Introduction:
Franklin A. Burkhardt's 1917 book "The Boucher Family (Bowsher, Bauscher, Bausher, Bousher)" indicates that Isaiah Boucher apprenticed as a gunsmith with Phineas Compton. Isaiah Boucher is a distant cousin of mine on my mother's side through Susannah (Boucher) Korn, wife of Michael Korn, Sr. of Southampton Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Here are the pages from Burkhardt's 1917 book that describe Isaiah Boucher and list his children and grandchildren:
Chronology:
1824: Although Burkhardt's 1917 book indicates that Isaiah Boucher was born on February 28, 1826, the tombstone of Isaiah Boucher and Volume II of the 1906 book "History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania" both indicate he was born in 1824. Various books indicate that Isaiah Bowser was a son of Henry Boucher.
1848: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher married Lucretion (sic) Compton on August 24, 1848. Other books and documents herein give her first name as Lucretia, which is her correct name.
1850: I did not find a listing for Isaiah Boucher in my partially illegible copy of the manuscript 1850 census records of Elk Lick Township.
1853: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's son Henry Stewart Boucher was born in Salisbury, Pennsylvania in 1853. The death certificate of Henry Stewart Boucher indicates that he was a son of Isiah (sic) Boucher and was born in Pennsylvania on May 26, 1853 and died on January 24, 1942 in Centerville, Somerset County and was buried in the Middle Creek Cemetery.
1855: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's son Phineas C. Boucher was born on October 4, 1855. Phineas Compton Boucher is buried in the Grantsville Cemetery, where his tombstone gives his full name and indicates he was born in 1855 and died in 1928. The 1880 census records of the Isaiah Boucher household in the Grantsville, Maryland district indicate that Phineas was born in Maryland. The 1900 census records of the Phineas Boucher household in Election District No. 3 (Grantsvillage) also indicate that Phineas Boucher was born in Maryland.
Circa 1858: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, around the year 1858 Isaiah Boucher and his wife moved to a location in [what became] Garrett County, Maryland that was about three miles southeast of Grantsville. If I had to venture a guess, the 1858 estimate is based on someone's recollection that they moved to Maryland around the time of the death of Lucretia's father Phineas Compton. The 1953 edition of "American Gun Makers" indicates that Phineas M. Compton died on July 4, 1858, and his tombstone indicates he died in 1858.
1858: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's father Henry Boucher died on July 25, 1858.
The June 30, 1944 issue of "The Glades Star" indicates that the 101-acre "Little Meadows" tract that Captain Shelby patented on May 26, 1773 was then (1944) known as the Isaiah Boucher farm. An article by Charles E. Hoye titled "Little Meadows — An Historic Spot" in the August 19, 1937 issue of "The Republican" newspaper mentions that Isaiah Boucher's home place was the 101-acre "Little Meadows" tract the Indian fighter Captain Evan Shelby patented in 1773 and John Shelby sold to Jesse Tomlinson in 1789. I don't know when Isaiah Boucher obtained the Little Meadows tract.
1859: A deed recorded October 10, 1859 that begins on page 330 of Allegany County Deed Book 18 includes the following, "This Deed made this 10th day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty nine by Henry Bruce, Trustee, Witnesseth, whereas, by a decree of the Circuit Court for Allegany County sitting as a Court of Equity, passed on the tenth day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty three in the cause of Henry B. Bruce and Normand Bruce and others, versus George S Bruce, Virginia L Bruce & others, the said Henry Bruce was appointed Trustee to sell the land decreed to be sold, and sold the same to one Phineas Compton who after having paid the greater part of the purchase money therefor departed this life sometime in the month of July, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty eight, after having made his last will and testament which has been duly admitted to probate in the Orphans’ Court for said Allegany County, by which said last will and testament the said Phineas Compton devised the land purchased by him as aforesaid, to his Son Samuel Compton and his two daughters Lucretia Boucher and Lydia Stewart, to be owned and held by them &c. And whereas, the balance of the purchase money remaining unpaid at the death of the said Phineas Compton has been since fully paid by his said devisees, and upon a petition filed by them in said case, an order was passed by the said Circuit Court on the thirtieth day of September, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty nine, authorizing the said Trustee to convey by deed, in fee all said land to the said Samuel Compton, Lucretia Boucher and Lydia Stewart, Now therefore, in consideration of the premises, the said Henry Bruce doth grant unto the said Samuel Compton, Lucretia Boucher and Lydia Stewart all the right & title of all the parties to the aforesaid cause in and to the land and real estate mentioned and described in the proceedings, (and particularly in the Trustee's Report of Sales) in said cause, as being the land & real estate sold as aforesaid, to the said Phineas Compton, that is to say, the tract, part of a tract or parcel of land included in the deed refered (sic) to in the proceedings in said cause and called and known by the name of 'Youghogany Mill Seat Enlarged' containing clear of older surveys, the quantity of five hundred and forty seven acres; Also the lot or parcel of land known as Lot number 2163 containing sixty eight acres; And also the tract or parcel of land called & known by the name 'Meadow Mountain' & containing clear of older surveys one hundred and forty acres and one half of an acre. ..."
1860: A deed recorded April 23rd, 1860 that begins on page 83 of Allegany County Deed Book 19 includes the following, "This Deed made this eighth day of March in the year eighteen hundred and sixty by Samuel Compton and Nancy Compton his wife, Isaiah Boucher and Lucretia Boucher his wife and Henry C. Stewart and Lydia Stewart his wife do grant unto Elias Beachy all that part of a tract of land called 'The Youghiogany Mill Seat Enlarged' or by whatever name known which is embraced within the following metes and bounds, courses and distances ... containing three hundred and thirty two (332) acres, be these more or less. This said parcel of land hereby conveyed is part of the piece or parcel of land conveyed by Henry Bruce Trustee to Samuel Compton, Lucretia Boucher and Lydia Stewart heirs of the late Phineas Compton, by deed bearing date the tenth day of October in the year eighteen hundred and fifty nine..."
1860: The following excerpt shows the listing of the Isaiah Boucher household in the 1860 census of Allegany County, Maryland. According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's third child Jacob F. Boucher died in childhood. Jacob's death must have occurred prior to this census record was created, because he is not listed.
1861: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's son Samuel Alden Boucher was born June 8, 1861. Dr. S. A. Boucher is buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Allegany County, Maryland where his tombstone indicates he was born on June 8, 1861 and died on December 15, 1945. The 1880 census records of the Isaiah Boucher household in the Grantsville, Maryland district indicate that Samuel was born in Maryland. The following excerpt from Volume II of the 1923 book "History of Allegany County, Maryland" provides more information about Samuel A. Boucher and his father Isaiah Boucher, and indicates that Isaiah was a son of Henry Boucher and married Phineas Compton's daughter Lucretia.
1862: A deed that begins on page 328 of Allegany County Deed Book 20 includes the following, "This Deed made this first day of November in the year eighteen hundred and sixty two by me William W. McCKaig, Trustee, Witnesseth: Whereas by a decree of the Circuit Court for Allegany County as a Court of Equity passed on the 8th day of June 1860 in the case of Henry B. Bruce & Elizabeth B. Bruce and others in Virginia B. Bruce & George P. Bruce and being No. 1106 on the Equity Docket of said Court, the said William W. McKaig was appointed Trustee to sell the land decreed to be sold, and has sold the same to Samuel Compton, Lucretia Boucher wife of Isaiah Boucher, and Lydia Stewart wife of Henry C. Stewart for the sum of eight hundred dollars who have fully paid the purchase money therefore. And whereas also by another decree of the Circuit Court for Allegany County as a Court of Equity passed on the 2nd day of July 1862 in the case of Henry B. Bruce and Elizabeth B. Bruce and others vs Margaret K. Bruce and George B. Bruce and being ____ in the Equity Docket of said Court the said William W. McKaig was also appointed trustee to sell the same to the said Samuel Compton, Lucretia Boucher, wife of Isaiah Boucher and Lydia Stewart wife of Henry C. Stewart at and for the price of four hundred dollars, who have fully paid the ______ money therefor.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises I the said William W. McKaig, Trustee in both the decrees aforesaid, do grant 7 convey unto the said Samuel Compton, Lucretia Boucher, wife of Isaiah Boucher and Lydia Stewart wife of Henry C. Stewart all the right title and interest of all the parties aforesaid to both the aforesaid causes and decrees in & to all those lots or parcels of land situate in said Allegany County and state of Maryland and known & called Soldiers Lots, numbered twenty one hundred & fifty three (No 2153) and Twenty one hundred and fifty six (No 2156) containing fifty acres each and which said Lots are particularly described in a deed from Samuel P. Smith Trustee to George P. Bruce, Henry B. Bruce, Elizabeth B. Bruce and John I. Bruce dated on the third day of August 1852...
Also lot number twenty one hundred & sixty two (2162) containing fifty acres of land more or less, which is particularly described in a deed from Joshua John son and Thomas Hammond dated on the 16th day of December 1834... To have and to Hold the above described Lots of land, with the appurtenances unto the said Samuel Compton Lucretia Boucher wife of Isaiah Boucher and Lydia Stewart wife of Henry C. Stewart and to their heirs and assigns forever, free and clear of all dower interest thereon of the said Margaret K. Bruce widow of George Bruce, deceased and Virginia L. Bruce widow of George R. Bruce deceased. ..."
18__: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's fifth child Adaline Boucher died in childhood.
1865: On January 28, 1865 the following deed is recorded in Allegany County Deed Book 22 beginning on page 371: "This deed made this ninth day of January in the year eighteen hundred and sixty five by us Henry C. Stewart and Lydia Stewart my wife of Allegany County and State of Maryland and Samuel Compton and Nancy Compton my wife of Somerset County and State of Pennsylvania. Witnesseth: that in consideration of the sum of eight-thousand dollars, we the said Henry C. Stewart and Lydia my wife and Samuel Compton and Nancy my wife do grant unto Isaiah Boucher of said Allegany County and State of Maryland all our right and title of in and to all the following described lands and premises situated in said Allegany County "Youghagany Mill Seat Enlarged" containing 547 acres more or less; also a tract of land called "Meadow Mountain" containing 140 1/2 acres more or less; also military lots Nos 2162, 2153 and 2156; saving and excepting from the lands and premises hereby conveyed the 332 acres which were sold and conveyed by said Samuel Compton and others to Elias Beachy of said Allegany County and State of Maryland by deed bearing date on the eighth day of March in the year eighteen hundred and sixty..."
1865: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's son Charles W. Boucher was born May 19, 1865. Dr. Charles W. Boucher is buried at the Freeport Cemetery in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania where the tombstone he shares with Jane Hill indicates he was born in 1865 and died in 1952. The 1880 census records of the Isaiah Boucher household in the Grantsville, Maryland district indicate that Charles was born in Maryland. The following excerpt from Volume II of the 1906 book "History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania" provides more information about Charles W. Boucher and his father Isaiah Boucher, and indicates that Isaiah was a son of Henry Boucher and married Phinias Compton's daughter Lucretia. I suspect that the 1838 date is a misreading of a cursive 1858 that was encountered in correspondence that formed the basis of the book entry.
1870: The following excerpt is from the 1870 census records of Allegany County, Maryland.
1870: Page 528 of Allegany County Deed Book 32 records an agreement between John S. Combs and Isaiah Boucher that includes the statement, "This Agreement made this twelfth day of July in the year eighteen hundred Seventy between John S. Combs & Isaiah Boucher both of Allegany County and State of Maryland Witnesseth that Whereas the said John S. Combs and Isaiah Boucher hold lands contiguous to each other and that it will be to the advantage and accomodation of the said parties to change two of the lines dividing Said lands have mutually agreed and hereby agree to establish the following Courses as the dividing line..."
1870: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's son Arthur McKinley Boucher was born on September 13, 1870. The 1880 census records of the Isaiah Boucher household in the Grantsville, Maryland district indicate that Arthur was born in Maryland. Arthur M. Boucher is buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery of Allegany County, Maryland where the tombstone he shares with Anna M. Boucher indicates he was born in 1870 and died in 1944.
1872: According to the 1882 book "History of Western Maryland", "Garrett County was created from portions of Allegany County by an act of the General Assembly of Maryland, approved April 1, 1872."
1875-1877: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher was elected to the county office of Commissioner in 1875 as a Republican. The following excerpt from the Garrett County portion of Volume II of the 1882 book "History of western Maryland" indicates that Isaiah Boucher was a Commissioner from 1875-1877.
1876: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's mother Elizabeth (Wright) Boucher died on December 11, 1876.
1877: An article titled "First County Buildings" in the June 30, 1949 issue of "The Glades Star" indicates that Isaiah Boucher was one of the Commissioners involved with the November 22, 1877 completion and acceptance of the new Garrett County courthouse, jail, and Sheriff's residence.
1880: Isaiah Boucher is enumerated as a farmer in the following excerpt from the Grantsville District portion of the 1880 census records of Garret County, Maryland. The given ages of Isaiah and Lucretia do not appear to be correct.
1882: The Garret County section in Volume II of the 1882 book "History of Western Maryland" states, "George Bruce resided for many years on the fine property now owned by Isaiah Boucher, but upon his second marriage, about 1846, he removed to Frostburg, where he died in 1853."
1883: A social item titled "Grantsville Items" in the March 17, 1883 issue of "The Republican" states, "Mrs. Isaiah Boucher was the guest of Miss Maggie Brown last week."
1883: The following item is from the March 24, 1883 issue of "The Republican" newspaper:
1883: Lucretia Boucher's mother Adaline Compton died on April 17, 1883.
1887: A notice in the June 11, 1887 issue of "The Republican" newspaper of Oakland, Maryland indicates that Isaiah Boucher's son Dr. Samuel A. Boucher was a recent graduate of a Baltimore Medical College, and had opened an office in the village of Barton in Allegany County, Maryland.
1887: An article titled "Republican County Convention" in the August 27, 1887 issue of "The Republican" newspaper of Oakland, Maryland indicates that Isaiah Boucher was selected to be a District 3 Delegate to the state convention.
1888: A notice in the April 14, 1888 issue of "The Republican" indicates that Isaiah Boucher was selected for jury duty for the May term of court.
1888: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher's wife Lucretion died on December 31, 1888. The following obituary of Lucretia (Compton) Boucher is from the January 12, 1889 issue of "The Republic" newspaper of Oakland, Maryland. The obituary is also reproduced in the 1896 book "Brown's Miscellaneous Writings" (9.7 MB).
1889: The following notice is from the March 9, 1889 issue of "The Republic" newspaper:
1889: An article titled "Republican County Nominating Convention" in the September 28, 1889 issue of "The Republican" newspaper of Oakland, Maryland indicates that Isaiah Boucher was selected to be a District 3 Delegate to the state convention.
1896: According the Armstrong County marriage license documentation, Isaiah and Lucretia Boucher's 31-year-old dentist son Charles W. Boucher of New Kensington, Pennsylvania married John and Belle Hill's 31-year-old teacher daughter Jennie A. Hill at Freeport, Pennsylvania on November 24, 1896.
1900: In the Grantsville portion of the 1900 census records of Garrett County, Isaiah Boucher is living in the household of his Maryland-born son Phineas Boucher. The enumerator was P. C. Boucher.
Circa 1896: The following excerpt from the 1896 book "Brown's Miscellaneous Writings" provides an indication of where Isaiah Boucher was living circa 1896:
1901: A notice titled "Tax Sales of Valuable Real Estate in Garrett County" in the February 18, 1909 issue of "The Republican" newspaper indicates that Isaiah Boucher conveyed a tract of 150 acres to (his son) P. C. Boucher on May 3, 1901:
1904: According to Burkhardt's 1917 book, Isaiah Boucher died on January 31, 1904. Isaiah Boucher is buried at the Salisbury IOOF Cemetery in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The inscription on the tombstone he shares with his wife Lucretia reads, "LUCRETIA BOUCHER 1829 - 1888 ISAIAH Husband of Lucretia Boucher 1824 - 1904". The cemetery is located approximately at 39.74939238682487, -79.08529294570936.
Go to the gunsmith index for biographies of various gunsmiths from Bedford and Somerset counties, Pennsylvania.
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