PHILIP BOEHM

In 1767 we find Philip Boehm, farmer, assessed for eighty acres of clear land, and one hundred and thirty acres of wood-land in Upper Saucon Township, Northampton County, (now Lehigh County.)

In 1774 he was assessed in the same township for one hundred acres of clear land and one hundred and fifty acres of woodland.

In 1779, he was Assistant Collector of Lower Saucon Township.  At an election held on October 10, 1780, he was elected Coroner of Northampton County.  The Lower Saucon Township tax-list of 1782, shows that he had a tanyard, three horses, four cows, and four sheep.  From 1779 to 1785 he is also described as an inn-keeper in Lower Saucon Township.

He was actively engaged in furthering the cause of the colonies during the Revolutionary War, as the following extracts from public records show.

"The Council of Safety, Philadelphia, March 6, 1777, wrote to General Washington that Lieutenant Colonel Boehm of Colonel Geiger's Battalion of Militia of Northampton County, now in camp, particularly requests that the militia might not be kept in service beyond their time, etc." - Penna Archives.

"On motion, agreed, that Philip Boehm be appointed Paymaster of the Militia of the County of Northampton." - Minutes of Supreme Council, Wednesday, August 27, 1777.  Colonial Records, Vol. XI, pg. 279.

"Ordered, That Philip Boehm be appointed Coroner of Northampton County, and commissioned accordingly" - Ibid., October 19, 1778, pg. 597.

"Ordered, That the secretary be directed to write to Philip Boehm, Paymaster of the Militia of the County of Northampton, and direct him to pay off the arrearages due to the militia, or give Council the reasons for his non-compliance."  Ibid., March 11, 1779, pg. 718.

"An order was drawn in favor of Philip Boehm, Jr., Paymaster of Militia in the County of Northampton, for the sum of 4000 pounds to be charged to his account."  Ibid., May 5, 1779, page 767.

"An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. Philip Boehm, Paymaster of the County of Northampton, for the sum of 3000 pounds for paying the militia of County, for which he is to account." -  for July 21, 1779, Vol. XII, page 55.

"An application in writing from Philip Boehm, Paymaster of the Militia of the County of Northampton, requesting the sum of 2500 pounds to pay off the militia of that county, being read and considered."

"Ordered, that Philip Boehm be directed to lay before the Board an account of the payment of such moneys as have been put into his hands for the purpose of paying the Militia of Northampton County."  Ibid., p. 506, Saturday, October 14, 1780.

"Resolved, That Philip Boehm be appointed and commissioned to the the Coroner of Northampton County." --February 4, 1780, page 243.

Although Philip Boehm realized about $12000 from the sales of his land, he was far from being wealthy.  It is probable that much of the money he received for his land was continental money; for a family tradition tells us that he had a chest full of this money after it was worthless.

Philip Boehm died January 10, 1816.  His wife, Anna Barbara survived him nearly seventeen years, remaining by stipulation with the purchasers in the old homestead, still standing, on what is now the Geissinger farm in the Borough of Hellertown, Northampton County, Pa.  Both were buried in the cemetery at the Lower Saucon Church.

Pennsylvania Archives:
Colonial Records, Vol XI, page 17, 40, 47, 53, 81, 83, 194, 215, 279, 365, 451, 488, 567, 588, 597, 600, 718 (March 11, 1779), 767 (May 5, 1779).
Colonial Records, Vol. XII, page 55 (July 21, 1779), 135, 243, 261, 424, 427, 506 (Sat Oct. 14, 1780).
Colonial Records, Vol. XIV, page 639, 659, 668.  

Philip Boehm, Jr., son of Philip Boehm