814. ** Commencement of service or of this settlement, 25 Mch 1814. ** Expiration of service or of this settlement, 9 June, 1814. ** Term of service charged, 2 months, 16 days. ** Pay per month, 8 dollars. ** Amount of pay, 20 dollars, 20 cents. ** Distance from place of discharge home, 160 miles. ** No. of days returning home, 8 ** Pay returning home, 2 dollars, 13 cents. ** Subsistence returning home, 1 dollars, 20 cents. ** Total amount of pay, 22 dollars, 33 cents ** Total amount of pay and subsistence, 23 dollars, 53 cents. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Transcription of Powhatan Boatright's War of 1812 Bounty Land Warrant Application Explanation: The United States government rewarded military veterans with free land if their applications were approved. Powhatan Boatright applied under the Act of 1855 for such a warrant from the U.S. Land Office for free land. His file contains four pieces of paper, transcribed below: ================================================================================== [Paper #1] Act of 1855 Rejected #165,912 Veteran: Powhatan Boatright, 1812, Pvt. Service: Capt. Cole, Va. Mil. [Paper #2 - an envelope addressed to] Honl. L. P. Waldo, Commissioners of Pensions, Washington City, DC [Paper #3] #165912, Act Mar 3, June 19th, 1855 Powhatan Boatright, Soldier Capt. J. C. Cole, Va. Mil, War of 1812 Letter for declaration June 21/56 Powhatan Boatright served in Capt. J. C. Cole’s Co. Va. Mil from the 28 of Mar to the 9th of June 1814. 3d Auds Office, June 16/56. Powhatan Boatright, Farmerville, La. [Paper #4] State of Louisiana Parish of Union Personally came & appeared before me W. A. Darby an acting Justice of the Peace in & for said State & Parish Powhatan Boatright who after being duly Sworn by me deposed & says the following is a correct Copy of his discharge from the Service of the War of 1812: Camp All Pine June 9th 1814 Powhatan Boatright having faithfully performed his tower [sic] of duty in Captain John C. Cole Company of Light infantry is hereby Honorably discharged. John C. Cole, Capt. C. F. Murcer, Comd of the light Corps Sworn to & subscribed before me on this 26th Day of May AD 1855, W. A. Darby, J.P. Powhatan X his mark Boatright Mr. P. Boatright makes this above affidavit giving a copy of his Discharge for the purposes of obtaining a bounty Land warrant for the Land that he is Entitled to under act of Congress approved March 3d 1855 & I do Certify that I am acquainted with Mr. P. Boatright & that I do believe he is the person he represents himself to be & that he is entitled to a Land warrant for one hundred & sixty acres under said act as this is the first application he has ever made. May 26th 1855 W. A. Darby, J.P. ###########################################################