THE BOOTH FAMILY THRU HISTORY

1681 - Pennsylvania is founded as William Penn, a Quaker, receives a Royal charter with a large land grant from King Charles II.

1682 - Valentine Hollingsworth, and his family including daughter Mary, and her husband Thomas Connaway, set sail from Belfast, Ireland for Delaware.

1682 - French explorer La Salle explores the lower Mississippi Valley region and claims it for France, naming the area Louisiana for King Louis XIV.

1682 - A large wave of immigrants, including many Quakers, arrives in Pennsylvania from Germany and the British Isles.

1682 - Charles Booth(e) is born, location unknown.

1685 - The Duke of York ascends the British throne as King James II.

1686 - King James II begins consolidating the colonies of New England into a single Dominion depriving colonists of their local political rights and independence. Legislatures are dissolved and the King's representatives assume all of the judicial and legislative power.

1687 - In March, New England Royal Governor, Sir Edmund Andros, orders Boston's Old South Meeting House to be converted into an Anglican Church. In August, the Massachusetts towns of Ipswich and Topsfield resist assessments imposed by Gov. Andros in protest of taxation without representation.

1687 - July 9, Elizabeth Connaway (Conway or Conaway) is Born in New Castle, Delaware.

1688 - In March, Gov. Andros imposes a limit of one annual town meeting for New England towns. The Governor then orders all militias to be placed under his control.

1688 - Quakers in Pennsylvania issue a formal protest against slavery in America.

1688 - In December, King James II of England flees to France after being deposed by influential English leaders.

1689 - Thomas Connaway dies in New Castle County, Delaware.

1690 - The beginning of King William's War as hostilities in Europe between the French and English spill over to the colonies. In February, Schenectady, New York is burned by the French with the aid of their Native American allies.

1691 - In New York, the newly appointed Governor of New England, Henry Sloughter, arrives from England and institutes royally sanctioned representative government. In October, Massachusetts gets a new royal charter which includes government by a royal governor and a governor's council.

1692 - In May, hysteria grips the village of Salem, Massachusetts, as witchcraft suspects are arrested and imprisoned. A specialcourt is then set up by the governor of Massachusetts. Between June and September, 150 persons are accused, with 20 persons, including 14 women, being executed. By October, the hysteria subsides, remaining prisoners are released and the special court is dissolved.

1693 - The College of William and Mary is founded in Williamsburg, Virginia.

1699 - The English Parliament passes the Wool Act, protecting its own wool industry by limiting wool production in Ireland and forbidding the export of wool from the American colonies.

1700 - The Anglo population in the English colonies in America reaches 250,000.

1700 - In June, Massachusetts passes a law ordering all Roman Catholic priests to leave the colony within three months, upon penalty of life imprisonment or execution. New York then passes a similar law.

1701 - In July, The French establish a settlement at Detroit. In October, Yale College is founded in Connecticut.

1702 - In March, Queen Anne ascends the English throne.

1704 - In April, the first enduring newspaper in America, The Boston News-Letter, is published.

1705 - On April 30th, Charles Booth and Elizabeth Conway are married in Chester, PA.

1706 - January 17, Benjamin Franklin is born in Boston.

1706 - Charles and Elizabeths first child, Mary, is born on March 15th in Chester, PA.

1707 - Lydia Booth is born to Charles and Elizabeth on March 24, in Chester, PA.

1711 - Hostilities break out between Native Americans and settlers in North Carolina after the massacre of settlers there. The conflict, known as the Tuscarora Indian War will last two years.

1711 - The youngest child of Charles & Elizabeth, Thomas, is born in Cecil County, Maryland.

1712 - In May, the Carolina colony is officially divided into North Carolina and South Carolina. In June, the Pennsylvania assembly bans the import of slaves into that colony.

1713 - Charles Booth dies in Chester County, PA.

1714 - Tea is introduced for the first time into the American Colonies. In August, King George I ascends to the English throne, succeeding Queen Anne.

1715 - Elizabeth Buller (Butler) is born in Chester, PA.

1718 - New Orleans is founded by the French.

1720 - The population of American colonists reaches 475,000. Boston (pop. 12,000) is the largest city, followed by Philadelphia (pop. 10,000) and New York (pop. 7000).

1727 - King George II ascends the English throne.

1728 - Jewish colonists in New York City build the first American synagogue.

1729 - Benjamin Franklin begins publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette, which eventually becomes the most popular colonial newspaper.

1730 - Baltimore is founded in the Maryland colony.

1731 - The first American public library is founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin.

1732 - February 22, George Washington is born in Virginia. In June, Georgia, the 13th English colony, is founded.

1732-1757 - Benjamin Franklin publishes Poor Richard's Almanac, containing weather predictions, humor, proverbs and epigrams, selling nearly 10,000 copies per year.

1735 - Thomas Booth weds Elizabeth Buller in Concord, Maryland on April 1st.

1736 - Charles Booth is born to Thomas & Elizabeth on April 26 in Elkton, Maryland.

1737 - The first colonial copper coins are minted, in Connecticut.

1739 - England declares war on Spain. As a result, in America, hostilities break out between Florida Spaniards and Georgia and South Carolina colonists.

1741 - Russian Tsar, Peter the Great, sponsors an expedition by Danish navigator Vitus Bering to explore the coast of Alaska.

1743 - The American Philosophical Society is founded in Philadelphia by Ben Franklin and his associates.

1745 - Jane Whitby is born in Cecil, Maryland.

1747 - The New York Bar Association is founded in New York City.

1750 - The Iron Act is passed by the English Parliament, limiting the growth of the iron industry in the American colonies to protect the English Iron industry.

1751- The Currency Act is passed by the English Parliament, banning the issuing of paper money by the New England colonies.

1752 - The first general hospital is founded, in Philadelphia.

1753 - Benjamin Franklin and William Hunter are appointed as postmasters general for the American colonies.

1754 - The French and Indian War erupts as a result of disputes over land in the Ohio River Valley. In May, George Washington leads a small group of American colonists to victory over the French, then builds Fort Necessity in the Ohio territory. In July, after being attacked by numerically superior French forces, Washington surrenders the fort and retreats.

1756 - England declares war on France, as the French and Indian War in the colonies now spreads to Europe.

1757 - In June, William Pitt becomes England's Secretary of State and escalates the French and Indian War in the colonies by establishing a policy of unlimited warfare. In July, Benjamin Franklin begins a five year stay in London.

1758 - The first Indian reservation in America is founded, in New Jersey, on 3000 acres.

1759 - War erupts between Cherokee Indians and southern colonists.

1760 - The population of colonists in America reaches 1,500,000. In March, much of Boston is destroyed by a raging fire. In September, Quebec surrenders to the English. In October, George III becomes the new English King.

1762 - England declares war on Spain, which had been planning to ally itself with France and Austria. The British then successfully attack Spanish outposts in the West Indies and Cuba.

1762 - Charles Booth marries Jane Whitby in Wilmington, Delaware on April 26, Charles's birthday.

1763 - The French and Indian War, known in Europe as the Seven Year's War, ends with the Treaty of Paris. Under the treaty, France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

1774 - Charles Booth jr. is born to Charles & Jane in Pennsylvania.

1776 - On July 4, the Congress formally endorses Jefferson's Declaration of Independance, with copies to be sent to all of the colonies. The actual signing of the document occurs on August 2, as most of the 55 members of Congress place their names on the parchment copy.

1777 - June 14th, The flag of the United States consisting of 13 stars and 13 white and red stripes is mandated by Congress; John Paul Jones is chosen by Congress to captain the 18 gun vessel Ranger with his mission to raid coastal towns of England.

1777 - July 27th, Marquis de Lafayette, a 19 year old French aristocrat, arrives in Philadelphia and volunteers to serve without pay. Congress appoints him as a major general in the Continental Army. Lafayette will become one of Gen. Washington's most trusted aides.

1777 October 17th, Ben Franklin is received by the French Royal Court. France then recognizes the independence of America.

1777 November 15th, Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation as the government of the new United States of America, pending ratification by the individual states. Under the Articles, Congress is the sole authority of the new national government.

1777 - December 17th, At Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, the Continental Army led by Washington sets up winter quarters.

1779 - September 23rd, Off the coast of England, John Paul Jones fights a desperate battle with a British frigate. When the British demand his surrender, Jones responds, "I have not yet begun to fight!" Jones then captures the frigate before his own ship sinks.

1779 - September 27th, John Adams is appointed by Congress to negotiate peace with England.

1780 - August 3rd, Benedict Arnold is appointed commander of West Point. Unknown to the Americans, he has been secretly collaborating with British Gen. Clinton since May of 1779 by supplying information on Gen. Washington's tactics.

1780 - September 23rd, A British major in civilian clothing is captured near Tarrytown, New York. He is found to be carrying plans indicating Benedict Arnold intends to turn traitor and surrender West Point. Two days later, Arnold hears of the spy's capture and flees West Point to the British ship Vulture on the Hudson. He is later named a brigadier general in the British Army and will fight the Americans.

1781 - Thomas Jefferson narrowly escapes capture by the British at Charlottesville, Virginia.

1781 - Elizabeth Ferguson is born on March 3rd in Virginia

1781 - September 28th, Gen. Washington, with a combined Allied army of 17,000 men, begins the siege of Yorktown. French cannons bombard Gen. Cornwallis and his 9000 men day and night while the Allied lines slowly advance and encircle them. British supplies run dangerously low.

1781 - October 17th, As Yorktown is about to be taken, the British send out a flag of truce. Gen. Washington and Gen. Cornwallis then work out terms of surrender.

1782 - Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States of America.

1783 - Spain recognizes the United States of America, followed later by Sweden, Denmark and Russia.

1783 - England officially declares an end to hostilities in America.

1783 - April 11th, Congress officially declares an end to the Revolutionary War.

1783 - October 7th, In Virginia, the House of Burgesses grants freedom to slaves who served in the Continental Army.

1784 - March 1st, A congressional committee led by Thomas Jefferson proposes to divide up sprawling western territories into states, to be considered equal with the original 13. Jefferson also proposes a ban on slavery everywhere in the U.S. after 1800. This proposal is narrowly defeated.

1786 - August 8th, Congress adopts a monetary system based on the Spanish dollar, with a gold piece valued at $10, silver pieces at $1, one-tenth of $1 also in silver, and copper pennies.

1787 - May 25th, With 29 delegates from nine states present, the constitutional convention begins in the state house (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. A total of 73 delegates have been chosen by the states (excluding Rhode Island) although only 55 will actually attend. There are 21 veterans of the Revolutionary War and 8 signers of the Declaration of Independence. The delegates are farmers, merchants, lawyers and bankers, with an average age of 42, and include the brilliant 36 year old James Madison, the central figure at the convention, and 81 year old Ben Franklin. Thomas Jefferson, serving abroad as ambassador to France, does not attend. The delegates first vote is to keep the proceedings absolutely secret. George Washington is then nominated as president of the constitutional convention.

1787 - June 19th, Rather than revise the Articles of Confederation, delegates at the constitutional convention vote to create an entirely new form of national government separated into three branches - the legislative, executive and judicial - thus dispersing power with checks and balances, and competing factions, as a measure of protection against tyranny by a controlling majority.

1787 - September 19th, For the first time the proposed Constitution is made public as printed copies of the text are distributed. A storm of controversy soon arises as most people had only expected a revision of the Articles of Confederation, not a new central government with similarities to the British system they had just overthrown.

1787 - September 28th, Congress votes to send the Constitution to the state legislatures for ratification, needing the approval of nine states.

1787 - October 27th, The Federalists, who advocate a strong central government and approval of the new Constitution, begin publishing essays in favor of ratification. Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, the total number of articles will eventually reach 85 and be compiled and published as the Federalist Papers. Federalist Papers at Library of Congress

1787 - December 7th, Delaware is the first of the nine states needed to ratify the Constitution. To be followed by: Pennsylvania (Dec. 12) New Jersey (Dec. 18) Georgia (Jan. 2, 1788) Connecticut (Jan. 9) Massachusetts (Feb. 7) Maryland (April 28) South Carolina (May 23) and New Hampshire (June 21).

1788 - July 2, A formal announcement is made by the president of Congress that the Constitution of the United States is now in effect, having been ratified by the required nine states.

1789 - April 30th, On the balcony of New York's Federal Hall, George Washington, at age 57, is sworn in as the first President of the United States. He then enters the Senate chamber to deliver his inaugural address.

1789 - July 27th, Congress begins organization of the departments of government with the establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs, later renamed the Department of State. Followed by the War Department (Aug. 7) Treasury Dept. (Sept. 2) and Postmaster General under the Treasury Dept. (Sept. 2).

1789 - September 22th, The Federal Judiciary Act passed by Congress establishes a six-man Supreme Court, attorney general, 13 federal district courts and 3 circuit courts. All federal cases would originate in the district court and, if appealed, would go to the circuit court and from there to the Supreme Court.

1789 - September 25, Congress submits 12 proposed constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. The first ten will be ratified and added to the Constitution in 1791 as the Bill of Rights.

1789 - November 26th, A Day of Thanksgiving is established by a congressional resolution and a proclamation by George Washington.

1790 - March 1st, A Census Act is passed by Congress. The first census, finished on Aug. 1, indicates a total population of nearly 4 million persons in the U.S. and western territories. African Americans make up 19 percent of the population, with 90 percent living in the South. Native Americans were not counted, although there were likely over 80 tribes with 150,000 persons. For white Americans, the average age is under 16. Most white families are large, with an average of eight children born. The white population will double every 22 years.

The largest American city is Philadelphia, with 42,000 persons, followed by New York (33,000) Boston (18,000) Charleston (16,000) and Baltimore (13,000). The majority of Americans are involved in agricultural pursuits, with little industrial activity occurring at this time.

1790 - April 17th, Benjamin Franklin dies in Philadelphia at age 84. His funeral four days later draws over 20,000 mourners.

1798 - On Feb 19th, Charles Booth(e) marries Elizabeth Ferguson in Tazewell County, Virginia.

1799 - Oct 10th, Ferguson, The first of 12 children is born to Charles & Elizabeth Booth.

1800 - Dec. 12, Washington, D.C. becomes the official capital of the United States.

1801 - March 4th, Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as the 3rd President of the United States.

1803 - March 1st, Ohio is the 17th state admitted to the Union.

1803 - April 30th, The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory for $15 million, containing what is now Arkansas, part of Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, part of Minnesota, Missouri, part of Montana, part of North Dakota, part of Oklahoma, South Dakota, and part of Wyoming.

1804 - May 17th, Louis & Clark begin their expedition of the Louisiana Territory.

1805 - Jonathan Booth, the 4th child of Charles and Elizabeth is born in Cabell County, Virginia. (what is now Wayne Co. West Virginia)

1805 - March 4th, Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.

1805 - Nov 18th, Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean.

1806 - Sep. 23, Lewis and Clark return from exploring the Louisiana Territory.

1809 - Celia Walker is born in Giles Virginia.

1809 - Feb. 3, The Illinois Territory is organized.

1809 - March 4th, James Madison is sworn in as the 4th President of the United States.

1810 - Oct 27th, The United States annexes what is now part of Alabama, part of Louisiana, and part of Mississippi.

1812 - Louisiana is the 18th state admitted to the Union, The Mississippi and Missouri Territorys are organized.

1812 - June 18th, United States declares war on Britain.

1813 - March 4th, James Madison is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.

1814 - Aug. 24, The British set fire to Washington, D.C.

1814 - Sep. 20, The "Star-Spangled Banner" becomes the official national Anthem.

1814 - Dec. 24, The United States and Britain sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.

1815 - Jan. 8, American forces win the Battle of New Orleans (they didn't know the war is over).

1816 - Indiana is the 19th state admitted to the Union.

1817 - March 4th, James Monroe is sworn in as the 5th President of the United States.

1817 - Dec. 10, Mississippi is the 20th state admitted to the Union.

1818 - Dec. 3, Illinois is the 21st state admitted to the Union.

1819 - Feb. 22, The United States annexes Florida.

1819 - Mar. 2, The Arkansas Territory is organized.

1819 - Dec. 14, Alabama is the 22nd state admitted to the Union.

1820 - Mar. 15, Maine is the 23rd state admitted to the Union.

1821 - Mar. 4, James Monroe is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.

1821 - Aug. 10, Missouri is the 24th state admitted to the Union.

1821 - Oct 24, Charles (son of Charles) dies in Virginia at the age of 47.

1822 - Mar. 30, The Florida Territory is organized.

1822 - May 9th, Charles Jr is born to Elizabeth, 6 months after Charles Sr's death.

1825 - Mar. 4, John Quincy Adams is sworn in as the 6th President of the United States.

1825 - Mar. 4, John Calhoun is sworn in as the 7th Vice President of the United States.

1826 - Aug 15th, Charles (son of Thomas) dies in Londengrove Township, PA. 10 days shy of his 90th Birthday.

1828 - March 6th, Jonathan Booth marries Celia Walker in Cabell County, Virginia.

1828 - Dec 20th, Anderville, first child of Jonathan and Celia is born in Cabell County, Virginia.

1829 - Mar. 4, Andrew Jackson is sworn in as the 7th President of the United States.

1833 - Mar. 4, Andrew Jackson is sworn in as President for a 2nd term.

1833 - Mar 25, Evermount, 3rd child of Jonathan and Celia is born in Cabell County, Virginia.

1834 - Jun. 30, The Indian Territory is established in what is now Oklahoma.

1836 - Apr 20. The Wisconsin Territory is organized.

1836 - Jun. 15, Arkansas is the 25th state admitted to the Union.

1837 - Mar. 4, Martin van Buren is sworn in as the 8th President of the United States.

1837 - Jan. 26, Michigan is the 26th state admitted to the Union.

1838 - Jun. 11, The Iowa Territory is organized.

1841 - Mar. 4, William Harrison is sworn in as the 9th President of the United States.

1841 - Apr. 6, John Tyler is sworn in as the 10th President of the United States.

1844 - Apr. 12, The United States annexes what are now parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas as a result of the Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain.

1845 - Mar. 3, Florida is the 27th state admitted to the Union.

1845 - Mar. 4, James Polk is sworn in as the 11th President of the United States.

1845 - Dec. 29, Texas is the 28th state admitted to the Union.

1846 - May 8, The Mexican War begins with the Battle of Palo Alto.

1846 - Dec. 28, Iowa is the 29th state admitted to the Union.

1848 - May 29, Wisconsin is the 30th state admitted to the Union.