An introductory presentation about the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead and Boodey Family genealogy in New Durham, NH. The Zechariah Boodey Farmstead Collaborative is a 501(c)-3 non-profit organization that is "Preserving the Past to Support the Future." Find out more at https://www.zbfcnh.org
8. ZECHARIAH2
BOODEY
ZECHARIAH2
BOODEY
b. Aug 12, 1745
MARY
DEMERITT b.
Nov 28, 1743
Five Children
are born to this
union
Following their marriage Zechariah
and Mary moved to New Durham
November 1768(9).
9. Zechariah2 Purchased his
farm from (Col.) Esquire
Thomas Tash, who owned an
extensive tract of land on the
south side of the Ridge.
Zechariah purchased the
land, one hundred acres, for
the lawful sum of forty-five
pounds. The lot known as
number “49” in the first
division, November 1768.
10. Zechariah2 Boodey was born in Madbury, NH, on August 12, 1745, and
died on June 14, 1821.
Mary Demeritt was born November 28, 1743, and died October 3, 1835.
Date of marriage – unknown at this time.
Settled in New Durham November 1768
New Durham was incorporated a few years prior, on December 10, 1762
Their children:
Bridget b. 1769; m. Thomas Ransom of Vermont
Betsey, m. Joseph Gilman, of New Durham. (He owned what is called the Old Fulling Mill) d.?.
John, d.
Daniel d. in 1805
Joseph, b April 12, 1773, d. May 12, 1867; m Marcy Pike, b. October 16, 1777, d. August 23,
11. Zechariah2 Boodey contributed to the
defense of his country in the days of
the Revolution.
He held a number of public offices and
served as a Selectman.
Pages from the original Town Book
1765. They are from the year 1788.
The above page calls a meeting at the
“Meetinghouse” and references New
Durham Gore.
13. Zechariah began clearing up his lands; he felled
the wild native forest, once seen only by the
original peoples. He built a log cabin to offer some
form of comfort against the ever-changing New
England weather and provide a place for shelter
while the “dwelling” house was constructed. These
early log cabins are not the same style as the log
cabins we have come to know and see in New
England today (2024). Log cabin homes built by our
early settlers were built to be temporary shelters,
“made of thick planks or poles, notched on the ends
to fast together. The crevices are plastered with clay
or the stiffest earth, which can be mixed with moss
or straw. The roof is either bark or split boards. The
chimney is a pile of stones, within which a fire is
made on the ground, and a hole is left in the roof
for the smoke to pass out. Another hole is made in
the side of the house for a window, which is
occasionally closed with a wooden shutter.”
14. The Boodey House is a New England Cape-style, single dwelling constructed sometime after
1769. It was built upon round glacial cobble locally available from the ground surface, which
was selected and utilized as a chimney foundation and house perimeter foundation. A large
flat rock was placed at the front entrance. The house is a classic New England Cape-style
dwelling measuring approximately 39.39 feet east-west and 31.16 feet north-south with an
overall area of 1,162.5 square feet minus the chimney area. The six-over-six panes and
double-hung windows appear to be nineteenth-century replacements. A nineteenth-
century, two-story addition was constructed on the west end of the Boodey House. A
foundation was excavated, and cobblestone work lined the basement.
27. Joseph Boodey – Elder-
Born April 12, 1773
He is the 3rd son of Zechariah and Mary Boodey
Married
Marcy Pike on November 13, 1800, she is born October 16, 1777
Their Children
Zechariah, b. September 7, 1801; d. October 17, 1801
Artemas, b. August 29, 1802; d. March 22, 1803
Almira H., b. December 3, 1805; d. July 21, 1826
Daniel, b. April 1, 1808; d. September 7, 1858
Jacob P., b. September 15, 1810; d. February 28, 1880
Zechariah3, Colonel, b. June 20, 1813; m. Joanna Oram Runnels
Socrates H., b. May 2, 1816; d. ?; m. Tamsom L. Ham, b. January 3,
1821.
Betsey P., b. January 9, 1819
Joseph M., b. September 10, 1821
28. Joseph was ordained to the gospel of ministry on October 18, 1799
By Benjamin Randal(l)
In Joseph’s 93rd year of life, he composed a poem titled “Retrospective,”
dated April 12, 1866. In the poem, he provides an interesting piece of
history for the Boodey House:
Retrospective
In seventeen hundred and seventy three,
As my good parents told to me,
April the twelth on Monday morn
In a log cabin I was born.
There are six more verses.
(Written here as originally written.)
31. Purchased By Zechariah2 Boodey - 100 acres for
forty -five pounds November 1768
Elder Joseph Boodey - son of Zechariah2
Joseph M. and Betsey, then onto Zechariah3 - all children of Elder Joseph
Ellen A Colbath – daughter of Zechariah3 - his son all died. The family has “daughtered
out”
Ellen (Nellie) B Ferguson and Annie Canney Colbath French. At this time, the house went
back and forth between these families until September 1940, when it was conveyed to
Ellen B Ferguson. Ellen and Annie are the daughters of Ellen A Colbath.
John K. Ferguson – son of Ellen (Nellie) and James Ferguson
Crissa Colbath Ferguson Evans – daughter of John K. Ferguson
The Boodey House was ultimately gifted to the Town of New Durham in 2006 and
disassembled in 2008, marking the end of its journey.
Timeline of Transfer of House and Land
33. “Elder Randal(l)’s great-granddaughter, Mrs.
Ellen Boodey Colbath, showed the room where
the first Free Will Baptist services were held.
The house is a one-story-and-a-half affair, with
the door in the middle.
The floor of this room was made of three-inch
planks but worn somewhat thinner by the
footsteps of the larger families that have pressed
its surface.
At the time, the house was owned by Zechariah
Boodey, who had six or eight children.
The room is in very nearly the condition that it
was when this first meeting was held.
The fireplace and brick oven, bellows, warming
pan, shovels, and broad shelf over the fireplace
remain.
The walls are wainscoted halfway, where
modern wallpaper reaches the ceiling, which is
formed of dark, smoke-seasoned boards.
An old-fashioned dresser, desk, chest of draws,
and three old tables make up the furniture.
One of these tables was used as a pulpit and was
used at the first meeting. Here, one finds the old
psalm book and Bible used, as well as a larger
Bible used in the first church.
The above story is based on a news release
published in 1902, which interviewed Mrs. Ellen
Boodey Colbath, and a visit to the house.
It’s important to note that a sofa belonging to
the family was donated to the Town of New
Durham in 2016 by family member Christine
Boodey Evans to be used in the east room of the
house once the house is reassembled.
34. This is a photograph of the
Original Covenant signed
by the seven original
members of the Freewill
Baptist Church on June
30th, 1780.
The first Church Record
Book, dated 1780, was
handwritten by Elder
Benjamin Randal.
Their names:
Elder Benjamin Randal, Robert Boodey, Nathaniel
Buzzell, Joseph Boodey, Judith Chartel, Margery
Boodey and Mary Buzzell.
Numerous resources and documents were researched to prepare this presentation.
Original Town Records, Original Church Records, research records from Ellen Jennings, who authored the History of New Durham book, Prior Town Historian Eloise Bickford, numerous books related to the history of buildings, Annals of the Boodey’s in New England written by Robert Boodey Caverly, photographs, an Archaeological Survey Report completed in 2005, information provided by family member of Boodey’s Christine Evans, and newspaper writings provided information for this work.
New beginnings; the birth of a Town and the building of the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead
The area of New Durham, six miles square, in the shape of a rhomboid running north and south, was marked into two divisions, having 100 lots in each. The lots in the first division were to be one hundred acres each; those in the second division were identically numbered to have all the land belonging to each share respectively. This land was to be drawn up within a year, and the lots were to be drawn in the customary manner. Each lot owner was to build a house at least sixteen feet square. In addition to the house, as described, each family should have three acres cleared for mowing or tillage. These terms for settlement come from the original Town Charter, signed December 10, 1762. Zechariah’s lot is number 49.
The Original Town Charter, Signed December 10, 1762 by the Royal Governor Benning Wentworth. The Town of New Durham is very proud to still have its original charter among its historical collections.
The photograph used in the title section was taken in front of the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead for the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Free Will Baptist Denomination. The woman is Besty Boodey and the children are members of the Boodey family. The men in suits are Elders of the Free Will Baptist church.
The first Zechariah Boodey came to America from France. The French pronunciation of Boodey is Boo-Day. Family history records indicate that he deserted from a French ship that had landed in Boston. He found his way through the wilderness to the Parish of Madbury in a secluded hovel. After a period of time, he settles on land he “squat,” builds his farm, and reared up a family of eight daughters, Elizabeth Boodey (Pitman), Hannah Boodey (Huckins), Charity Boodey (Leathers), Sarah Boodey (Jenkins), Abigail Boodey (Drew), Kesiah Boodey, Betty Boodey (Rowe), one infant daughter and one son, Azariah.
Azariah Boodey was born August 15, 1720, and married his first wife, Bridget Bushbie; she was born around 1715. They have nine children Sarah, Hannah, Azariah, Betsey, Robert, Zechariah2 , John, Molly, and Joseph (Rev).
Zechariah2 Boodey moves to New Durham.
Deed for sale of the property to one of Zechariah2 ‘s grandsons. Zechariah purchased his farm from (Col.) Esquire Thomas Tash, who owned an extensive tract of land on the south side of the Ridge. Zechariah purchased the land, one hundred acres, for the lawful sum of forty-five pounds. The lot known as number “49” is in the first division, November 1768.
Zechariah2 Boodey was born in Madbury, NH, on August 12, 1745, and died on June 14, 1821.
Mary Demeritt was born November 28, 1743, and died October 3, 1835.
Date of marriage – unknown at this time.
Settled in New Durham November 1768
New Durham was incorporated a few years prior, on December 10, 1762
Their children:
Bridget b. 1769; m. Thomas Ransom of Vermont
Betsey, m. Joseph Gilman, of New Durham. (He owned what is called the Old Fulling Mill) d.?.
John, d.
Daniel d. in 1805
Joseph, b April 12, 1773, d. May 12, 1867; m Marcy Pike, b. October 16, 1777, d. August 23, 1856.
Zechariah2 Boodey was very active in his community and political affairs. He held a number of offices, some appointed and some elected. He served as a Selectman for many years.
Zechariah2 Boodey contributed to the defense of his country in the days of the Revolution.
These are photographed pages from the original First Town Clerk’s Book dated 1765. The pages are from the year 1788.
The above page calls a meeting at the “Meetinghouse” and references New Durham Gore.
Zechariah began clearing up his lands; he felled the wild native forest, once seen only by the natives. He built a log cabin to offer some form of comfort against the ever-changing New England weather and provide a place for shelter while the “dwelling” house was constructed. These early log cabins are not the same style as the log cabins we have come to know and see in New England today (2024). Log cabin homes built by our early settlers were built to be temporary shelters, “made of thick planks or poles, notched on the ends to fast together. The crevices are plastered with clay or the stiffest earth, which can be mixed with moss or straw. The roof is either bark or split boards. The chimney is a pile of stones, within which a fire is made on the ground, and a hole is left in the roof for the smoke to pass out. Another hole is made in the side of the house for a window, which is occasionally closed with a wooden shutter.”
The Boodey house is a New England Cape-style, single dwelling constructed sometime after 1769. It was built upon round glacial cobble locally available from the ground surface, which was selected and utilized as a chimney foundation and house perimeter foundation. A large flat rock was placed at the front entrance. The house is a classic New England Cape-style dwelling measuring approximately 39.39 feet east-west and 31.16 feet north-south with an overall area of 1,162.5 square feet minus the chimney area. The six over six pane double-hung windows appear to be nineteenth-century replacements. A nineteenth-century, two-story addition was constructed on the west end of the Boodey House. A foundation was excavated, and cobblestone work lined the basement.
Robert Boodey Caverly's writing, “The old mansion whose posts and cross beams had been hewn down from that lofty forest of a previous century ...” provides an insight into the efforts required to build a “framed house.”
The house is constructed of a heavy timber frame. The marks left by the use of a broadaxe or adze are visible on the heavy timbers. The timber’s joinery was custom-mated to its neighbors and marked using Roman numerals, typical of the English Scribe Rule, a system that custom fits each joint to an adjoining one. These pieces were arranged on a framing floor, or the point where the trees were felled, and assembled and disassembled before raising the whole. Traditional timber joinery is present, featuring common examples of this skill; however, there are a few deviations. These deviations are the personal signatures of the tradesmen. Gunstock posts, girts, braces, purlins, rafters, floor joists, top and bottom sill plates, and a ridge pole are present, making up the frame of the house. The exterior sheathing boards are wide boards that lap the horizontal joints and lap the end joints. This was done to aid with the shedding of water that might find its way behind the clapboards. It was not unusual for the clapboards to be added to the house at a later period. The exterior sheathing on the east end of the house still bears the shadow lines where the log cabin was attached to the house. The Boodey house has a traverse timber, which runs the width of the building, from gable end to gable end, approximately 40 feet in length. This is unusual because it did not tie into the central fireplace, which is seen in most houses from this time period.
It is said that Mary carried grass seed from Madbury in her pockets. Once the house and yards were settled, she scratched the scattered seeds in the earth and cared for them, just as anyone caring for a beautiful flower garden.
Slides 15through 24
The following slides illustrate the timber frame joinery and interesting, unique touches of the craftsmen used in construction.
Unique placement of the top sills
Evidence for the scribe rule used in construction, English Scribe Rule.
The first photograph shows an example of the pegs used, which held down the 3-inch floor planks. The planks were worn thin by the travel of foot traffic.
The second photograph is a fireplace brick, following disassembly, showing the print of a deer who walked on the brick prior to the curing of the brick.
This is a corner post from the Boodey House. The Joinery for the tie beam is at the top, and a mortise and tendon are at the base of the floor sill.
The joinery at the top of the post is referred to as and English tying joint.
For floor joists and girder joints, considerable time could be saved by hewing some of the members only on the face that had to be flat to receive the places for the floor. Floor joists for the ground floor were often hewn only on top.
The fireplace and beehive ovens. The fireplace is brick. It is a Rumford-style fireplace and chimney. The Rumford fireplaces had a smoke shelf added to help prevent heat loss up the chimney and reduce the downward draft, which filled the house with smoke.
During dismantling, 6,000 bricks were cleaned and saved to be used in the reconstruction of the fireplaces and ovens. The mortar was a clay base in the early layers of the fireplaces. Cement mortar was present in the later sections of the fireplaces, where improvements had taken place. As the first faces of the fireplaces burnt and the bricks failed, the fireplaces were replaced. There were two additional re-facing of the fireplace walls. What was interesting was that the hearthstone was turned upward and became the back support for the new walls of the fireplaces. The same chimney was used.
The exterior sheathing boards are wide boards that lap the horizontal joints and lap the end joints. This was done to aid with the shedding of water that might find its way behind the clapboards. It was not usual for the clapboards to be added to the house at a later period.
The exterior sheathing on the east end of the house still bears the shadow lines where the log cabin was attached to the house.
West gable end of the house after the sheathing was removed.
Wallpaper was found in a door jam during the house's disassembly. Mr. Richard Nylander, a world expert on early wallpapers, dated the paper found in the Boodey House to around 1840.
Joseph Boodey – Elder- Born April 12, 1773. He is the 3rd son of Zechariah and Mary Boodey
Married Marcy Pike on November 13, 1800; she is born October 16, 1777
Their Children
Zechariah, b. September 7, 1801; d. October 17, 1801
Artemas, b. August 29, 1802; d. March 22, 1803
Almira H., b. December 3, 1805; d. July 21, 1826
Daniel, b. April 1, 1808; d. September 7, 1858
Jacob P., b. September 15, 1810; d. February 28, 1880
Zechariah3, Colonel, b. June 20, 1813; m. Joanna Oram Runnels – she is the granddaughter of Elder Benjamin Randal. Her parents are Urselah Pinkham Randal, daughter of Benjamin and Samuel Runnells Jr. of Farmington, NH.
Socrates H., b. May 2, 1816; d. ?; m. Tamsom L. Ham, b. January 3, 1821.
Betsey P., b. January 9, 1819
Joseph M., b. September 10, 1821
Joseph was ordained to the gospel of ministry on October 18, 1799, by Benjamin Randal(l).
In Joseph’s 93rd year of life, he composed a poem titled “Retrospective,” dated April 12, 1866. In the poem, he provides an interesting piece of history for the Boodey House (Rewritten as originally written.):
Retrospective
In seventeen hundred and seventy three,
As my good parents told to me,
April the twelth on Monday morn
In a log cabin I was born.
There are six more versus.
Photographs of the recorded marriages Elder Joseph Boodey solemnized in the Town of New Durham loose record files.
Timeline of Transfer of House and Land
Purchased By Zechariah2 Boodey - 100 acres for forty -five pounds November 1768
Elder Joseph Boodey - son of Zechariah2
Joseph M. and Betsey, then onto Zechariah3 - all children of Elder Joseph
Ellen A Colbath – daughter of Zechariah3 - all his sons died. The family has “daughtered out”
Ellen (Nellie) B Ferguson and Annie Canney Colbath French. At this time, the house went back and forth between these families until September 1940, when it was conveyed to Ellen B Ferguson. Ellen and Annie are the daughters of Ellen A Colbath.
John K. Ferguson – son of Ellen (Nellie) and James Ferguson
Crissa Colbath Ferguson Evans – daughter of John K. Ferguson
The Boodey House was ultimately gifted to the Town of New Durham in 2006 and disassembled in 2008
This story is based on a news release published in 1902, which interviewed Mrs. Ellen Boodey Colbath and a visit to the house.
“Elder Randal’s great-granddaughter, Mrs. Ellen Boodey Colbath, shows the room where the first Free Will Baptist services were held.
The house is a one-story-and-a-half affair, with the door in the middle.
The floor of this room was made of three-inch planks but was worn somewhat thinner by the footsteps of the larger families that had pressed its surface.
At the time, the house was owned by Zechariah Boodey, who had six or eight children.
The room is in very nearly the condition that it was when this first meeting was held.
The fireplace, brick oven, bellows, warming pan, shovels, and broad shelf over the fireplace still remain.
The walls are wainscoted halfway, and modern wallpaper reaches the ceiling, which is formed of dark, smoke-seasoned boards.
An old-fashioned dresser, desk, chest of drawers, and three old tables make up the furniture.
One of these tables was used as a pulpit and was used at the first meeting. Here, one finds the old psalm book and Bible used, as well as a larger Bible used in the first church.”
It’s important to note that a sofa was donated to the Town of New Durham in 2016 by family member Christine Boodey Evans to be used in the east room of the house once it is reassembled.
Photograph of the Original Covenant signed by the seven original members of the Freewill Baptist Church. June 30th, 1780. The first Church Record Book, dated 1780, was handwritten by Elder Benjamin Randal. Their names are within the green circle:
Elder Benjamin Randal, Robert Boodey (brother of Zechariah2), Nathaniel Buzzell, Joseph Boodey (brother of Zechariah2) , Judith Chartel, Margery Boodey (wife of Robert Boodey and Mary Buzzell .
It reads: “We do now declare that we have given ourselves to God; and do now agree to give ourselves to each other in love and fellowship; and do also agree to take the Scriptures of truth for the rule of our faith and practices, respecting our duty toward god, our neighbors, and ourselves. We do promise to practice all the commands in the New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so far as they are now, or shall be made known to us by the light of the Holy Spirit of truth without which, we are sensible, we cannot attain to the true knowledge thereof. We also promise to bear each other’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of love, which is the law of Christ. We do further agree to give liberty for the improvement of the gifts of the brethren, and do keep up the worship of God, and not forsake assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is. We do likewise further agree not to receive any person into fellowship, except they give a satisfactory evidence of a change in life and heart; and also promise to submit to the order of the Gospel as above. “Amen””
As new members showed evidence of a change of life and heart, their names were added to the Covenant. The original thirteen articles have been lost to time. In 1792 the covenants were amended.
In 1892, Miss Betsey P. Boodey, daughter of Elder Joseph and Marcy Boodey, gave a tour of the house in her 73rd year of her life to a local writer. He wrote, “The floor was made of rough board fastened down with wooden pegs, and there was the old fireplace with kettles hanging up over the fire. About the room were chairs and tables that were made 135 years ago. The house, until within a year, was occupied by Miss Boodey, but owing to her advanced age, she closed it up and went to Farmington to live with relatives. She, however, left the furniture that her father had used. The little study in the rear of the house contains a bookcase filled with interesting old books, and hanging nearby is a looking glass 175 years old. The sleeping rooms with old-fashioned beds are interesting to look into. Facts presented by Miss Boodey. – In 1762, Zechariah Boodey, father of Elder Boodey, came here from Barrington and built a shanty near where the house now stands, which was then a thick forest. He lived in the hut for several years and then built the present house. It has never been rebuilt and is consequently nearly 120 years old.” The writer asked why Elder Randall selected the Boodey House to hold his meetings in, and Miss Boodey replied, “that he chose it because it was the best house in Town and the front room was large.”
Conceptual plans North and South faces 2023
Conceptual Plans East end and West faces.
Sneak Peek at the next phase of the plans – developed by the UNH Civil Engineering Department Capstone Project 2018.
The Mooney/Damon Barn—This was accepted as a gift during the Town meeting on March 13, 2018. The Barn was disassembled in 2019 and placed into storage trailers. An assessment of the timber frame for the barn was completed in July 2023. This report will be used when construction drawings are developed by a professional architectural firm. The report provided recommendations for the treatment of the timber frame regarding repairs, replacement, and reuse.
The Zechariah Boodey Farmstead Project has received approvals from all land regulatory boards for the Town, as well as approval for septic design by the State of NH.
It takes a village! In the summer of 2023, with the collaboration of many private and public partnerships, a major milestone was reached, and ground-breaking activity began.
! 2023 was an exciting year for the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead Project, and we are pleased to share with you what we have achieved due to your generous monetary and in-kind donations.
Clearing and removing the trees from the Zechariah Boodey site at Stockbridge Corner Road, New Durham, NH.
Remove all stumps and debris from the site.
The installation of the base gravel for the parking area.
In conclusion, we stand at a proud moment in New Durham, where our community has united through volunteering and financial support to drive the progress of the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead. We urge you to continue spreading the word and join us in the rewarding journey of preserving our past and building a vibrant social, cultural, and economic centerpiece for our town.
For more information and ways, you may support this project, complete a volunteer form and review the Donor's section of the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead Collaborative at ZBFCNH.org website.
In conclusion, we stand at a proud moment in New Durham, where our community has united through volunteering and financial support to drive the progress of the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead. We urge you to continue spreading the word and join us in the rewarding journey of preserving our past and building a vibrant social, cultural, and economic centerpiece for our town.
For more information and ways, you may support this project, complete a volunteer form and review the Donor's section of the Zechariah Boodey Farmstead Collaborative at ZBFCNH.org website.
