Bouton-Boughton Family

1.812 i. Emzabeth Ryder Willlams, b. Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 14, 1885. Q^L/^<^^^@^f£Qc.i() BOUTON-BOUGHTON FAMILY. 186 (v.) Seth N. Boughton (son of Azer and Elizabeth Nickerson Boughton, of Nassau, N. Y.), b. Nassau, N. Y. , 1801 . He studied law at Granville, N. Y. , and was admitted to the bar in Albany, and in 1824 settled at Milledgeville, Georgia, where he edited the State paper, and during the Southern rebellion affiliated with Gov. Brown of secession notoriety, though professing himself anti-secession. He married about 1831, Margaret J. Fort, who soon after died; he then m. Mary Jane Smith at Albany, Ga., where he lived for a time; he d. at Milledgeville, Ga., March, 1877. Child of Seth N. and Mary Jane Smith Bongrhton^ of Albanj^ Ga* 1 75^ 1,818 i. William P. Boughton, b. Milledgeville, Ga., 1844, d. July 21, 1861, aged seventeen years. DR. SMITH AZER BOUGHTON, THE PNILANTIMOPIST AID LIIEIATOI. Smith Azer Boughton (son of Azer and Elizabeth Nick- erson Boughton, who was the son of Jonathan and .Abigail Nichols Boughton). Azer was of Simsbury, Connecticut. Smith Azer Boughton was born in Stephentown, Rensse- laer Co., N. Y., . 1810. When six months old his parents moved to Rensselaerville, Albany Co., N. Y., where he was brought up as a farmer until the age of fifteen years. He was then sent to the academy at Cambridge, Washing- ton Co., N. Y., and after two years went to the university at Middlebury, Vt., where, in 1831, he graduated with the degree of M. D. The following spring ne formed a copart- nership with Dr. John R. Steel, or Saratoga Springs, N. Y. He visited New York city during the cholera epidemic to witness the treatment of that alarming disease, after which he settled at Glens Falls, N. Y., for about two years and then removed to Delhi, Delaware Co. , N. Y. In the fall of 1837 the rebellion broke out in Canada. Intelligence was received that the Canadians were severely oppressed by the home government and the elective fran- cnise denied to the people. The sympathies of the people of the northern interior of the State were excited, and, true to the Boughton proclivity, he joined a band of men of the State and went to the assistance of the oppressed Canadi- ans. Some reinforcements joined the allies from the United States, aggregating about 1,500 men, but the Canadians being poorly officered and undisciplined, it was apparent on 186 BouTON-BouGHTON Familt. the first engagement that all depended upon the efficiency of the United States volunteers, who were finally compelled to retire to Navy Island. There Gen. Scott captured the whole force and sent them home, where Dr. Boughton arrived, in poor health and without money. Following his return came the intelligence of the severe illness of his mother and soon after news of her death. In 1839 he removed from Delhi to Alps, Rensselaer Co., N. T., where he practiced his profession and in 1 840 married Mary E. BsLiley of that place. As an introduction to the eventful life which followed, it may be remarked that in 1614 the Dutch West India Com- pany made tempting offers to settlers from Amsterdam and other cities of Holland to settle on lands chartered to them, with feudal privileges, in the exercise of which, in time, the settlers on those lands became nothing more than feudal serfs, the landlords holding all judicial and legislative power. A rich jeweler of Dorp, a city in Holland, by the name of Killian Van Rensselaer and Jeremias, his son, purchased of the company six miles square, including Schodack, Poes- tenkill, Greenbush, and the grounds upon which the city of Troy and village of Lansingburgh have since been built. This was on the east side of the Hudson river, and also on the west side, six miles, exclusive of the city of Albany. That was all they possessed lawfully; but by becomiujg members of the colonial legislature, and by paying quit rents to the government their doubtful titles were recog- nized as goc^ ; and instead of six miles each side of the Hudson, they extended their claim to forty-eight miles in length and twenty-four in breadth, which extended four miles into Berkshire county, Mass. ; but of this they were not allowed to collect the rents, for whenever they attempted it the inhabitants drove them out. At the close of the revolutionary war the returned soldiers, who had been paid off in continental money, which was nearly worthless, were offered by Stephen Van Rensselaer the privilege to settle on his manor, with a contract to take a farm and have the use of it seven years without rent, with the understanding that at the end of said seven years they should have leases in perpetuity by paying a nominal winter- wheat rent, with no other restriction or incumbrance. But how great was their surprise to find in the leases many clauses of exactions ana obhgations, limiting the privilege of using and disposing of their improvements. Kemonstrances were useless, the poverty of the tenants BOUTON-BOUGHTON FAMILY. 187 rendering them unable to cope with the power of their wealthy landlords, and the exactions were yielded to as a necessity. On the death of Stephen Van Eensselaer, in 1839, his heirs, who had been to Germany, returned ; and, supposing themselves possessed of an income equal to a German principality, demanded aU the arrearages paid up, including the extortion in the leases. At this the tenants, struck with consternation, assembled to consider their grievances and appointed a committee to wait upon their landlord, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jr., who claimed as his the western portion of the manor. He, however, haughtily told them they need expect no indulgences from him, as he should exact all the conditions of the leases. It was at this period that Dr. Boughton returned from Delhi to live in Alps, Rensselaer county, N. Y., and found that about 10,000 inhabitants of these leased lands, grieved with the intolerance of their landlords, were holding meetings to consider what measures to adopt for redress of their griev- ances. Dr. Boughton advised that the legislature be peti- tioned for protection against the unconstitutional exactions •of the landlords, under the leases. Large associations were formed, embracing some eight counties. In the autumn of 1843 he, Dr. Boughton, was chosen as ■an agent to attend the legislature and present a petition from the two counties of Albany and Rensselaer and -exercise all his influence to have laws enacted for the relief of these oppressed citizens, but it seemed that the whole Aristocracy of the State had been enlisted on the side of the wealthy landlords, and the lobby was thronged with their lawyers employed to prevent any action, if possible, by the legislature in the interest of the petitioners. Eminent counsel were employed to furnish . legal opinions for the j^uidance of the committee to whom the petition had been referred. Able opinions in favor of the cause of the tenants were furnished by Gov. Briggs, of Massachusetts, Hon. Daniel Webster (who remarked that if he had time he could tear the manors into shoe strings), and Ambrose L. Jordan, of New York city. It was deipanded of the landlords they should show their title, but the presentation proved that discrepancies of dates existed which rendered their claims unfounded in law or equity. Their next move was to get the matter transferred to the judiciary com- mittee which was composed of a selection of members, among whom were three of the landlords' lawyers who l)rought in a report favoring the claim of the landlords under the terms of the leases. Before further action 188 BouTON-BouGHTON Familt. could be taken the legislature adjourned, and the jubilant landlords issued a notice to the tenants to immediatelr come in and settle all claims or they would be ejected. It was then that the tenantry resolved upon similar measures adopted by the people of Boston when the tea was thrown overboard. Large forces of men completely disguised as Indians, were organized to prevent the forcible execution of the threats of the landlords; this course was only to be pursued until legal action could be had. This measure became popular with the people of these counties, embrac- ing a population of about 160,000 inhabitants. At the next session of the legislature efforts were renewed to Krocure an amicable adjustment of the controversy which ad grown to such dimensions it was feared by the govern- ment that a formidable insurrection would be the result. At this juncture the landlords instituted a secret detective^ system to obtain some information upon which a charge could be made against Dr. Boughton as a leader of the opposition to the enforcement or the arbitrary exactions of the landlords. In the month of December, 1844, Dr. Boughton was invited to attend a meeting for completing the organization of the town of Claverack, Columbia Co., N. Y. The meeting was lar^e, and after an address by Dr. Boughton and the organization by a committee, the meeting adjourned and the assemblage dispersed. A few disguised persons were leaving the room when unfortu* nately a pistol was discharged, taking effect in the breast of a lad standing at the foot of the stairs, killing him instantly. It was supposed at the time the shooting was accidental, but it was afterward believed that it was done by a disguised traitor and intended for Dr. Boughton who lingered after the departure of the assemblage to transact some further business. At this time the sheriff and district attorney arrived with a posse and demanded the surrender of Dr. Boughton on a charge of having destroyed official papers which he had taken from the sheriff. This not being true the demand was refused, whereupon a melee ensued, in which the doctor fought his wav to a building where he, with drawn pistol, resisted the whole force, who- were warned that as they had no warrant for his arrest they were acting contrary to law. The sheriff and district attornejr both promised it he would submit to arrest they would simply take him before a magistrate where he could be bailed, and that he should in no event be confined. Arriving at Hudson he was placed under guard and a deputation sent to Albany to invoke the protection of Gov.