Boswell Forehand is yet another of the “forgotten” members of the Forehand family tree.  Sadly, Boswell exists only in a few documents during the middle of the 18^th century though I believe him to be the “key” for my particular branch of the Forehand tree.  For many years, Boswell Forehand’s true identity was not known so in the following section, I will try to present enough evidence to draw a few conclusions about Boswell Forehand in the hope we can paint enough of a picture so he is not so forgotten.

The first document listing Boswell Forehand is the 1769 Pasquotank County poll tax listing (figure BSWF-1).  To be listed during the 1769 Pasquotank poll tax listing, he must have been at least 21 years old at the time.  With this being the case, Boswell would have been born no later than 1748.  In contrast, Boswell was not listed in the 1754 tax list of 1755 militia listing.  Initially, we would assume since he was not present in the 1755 tax list that he must have been born between 1739 and 1748.  However, if Boswell was born by 1748, he would’ve been old enough to be listed in the 1766 Pasquotank County militia.

To narrow down Boswell’s birth year, we can at least safely assume he was not at least 21 years old during the 1754 Pasquotank poll tax listing since he is not listed.  Therefore, we know Boswell must have been born after 1733.  As mentioned, since Boswell was listed in the 1769 Pasquotank poll tax listing, he could not have been born later than 1748.  Though certainly not a “pin point”, we can determine Boswell Forehand was born between 1733 and 1748.  While strictly a guess on my part, I tend to believe Boswell was born circa 1740.

Now, the biggest piece of the puzzle that has gone unknown for many years is Boswell’s listing in the 1770 Pasquotank County NC Poll tax.  The 1770 Pasquotank poll tax clearly lists Boswell as “free Negroe”.  This particular revelation tell us a much larger part of his story.  Considering the times, it is likely Boswell was a slave freed upon the death of his master as Boswell continued to live free (though without land) for the rest of his days.  Also during this time, younger Forehands were living in households outside of their father and mother (i.e. Anthony Forehand and James Forehand).  Though I do not have any real evidence to support it, I feel there is a likely connection as Boswell’s master and Anthony’s and James’ father as all share similar proximity and similar circumstances.

Figure BSWF – 2 – 1770 Pasquotank Poll Tax

During the 1774 Pasquotank County, NC poll tax, we see Boswell Forehand living with Joseph Thackery.  While seemingly unimportant, I must note Anthony Forehand was a witness to John Thackery’s (Joseph’s father) will in 1771 along with John Jones, Joseph Campbell, and Benjamin Cooper.  Again, while not solid evidence linking Anthony Forehand to Boswell Forehand, the circumstances,proximity and interaction with the same people must at least cause us to consider some likely association.

Figure BSWF – 3 – 1774 Pasquotank, NC Poll Tax

Amazingly, there are at least a couple additional items surrounding Boswell Forehand of which we are certain.  From his location in the documentation we do have, we can safely assume Boswell lived in the area of Cornelius Forehand’s original farm (now part of South Mills, NC) in what was Pasquotank County until 1779 when the area was changed to Camden County.  During a 1769 Pasquotank poll tax listing (figure BSWF-1), Boswell was listed along with several other Forehands.  Unfortunately, the tax payers were listed in alphabetical (or close) order rather than geographical location.

However, in contrast to the above, the 1782 Camden County poll tax listing was listed by geographical order.  In this listing, Boswell Forehand is listed on page 17 of the document.  The families listed with him (ie Elisha McBride, the Lintons, McFersons, Brites, Riggs, Burnhams, etc) lived in the northern part of Camden County around the area now known as South Mills near Keeter Barn Road (as he is listed along with several of the Keeter family members).  It is no coincidence the “Forke Chappell” was later named after Elisha McBride and sits a few hundred yards from the location of Cornelius Forehand’s original farm.

During the 1782 Camden County tax listing, Boswell is listed along with James Smith, James Brite, John Abbott, Joseph Abbott, Darius Brite, Edward Spence, Noah Spence, and Samuel Spence as being “polls” rated “without property.  At this time, Pasquotank or Camden County land deeds do not show a land purchase or sale by Boswell Forehand.  Another interesting point is the fact James Forehand sold 100 acres of land in 1778 in relatively the same area as Boswell’s location.  Could this be an additional clue linking Boswell with Anthony and James Forehand?