I don’t know if this falls under the category of “traditions” or not, but it certainly is interesting to note the number of preachers in the Boatright family.

The earliest (that I can find) was Chesley Hood Boatright. He was ordained in 1833 in the Hebron Church Knox County Tennessee. He was the pastor of several churches, sometimes more than one at a time, as many churches at that time met only once a month, he would travel by horseback to the various communities where he would preach in the local church building, school building (often the same building) or even someones home.

In a book called “A Promise of Good Things” (A history of the Longfield Baptist Church in Lake City TN.) Mrs. Edith Wilson Hutton relates that it was here, that Chesley Hood Boatright, having recently been “licensed” to preach, began to preach to the people of that area, but as winter came, attendance dropped , and Chesley became discouraged. But then something happened, he reported a visit from the Holy Spirit, which gave him, A PROMISE OF GOOD THINGS. This promise certainly has been kept as the church is still in existence today, and several of his ancestors are now ministers as well.

Records indicate that Alexander Boatright, (nephew of Chesley Hood) was an ordained Baptist minister.

William Von Boatright, while not listed as a minister, it is reported that his home was used as a meeting house for a primitive Baptist congregation, and was the first meeting house in Gentry County Missouri west of the Grand River.

John Chesley (J.C.)Boatright (b. 1859, Hunstville, Madison County, AR.) was the son of Chesley Hood Boatright (Grandson of William who was the brother of Chesley Hood Boatright b.Nov. 25, 1797, in Cumberland County, Virginia)(Yes there were two Chesley Hood Boatright's, confusing I know) and Drusilla Bess Long Boatright Sanders. Chesley Hood Boatright was killed January 10. 1863, by Union soldiers in what became known as "The Huntsville Masacre." J.C. Boatright was an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian minister and pastored the Huntsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church at various times. He was also a circuit riding preacher in the Huntsville area. J.C. married a great number of couples in the Huntsville area, including many relatives. After moving to Fort Gibson, OK in the mid 1920's he pastored the Presbyteriean Church there. At one time there were five John Boatright's in the Huntsville area. Each was known by a different nickname. There were Big John, Little John, Creek John, Mill John, and Preacher John. (J.C.) (This information was submitted to me by Ann Marie Boatright Ryals. Thank you Ann Marie)

James Wesley Foley Grandson of Benoni Benjamine Boatright, is listed as an ordained Baptist minister.

Also several Boatright women married men who were preachers.

In modern times we have several Boatright ancestors who are preachers. George Hubert Boatright, an Assembly of God pastor, Dean Jones, an Assembly of God pastor, Kenneth Paul Jones, a Baptist minister, David Daniels, a Baptist minister, Craig Pierce (Grandson of Jerdon Jones Boatright) a Baptist pastor.

I’m sure there are others, if you are, or know of any other Boatright descendants who are preachers, please let me know.

The Boatright military history seems to date back all the way to the Revolutionary War. Brothers Daniel, Jesse, and James Allen (English) fought for freedom from King George of England.

We also have ancestors who fought in the war of 1812 (see letter from Martha E.J. Boatright to her sister Rietta, near the beginning of the Boatright Family history)

Benoni Benjamine is recorded as serving as a private in captain Hudson M. Wingfields’ infantry company of the 4^thVA. Regiment from 3-16, 1814- 4-11, 1814, at Norfolk, also as private, in captain Jessee Woodsons’ company of the first regiment at Holy Springs from 10-1, 1814, as a sub. For Richard Boatright. He later served in captain John Pollacks’ light infantry company 1^st batallion 7^th regiment of the VA. Militia from 12-18, 1814 - 2-18, 1815 as a sub. For Shadh Alvis SR.

Chesley Taylor Boatright served in Wauls Legion Company “A” C.S.A. from Texas. He was killed in 1863

Samuel Orson Boatright (1844-1864) served in the army of the confederacy. He enlisted as a private, (unit unknown) died as a P.O.W.

John Thomas Boatright served in the Union Army.

Frances Alexander Boatright enlisted in the army of the confederacy as a private on June 27, 1862 and served for the duration of the war. He served the entire time in companies “C” and “A”, in what was known variously as McRaes regiment, Glenns regiment, and Davies regiment. The regiment was organized as the 28^th infantry regiment in July 1862, under the command of Col. Dadridge Mcrae, and reorganized into the 36^th AR. Infantry regiment approx. Jan. 1863. The regiment fought in the battles of Prairie Grove (Arkansas) in Dec. 1862 Helena AR. In July 1863, Little Rock AR. In Sept. 1863, the Red River campaign, in 1864 and Jenkins Ferry in 1864. The regiment surrendered on May 26, 1865, and was disbanded. Three of his brothers served in the war also. Joseph Marion enlisted as a private under Col. T.D. Merrick in the 10^th Ar. Infantry C.S.A. in Des Arc. He was killed in service. William Taylor and Jacob Gates both enlisted in the Union army in Missouri. Both survived the war.

John Sherman Boatright served as a private in company ”L” 60^th infantry in the U.S. army in W.W.I. He enlisted May 26, 1918 at Huntsville AR. He is listed as being involved in a battle, engagement, skirmish or expedition, on Oct. 8 1918. He was shot in the left shoulder. Discharge papers state that he left the U.S. in July 1918 and arrived back April 25, 1919, his physical condition was listed as poor. He had been taken P.O.W. by the German army. He arrived back in the U.S. in Des Moines, Iowa. He was released to his brother Jerdon, they rode the train back into Fayetteville AR., then went back to his home near Huntsville AR. Some years later he had to be taken to the V.A. hospital in Little Rock AR. Apparently his war experience had greatly traumatized him. His brother Jerdon told of the nights that were spent holding his bedroom door shut because he “was going to kill Jerdon”. At times even some of the neighbors would have to be called to help keep him in his room. He would keep knives sharpened, and even dug graves in the woods behind their house, one of which he said was for Jerdon. This is especialy sad as the two of them had been very close. After the “fits” at night he would be fine the next day, but it was clear that something was wrong. Finaly their mother told Jerdon, “son, you’re going to have to ride into Huntsville and get the sherriff to come and get him, else he’s going to kill you, and I will lose you both.” The next day Jerdon did as his mother had said. She never saw Sherman again. Jerdon did not have a vehicle of his own (he didn’t drive) and requests for a ride to Little Rock to see his brother were met with answers such as “you shouldn’t go down there, it wouldn’t be good for him”. It was 1948 before he saw his brother again. He got a ride to Little Rock, taking his oldest daughter Hazel, with him. When they arrived, there was a long line of men going to the “mess Hall” Hazel, having never seen him, pointed to a man who looked like her father and said “is that him daddy?” sure enough, it was. He fell out of line and came over to them. He looked at Jerdon and said, “you sure took a long time to come see me.” After that, several trips were made to see him by Jerdon and his family, until Sherman was taken back to Fayetteville in 1968. He died there in 1976.

Roland Olen Boatright was killed in service in WWII.

There is also a J.F. Boatright listed as being in the US Army.

Augustus (Gus) Boatright served in Japan during WWII He took with him a steeljacketed Bible his mother gave him, both came back.