12. Thomas³ Boak 4 (John², Robert¹ James) was born in Skirwith, Cumberland Co, England June 30, 1829. Thomas died November 20, 1909 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 80 years of age.

He married Ann Slack 3 in St. Andrews, Penrith, England, November 17, 1852. Ann was born in Ainstable, Cumberland Co, England (Bp-G-5) BEF. 13 NOV 1825. Ann was the daughter of Isaac Slack 1 and Jane Barnfather. Ann died April 4, 1905 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY. Occupation: occupation unknown in Homemaker. She was christened in Ainstable, Cumberland Co, England (Bp-G-5), November 13, 1825.

Occupation: occupation unknown in Cattleman. He was baptized in Kirkland, Cumberland, Co, England, August 30, 1829. Religion: religion unknown. Thomas participated in the emigration event 1857 in Canada. Thomas participated in the emigration event 1884 in Chautauqua Co., NY. He petitioned the court to become a citizen in Jamestown, NY, October 25, 1890. I know little of Thomas Boak except hearing of him from my father and his siblings. Obviously he was an outstanding cattleman and in his time raised many Milking Shorthorn breed cattle of championship caliber. (My father wrote in a letter I have that Thomas "introduced the Milking Shorthorn breed to this country", meaning, I assume, to Canada and the U. S.) He and son, John W., showed their animals at fairs in the East, notably including the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. (I have the certificate which was won by the sire of the herd at that time. I also have a framed picture of several of their cattle which were in the herd during their time in Canada.) To a person as dedicated as Thomas, animal pedigree was very important. He imported cattle from his native Penrith and from correspondence we learn that, at least on one occasion, he went there to purchase such. Several years ago during a visit to the "farm" my Aunt Hattie gave me some correspondence of Thomas' during the years 1874-1879 which detail his efforts, through correspondence to a lawyer in Penrith, to recover damages from a person who sold him a cow which proved to have a defective pedigree. He had learned this when he tried to record the animal in what was called the "herd book" and had found that the official body would not enter her. There was also correspondence between his brother (John 8) and the Penrith lawyer concerning the former's allegation that their sister (Betsy) had unduly influenced their mother before her death so that he, John 8, was deprived of her property which he would have inherited under the doctrine of primogeniture. Nothing came of all the effort. Both of these incidents are covered in a complete review of the correspondence which is in my file. Thomas Boak became a citizen of the U. S. on October 25, 1890. I have the naturalization papers in my file.

Thomas Boak 4 and Ann Slack 3 had the following children:

19 i. Edward⁴ Boak was born in Penrith, Cumberland C, England January 11, 1850. Edward died March 17, 1906 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 56 years of age. He was listed as a resident in the census report in Resides Townhead, Penrith, 1851. Edward immigrated, 1857. Destination: destination unknown.

20 ii. Margaret Slack Boak was born in Penrith, Cumberland Co, England June 21, 1852. Margaret died October 25, 1936 in Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 84 years of age. She married Will Watson in Ellery, Chautauqua Co, NY, ABT. 1900. Will was born in Cumberland Co, England ? 1849. Will was the son of Douglas Watson and Mary Boak 3. Will died July 7, 1924 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 75 years of age. His body was interred in Fluvanna, NY Cemetery. Will immigrated, AFT. 1857. Destination: destination unknown.

Margaret immigrated, 1857. Destination: destination unknown. Margaret Slack Boak was the sister of my Grandfather. She married Will Watson who was the son of her aunt (Mary 3), thus her cousin. My father wrote that Mary's two children (Watson) were brought to Canada by her brother, Thomas 4, following Mary's death. Will and Margaret lived somewhere in the Chautauqua County area following their marriage. I don't now what his occupation was. Following Will's death know what his occupation was. Following his death in 1924 Margaret lived in Fluvanna near "the farm". When we were kids on the farm, Margaret came there frequently for visits of some duration. "Mag", as Grandpa called her, was a stern, opinionated Anglophile and we kids used to give her a hard time. She cooked a great cherry pie and that is the most important thing I remember about her.

+ 21 iii. John William Boak was born October 21, 1859.

Send email to preparer: tom@theboaks.com

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