THE BOLEY FAMILY

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Here is a brief beginning to our family history.  

My family's line of descent is marked with a **.

Our Boley ancestors did not begin with the name Boley.  Our immigrant ancestor was Johan "Georg" Bohlich who came to the United States in 1754.  Although he spelled his name as Bohlich on the original ship's list, it can be found spelled in any number of ways here in the U.S. on official documents - tax records, census, church records, baptisms and marriages, etc.  We've seen it spelled Balch, Bolch, Bolk, Bohlich, Bolich, Bolick, Boleck, Bollich, Bollick, Bolig, Bolig0h, Bollig, Boleigh, Boli, Polich, Poley, and who knows what all else.

Georg's descendants can be found using many different versions of this proud name.  Our branch of the family comes through Georg's son Johan "Peter", whose children all seem to have changed the family name to Boley around 1840, probably in an attempt to have a more Americanized version of the name that might be easier to spell.

In old German tradition, sons are all given the same first name as their father with a different middle name, which they are then known by.  Usually only one son is known by his first name.  Notice that Georg's sons are all named Johan/Johannes with different middle names and records almost all call them by their middle name.

 

	**Johan "Georg" Bohlich was born in Europe around 1718, and was probably married before coming to America in 1754. William Malane was the captain of the "Neptune" on the trip and brought 149 passengers with him from Hamburg, Hanover and Saxony, docking December 13, 1754 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two records list our George - The Captain's List, which is made out by the captain, and the Qualification List, which is usually signed by the passenger.  The Captain's List includes the name of Hans George Bohlig, age 36.  Beginning in 1727, each male immigrant  over sixteen years of age and who was not of English ancestry qualified for entrance into the Colony upon arrival at the port by taking an oath of allegiance to the British Crown and a declaration of abjuration and fidelity to the Proprietor and laws of the Province of Pennsylvania.  The Qualification list is headed "The Foreigners whose Names are underwritten Imported in the Neptune, Captain William Malane, from Hamburg, did on the 13th December 1754 take the usual Qualification to the Government before William Plumstead, Esquire, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia" and is signed "Johan Georg Bohlich", the tenth name from the top of the list. He was evidently an educated man because rather than using an "X", he actually signed his name on the Qualification list: Georg was listed as a "nailer" on the 1785 tax register, which we presumed meant he was known as a carpenter, but other sources list him as a shoemaker.  Johan Georg Bohlich is listed in the records of the Evangelical Lutheran (Trappe) Church, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA as signing a promise to pay 5 shillings annually toward the salary of Rev. Muhlenberg. Georg's wife's name was Catharine as found on several of the children's baptism records.   Johan George BOHLICH and Catherine had the following children: Johan "Valentine" BOLICH was born about 1746. He owned property in 1779 in Limrick Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA. He served in the Revolutionary War. He was married to Maria Elisabeth FAVINGER (daughter of Adam FAVINGER and Anna "Catherine" BOHM) on 23 May 1773 in Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. Johan "Valentine" BOLICH and Maria Elisabeth FAVINGER had one known child - Anna Maria BOLICH.  ** Johan "Peter" BOLICH. (see below) Johan "George" BOLICH Jr. was born about 1752.  He owned property in 1774 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA.  He died about 1779.  He served in the Revolutionary War. He was married to Catherine on 10 Jan 1775 in Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. Johan "George" BOLICH Jr and Catherine had two known children: Johan George BOLICH III and George "Fredrick" BOLICH. Anna Maria BOLICH was born about 1754. She was confirmed on 4 May 1769 in Evangelical Lutheran Augustus Church, Trappe, New Providence Twp, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA, at the age of 15. Barbara BOLICH was born about 1757. She was confirmed on 9 May 1771 in Evangelical Lutheran Augustus Church, Trappe, New Providence Twp, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA, at the age of 14. Elisabeth BOLICH was born about 1759. She was confirmed on 14 May 1775 at the age of 16.  Eva Catharine BOLICH was born about 1760. She was baptized on 29 March 1761 in Lehigh Church, Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA. No date of birth given in baptismal record. Johannes/John BOLICH was born on 7 January 1764. He was baptized on 12 February 1764 in Evangelical Lutheran Augustus Church, Trappe, New Providence Twp, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. Sponsors: Johann Mecklin and Barbara. The 1790 Census of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania shows John Bollig as head of family consisting of 1 male over sixteen including head of family, 1 male under 16, and 2 females.  Thomas BOLICH was born on 5 Apr 1770. He was baptized on 6 May 1770 in Evangelical Luth Augustus Church, Trappe, New Providence Twp, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Elisabeth KEHL on 20 Dec 1791 in Reformed Church, Falkner Swamp, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. Thomas BOLICH and Elisabeth KEHL had the following known children: Elizabeth BOLICH and Jacob BOLICH. Magdalena BOLICH was born on 4 December 1773. She died on 2 October 1776 at the age of 2 years, 9 months, 4 weeks and 1 day. We have currently verified that George paid taxes in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1769 (name spelled Boligh) and 1774 (name spelled Bolich).  By 1779, he had moved to Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania and paid taxes there (name spelled Bolich) and again in 1780 and 1781 and 1785 (name spelled Bolig all three times). He appeared in a household in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania with 1 female (presumably his wife) in the first U.S. census in 1790 (spelled Boligh). George died in November or December 1797 as his will was dated November 10, 1797 and probated December 30, 1797 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.   In the will he left money to his wife Judith, so we presume that Catherine died at some point and he re-married although at this point no record of the death and re-marriage has been found.  It could also be that his wife's name was Catherine Judith and she came to be known more by her middle name in later life.
	**Johan "Peter" Bolich was born about 1748. He served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Captain John Robinson's company. He was listed as a guard for prisoners of war.   Peter was a shoemaker.    He was married to Catherine RIES on 21 Nov 1782 by Reverend Frangott Frederick Illing. Catherine RIES was born about 1761. In her marriage record to JP Bolich, she is listed as being from Providence, Philadelphia County. Also, one source lists her last name as RIES, while another lists it as BLES (possibly Bliss?). Peter owned property and paid taxes in 1785 in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA.  He appeared on the census in 1790 (Boligh) and 1800 (Bolich) in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. Johan "Peter" Bolich died about 1804.  His will was probated on 7 Jul 1804 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA.  Sometime after 1840 his children all seem to have changed their last name to Boley, perhaps in an attempt to Americanize it. Johan Peter BOLICH and Catherine RIES had the following children: George BOLEY was born about 1785 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 21 Jul 1861 in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was buried in Kurtz Cemetery, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a farmer. He was married to Susanna UNKNOWN about 1822. Susanna UNKNOWN was born about 1795 in Pennsylvania, USA. She died in 1877. George BOLEY and Susanna UNKNOWN had the following children: Henry BOLEY, Catherine BOLEY, Susanna BOLEY, and John BOLEY. Christiana BOLICH was born about 1786 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA.  Peter BOLEY was born about 1787 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a farmer. He was married to Catherine UNKNOWN. Catherine UNKNOWN was born about 1795 in Pennsylvania, USA. Peter BOLEY and Catherine UNKNOWN had the following children: Peter BOLEY, Eli BOLEY, Jacob BOLEY, Catherine BOLEY, James BOLEY and David BOLEY. Judith (Julia) BOLICH was married to a Mr. RAMSPORT. **John BOLEY Sr. (see below) Jacob BOLEY was born about 1789 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died before 1850. He was married to Jane HAMPSON. Jane HAMPSON was born in 1790 in New Jersey, USA. Jacob BOLEY and Jane HAMPSON had the following children: Aaron BOLEY, Cyrus BOLEY, Sarah BOLEY, and Mary BOLEY. Catherine BOLICH was born about 1791 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. She died before 1860. She was married to Elijah HUDSON. Catherine BOLICH and Elijah HUDSON had the following children: William HUDSON, Elijah HUDSON Jr., Elizabeth HUDSON, and Sharon HUDSON. Valentine BOLEY was born about 1793 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died after 1850 in Ohio, USA. He was a farmer. He was married to Catherine UNKNOWN. Catherine UNKNOWN was born about 1791 in Pennsylvania, USA. Valentine BOLEY and Catherine UNKNOWN had the following children: William BOLEY, Martha BOLEY and Elizabeth BOLEY. Henry BOLEY was born on 14 Apr 1795 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 2 Jan 1881. He was married to Barbara Ann HARTS about 1818. Barbara Ann HARTS was born on 10 Oct 1793 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. She died in 1869. Henry BOLEY and Barbara Ann HARTS had the following children: Cyrus Charles BOLEY, Henry Harts BOLEY and Mary Ann BOLEY. Elizabeth BOLICH was born about 1799 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA.  Mary BOLICH was born on 11 Feb 1799 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. She died on 9 Jan 1888 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. She was buried in Kurtz Cemetery, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. She was married to John KURTZ. John KURTZ was born about 1788 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 16 Apr 1871 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. Mary BOLICH and John KURTZ had the following children: Daniel KURTZ, Nancy KURTZ, Martha KURTZ, John KURTZ, Jacob KURTZ, Samuel KURTZ, David KURTZ, Abraham KURTZ, Mary KURTZ, Maartin KURTZ, and Joseph KURTZ. Philip BOLEY was born on 6 Jun 1802 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died in 1860 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA, where his will was probated in August 1860.  He was an innkeeper and farmer. He was married to Leah UNKNOWN. Philip BOLEY and Leah UNKNOWN had the following children: John BOLEY. David BOLEY was born on 1 Nov 1804 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died after 1880. He was a farmer. He was married to Nancy UNKNOWN. Nancy UNKNOWN was born about 1815 in Pennsylvania, USA. David BOLEY and Nancy UNKNOWN had the following children: Sarah BOLEY, John BOLEY, Jane BOLEY, Barbara BOLEY, and Cyrus BOLEY.
	**John BOLEY Sr was born about 1789 in Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Mary UNKNOWN. Mary UNKNOWN was born on 9 Jul 1788 in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA.  John Sr.'s family moved from Pennsylvania to Mahoning County, Ohio, USA around 1827.  John owned property and paid taxes in 1845 in Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, USA.  John's family appeared on the census in 1810 in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. 1820 in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. 1830 in Green Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, USA. 1840 in Green Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, USA. 1850 in Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, USA, Household #228. John died between 1850 and August 1860 in Mahoning County, Ohio, USA.  His children were listed as heirs in his brother Philip's will probated in August 1860 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Mary moved to Mercer County, Ohio, after his death to be near her son John Jr. She died on 11 Jul 1859 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA, and was buried in Zion State Line Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, USA, Row 15. John BOLEY Sr and Mary UNKNOWN had the following children: Catherine BOLEY was married to Nicholas GOODMAN. Per her Uncle Philip's will, they were residing at Greenfield, Mahoning County, Ohio, in August 1860.  There were listed on the census in:    - 1850 Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, USA, Household #226:    - 1860 Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, Household #826:    - 1870 Green Township, Ashland County, Ohio, Household #33:    - 1880 Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, Household #131: Catherine BOLEY and Nicholas GOODMAN had the following known children:  Mary GOODMAN, Daniel GOODMAN, Lucinda GOODMAN, Harriet GOODMAN, Samuel GOODMAN, Susanna GOODMAN, and Elijah GOODMAN. Mary BOLEY was married to John BAIRD. Per her Uncle Philip's will, residing at "the home place" in August 1860.  They appeared on the census in:    - 1850 Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, USA, Household #281         (Name listed as Beard)    - 1860 Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, Household #1110    - 1870 Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, Household #20    - 1880 Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, Household #122         (Mary after John's death) Mary BOLEY and John BAIRD had the following known children:  Henry BAIRD and Fanny BAIRD. **John BOLEY Jr. (see below) George BOLEY. Per his Uncle Philip's will, residing at New Albany, Mahoning, County, Ohio, in August 1860.  Elijah BOLEY was born about 1826.  He resided with his sister Mary and John BAIRD in the 1850 census.  Elijah was married between 1850 and 1860 to Sarah UNKNOWN.  Per his Uncle Philip's will, residing at Bourbon, Marshall County, Indiana, in August 1860.  They appeared on the census in:    - 1860 Bourbon Township, Marshall County, Indiana, USA, Household #861    - 1880 Fort Abraham Lincoln, Burleigh, Dakota Territory, Household #100 Elijah BOLEY and Sarah had the following known children:  Alphonso BOLEY, Adolphus BOLEY and Viola M BOLEY.
	**John BOLEY Jr was born on 21 February 1810 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA.  John Sr.'s family moved from Pennsylvania to Mahoning County, Ohio, USA around 1827 which would have been when John Jr. was about 17 years old.  John Jr. left Mahoning County and moved to Mercer County, Ohio around 1840.  On October 10, 1840, there is a land deed registered for John for 100 acres in Mercer County, Ohio for Section 14, Township 6-S, Range 1-E, N. By the time of his death, his land exceeded 400 acres and his obituary stated that he was one of the wealthiest farmers of the area.  An article about him said:  "Precise in his dealings, and energetic in business, he has done much for the improvement of the county." John was married first to Christena KRANICH on May 7, 1840 in Mahoning County, Ohio, USA. Christena was born on October 19, 1818 in Germany.  She died on September 28, 1863 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA and was buried in Zion State Line Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, USA, Row 15.  John and Christena had one son, Michael D. Boley, who died shortly after his mother as a young man and is also buried at State Line Cemetery and listed on the same tombstone as his mother. John was married second to Catherine B AMMON (daughter of William AMMON and Elizabeth UNKNOWN) on January 27, 1866 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA by Joseph Reidhard, JP. Catherine B AMMON was born on June 17, 1837 in Mahoning County, Ohio, USA. John was one of the first settlers in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio.  John's family appeared in the census records there in: 1850 (Household #154) 1860 (Household #1345) 1870 (Household #97) 1880 (Household #152) John died on August 8, 1896 in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  Catherine died on March 16, 1906 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA. Both were buried in Zion State Line Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, USA. Row 15.  John BOLEY Jr and Catherine B AMMON had the following children: Catherine Barbara BOLEY was born on November 25, 1865 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA. She died on January 14, 1946 in Coldwater, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  She was married to William "Thomas" SCOTT on January 15, 1889. Thomas was born in 1854 and died in 1935. Both were buried in Swamp College Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  West Side, Section F, Row 4.  They had only one child, a daughter named Ella SCOTT, who never married and is buried near them. William John BOLEY was born at the Boley homestead on January 30, 1869 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA. He was married to Margaret PEARSON (daughter of James PEARSON and Lavina BASTIAN) on March 7, 1897. Margaret PEARSON was born in 1873 in Wabash, Wabash County, Indiana, USA. William John died on March 15, 1932 in Coldwater, Mercer County, Ohio, USA and was buried in Washington Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  Margaret died on December 18, 1955 in Coldwater, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  She was buried in Wabash Cemetery, Wabash, Wabash County, Indiana, USA.  They appeared on the census in:    - 1900 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Household #117    - 1910 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Household #111    - 1920 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Household #64    - 1930 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Household #47 Their children included Charles P BOLEY, Mary (Mae) BOLEY, Thomas R BOLEY, and Homer John BOLEY. **Daniel Evi BOLEY.  (see below) NOTE:  William John's obituary in 1932 also lists a sister named Mary living in Toledo; however, the probate record for his father (John Jr.) lists his only children as William John, Daniel Evi, and Catherine and no census records indicate another child either.  Our belief is that William John's obituary is wrong and that they were referring to William's daughter Mary, not an unknown sister.
	**Daniel Evi BOLEY was born on October 13, 1873 in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  On August 29, 1897, he was married to Mazzie Lulu PORTZ (daughter of Peter PORTZ and Catherine GIBSON).  Mazzie was born on August 20, 1880 in Macedon, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  Daniel was always in agriculture and raised Poland-China hogs and a great many sheep.  They can be found on the census in: 1900 Washington Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, Household #68 1910 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Ohio Household #63 1920 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio Household 119 1930 Rockford, Mercer County, Ohio Household #252 Daniel died on April 23, 1949 in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  Mazzie died on March 8, 1965 in Van Wert County, Ohio, USA.  Both were buried in Swamp College Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  West Side, Section H, Row 2. Daniel and Mazzie had the following children: Clyde BOLEY was born on 17 July 1898 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA. He was married to Bertha May KLINGER (daughter of John KLINGER and Sarah BAILEY) in 1918. Bertha was born on 29 May 1894 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA, and died on 9 November 1946 in Celina, Mercer County, Ohio, USA. She was buried in Memorial Cemetery, Dayton, Miami County, Ohio, USA.  Clyde died on 26 May 1974 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA. He was buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado, USA.  They appeared on the census in:    - 1920 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Household #119    - 1930 Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Household #276 Their children included Clyde William BOLEY Jr, Robert Eugene BOLEY, Cleo Panda BOLEY, and Wanda BOLEY. **Carl BOLEY was born on 4 March 1903 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  He was married to Leota Ruth KAYLOR (daughter of Adam Franklin KAYLOR and Bertha Belle BRUSH) on 16 November 1922. Leota was born on 26 March 1905 in Rochester, Wayne County, Indiana, USA. They appeared on the census in 1930 in Dublin Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Household #44.  Carl died on 30 August 1948 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA in a car accident.  Leota died on 8 February 1982 at home in Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio, USA. Both were buried in Swamp College Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  Their children are: James Cloyral BOLEY Carl Eugene BOLEY Ralph "Lee" BOLEY Paul Daniel BOLEY (died young) Donald Emerson BOLEY **Harold Edward BOLEY Vernon Owen BOLEY Mary Ellen BOLEY Kenneth D BOLEY Jack Gordon BOLEY Alice B BOLEY was born on 16 November 1904 in Washington Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, USA. She was married to Alva Francis COLE Sr on 16 November 1922. Alva was born on 10 May 1897 in Washington Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, USA and died on 20 February 1966 in Van Wert County, Ohio, USA.  Alice died on 1 February 1981 in Van Wert County, Ohio, USA. She was buried on 4 February 1981 in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio, USA.  Their children included Alva Frances COLE Jr., and L Melville COLE. Blanche BOLEY was born on 19 February 1907 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA. On 28 November 1929, she was married to Oscar J BOLLENBACHER (son of John BOLLENBACHER and Hulda GIBBONS). Oscar was born on 7 September 1907 in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, USA. Blanche died on 1 September 1988 in Rockford, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  Oscar died on 12 July 1989 in Mercer County, Ohio, USA. Both were buried in St Paul United Church of Christ Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, USA.  They had only one child, Larry BOLLENBACHER.

This is only the first couple generations of our family tree.  For more details about the Boley family and sources for the above information, check out my WorldConnect database.