Pvt Claudius Boatman, I

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of PRIVATE. DAR Ancestor # A011613

https://claudiusboatman.wordpress.com/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28453884/claudius-boatman

Claudius Boatman

Added by arkkedwards on 14 Apr 2008

Originally submitted by petunias100 to Rauch/Hoffman/Lawrence/Rosenkrans on 25 Nov 2007

Claudius Boatman removed from the place where he first settled to the spring opposite Jersey Mills in 1796, where he died about 1802 at the great age of ninety-eight. When his wife died is unknown. On a slight elevation, a few rods east of the first fork of Pine creek, repose the remains of Claudius Boatman and wife, Comfort Wanzer and wife, and William Hamlin, father of Rev. Benjamin Hamlin, Probably other members of the family were buried there. A grove of young timber surrounds their graves. When Waterville was laid out Capt. James M. Wolf directed the engineers not to disturb their graves

first child

Added by arkkedwards on 14 Apr 2008

Originally submitted by petunias100 to Rauch/Hoffman/Lawrence/Rosenkrans on 25 Nov 2007

It is claimed that the first child born within the present territory of McHenry was William Boatman, son of Claudius and Esther Boatman, in 1787. They had several children besides this son and Rebecca. Another daughter named Fanny married John English, who had located as early as 1784 on what has since been known as English island in Pine creek, He was warned by "Shawney John," a friendly Indian, to leave as the savages were about to make a descent on Pine creek. He heeded the warning and remained away about a year, when he returned.

The Maj. John Lee Massacre of 1782

Added by arkkedwards on 14 Apr 2008

Originally submitted by leah34f1 to Shannon's Family Tree on 2 Apr 2007

In the following story, relating the Lee Massacre of 1782 in Lycoming County PA, the Mrs. Boatman refered to is the 1st wife of Claudius (Gloude) BOATMAN, SR. and the surviving daughter (referred to as Miss Boatman) was Rebecca BOATMAN b. 1766 who later married Isacc SMEE.

From the LYCOMING COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGY PROJECT

The murder of Maj. John Lee and several members of his family, some time in August, 1782, was very cruel and caused much excitement among the people. He lived near what is now the little town of Winfield, a few miles above Northumberland, on the west side of the river. It was a warm evening, and Lee and his family, with one or two neighbors, were eating supper. Suddenly a band of Indians burst upon them. Lee was stricken down and scalped, and an old man named Walker shared the same fate. Mrs. Boatman was killed and scalped, and a daughter was also scalped. Two or three escaped. A son of Lee named Robert was returning home, and when he came in sight of the house the Indians were leaving it. He fled to Sunbury and gave the alarm. In the mean time the Indians, retreated up the river, carrying Mrs. Lee and her infant child with them as prisoners. Colonel Hunter hastily collected a party of twenty men and started in pursuit. When they reached the house they found Lee and Miss Boatman still, living. They were sent to Sunbury on litters for treatment, but Lee soon after died. Miss Boatman recovered and lived for many years.

Claudius Boatman appears in histories of early Lycoming Co. PA as a near-legendary figure

Veteran of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War

Lived to be 104 years old

Buried along State highway 15 Fork of Pine Creek

   From Meginness, John F., History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. 1892:

"Claudius Boatman settled at the mouth of Callahan's run, October 17, 1785. His son-in-law, Comfort Wanzer, settled about the same time a short distance below on the same tract that was subsequently settled by Abraham Harris in 1802. Boatman, the pioneer, was a Frenchman by birth. He came from Buffalo valley, where, it will be remembered, his daughter Rebecca was scalped by the Indians while making one of their last forays. She was found and cared for, and recovered. In after years she married Isaac Smee and had three sons, Charles, John and Alpheus, and two daughters; Mary married Louis Hostrander; Elizabeth, John Shaner. Their mother lived to a good age, but never had any hair on her head after being scalped.
"It is claimed that the first child born within the present territory of McHenry [township] was William Boatman, son of Claudius and Esther Boatman, in 1787 [I suspect this may be a grandson, or else that the estimate of his age is very incorrect, also a likely possibility]. They had several children besides this son and Rebecca. Another daughter named Fanny married John English, who had located as early as 1784 on what has since been known as English island in Pine creek. He was warned by 'Shawney John', a friendly Indian, to leave as the savages were about to make a descent on Pine creek. He heeded the warning and remained away about a year, when he returned.
"Esther Boatman, wife of Claudius, was a very useful woman in the settlement. She was a nurse and physician and quite successful in her ministrations to the sick. She was a very large woman, weighing about 250 pounds. Fanny, her daughter, also became very stout. Another daughter named Jane married James English, who was a Revolutionary soldier and settled on Pine Creek, and her sister Margaret married John Morrison, who resided at Horse Shoe bottom opposite Cedar run. William, their brother, settled in 1832 about two miles below the present village of English Centre.
"Claudius Boatman removed from the place where he first settled to the spring opposite Jersey Mills in 1796, where he died about 1802 at the great age of ninety-eight. When his wife died is unknown. On a slight elevation, a few rods east of the first fork of Pine creek, repose the remains of Claudius Botaman and wife, Comfort Wanzer and wife, and William Hamlin, father of Rev. Benjamin Hamlin. Probably other members of the family were buried there. A grove of young timber surrounds their graves. When Waterville was laid out Capt. James M. Wolf directed the engineers not to disturb their graves."
Estimates of Claudius Boatman's age vary. He gave his age as 87 years in the 1800 census, Mifflin twp, Lycoming Co., and was listed as still living and "104 years" in the 1810 census. However, Meginness (see above) says he died about 1802 at age 98. Even the most conservative of these estimates would make him close to 70 in 1782, a rather unlikely age to be a pioneer settler. Stephenson gives his birth year as 1715, but death as 1819.

Note that several of his children also lived into their 90s, if their dates have been given correctly.

In the following story, relating the Lee Massacre of 1782 in Lycoming County PA, the Mrs. Boatman referred to is the 1st wife of Claudius (Gloude) BOATMAN, SR. and the surviving daughter (referred to as Miss Boatman) was Rebecca BOATMAN b. 1766 who later married Isacc SMEE.

From the LYCOMING COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGY PROJECT

The murder of Maj. John Lee and several members of his family, some time in August, 1782, was very cruel and caused much excitement among the people. He lived near what is now the little town of Winfield, a few miles above Northumberland, on the west side of the river. It was a warm evening, and Lee and his family, with one or two neighbors, were eating supper. Suddenly a band of Indians burst upon them. Lee was stricken down and scalped, and an old man named Walker shared the same fate. Mrs. Boatman was killed and scalped, and a daughter was also scalped. Two or three escaped. A son of Lee named Robert was returning home, and when he came in sight of the house the Indians were leaving it. He fled to Sunbury and gave the alarm. In the mean time the Indians, retreated up the river, carrying Mrs. Lee and her infant child with them as prisoners. Colonel Hunter hastily collected a party of twenty men and started in pursuit. When they reached the house they found Lee and Miss Boatman still, living. They were sent to Sunbury on litters for treatment, but Lee soon after died. Miss Boatman recovered and lived for many years.
Claudius Boatman was probably born about 1728 in France, and is said to have died 18 May 1819 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

This memorial stands to honor Claudius Boatman, intrepid pioneer, soldier and family man. Claudius was born in France, immigrated to the Colonies, settling in New Rochelle, New York by at least 1755. He and his family went on to settle in an area near Warwick, New York between 1760 and 1765.

During the Revolution, Claudius and family left Warwick and moved to Pennsylvania wilderness, settling first in the Buffalo Valley area, but making several moves due, no doubt, to the conflicts in the area as the Revolution heated up. In 1784, after the close of the Revolution, Claudius, along with most of his family, made the move to Lycoming County, where he lived out the rest of his days.

Claudius is documented as having served in the French & Indian War in New Rochelle, Westchester, New York and in the Revolution, first under Captain Blaine in Warwick, Orange, New York and later in Pennsylvania, with Captain Thomas Robinson's Rangers. He may have served under Captain John Nelson, as well.

Over the years, Claudius' markers have been moved, destroyed, and/or replaced several times. The current marker of Claudius Boatman stands in this cemetery, although he was documented by historian John F. Meginness as having been buried in Waterville Cemetery.

Claudius Boatman has been the subject of much research over the years and the research seems to have brought about as many questions as answers. Claudius' date of birth, date of death, wives and children are still the subject of some speculation.

For more reading and to join in the discussion about our ancestor, please visit the site Claudius Boatman, Separating Man from Myth: http://claudiusboatman.wordpress.com/* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 1 2022, 16:40:44 UTC

GEDCOM Note

<div class="overview-col biotext-wrapper"> <div class="overview-panel data-bio"> <div class="overview-panel--body data-filled-user"> <p id="fullBio" class="bio-min">Claudius Boatman was probably born about 1728 in France, and is said to have died 18 May 1819 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

This memorial stands to honor Claudius Boatman, intrepid pioneer, soldier and family man. Claudius was born in France, immigrated to the Colonies, settling in New Rochelle, New York by at least 1755. He and his family went on to settle in an area near Warwick, New York between 1760 and 1765.

During the Revolution, Claudius and family left Warwick and moved to Pennsylvania wilderness, settling first in the Buffalo Valley area, but making several moves due, no doubt, to the conflicts in the area as the Revolution heated up. In 1784, after the close of the Revolution, Claudius, along with most of his family, made the move to Lycoming County, where he lived out the rest of his days.

Claudius is documented as having served in the French & Indian War in New Rochelle, Westchester, New York and in the Revolution, first under Captain Blaine in Warwick, Orange, New York and later in Pennsylvania, with Captain Thomas Robinson's Rangers. He may have served under Captain John Nelson, as well.

Over the years, Claudius' markers have been moved, destroyed, and/or replaced several times. The current marker of Claudius Boatman stands in this cemetery, although he was documented by historian John F. Meginness as having been buried in Waterville Cemetery.


Claudius Boatman has been the subject of much research over the years and the research seems to have brought about as many questions as answers. Claudius' date of birth, date of death, wives and children are still the subject of some speculation.

For more reading and to join in the discussion about our ancestor, please visit the site Claudius Boatman, Separating Man from Myth: http://claudiusboatman.wordpress.com/


</p> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="hidden-print" /> <div class="overview-panel data-family"> <div class="overview-panel--heading"> <h3 id="familyLabel" class="overview-label"> </h3> </div> </div> <p style="text-align: left;" dir="ltr">DAR Patriot A011613</p> <div class="expand-section" style="max-height: none;" data-ng-style="{'max-height': calc ? 'none' : expanded ? 'none' : defaultHeight}"> <div class="notes ng-binding ng-scope" data-ng-repeat="note in focusPerson.note">Claudius Sr. fought in the Revolution and may have been the "Gloud" Boatman who appeared earlier in the French and Indian Wars and in the settlement of New Rochelle. His family was in the "John Lee" massacre of 1782. Some were killed and daughter Rebecca was scalped, but lived. He settled in Pine Creek Valley, near Williamsport and Muncy, Pennsylvania. He farmed most of his life and was listed as a "cooper" on an early enlistment in 1759. Claudius was a member of Captain Robert Reynold's Co. (along with his son, Claudius Jr.) during Apr 12-May 12 1780. He enlisted as a Fifer in Captain Thomas Robinson's company of Rangers, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and served 11 months (pay roll date June 7, 1781). He was granted a warrantee of 300 acres in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on July, 1, 1784. He and his wife Esther moved from Buffalo Valley to Pine Creek in 1786. His was one of the first families to settle in Butler County, Ohio. His parents were French Hugenots. He was described as having a colorful character, short and muscular with light eyes and brown hair. Legend has it that he was abducted from his mother at age 7, and trained in the French Army. Claudius was listed in the following Census's. 1800 - Lycoming County, Pennsylvania Farming in Mifflin Twp. 87 years old. 1810 - Lycoming County, Pennsylvania 104 years old, living with female over 45, in Mifflin Twp. (p. 830). In Sept. 1860, Nancy Boatman of Lycoming City, Pennsylvania, daughter and only heir of Claudius Boatman, applied for his Revolutionary War Pension. (Which is why "Penn residence of heir 1860" is on the form.) TO SEE CLAUDIUS BOATMAN'S REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION FILE (from "Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files"; www.ddsquirrel.bravehost.com/ClaudiusBoatmanRevRec.gif</div> </div> <div class="more-bar" data-ng-show="overflow" data-ng-click="expanded = !expanded">  <h1 id="bio-name" class="bio-name">Pvt Claudius “Gloude” Boatman</h1> <table class="table table-responsive mem-events"> <tbody> <tr><th>Birth</th> <td>unknown</td> </tr> <tr><th>Death</th> <td>18 May 1819</td> </tr> <tr><th>Burial</th> <td> <div class="info"><a class="add-link" href="https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2269426/lower-english-center-ce...">Lower English Center Cemetery</a></div> Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, USA </td> </tr> <tr><th>Memorial ID</th> <td>28453884 · <a class="add-link" href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28453884/claudius-boatman#source">View Source</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div class="more-bar" data-ng-show="overflow" data-ng-click="expanded = !expanded"> </div>