A claim that Boshof had been a member of a Huguenot family from the Cape Colony, originally bearing the surname Boseau, was proved to be unfounded by genealogical research.

Jacobus Nicolaas Boshof (the third of that name) was born on the farm De Derde Heuvel achter de Cogmans Kloof, Swellendam district (now Derdeheuwel, Montagu district) and was educated at first in Swellendam, but later in Graaff-Reinet under the Scottish dominy (teacher) William Robertson, who later returned to Scotland to become a minister of the Church of Scotland.

[4] In 1824 Boshof became a clerk in the Civil Commissioner's office in Graaff-Reinet, where he worked for 14 years under magistrates like Andries Stockenström, Egbertus Bergh and W van Ryneveld.

1824 was also the year that the Scottish minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in Graaff-Reinet, the Rev Andrew Murray, confirmed Boshof in the Christian Faith.

Before leaving the colony permanently to live in Natal, Boshof wrote three letters to the Grahamstown Journal early in 1839 in which he presented an analysis of the causes of the Great Trek.

Boshof and his family (including his parents) apparently left the same year, but is first mentioned in documents of the Republiek Natalia in January 1841, when he and J P Zietsman were asked by the Volksraad to draft a reply to Sir George Napier, Governor of the Cape, on matters relating to Natal.

Boshof was also called upon to respond to Napier when, on 02-12-1841, the Governor announced his intention to occupy Port Natal and denied the Boer emigrants their independence.

In town sentiments ran high as well, mainly in support of Boshof, with people shooting in the air, and throwing "turpentine balls".

As the state finances were in dire straits at the time, Boshof had great difficulty in organising the defence and buying arms.

[7] In the meantime, a movement had developed that aspired to a union or amalgamation of the Orange Free State with the South African Republic.

The experiment failed quickly however, with Pretorius first resigning the Transvaal presidency and not finishing his term in the Orange Free State.

Upon the news of his death reaching Bloemfontein, the Volksraad passed a resolution honouring Boshof for his services to the Orange Free State.