William Boyd (abt. 1800)

Born about 1800 in Ireland

Descendants

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Biography

William was born about 1800.

Poss Baptisms

William Boyd Principal Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881 Birth 1821 Newry, County Down, Ireland ParentsDavid Boyd, Anne

William Boyd Principal Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881 Christening 1815 Newry, County Down, Ireland ParentsDavid Boyd, Mary (1)

Sources

• (1) https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&f.recordType=0&f.recordType=1&q.birthLikeDate.from=1790&q.birthLikeDate.to=1822&q.givenName=William%20&q.recordCountry=Ireland&q.recordSubcountry=Ireland%2CDown&q.surname=Boyd
• "Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRHG-MD9 : 5 February 2020), John Boyd, 1837.

The Boyds in Ireland

The first trace of the early Boyd family in Ireland was at the time of the siege of Londonderry. To the east of this renowned city, a few miles, rested in the County of Antrim, a small Presbyterian village called Aghadowey, one of the oldest Presbyterian settlements in Ireland. At this time (1689) found at this settlement the Rev. Thomas Boyd, who had ministered almost from the time of the plantation to the little settlement of this place. He had succeeded the predecessor of the Rev. James McGregor, who had come over here to America. A few days before the siege of Londonderry commenced (which took place April 15, 1689) this aged soldier Divine, for he must have been between seventy and eighty years old at the time, gathered all the members of his congregation one afternoon on what was called the green or lawn, in front of the old church. Here he held a service, picturing to his congregation the advancement of the Irish troops toward the ill-fated city. He then after- wards picked out all the youths and men who were able to carry arms. Then mounting upon a small grassy elevation on the lawn, with his sword by his side and Bible In hand, with his long white waving hair hanging over his shoulders, he addressed the men and his hearers, and aroused them to the highest pitch of re-

95 ligious and patriotic enthusiasm. Then formed them into a company of soldiers, and placed himself in front, as chief or commander, and marched at the head of his company to the walls of Londonderry, where, old as he was, he prayed and fought and endured all the deprivations and horrors of that famous and awful siege. He afterwards, returned to his old home again, where he lived for nine or ten years in peace, to see his cherished religion saved, and died among those of his younger days in 1699. Although this event occurred over two hundred years ago to this very day, his memory is as fresh amongst the people of Aghadowey who now reside there, as though he had only lived twenty years ago. The spot where he stood to address his congregation before he marched with his men to Londonderry, is still pointed out to all who may visit that place. He is said to have been a tall, slender, old gentleman and had a very commanding appearance and was a favorite with all that knew him. At this time, there were several other families of Boyds living at this place. And there were others of the Boyd name who went with Reverend Thomas Boyd to Londonderry, but being less noted men, their names and deeds have passed into oblivion. At the present day, there are several Boyds, still living there, who are prominent in civil history, and one of their cleverest judges descends from the old ancient family of Boyds. On our investigation, another family of Boyds of note in Ireland were those of Bally Castle in the County of Antrim in the Northern part. This place was settled in 1736, consisting of two parts known as the Upper and Lower Quay. Both of these villages were connected by a fine avenue of trees along the way. The first settlement of this town was made by one Hugh Boyd, to whom Alexander, Earl of Antrim, granted in 1736 a lease in perpetuity of all the coal mines, etc. from Bonamargy to Farhean. He built here a church, erected coal furnaces, iron foundries, salt pans, glass furnaces, breweries, tanyards and in a short time obtained for the settlement the reputation of being the most flourishing town in Ireland. Mr. Hamilton Wright in 1786 described the town as having gone completely to decay. Its founder Hugh Boyd established here an excellent machine, but

96 unfortunately left it without any permanent principal of motion. The dark shadows of the picture are today pointed out of large stone houses and factories and the dwellings of the contemplated places in a complete state of of utter decapitation. The custom house has been constructed into barracks and even the collieries, a source of immense wealth, are worked but at intervals with a little revenue. In 1724, six of the eight mines were worked by an English company. They were succeeded by Mr. Boyd for several years afterwards, until rendered useless by the sea. He received grants from the Irish Parliament to the amount of £23,000 to improve the harbor and quay. Mr. Boyd died in 1 7S0, and left his estate to his sons. They did not follow him with the business. Who his descendants were or if any of thein came to America is not known to the writer. Another settlement of these Boyds in Ireland was upon the eastern coast and we refer the reader to the Boston Boyds in this book. This old Homestead was situated at what is called Movilla which in the language of that country was called "Ma-Hill" or "Maugh-ill" when interpreted the Maughment means a plain. This place was situated one mile from Newtownard, an old ancient town, settled in King James I's time. The interpretation of the last word had the meaning an eminence, or in other words a "New-town on an Eminence" and was about ten miles from Belfast, one of the principle ports of those days, where so many of the Boyds embarked for America. The whole population in and about Newtownards was originally from Scotland. Their language, attachments, religious observances of set times and holiday prejudices and antipathies were all Scotch, even to the honest belief in witches and a good liking to bag-pipes. Donaghadee, situated ten miles from Newtownards and twenty-two miles from 'Belfast was a famous shipping port of cattle across the channel to Port Patrick in Scotland. These droves were mostly raised in the northwestern part of Ireland and generally were driven through Newtownard on their way to Donaghadee in charge of the "Upper County men" better known as Irish settlers. William Boyd, Esq. of Mansfield, Mass., now

97 deceased, wrote me in 18S4 at the age of eighty-four years, whose early home was in this part of the country, said: "That among my boyhood recollections, the other boys as well as myself would be attracted toward the cattle that was on the way to market to see their immense growth of their horns. Our mothers would call us in by saying, 'Come in, an stay in till them folks hae a gane away, for they er Erish oot then an' ye mawnna gang neer them.' " The Boyds trace back to this place, by descendants in this country, to one Hugh Boyd, who was born at Moville in 1742, who married Jane Craig at this place in 1766, and died at the advance age of seventy years. He was a farmer, and was buried at his birth place as given in the Records of the Boyds of Boston. At this place were several other Boyd families of which we have no record. https://electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/historyofboydfam00boyd.pdf