John Ashley Boles

[rickvox79]

Looking to find any information on John Ashley Boles. I was researching on ancestry.com and came across a pension for John Ashley Boles, he would have been a 3rd gen 1st cousin to me. I haven't been able to track down exactly which unit he served in because the pension named his wife Elizabeth Boles but did not mention his unit. He was living in Henderson, Texas per the 1860 census and died in Stephens, Texas in 1893 I assume it was a Texas regiment if he served. Found a few John Boles from Texas using the NPS website to search, but no John A Boles. Also did a search using John "Bowles" since it is misspelled from time to time, found a couple that could be possibilities but nothing definitive.

I wanted to see if anyone else could find something maybe on Fold3 that might help me track it down. I would think if he had a confederate pension then he would have served somewhere, just trying to narrow down more detail. Thanks as always for any help!

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Looking to find any information on John Ashley Boles. I was researching on ancestry.com and came across a pension for John Ashley Boles, he would have been a 3rd gen 1st cousin to me. I haven't been able to track down exactly which unit he served in because the pension named his wife Elizabeth Boles but did not mention his unit. He was living in Henderson, Texas per the 1860 census and died in Stephens, Texas in 1893 I assume it was a Texas regiment if he served. Found a few John Boles from Texas using the NPS website to search, but no John A Boles. Also did a search using John "Bowles" since it is misspelled from time to time, found a couple that could be possibilities but nothing definitive.

I wanted to see if anyone else could find something maybe on Fold3 that might help me track it down. I would think if he had a confederate pension then he would have served somewhere, just trying to narrow down more detail. Thanks as always for any help!

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=442792&GRid=51169724& no info on his unit here, but someone has placed a memorial for a Civil War Veteran, so I bet he has a Confederate marker.

 

[randy596]

I looked on Fold3 and the only Boles in TX (that I found) was a John W who was in the 27th Cavalry (Whittfields
Legion) Sorry. Maybe someone needs to double check, I couldn't find it.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Looking to find any information on John Ashley Boles. I was researching on ancestry.com and came across a pension for John Ashley Boles, he would have been a 3rd gen 1st cousin to me. I haven't been able to track down exactly which unit he served in because the pension named his wife Elizabeth Boles but did not mention his unit. He was living in Henderson, Texas per the 1860 census and died in Stephens, Texas in 1893 I assume it was a Texas regiment if he served. Found a few John Boles from Texas using the NPS website to search, but no John A Boles. Also did a search using John "Bowles" since it is misspelled from time to time, found a couple that could be possibilities but nothing definitive.

I wanted to see if anyone else could find something maybe on Fold3 that might help me track it down. I would think if he had a confederate pension then he would have served somewhere, just trying to narrow down more detail. Thanks as always for any help!

Found two John Bowles at Civil War database : one in Co.E 17th TX Infantry another in Co.K 15th TX Cavalry

No John A at all

 

[rickvox79]

Found two John Bowles at Civil War database : one in Co.E 17th TX Infantry another in Co.K 15th TX Cavalry

No John A at all

Looks like I found these two on the NPS Civil War database:

• Bowles, John
  Regiment Name:
  17th (Consolidated) Regiment, Texas Dismounted Cavalry
  Side:
  Confederate
  
• 
  Bowles, John
  
  Regiment Name:
  18th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Darnell's)
  Side:
  Confederate
  I'll have to research the regiments and see if any came outta Henderson possibly.

 

[rickvox79]

Little more research on the 18th Texas Cavalry per http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qke04 it looks like Henderson county was a part of that cavalry regiment. Although it looks like Henderson, Texas is actually in Rusk county and not Henderson county. The 1860 census says "Beat 2, Henderson, Texas" so I'd assume it was not the county it refers too. Looking on the map though the two counties don't appear to be that far apart. I'll have to do some more research and see what I can track down.

 

[rickvox79]

Here is the pension. I would assume this pretty much confirms he served in some capacity. Unfortunately it doesn't give anymore detail.

 

[rickvox79]

Well to update was looking through more of the Boles family and found a James D Boles (listed incorrectly again as "Bowles" although alternate has "Boles") in the 17th Texas Cavalry Regiment. It looks like it was consolidated with the 18th and others and some point. James D Boles would have been a 3rd gen 1st cousin of mine also. James D Boles and John A Boles would have been 1st cousins. Wouldn't be a surprised if they served together, both were from Henderson, TX during the 1860 census.

 

[Drew]

Rickvox, Virginia Boles' pension, wife of John Ashley Boles is listed in the Texas Archives. If you go to https://www.tsl.texas.gov/apps/arc/pensions/ and punch in "Boles" you'll see it. Unless lost, they will have the records that support the application and they may be extensive. They'll charge you for xerox and postage costs, but it's very nominal. Good luck.

 

[rickvox79]

Rickvox, Virginia Boles' pension, wife of John Ashley Boles is listed in the Texas Archives. If you go to https://www.tsl.texas.gov/apps/arc/pensions/ and punch in "Boles" you'll see it. Unless lost, they will have the records that support the application and they may be extensive. They'll charge you for xerox and postage costs, but it's very nominal. Good luck.

Thanks for the link. I found it there, but where do you order it? Didn't see a link after I found it that gave me the option to have it the documents copied and mailed to me.

Edit: Nevermind I found it. Thanks!

 

[rickvox79]

I emailed them and asked if they would have more documentation that just the one photocopy that Ancestry.com has. Hoping they will have something more that will confirm which regiment he was in during the war.

 

[Drew]

Without that information I don't know how they would have issued a pension to begin with. If the file's complete, it'll have his regiment and probably what happened to him, during the war, when and where he died, etc. I've got one file on a family member from Texas - it includes affidavits from fellow soldiers supporting the pension claim. Let us know what you come up with. Cheers.

 

[rickvox79]

Well, I emailed the Texas State Library and Archives last week and got a response not long ago:

Dear Mr. Fox:

Your request for additional information regarding the Civil War service for John Ashley Boles was received by the staff of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

I have read over the pension application made by the widow of this man and it only shows that he served in Warren's Company of Bass' Regiment. There were two different Texas units that were called Bass' Regiment. One was the 20th Texas Cavalry Regiment under command of Col. Thomas C. Bass. The other was the 1st Texas infantry Regiment under command of Col. Frederick S. Bass. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any additional records or information for John A. Boles that showed which of these units he served with.


I was able to find one muster roll abstract card showing earlier military service for J. A. Boles before he entered Bass' Regiment. It shows the following:

Name & Rank: Boles, J. A. , Pvt.

Commanding officer: McKeller, E. D., Capt.

Organization: Reserve Company, Precinct No. 6, Henderson County, 13th Brigade, Texas State Troops

Enlisted: July 1861

Remarks: Rank & file 74; 1 muster roll; company consists of all persons subject to military duty in Precinct No. 6, Henderson County; Enrolling officer, E. D. McKeller

On the pension application for Mrs. Boles, I noticed that one of the witnesses who was mentioned in the application was a I. Boles. I also was able to determine that one Irwin Boles was also in this same reserve company in Henderson County. He was listed as a 4th corporal in the company.

Although I was unable to find any additional military records for this man, I hope that this information may be helpful to you and your research on John Ashley Boles.

Sincerely,

Donaly E. Brice Senior Research Assistant Texas State Library and Archives Commission [email protected]512-463-5480 http://www.tsl.texas.gov



So that definitely helps get me in the right direction although I guess he could either have been in the 20th Texas Cavalry or the 1st Texas Infantry regiment. Time to do some more digging! Thanks for the ideas on how to pursue it!

 

[Crotalus]

Looking to find any information on John Ashley Boles. I was researching on ancestry.com and came across a pension for John Ashley Boles, he would have been a 3rd gen 1st cousin to me. I haven't been able to track down exactly which unit he served in because the pension named his wife Elizabeth Boles but did not mention his unit. He was living in Henderson, Texas per the 1860 census and died in Stephens, Texas in 1893 I assume it was a Texas regiment if he served. Found a few John Boles from Texas using the NPS website to search, but no John A Boles. Also did a search using John "Bowles" since it is misspelled from time to time, found a couple that could be possibilities but nothing definitive.

I wanted to see if anyone else could find something maybe on Fold3 that might help me track it down. I would think if he had a confederate pension then he would have served somewhere, just trying to narrow down more detail. Thanks as always for any help!

I realize this is an old post, but are you still looking for John Ashley Boles?? If so, then I not only know where his grave is, I maintain it. He and Elizabeth are buried in Stephens County, Texas

 

[rickvox79]

I realize this is an old post, but are you still looking for John Ashley Boles?? If so, then I not only know where his grave is, I maintain it. He and Elizabeth are buried in Stephens County, Texas

Thanks Crotalus, I messaged you directly.

 

[Crotalus]

Here's where he's buried. Google earth:
32 deg 32' 22.81" N
98 deg 49' 01.66" W
His grave is to the left of the green tree.