From the memoir of his son, Dr. LeBaron Botsford, we learn that Judge William Botsford was born in 1773. At the age of nineteen he took his degree at Yale. At twenty-two he was admitted to the Bar in St. John. At thrity-four he was appointed Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court. At thirty-nine, he represented the County of Westmoreland. At forty-four he was appointed Solicitor-general, and he was elected Speaker of the House. He was continued in the office by re-election until, at the age of fifty, he was appointed Jusge of the Supreme Court. He resigned at the age of seventy-two, in 1845.Judge William Botsford married Sarah Lowell Hazen Murray five years after the death of her young husband, Thomas Murray, and it is in the Botsford plot, to the right of the tombstone of Sarah's famous son, Amos Edwin Botsford, that Thomas Murray's tombstone may be found. Sarah Lowell Botsford (born 1775), daughter of William Hazen, first married Thomas Murray. Thomas Murray was born in 1776. He died at the tender age of 21 years on May 3, 1797, 4 months and 2 days after their marriage on January 1, 1997. Thomas was the son of John Murray and Deborah Brinley, his third wife. Prior to the American Revolution, Thomas Murray made a fortune in land speculation and finance. He was elected a Rutland, Ma. town selectman in 1747 and a representative to the General Court of Massachusetts in 1751. In 1755, he became a colonel in the militia and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1774, John Murray was appointed as a member of the Council of Massachusetts by Governor Thomas Gage. The appointment nullified the popular election and he was driven out of town by angry townsmen. His exile in Boston ended when the British evacuated in 1776, at which time Murray moved to Halifax, and then London and Wales. Thomas Chandler was conceived and born during those tumultuous times and a period of exile for his parents. Shortly after I added the burial record for Thomas Murray, I deleted it to direct you to the story behind it that I found online in the Memoir of LeBaron Botsford, M.D.. Thomas Murray took cold while driving down the river on the ice. Consumption set in and he died after a short illness. Notice of his death was published in the St. John Gazette on Friday, May 5th, 1797. In a letter dated Feb. 19, 1797 from Elizabeth Upham to her cousin William Botsford, she wrote of Thomas Murray that she thought him at present rather too boyish and brusque in his manner. Sarah, his widow, went to live with her sister, Mrs. Chipman, in the Chipman House, and there her baby boy was born several months after his father's death. Two years later, she met her next husband, William Botsford, the lawyer, when for the first time she took her seat in the family pew in Trinity Church after two years that were passed "in the strictest seclusion." As Dr. Botsford, Sarah's son, wrote, William Botsford met his destiny that day. In 1807, the Botsford family moved to "Westcok" at the request of William Botsford's father who longed for his company. Judge Botsford retired from the bench on account of his deafness.Sarah spent the last two winters of her life, with her husband, under Dr. Botsford's roof in Saint John. According to his son, Judge Botsford longed for the quiet of his country home after Sarah's death. He returned to Westcock accompanied by the eldest child of his stepson Murray.William Botsford sailed from New York for Annapolis, Nova Scotia at the age of nine years. His father, Amos Botsford, and mother were Loyalists. They arrived in Annapolis in October 1782.Amos Botsford was elected Speaker by the first House of Assembly, 1786, and afterwards re-elected by each successive House until his death, having filled the Office of Speaker for twenty-six years.William Botsford was sent back to Connecticut to school. William entered Yale College, graduating in 792. He then returned to St. John, New Brunswick, and commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the Bar in 1795.From his son's memoir, we learn that William Botsford took an active part in the militia drill. He was often present at the examinations of the Westcock county schools and he made many efforts in aid of the Fredeicton University. Lastly, he was a consistent member and active friend of the Church of England and chiefly by his own untiring exertions the little church of St. Ann's was built.His son wrote that his last conscious look and smile resting on a beautiful bunch of flowers at his bedside. In the autumn dahlias were his delight. Rose-water distilled from his large square of roses was one of the Judge's favourite perfumes.
Around 2009, the Botsford plot, including this memorial, was renovated.
Around 2009, the Botsford plot, including this memorial, was renovated.
From the memoir of his son, Dr. LeBaron Botsford, we learn that Judge William Botsford was born in 1773. At the age of nineteen he took his degree at Yale. At twenty-two he was admitted to the Bar in St. John. At thrity-four he was appointed Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court. At thirty-nine, he represented the County of Westmoreland. At forty-four he was appointed Solicitor-general, and he was elected Speaker of the House. He was continued in the office by re-election until, at the age of fifty, he was appointed Jusge of the Supreme Court. He resigned at the age of seventy-two, in 1845.Judge William Botsford married Sarah Lowell Hazen Murray five years after the death of her young husband, Thomas Murray, and it is in the Botsford plot, to the right of the tombstone of Sarah's famous son, Amos Edwin Botsford, that Thomas Murray's tombstone may be found. Sarah Lowell Botsford (born 1775), daughter of William Hazen, first married Thomas Murray. Thomas Murray was born in 1776. He died at the tender age of 21 years on May 3, 1797, 4 months and 2 days after their marriage on January 1, 1997. Thomas was the son of John Murray and Deborah Brinley, his third wife. Prior to the American Revolution, Thomas Murray made a fortune in land speculation and finance. He was elected a Rutland, Ma. town selectman in 1747 and a representative to the General Court of Massachusetts in 1751. In 1755, he became a colonel in the militia and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1774, John Murray was appointed as a member of the Council of Massachusetts by Governor Thomas Gage. The appointment nullified the popular election and he was driven out of town by angry townsmen. His exile in Boston ended when the British evacuated in 1776, at which time Murray moved to Halifax, and then London and Wales. Thomas Chandler was conceived and born during those tumultuous times and a period of exile for his parents. Shortly after I added the burial record for Thomas Murray, I deleted it to direct you to the story behind it that I found online in the Memoir of LeBaron Botsford, M.D.. Thomas Murray took cold while driving down the river on the ice. Consumption set in and he died after a short illness. Notice of his death was published in the St. John Gazette on Friday, May 5th, 1797. In a letter dated Feb. 19, 1797 from Elizabeth Upham to her cousin William Botsford, she wrote of Thomas Murray that she thought him at present rather too boyish and brusque in his manner. Sarah, his widow, went to live with her sister, Mrs. Chipman, in the Chipman House, and there her baby boy was born several months after his father's death. Two years later, she met her next husband, William Botsford, the lawyer, when for the first time she took her seat in the family pew in Trinity Church after two years that were passed "in the strictest seclusion." As Dr. Botsford, Sarah's son, wrote, William Botsford met his destiny that day. In 1807, the Botsford family moved to "Westcok" at the request of William Botsford's father who longed for his company. Judge Botsford retired from the bench on account of his deafness.Sarah spent the last two winters of her life, with her husband, under Dr. Botsford's roof in Saint John. According to his son, Judge Botsford longed for the quiet of his country home after Sarah's death. He returned to Westcock accompanied by the eldest child of his stepson Murray.William Botsford sailed from New York for Annapolis, Nova Scotia at the age of nine years. His father, Amos Botsford, and mother were Loyalists. They arrived in Annapolis in October 1782.Amos Botsford was elected Speaker by the first House of Assembly, 1786, and afterwards re-elected by each successive House until his death, having filled the Office of Speaker for twenty-six years.William Botsford was sent back to Connecticut to school. William entered Yale College, graduating in 792. He then returned to St. John, New Brunswick, and commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the Bar in 1795.From his son's memoir, we learn that William Botsford took an active part in the militia drill. He was often present at the examinations of the Westcock county schools and he made many efforts in aid of the Fredeicton University. Lastly, he was a consistent member and active friend of the Church of England and chiefly by his own untiring exertions the little church of St. Ann's was built.His son wrote that his last conscious look and smile resting on a beautiful bunch of flowers at his bedside. In the autumn dahlias were his delight. Rose-water distilled from his large square of roses was one of the Judge's favourite perfumes.
Around 2009, the Botsford plot, including this memorial, was renovated.
Around 2009, the Botsford plot, including this memorial, was renovated.
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