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Boyds of
Portincross, Ayrshire
Portincross Castle Restoration Site
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(photo courtesy (c) Graham Wilson)
For important service given by Sir Robert Boyd to his country, he was
rewarded by Bruce with gifts of land of Kilmarnock, Bondington, and
Hertschaw, which has been forfeited by John Baliol and these gifts
were granted by charter dated 1308 and 1316. According to (Robert)
Wood, (a Scottish historian and author of "The Scots Peerage"
which was later edited and re-published by Sir James Balfour Paul,
Lord Lyon, King of Arms) he had also conferred upon him "the lands
of Kilbryd and Ardnel, which had belonged to Godfrey de Ross, a son
of the deceased Reginald de Ross, also all the lands which belonged
to William de Mora's in the tenement of Dalry, with seven acres of
land, which were Robert de Ross's in the tenement of Ardnel, which
was erected into an entire and free Barony to be held by the King."
The lands of Ardnel or Portincross, situated in the Parish of West
Kilbride, were conferred on sir Robert Boyd about the year of 1308,
and afterwards became the patrimony of a younger son of the family,
and remained in that family until the year 1737.
This castle of the Portincross Boyds, at this time stood upon a ledge
of rocks, projecting into the sea under a bold promontory , which
gives it the name of a singular, wild and romantic situation. Several
royal charters of the two first Stewart kings bears to have received
the Sign - Manual at "Ardnel" which unquestionably refers to this
fortlet, and which has lead to a notion of writers that Portincross,
was at that period a Royal residence of the Kings of Scotland.
But there seems to be no evidence whatever to conclude if it ever was
such in the proper sense of the term. The probability is that these
Sovereigns in passing too and from Dundonald in Kyle, and Rothesay
in Bute, had been used as a harbor in crossing the channel at this
port, and may occasionally as circumstances or inclination suggested
have prolonged their stay at this convenient station. Contemplating
and gazing on the narrow walls of this sea-beaten tower, it is
certainly difficult to conceive that it should ever have afforded
accommodation to the prestige of a Royal Court. Yet, when we
reflect on the circumscribed nature of even Dondonald itself, the
favorite residence of these same Sovereigns, the contrast by no
means appear so extraordinary." W.P. Boyd, 1912
Robert de Boyd (son of Sir Thomas Boyd), ancestor to the
Boyds of Portincross, this branch of the family being so
known because they held the Castle of Portincross, the most
ancient in the parish of Kilbryde, situated on a point of
land of that name, on a bare rock, close to the sea even at
low water, and completely surrounded by it at high water or
stormy weather. It has a dismal aspect, with a very scanty
supply of light from a few narrow slits or windows in its
extremely thick walls, yet it seems to have been an
occasional seat of Royalty, at least in the time of Robert II, as no fewer than seven charters are on record, granted by
him during the first nine years of his reign (1371-80), dated
"apud" "Arneie" (or Ardnel). This must have been at Portincross, it being the manor place of that Barony, though not
the usual place of his residence, but merely at such times
when he might be there on a visit to his relatives, the
Boyds; his own place of residence being at Dundonald, at no
great distance. That it may be as fully as ancient as those
times may be inferred from the fact that, though there may be
slits in the walls for the flight of arrows, there are no
apertures that can be construed into gun-ports for firearms,
which were invented before that period, and would assuredly
have been included in all places of defense that were erected
afterwards.
The estate of Ardneil, or Ardnel, is situated on the
seacoast, on both sides of the promontory of Portincross,
within three-quarters of a mile of the village of Kilbryde
belonged to Godfrey de Ross, and being forfeited, were given
by King Robert the Bruce to Sir Robert Boyd in 1306, passing
to his son, Sir Thomas Boyd, who conferred them on Robert de
Boyd, above mentioned.
From this Robert Boyd, who affixed his seal to a deed of his
brother William, in 1372, was descended in the direct male
line, Robert Boyd of Portincross, on July 29, 1658, "......
in the five merk land of Ardneill within the parochin of
Kilbryde and Bailyiarie of Cunninghame; to the 30 shilling
land of the Maynes of Hellingtown; the 2 merk land of Muir of
Hellingtown; the half of the Myln of Hellingtown; the 46
shilling 8 pence land of Knockindaill; the 4 merk land of
Harrickhill of old extent, within the Bailyiary of Kyle-Stewart" all of which are more particulary described in the
retour of his service, which will be found in the Register
Office in Edinburgh. Who he married is not mentioned, but he
had a son Robert, and a daughter Grizel, and died between
March, 1694 and September, 1695, as may be inferred from some
entries in the Parish Register of Kilbryde in those two
periods. He was suceeded by his only son:
Robert Boyd of Portincross, who married before the year 1694,
Antonia Montgomery (daughter of Sir Robert Montgomery of
Skelmorly), by whom he had a son, Hugh Boyd, and a daughter,
Lillias, both of whom died in infancy. He died previous to
the year 1714, without leaving any surviving issue, upon
which the representation of the family, as well as the possessions, devolved on the issue of his sister:
Grizel Boyd, who, previous to the year 1680, was married, as
his second wife, to Alexander Fullarton, Eqsuire of Kilmichael in the Isle of Arran. By him she had two sons:
William and Robert, and five daughters, and she died March
14, 1772. Her son:
William, took the surname of Boyd, and prior to 1714,
succeeded to the estate of Portincross, by inheritance from,
and by the special designation of his maternal uncle, Robert
Boyd of Portincross, above mentioned. In 1714 he married
Grizel Campbell, only daughter of Angus Campbell, Esq. by
whom he had a son, John Boyd, and four daughters. In 1746 he
alienated the ancient family estate of Portincross to Patrick
Crauford, Esq. of Auchnames, and afterwards acquired the
lands of Balnakill, in Kintyre, where he died. He was
succeeded by his only son:
John Boyd, who died without issue, at Skipness, about the
year 1784 or 1785. Thus the elder branch of the marriage
between Grizel Boyd and Alexander Fullarton failed, and the
estate of Balnakill devolved upon on the issue of the second
son, John Fullarton (who had not adopted the surname Boyd),
and who, not owning the ancient estate of Portincross or
bearing the name of Boyd), though possessing a more recently
acquired Boyd estate (Balnakill), we will not include in this
work but will refer those interested to page 127 of Robertson's "Cunninghame" The arms of the Family of
Portincross are
identical with those of the Kilmarnock Boyds, with a suitable
distinction showing the different branch of the family, being
a plain border around the shield. The Boyds of Wigton were of
the Portincross family.
[The Boyd Clan, Arthur S. Boyd, 1924]
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(Portencross castle (c) Graham Wilson)
NOTE:
Use this data as a finding tool, just as you would any other secondary
source. When you find the name of an ancestor listed, confirm the facts
in original sources.
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