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Most of Richard Boulton's early life is unknown, except that he was born in England in the 1700s, was tried and convicted of crime, then sentenced and sent to Newgate Gaol (jail). Prior to 1717, it was customary in England to offer convicted criminals a choice: hanging or America. The majority chose America. After 1717, convicts had little choice. They could legally be shipped to America as indentured servants for not less than seven years. Mr. Boulton along with 95 other offenders were exiled to Maryland aboard the frigate, "Worcester".
Legend has it that Boulton and his Master were in the midst of calculations for the staircase, and having considerable difficulty, when dinner was announced. As it was considered bad form to seat a convict and the Master at the same table, George Plater went to dine, while Boulton drew the model of the proposed staircase. Upon his return, Plater was so impressed with the plans that he said, "you go in and eat your dinner, and when you return I will draw up your free papers, for no man who can do such work as that can be my slave". Plater was as good as his word, and henceforth Boulton was a free man. Whether the story is true or not, Boulton did become a free man, and in 1766 went on to design and build nearby St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for which he was paid five pounds. We know that he also worked for the Jesuits as a carpenter, signing a contract requiring the Jesuits to "give him five shillings a day, a bottle of rum a week, and not condemn him to eat homini at his meal." Perhaps Richard Boulton's most interesting client was George Washington. In May 1785 Washington contracted with Boulton to "finish the large room at the North end of the said dwelling house (Mount Vernon) in a plain and elegant manner; either of stucco, wainscot, or partly of both as the said George Washington shall direct...and carve, turn, glaze or paint (inside work) if required." Among Washington's writings is a letter to William Fitzhugh,
stepfather of Elizabeth Rousby Plater. In this letter, Washington
thanks Colonel Fitzhugh for sending Richard Boulton. Washington
also said, "I have no doubt from the character given of him
by you that he will answer my purposes, as he has no one now to
lead him into temptation, and will be far removed from improper
associates unless he is at much pains to hunt them; it may therefore
be expected that he will avoid the rock he has split upon lately."
It is not clear what "temptations" and "improper
associates" Washington is referring to. Did Richard Bouton
return to the kind of behaviors that sent him to the Colonies
in the first place?
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Mr.
Boulton was an exceptional carpenter. In the New World, he became
the property of 