Boos, John William (1740-1814)

Rev. John William Boos was born in 1740 in Otterberg, in the Palatinate area of Germany. He was the son of Philip Jacob Boos and Anna Maria (Fromme). After education at the University of Heidelberg, he travelled in 1768, to Holland to seek the support of the Fathers of the Dutch Reformed Church. He was denied backing from the church due to failing the examination three times. He paid his own expenses, voyaging to Berks county in 1770. The Coetus of the Reformed Church appointed him to supply the Maxatawny congregation in 1771 and also allowed him to fill the vacancy at First Reformed Church in Reading, despite his lack of proper references from Holland. He held the pastorate at First Reformed Church for over 13 years, from 1771-1781 and again from 1789-1792. He began to fill the pastorate at Hain's Church (Heidelberg Township). This was his longest pastorate, preaching every third Sunday from 1770-1789 and again from 1792-1809. Other pastorates included: Schwartzwald (1781-1809); Spies (1783-1795); Oley (1771-1782, 1786-1807); and Bern (1784-1788), as well as serving as a supply for other churches. He ventured back to Holland in 1789 to seek ordination from the Fathers of the Church. He was not accepted, despite glowing references and recommendations. Rev. Boos married Barbara Eppler, daughter of Valentine Eppler of Bern Township, and with her raised a family of eight children, making his home in Reading. He died in 1814 and was buried in the First Reformed Cemetery but later removed to Charles Evans, where some of his children are buried. His sons changed the spelling of the name to Boas, perhaps closer to the original German pronunciation of the name. Source: Biography from transcription by Laurel Miller, located in ff2 of collection.