Benjamin W. Boutcher of Bucks Co. PA. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Benjamin W. Boutcher, of Bensalem township, was born in a township December 17, 1848. He traces his ancestry back to Benjmain Boutcher, who emigrated to this country in 1578, and settled on a large tract of land iin Abington township, Philadelphia (now Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Benjamin Boutcher, son of Joseph Boutcher, and grandson of Benjamin W. Boutcher above mentioned, was born in Abington township, February 11, 1786. He was a wheelwright by trade, but engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits. He married in 1810 Elinor Vandergrift, daughter of Jacob and Ann (Walton) Vandergrift, who was born in 1771 and died October 25, 1850, at the age of eighty years. Nine children were the issue of this marriage, namely: Joseph, born September 15m 1811, mentioned hereinafter. Ann, born 1813; died in early life. Jacob, born 1815. Enos, born May 30, 1817, died December 15, 1888; he married Elinor Vandergrift. Ann Eliza, born September 13, 1819, died July 1, 1902; she was the wife of William M. Vandergrift. Monroe, born 1822. Washington, born 1824. Robert Bickley Boutcher, born 1828. Elinor, born 1830. Benjamin Boutcher, father of these children, was an active and influential man in the community. He was one of the principal factors in the establishment of the public school at Andalusia and the petition circulated by him for that purpose bearing date November, 1822, is still in the possession of his grandson Benjamin W. Boutcher, whose name heads his sketch. On January 15, 1813, Mr. Boutcher purchased of his father-in-law, Mr. Vandergrift, a tract of land in Bensalem and settled thereon. Nicholas Vandergrift, the ancestor of the family of which Mrs. Benjamin Boutcher was a member, was the father of a son, Foulkard Vandergrift, who married Elizabeth Vansant, and they were the parents of a son, Foulkard Vandergrift, who died October 24, 1775, ageed eighty years. He married Elizabeth Watson, and their children were: 1. Jacob, who married Ann Walton, and their children were Levi;Jacob; Eliza, never married; Elinor Vandergrift, wife of Benjamin Boutcher; Jane, who married William Atkinson, died 1887, aged eighty-seven years; and Anna, who married Adam Vandergrift. 2. John, who died March 25, 1805, aged eighty-two years. 3. Foulkard, Jr., who died October 10, 1795, aged sixty-one years. 4._______, who became the wife of Barnet Van Kirk, who died September 12, 1817, aged seventy years. The old graveyard in Maud owned by Foulkard Vandergrift was deeded by him to his four children aforementioned. Joseph Boutcher, eldest son of Benjamin and Elinor (Vandergrift) Boutcher, was born September 15, 1811. At the age of fourteen years he took up the trade of a wheelwright with his father, and followed it during the active years of his life. He married Elizabeth Killey, daughter of Captain Edward and Elizabeth (Kennard) Killey, who was born in Douglass, Isle of Man. Captain Killey was a native of the Man, and came to this country when a young man and learned the trade of a sail maker. During the war of 1812, he was captain of the ship, "Roebuck," and was captured by the British, who claimed him as a British subject, but after the close of the war he returned to Philadelphia and followed his trade. Joseph and Elizabeth (Killey) Boutcher were the parents of six children: Adeaide S., Cordelia, Edward, William, Guilelma, Natalie, and Benjamin W. Benjamin W. Boutcher, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Killey) Boutcher, was born in Bensalem township, December 17, 1848. He was educated at the local schools, and on arriving at manhood took up the vocation of farming and teaming. In 1877, he was married to Catharine Cryer, daughter of William Cryer, who came from England and settled in Bensalem township. Source: "A Genealogical and Personal History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania," by William W[atts] H[art] Davis, edited by Warren S. Ely and John W. Jordan [1975 [Baltimore: Genealogical Pubishing Co., Inc., 1975] 641. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.