Oldal 317 [317]
OCR
of the family were in (1771) the possession of the Booth, of Tyndale. From “ Kimber and Johnson’s Baronage, "1771, and " Nicholas’ Peerage,” the family is traced from 1275, through a long line of distinguished descendants, including Thomalin of the Booths, Knight, 1327; John of Barton, 1377, who bore as his paternal arms the ancient Booth device, viz., three boars’ heads; William, who became Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, 1447, and Archbishop of York, 1452; Roger, Bishop of Hereford, 1516; Lawrence, Lord High Chancellor of England under Edward IV.; Thomas, knighted by Henry VI.; Sir William, who received an annuity from Henry VI.; Sir George, who married Catherine Mountfort, a near relative of David, King of Scotland; Sir William, of Dunham Massey; George, son of Sir George, who received an official letter, dated October 12th, 1529, announcing, by the command of Queen Jane Seymour, the birth of Edward VL; Sir George, the use of whose estates were Earl of Leicester ; John, knighted by Charles II.; Sir George, born 1722, who for his services in the Loyalist cause, was created by Charles II., Baron Delamere, of Dunham Massey ; Henry Booth, second Lord Delamere, who was one of the committee of three noblemen appointed by the Prince of Orange to demand of King James that he remove from Whitehall ; George Booth, second Earl of Warrington, who died in 1758, when the earldom became extinct, but was revived in the line of Harry Grey, Earl of Stamford, who married the daughter of the last Earl of Warrington. On the death of George, Baron Delamere, the barony expired. The family is of Welsh descent, and careful investigation has disclosed the fact that property to the value of many millions of dollars has escheated to descendants in America not being able to complete the necessary chain of evidence as to their claim. The first of the name who came to America was one Ensign John Booth, who landed at Southold, Long Island, about 1652. From Ensign Booth and also in Canada. One of his descendants, John Booth, left Southold, and removed to Watkill, Ulster County, New York, now known as the Town of Goshen, Orange County, where he raised a family of ten children. The names of the children were David, John, Bethia, Zacheus, Charles, Abner, Isaac, Samuel, Vincent, and Phebe. This family was being reared during the American Revolution, and as they preferred British institutions to republican 23 selves of the royal proclamation, and remove to Canada. Zacheus was chosen to proceed’ to_ the loyal province, and select a location for the family. He arrived in Elizabethtown, probably in 1784 or 1785, and inspected the country. On preparing to return he called at the residence of Thomas Sherwood, father of the late Sheriff Sherwood, where he was hospitably entertained, and on his departure with an Indian guide, Mr. Sherwood made him a present of a little dog, mention of which is made in the memoirs of the late Sheriff. He crossed the St. Lawrence, but his fate is shrouded in mystery, as Booth, the Indian, and the faithful dog were never afterwards heard from: supposed to have been murdered by hostile Indians. The fate of Zacheus cast a deep gloom over the family. After a lapse of three years, Samuel and Vincent started in company with other Loyalists for Canada. The party drove a number of cattle and sheep and also brought with it a horse, the journey being made through the trackless forest by the aid of a compass. The wanderers, after a toilsome journey, reached Lake Champlain, from which point they struck out for the St. Lawrence, fording streams, building frail rafts to cross lakes and finally reaching the river at a point near Morristown, New York. Samuel, being an excellent swimmer, swam to the Canadian shore and returned to his companions by the same means. A raft was then built. The stock which could swim was driven into the river, and, after a hazardous passage, all reached British territory. They landed near the present site of Brockville, and proceeded to the vicinity of Cole’s Ferry, where they were hospitably entertained by a settler, probably a Clow or Cole. They proceeded on their journey and located on Lot No. 37, in the 5th Concession of Elizabethtown, where they built a log shanty, which was at first roofed with bushes, but was finally covered with bark. At a subsequent period, not precisely known, the remainder of the family in Orange County joined their relatives in Canada and took up land in the same neighborhood. The family has never been characterized as seekers for office. Samuel Booth held a captain’s commission and served in the War of 1812; Matthew Booth also held a captain’s commission, as did John Booth, P. L. S., who served in 1812. John Booth, P. L. S", son of Vincent Booth, was a man of marked ability. From an innate desire for knowledge, he obtained, without instruction, from the few books which he could secure, a good knowledge of astronomy, and, after a service of three months with the late Robert McLean, he proceeded
