Zilpha Ann Boggess (1824- )

Zilpha Ann Boggess

Daughter of Lemuel Boggess, Sr. and Rachel Oates

 Zilpha Ann Boggess was born on November 9, 1824 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  She was the first daughter and the second of six children born to Lemuel and Rachel Boggess.  Her father died when Zelpha was about nine years old, and her mother remarried three years later.  She grew up on the family farm in Muhlenberg, and eventually became the second eldest of thirteen children.

There is very little information regarding Zilpha and her family.  Zilpha married Charles W. Murphy on March 10, 1840 in Muhlenberg, Kentucky.  She was 15 years old at that time.  There is no recorded birth date for Charles, but one can assume he was probably in his early twenties when he married Zilpha.

There are numerous sources confirming Zilpha’s date of birth, marriage to Charles, and her parentage, however, none of those sources attest to children born to Zilpha and Charles, or even hint at a death date.

In 1840, there were three heads of household by the name of Murphy in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  C.W. Murphy was between 20 and 30 years old with two males between 10 and 15 years, and one female between 15 and 20 years.  If the Census was taken after their marriage in March 1840, this could account for both Charles and Zilpha. 

Jesse Murphy, aged between 60 and 70 years, was the second head of household listed in Muhlenberg in the 1840 census.  Along with himself, his household included one female between 10 and 15 years, one male between 15 and 20 years, one female between 20 and 30 years, and one female between 50 and 60 years.  Jesse could possibly be the father of Charles W. Murphy.

The third Murphy head of household in Muhlenberg Kentucky in 1840 was Matthew Murphy, aged between 50 and 60 years.  The others in his household were two males and one female under five years, and one male and one female between 20 and 30 years.

Notes for Zilpha Ann Boggess

Birth and Marriage to Charles W. Murphy:  Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line].  Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000.  Birth year: 1824; Birth city: Muhlenberg; Birth state: KY.

Notes for C. W. Murphy

1840 Census Image:  Year: 1840; Census Place:  , Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: 120; Page: 336.

Notes for Jesse Murphy

1840 Census Image:  Year: 1840; Census Place:  , Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: 120; Page: 338.

Notes for Matthew Murphy

1840 Census Image:  Year: 1840; Census Place:  , Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: 120; Page: 342.