1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Dwelling 578, Family 578
Boughan, Thomas, 35, male, manager, value of real estate $1,000, born in Virginia, can read and write
Boughan, Mary, 27, female, born in Virginia, can read and write
Boughan, William, 5, male, born in Virginia, can read and write
Boughan, Thomas, 2, female [sic], born in Virginia, can read and write

1860 U.S. Census, King and Queen County, Virginia
Dwelling 839, Family 839
Vaughn, Thomas, 45, male, overseer of farm, $100 personal estate, born in Virginia
Vaughn, Mary, 38, female, born in Virginia
Vaughn, William, 15, male, born in Virginia
Vaughn, Thomas, 12, male, born in Virginia, attended school
Vaughn, Edward, 9, male, born in Virginia, attended school
Vaughn, John, 6, male, born in Virginia, attended school
Vaughn, Milly, 3, female, born in Virginia
Conelly, Emma, 16, female, born in Virginia

He served in the Confederate Army, in Company G, 55th Virginia Infantry, which was formed by the addition of four companies to Major Ward’s “Essex and Middlesex” Batallion of Virginia Volunteers, which was composed of Companies G to K, 47th Regiment Virginia Infantry. He enlisted as a private on 15 March 1862 and was stationed at Fort Lowry. On the 30th of June 1862 he was “admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to the head.” Another record lists him as being sick and in the hospital in May and June, 1862. He was on furlough for the last 7 days of 1864. At one point he received a $50 bounty for extension of enlistment for 3 years or until the end of the war, if that came first. He left the military still a private. [All records from the National Archives.]

Wm. F. Boughan married Betty F. Verlander on 18 February 1869 in Essex County. He was 24, single (not widowed), born in Essex County and living in Essex County. She was 20, single (not widowed), born in Essex County and living in Essex County. Parents were Thos. Boughan and Mary F. Wood, and James Verlander and Elizabeth Beazley. Wm. F. Boughan was a farmer. H. W. Montague performed the ceremony. [Essex County, Virginia, Marriage Register 1, page 22, line 24.]

Also on 18 February 1869, William’s brother Thomas W. Boughan was married to Mary Ellen Taylor, at the residence of Henry Beazley (possibly the same location, in which case a double marriage).

1870 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Household 285, Family 285
Boughan, William F., 24, farm laborer, no real estate or personal estate, born in Virginia
Boughan, Elizabeth F., 22, keeping house, born in Virginia
Boughan, Thomas F., 6/12, at home, born in Virginia

1880 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Tappahannock District, page 121A
Dwelling 110, Household 110
Boughan, William, white, male, 37, married, farmer, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Boughan, Fanny, white, female, 32, wife, married, keeping house, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Boughan, Mary Lizzie, white, female, 7, daughter, at home, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Boughan, Christian L., white, female, 3, daughter, at home, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Boughan, William A., white, male, 7/12, born October, son, at home, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Boughan, Joseph A., white, male, 19, brother, single, laborer, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia

In 1898 he received disability funds as a result of his war injuries. On page 62 of the Confederate Records in Tappahannock, his case states: “Wm F. Boughan, Millers, Essex County, Virginia. Member of C. G. 55 Virginia Infantry. Was wounded on the 27th of June 1862 in the battle of Gaines Mill. Minnie ball entering right side of head, fracturing the skull bone, rendering him unable to perform manual labor at times and for that reason is entitled to receive under said act the sum of fifteen dollars annually. Age 54 years — Wounded at Gaines Mill in a charge. Nature of the wound, fracture of the skull bone causing partial loss of sight — of right eye and severe pains of head which fatigued by manual labor is not total but partial and incapacitates him from obtaining livlihood from manual labor…” This was given 18 April 1898.

On 16 September 1878, William F. Boughan, W. A. Jordan and John G. Boughan entered into a bond of $500 for William F. Boughan’s administration of the personal estate of Thomas Boughan deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 29, page 723.]

On 1 October 1878, an appraisal of the personal estate of Thomas Boughan was made by William F. Boughan administrator. The total valuation was $52.45. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 29, pages 755–756.]

On 1 October 1878, sale of the personal estate of Thomas Boughan was made by William F. Boughan administrator. William F. Boughan purchased a wheat machine for $2.00. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 29, pages 756–757.]

1900 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Household 18
Baughan, Wm, head, Nov 1844, 55, married 34 years, farmer, 0 months unemployed, rents, farm schedule #18.
Baughan, Bettie F., wife, Mar 1848, 52, married 34 years, 7 children, 4 survive
Baughan, Wm. A., son, Oct 1879, 20, farm laborer, 0 months unemployed, cannot read or write
Baughan, Nellie, daughter, Mar 1886, 14, at school for 4 years now
Baughan, Edward, son, Sep 1888, 11, at school for 3 years now
All except William A. can read and write.

His tombstone reads:
W. F. Boughan
55th VA
C.S.A.