On 25 March 1761, John Boughan witnessed a lease from John Boughan and Cary his wife to James Edmondson. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 29, pages 43–45.]

On 15 February 1768, on the motion of John Boughan, James Croxton and Thomas Chilton, Essex County court ordered that John Edmondson, James Booker, Thomas Wood and James Banks or any three of them settle the administration of James Munday and divide and allot the estate according to law. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 27, page 45.]

On 15 February 1768, John Boughan was appointed guardian to Lucy and Elizabeth Munday, two of the orphans of James Munday deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 27, pages 45–46.]

On 17 March 1777, John Boughan and Ursuley his wife of Essex County sold to Edmund Dunn of Essex County for £50, 58 acres of land in Essex County. This land, which John gained through the marriage of his wife, borded that of Elizabeth Monday, William Edmondson, and Mathew Mackan. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 31, page 300–302.]

On 22 March 1780, John Boughan served on an inquisition to determine if Joseph Richardson, Wm Boyes, John Robinson and Archibald McCall were British subjects. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 31, pages 515–518.]

On 21 February 1780, “John Boughan came into court and made oath that he is heir at Law to his Brother James Boughan who enlisted in one of the Virginia Regments [sic] raised for the immediate Defence of this state in the war between the King of Great Britain and the Fench [sic] King that he served untill the same was Disbanded and that neither he the said James nor any person for him hath made proof of the said service before any Court within this Commonwealth or obtained any Land in consequence thereof which is ordered to be certified to the Register of the land office.” [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 29, page 462.]

In 1782 John Boughan posted in Essex County, Virginia, the following public service claim for Revolutionary War support: John Boughan 1 beef 200# £3-16-3. He is listed under “Acct. of Grass Beeves collected by Thos. Wood Commissioner of Essex County from Sept. 9, 1781” as “Boughan, John 1 £1-13-4.” He is listed under “Acct. of Cattle collected by Thos. Wood Commissioner of Essex County and stall’d for the public use [all monies in dollars]” as “Baughan, John 1 1060.”

An inventory and appraisal of the estate of John Kercheval was made by John Baughan, Richd Allen and Josiah Minter. Total £245.12.2. Ordered recorded 21 February 1785. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 13, pages 475–476.]

On 10 December 1785, John Boughan was mentioned as a bordering landowner to a tract sold by William Banks, James Banks and Statira his wife (whose name also appears as Stati Re) of the parish of southfarnham and County of Essex sold to Thomas Wood. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 32, pages 424–426.]

On 21 January 1793, John Boughan and Sarah his wife of the County of Essex and parish of Southfarnham sold to Thomas Crow of the same. For £59.4 current money of Virginia, 59-1/5 acres, more or less, in the county and parish aforesaid, bordering lands of Thomas Wood, James Banks and Major Boughan. Signed John Boughan, Sarah her + mark Boughan. Witnesses: William Jones, John Crow, Moses Crow. Ordered recorded 21 January 1793. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 33, page 436.]

On 26 September 1794, Major and John Baughan [brothers] have some land surveyed that was formerly land of John Harper. According to notes by Agnes Andrews, this is the same 5 acres that was deeded from John Harper to James Boughan for 4000 pounds of tobacco on 10 December 1705 (date recorded). This helps establish the descent.

On 17 August 1795, John Boughan and his brother Major along with John Hail were appointed processioners of the second district in South farnham Parish by the court. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 33, page 63.]

Pursuant to an order of Essex County Court bearing date 16 September 1793, an inventory of the estate of Caleb Gatewood was submitted on 21 September 1795 by Wm. Howard, Charles Bray, John Boughan, and Major Boughan. Total £208.8.8. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 15, pages 155–156.]

On 20 October 1795, John and Major Boughan were granted in court an appeal from the previous day’s decision in favor of Thomas Wood, concerning Thomas Wood’s building of a mill “at a place proposed by him below Piscataway old Mill Bridge.” The appeal is to be considered by the next district court. They are bound unto Thomas Wood the sum of £100 for damages, with John Turner as their security. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 33, page 125; and Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 9, Item 9-E-109, which contains the original signatures of John Boughan, Major Boughan, and John Turner.]

On 16 February 1796, John Boughan was granted a one month injunction against Lawrence Lewis’s administration of the estate of John Edmundson. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 33, page 160.] By one month’s time he had failed to obtain security, and was again granted leave to give bond and security. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 33, page 172.]

On 3 May 1796 John and Major Boughan purchased property from William Burke and Lucy his wife and Thomas Burke. This was the land on which John Kercherval formerly lived. Caston and James Boughan were witnesses. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 34, page 357.]

On 30 January 1797, John Boughan and Jno Hawkins bound themselves unto Archd Denholm. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 17, item 17-G-22.]

On 17 April 1798 John Boughan and Sally his wife, and Major Boughan and Caty his wife, sell 106-1/2 acres to Charles Bray. This is part of a tract that had been purchased by John and Major Boughan from Thomas and William Burke, called Kerchevals. Neither Sally nor Caty could write. This establishes that John was married to Sally and Major was married to Caty in 1798. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed book 35, page 6.]

On 18 June 1799, “Major Boughan came before us & made oath that his brother John had asked him to examine the books of Capt John Edmondson” over a case of debt. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-C-29.]

On 2 September 1799, John Boughan witnessed a deed from Philemon Purkins to Major Boughan. He proved the deed on 21 October 1799. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 35, pages 132–133.]

On 10 March 1800, Major Boughan and John Boughan executed a bond: Know all men by these presents that we Major Boughan & John Boughan are held and firmly bound unto Paul Micou Sheriff of the County of Essex in the Sum of fifty Eight pounds Thirteen Shillings & four pence to be paid unto the said Paul Micou his Certain attorney, heirs, Exers, admors, or assigns, to which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs Exors & admors, Jointly & Severaly, firmly by these presents Sealed with our Seals and dated this 10th day of March 1800 The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas William Howard hath Sued out of the County Court of Essex a writ of capias ad respondendum against the body of the above bound Major Boughan for a plea of Debt for twenty nine pounds Six Shillings and Eight pence damage five pounds Now if the Said Major Boughan do and Shall will and truly make personal appearance before the Justices of the Next Quarterly Court to be holden for the said County of Essex at the Courthouse thereof and do not depart from there without leave of the said Court then the above obligation to be void or else to remain in full force and Virtue Signed Major Boughan, John Boughan. Witness: Gabriel Boughan. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 13, item 13-I-17.]

An undated bill of complaint from around 1801 states that Joseph Wood “complains of John Boughan in Custody &c for this that he the said Deft on the Day of October in the year 1800 with Force & Arms entered unlawfully into the House & on the Land of John Chenault of the County of Essex & then & there unlawfully seized & detained a quantity of Corn of the Property of the Plt of the Value of five hundred Dollars, & unlawfully prevented by force of Arms the Plt from taking the same against the Peace of the Commonwealth…” [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 13, item 13-F-54.]

An undated bill of complaint stated that John Boughan died in May 1776 “leaving Cary his widow & mother of his children & John & Major Boughan his sons & Mary wife of Richd Burnett & your oratrices his daughters” namely Cary (wife of John Turner) and Eliza (wife of William Howard). That Cary died without having married again. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-B-52.]

On 22 July 1802, a suit was in chancery court with John Turner and Cary his wife and William Howard and Elizabeth his wife, plaintiffs, against John Boughan, executor of Cary Boughan deceased, defendant. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 37, page 152.]

On 22 July 1802 John Boughan and Sally his wife sold to Major Boughan (all of South Farnham Parish) their rights to the water grist mill for £150, the mill being known as Boughan’s mill. Major and John are brothers; they received this property according to the will of their father. Caston Boughan’s signature is in the margin of the deed book. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 36, page 319.]

An undated answer (early 1800s) of John Baughan, Major Baughan and Charles Bray to a bill of complaint brought by Cary Griggs states that John and Major admit they sold land leased by John Griggs to John Kerchival and his wife for their lives. But they say that John Griggs never had any title to the land “as by the annexed deed from Richard & Wm Holt to James Baughan and the will of James Baughan both of which writings are recorded in this workshipful Court it will appear that the said land was entailed upon the issue of the body of James Boughan. That this def: John Baughan as the eldest son of his father who was only tenant in tail was entitled to the said land”. Charles Bray now owns the land. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-A-6.]

An undated answer by John Boughan from the early 1800s stated that he had difficulty separating the accounts of his mother’s estate from his father’s, and stated that he thought his mother had loaned Cary [Turner] and son-in-law William Howard were in debt to the estate, as “sums to a large amount were loaned”. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-D-10.]

On 10 July 1804, Sarah Crow made a deposition concerning her grandmother, Cary Boughan [who died November 1784]: The Affidavits of Sarah Crow of lawfull age taken at Capt Lewis Bookers store in Essex county between John Turner & Cary his wife William Howard and Elizabeth his wife pltfs and John Boughan Administrator of Cary Boughan Decd defts
This deponent being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she was well acquinted at her grandmothers all the time of her Widowhood as I do not think that I ever missed a week from being there if the weather was good & I was well & some times staid their a considerable time Question by Deft after your Grandmothers death do you know how much Brandy was on the plantation
Ans I do not know how much there was but there was two casks such as are called quarter casks one to the best of my knoledge was full & the other they were using out of I cant say how much was in it.
Qust by deft do you know whether there was any Brandy or Cyder sold after your grandmothers death belonging to the plantation
Ans I do know that aunt Cary Boughan (now Cary Turner) sold of each to several persons and recievd the money for it
Quest by Deft do you know how much corn there was on the plantation Ans I know that there was a corn House full but how much the house held I do not know & I heard say there was some left in the stock [stack?] Quest by deft do you know whether your grandmother bought the negro girl Sint Ans I heard her say that she did & intended her for aunt Cary but afterward I heard her say that if she maried John Turner one of the plts that she never should have the negro nor nothing that she had to give Quest by John Turner one of the plts who distilld the Brandy belonging to the Estate as mentioned above Ans my Grandmother the widow of John Boughan decd but my aunt Cary Boughan the wife of John Turner I have seen her assist when she was present
Essex County to wit
The above affidavit taken (notice acknowledged by the parties) and sworn to before me this 9th day of July 1804
JBohannan [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-D-24.]

On 11 September 1804, John Boughan provided an affidavit: The affidavit of John Boughan of lawfull age taken at Capt Lewis Booker’s store house in Essex County between John Turner and Cary his wife and William Howard Senr and Elizabeth his wife pltfs and Major Boughan Executor of John Boughan decd Deft, this deponant being duly sworn deposeth and saith
Qust 1st by deft. Major Boughan do you remember that a Negro man by name General belonging to me leving [living] with my Farther in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five? Ansr I do and that he was to give seven pounds ten shilling for his hire that year further Question by the deft do you know if William Griggs livid with my Farther the same year that my Negro man General lived with him. ansr I do, and that the said Boughan let the said Griggs have cloth and trimings for a Coat but the price I do not know further Question by deft do you recollect what number of Negroes belongd to the Estate of John Boughan decd Ansr there was three Peter, Esther, & Ell, which was apprais’d to one hundred & fifty pounds and was devided by consent of parties between William Howard & Cary Boughan the wife of John Turner pltfs
further Quest by deft. was there any sheep belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd at the time of the sale — Ansr I do not know that there was.
Question by deft was there a side saddle bottle and Jugs belonging to the Estate Ansr there was, and I know that Cary Boughan had the side saddle and since she has been maried I have seen it at John Turners a [sic] noted Jugs and bottle at his house that did belong to the Estate and one Jugs at Williams Howards further Question by deft do you recollect what became of the beds belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd? Ansr I do there was three devided between Cary Boughan the wife of John Turner & William Howard and one was sold by Major Boughan.
Further Question by Deft do you recollect what became of a young mare belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd — Ansr I do she was sold by my mother the Widow of the said John Boughan decd and to Richard Jeffries Junior and she also Sold an old Horses [sic] to William Tignor and gave a mare to Cary Boughan the wife of John Turner and a young Horse to William Howard senr further Question by deft do you know wheather there was any thing belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd Secreted by me or my order? Ansr I do not further Questioned by deft do you know whether the mare and horse that was Sold by my mother as mentioned by you above was apprais’d when my Fathers Estate was apprais’d? Ansr I beleive they was. further Questioned by Deft who liv’d on the plantation from the time of my mothers death untill the day of sale? ansr Cary Boughan, and Cary Griggs was there the greater part of her time, and all the Negroes that belong’d to the Estate.—
Question by John Turner one of the Pltffs — Do you know that the Negroe General which Major Boughan hired to John Boughan decd was the sold property of the s’d Majr Boughan, — Answer I do know one half of the s’d Negroe General was the property of Elizabeth Munday.—
Further question by John Turner, — do you suppose your Father, or the estate was not able to have paid the hire due for General before this. — To be sure they were able—
Question by Majr Boughan the Defendt how long did John Boughn dec’d live after the money became due for the hire of General — Answer he died the may following.—
Essex County to wit,
John Boughan personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the aforesaid County and made oath that the above affidavit concained [sic] the truth,
Given under my hand this Eleventh day of Septemr 1804.
LBooker. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 15, item 15-B-4.]

On 15 September 1806, Edward Wright and Leonard Sale were bound in the penalty of $4,000 for Edward Wright’s administration of the goods, chattels, and credits of John Boughan, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 16, pages 434–435.]

On 29 October 1806, the estate of John Boughan was divided by J Bohannan, Lewis Dix, and James Allen Ser. according to survey by Tk. Noel. Parcels went to Hundley Moody and his wife Catharine (44 acres), widow’s dower (90 acres), Thos. Crow and Sarah his wife (50 acres), Jesse Boughan (61 acres), and James Boughan (61 acres). [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 87–88, including a map.]

An inventory and appraisal of the estate of John Boughan was ordered on 15 September 1806 and was recorded on 15 June 1807, made by Wm Howard, James Dix, and Richard Meador. Total valuation £483.13.8. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, page 21.]

On 14 October 1806 and 16 December 1806, sales of the estate of John Boughan were held, and were ordered recorded on 18 March 1811. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 274–275.]

In an undated petition from after John Boughan’s death, Edward Wright, administrator of John Boughan’s estate, complained that Major Boughan had never paid John for his half of the mill as he had agreed to do in John’s lifetime. The amount due was £150. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 4, item 4-M-59.]

On 25 May 1810, James Boughan, Jesse Boughan, Thomas Crow and Sally his wife, and Hundley Moody and Caty his wife, all of the county of Essex, sold to Major Boughan of the same county. Whereas John Boughan deceased late of the county of Essex was bound and liable to convey to the said Major Boughan a third part of a tract of land situated in the parish of South Farnham & County of Essex which was recovered in the name of the said John Boughan in an action of ejectment in King & Queen district Court against John Chenault, but before any such conveyance was made the said John Boughan departed this life intestate and the legal estate in the said Land descended to the above named James Boughan & Jesse Boughan and the said wives of the said Crow and Moody as the children and heirs of the said John Boughan, and since the decease of the said John Boughan a division hath been made of the said land recovered from the said John Chenault, as aforementioned, and on the said division a third part of the said land hath been allotted to the said Major Boughan for his proportion of the same. Bounded by lands of William Howard, the heirs of John Boughan, Rickard Burke deceased, Charles Bray deceased. For $1 paid by Major Boughan, the parties of the first part release claim. Signed Jesse Boughan, Thomas Crow, Sally her x mark Crow, Hundley Moody, Caty Moody. Witnesses: Winter Bray as to J.B. T.C. & HW, Jas Burke, Major JB Turner, Gabrel [sic[ Purkins Sen, John Boughan, Jess Boughan, Othniel Davis. Presented in court on 17 September 1810. Presented in court again on 20 July 1812, not signed by James Boughan but further proved and ordered to be recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 38, pages 275–277.]

The estate of John Boughan in account with Edward Wright for 14 October 1806 to 20 May 1808 was recorded on 18 March 1811. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 276–277.]

The estate of John Boughan in account with Major Boughan and John Jones’s arbitration of the division of the estate on 6 June 1809 is recorded in a loose paper. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-B-20.]

On 16 September 1816, John Games, Thomas Crow and Lewis G Upshaw were bound in the penalty of $2,000 for John Games’s and Thomas Crow’s administration of the goods, chattels and credits of John Boughan unadministered by Edward Wright, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 326–327.]

An original signature of John Boughan, dated 17 June 1777, can be found in Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 1, item 1-I-19.