Elizabeth (Nance) Boyce (aft. 1764)

Born after 27 May 1764 in Virginia

Wife of William Boyce — married 1779 in Randolph, North Carolina

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Biography

Research Notes

DAR Patriot Index, Vol III- Index to Spouses (DAR, 1986), Eliz. Nance m. William Boyce.

ELIZABETH Nance married William Boyce abt.1779 in Randolph/Guilford Co., NC. Parents of William were James & Tabitha Boyce of Halifax Co., VA. "Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files", V. D. White (Nat. Hist. Pub. Co., 1990) has Elizabeth Nance m. William Boyd 1779; Boyd d. bef. 1804, and she then removed to Laurens Dist. SC (family there?)

An unverified (internet database) source has Elizabeth NANCE b.abt.1764 to Thomas Nance and Elizabeth (Ann) Hudson, m. 1779 (in Randolph Co., NC or Guilford?) William Boyce, who was b.abt 1743 to James Boyce and Tabitha (?) in Halifax Co VA and d. 1804 Randolph Co NC

RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 1808 - JAN. 16 WILL OF THOMAS NANCE. DAUGHTERS ELIZABETH NANCE AND PHEBE ROBINSON. SONS THOMAS, HUTSON, AND MARSHALL. EXECUTORS: HUTSON AND MARSHALL NANCE. WIT: JOSIAH L. SURAT, P.J. WOOD AND WM. BELL. BK. 3, P. 294..

Elizabeth's pension application says married in Randolph County, NC. (from Guilford County in 1784)

Widow Benefit

State of South Carolina Laurens District: to wit On this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord 1847 personally appeared before William Watts Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Laurens Elizabeth Boyce a resident of Laurens district South Carolina aged eighty-three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 -- that she is the widow of William Boyce who was a private soldier in the War of the Revolution that her said husband William Boyce served in the Revolutionary War as a volunteer -- that he entered the service about the year 1779 that to the best of her knowledge & believe he continued in the service of his country more than two years -- that he served five tours, first under Captain William Kimbal [sic, William Kimball], second under Captain [illegible first name] Lewis, third under Colonel Armstrong, fourth under Captain Armstrong & fifth under General Marion of South Carolina. He resided in Randolph County North Carolina when he entered the service which was shortly after her intermarriage with him. He left the service after the expiration of the fifth tour, in South Carolina, at the close of the Revolutionary War. He was in the Battles of Guilford ___ He received a written discharge when he left the service at Round O. Bridge in the lower part of South Carolina, which continued in the possession of this deponent for many years, after the death of her said husband, but which has been since mislaid or lost, in some way, to this Deponent unknown. The only other documentary evidence which this Deponent has is the annexed certificate of the Secretary of the State of North Carolina that her husband William Boyce entered the service in Captain Armstrong's Company of the 10th Regiment in 1781 for 12 months. This certificate does not cover the whole term of his service -- This deponent does not know at this time of any person by whom she can prove the services of her husband William Boyce. This deponent was born in 1764 & married to the said William Boyce in 1779 when she was 15 years old -- they were married in Randolph County North Carolina & continued to reside there until 1804 when her husband William Boyce died & she then moved to South Carolina where she has continued to live ever since -- she has never married anyone since the death of her husband William Boyce, but has remained a widow as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. This deponent further swears that she is unable to attend in court to make her declaration from disease -- infirmity which have also prevented her from making application sooner for the provisions of the Act of Congress of July fourth 1836. Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before me the undersigned Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Laurens District South Carolina. S/ W. D. Watts, Judge S/ Elizabeth Boyce, X her mark [Drury Boyce (relationship, if any, to the widow or veteran not stated) gave a supporting affidavit.] [fn p. 10] South Carolina Laurens District: Personally came Benjamin Grice before the Subscribing Justice of the Quorum in and for the district of Laurens & being duly sworn makes oath that he himself is 80 years old and was present & saw the marriage solemnized between William Boyce & Elizabeth Nance now Elizabeth Boyce who makes application for a Pension -- that they were married in the year 1779 -- He further states that he was in the revolutionary War with William Boyce under Captain Kimbrel & Colonel Armstrong, that he was in the battle of Guilford with William Boyce & that two of William Boyce's brothers were killed in that battle & that William Boyce himself was wounded in the battle in the ankle & right arm. Sworn to & subscribed before me this November 16th, 1847 S/ An. McKnight, JQ S/ Benjamin Grice,1 X his mark South Carolina Laurens District: Personally came John Knight and being duly sworn makes oath in due form of law before the subscribing Justice of the Quorum that he is ninety-two years old, that he was present at the marriage of William Boyce with Elizabeth Nance which took place in 1779 in Randolph County North Carolina. Sworn to & subscribed November 16, 1847 before me S/ An. McKnight, JQ S/ John Knight, X his mark [fn p. 11: John Rogers, 87, a resident of Laurens district South Carolina also gave testimony that he was present at the marriage of William Boyce and Elizabeth Romance in Randolph County in 1779.] 1 I could not find a federal pension application for a veteran by this or any similar name who claimed service at the battle of Guilford Court House.

Sources

• "Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files", V. D. White (Nat. Hist. Pub. Co., 1990) has Elizabeth Nance m. William Boyd 1779; Boyd d. bef. 1804, and she then rem. to Laurens Dist. SC