Boyds of Chester County, Pennsylvania

In the year 1782 came William Boyd and Thomas Boyd from the county of Armagh, in Ireland, and with them two unmarried sisters, one of whom married a Mr. Dobbins and the other a Mr. Curry, all of Philadelphia. They also left one married sister in Ireland, who with her husband afterwards emigrated to Philadelphia.

Thomas Boyd settled in the forks of Delaware, but afterwards removed to Philadelphia, where he died in 1782, leaving for sons and one daughter: Maj. Alexander Boyd (the oldest son), James Boyd, Thomas Boyd, and Andrew Boyd, all officers in the Revolutionary army, serving through the war. Some time after the war, James and Thomas settled in Kittanning. Of their families nothing is known. The other children remained in Philadelphia and died there.

William Boyd settled near the Half-way House, in Londongrove township, Chester County. In after life he moved to Oxford township, where he died, April 17, 1767, aged fifty-eight, and his wife eleven days after her husband. Both are buried in the graveyard at Fagg's Manor. He was elected member of Assembly in 1760.

It was said by his sons that when a member of Assembly, he attended the sessions in Philadelphia, leaving his home at two o'clock of a Monday morning, taking with him on horseback one or both his sons, then little boys. They would reach the ferry at Schuylkill before noon when he would cross immediately so as to be in time for the opening of the session, committing to his boys the horse to be fed, and then taken home the same day. They carried their own provisions and provender for the horse. The following Saturday the two boys would be at the ferry again awaiting their father; thus they continued to do during the sessions which lasted about six weeks. The compensation for this service was equivalent to one dollar and thirty-three cents a day. How different from these times, when ten dollars per day is considered inadequate for like services!

William Boyd left three sons: James Boyd, John Boyd, and William Boyd....and three daughters: Jane Boyd, Mary Boyd, and Hannah Boyd.

William Boyd, the youngest son, went into the marine service early in the Revolutionary war, was soon made a captain, and was afterwards taken prisoner and carried to England, and being exchanged, with health entirely broken, he died the day after his delivery on Long Island. His record is that of a distinguished officer.

Jane Boyd, the oldest daughter, married David Cochran.

Mary Boyd, married George Boyd, brother to Matthew Boyd.

Hannah Boyd, married Matthew Boyd, by whom she had three children: Jane Boyd, Rebecca Boyd, and John Boyd. Of these children, Jane never married.

Rebecca Boyd married Rev. John B. Patterson, the first pastor of Mahoning Presbyterian Church, and had nine children.

John Boyd died, unmarried, at the age of twenty-three years.

Matthew Boyd was killed by a fall from his horse. The widow afterwards married Gen. William Montgomery.

James Boyd, the oldest son of William Boyd, was born in West Fallowfield township about teh year 1749. He was in the service in the Revolutionary war, and actually participated in some of its conflicts, and it is believed was in the battle of Germantown. He was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of Pennsylvania in the year 1790, and also of the Assembly during the years 1779, 1780, 1782, 1790, and 1791, and associate judge from Nov. 1, 1793, until his death, Aug. 10, 1821, in the seventy-third year of his age.

Judge Boyd was a man of sterling honesty of purpose and strict morality, and in all the relations of life was a most exemplary citizen. He was noted for his active sympathy for the widow and the orphan, the friendless stranger, and the afflicted, ....such ever found in him a ready helper. He was courteous and agreeable in his manners, highly esteemed by all who knew him, and always spoken of with respect. In person he was over the middle size, tall and straight, and his every feature spoke the goodness of his heart.

He was for forty years a ruling elder in the Fagg's Manor Presbyterian Church, an example of a true Christian character, and many of the youth of his day, now men well advance in years, will remember the good advice which he then gave them. In the early days of the temperance movement he was an advocate of that cause.

The most fitting close of this notice is the inscription on the tombstone erected to his memory over his grave in Fagg's Manor burying ground:

"In memory of James Boyd Esquire who departed this life August 10th 1821, Aged 73 years.

He was a member of convention in framing the present Constitution, and for several years a Representative in the Legislature of Pennsylvania.

For 27 yeas an Associate Judge in Chester County and for 40 years a Ruling Elder in the congregation of Fagg's Manor.

He was a sincere friend an honest man and a devoted Christian."

On the same stone is this inscription also:

"In memory of Mary Boyd - Relict of James Boyd who departed this life July 22nd 18? , aged 76 years.

Hers were the virtues mild, the softer charities, connubial love, maternal tenderness friendship sincere and piety unfeigned."

John Boyd, the second son of William Boyd above named, served an apprenticeship to the tanner's trade with Thomas Strawbridge of Chester County, and on the breaking out of the Revolutionary war entered the service, and continued in the army seven years, leaving it in 1782, having received an honorable discharge. He returned home with nothing left but his horse and equipments. On the 18th of December, 1782, he married Mary Cowan, third daughter of James Cowan, of Octorara, Chester Co.

Mr. Boyd immediately established himself in a tannery in West Fallowfield township, Chester co., near Cochranville, and his industry, integrity, and high character soon brought him prosperity. He was appointed by the Governor of the State brigadier-general First Brigade, Third Division, Pennsylvania militia. He served many years as a representative from Chester County in the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of Fagg's Manor for twenty years.

John Boyd and Mary Cowan, his wife, had seven children: Jane Boyd, Joseph Boyd, William Boyd, James Boyd, John C. Boyd, Mary Boyd, and Hannah Eliza Boyd; all of whom were carefully trained, and educated as well as could be with the limited means and opportunity at the command of their parents, who carefully inculcated in their children lessons of piety, integrity, and honor, which, being well learned, are the sure guarantee of a useful and honored life.

Jane Boyd married Alexander Montgomery, of Danville, Pa., a son of Gen. William Montgomery.

Joseph Boyd, William Boyd, and James Boyd were brought up by their father in the tannery, and John C. Boyd, the youngest son, as a farmer. Joseph and William established themselves in a tannery in Lancaster County, but soon abandoned it. Joseph went to Philadelphia and opened a broker's office, and when John C. quit the farm his brother took him into his office as a clerk, and subsequently as his principal traveling agent and collector.

Joseph Boyd married Margaret Steel, daughter of William Steel, Esq., of Chestnut Level, Lancaster Co., by whom he had children: John Boyd, William S. Boyd, and Eliza Boyd.

William, the second son, married Eliza Steel, and left several children.

John C. Boyd married Hannah Montgomery, daughter of Gen. Daniel Montgomery, of Danville, May 18, 1820, and shortly after removed to Danville. About 1824 he removed to a farm two miles south of Danville, and built a grist mill and mansion-house, and enlarged the farm till it contained nine hundred acres. He was a model farmer, but found time to take art in public enterprises. In the act of April 8, 1826, to incorporate the Danville and Pottsville Railroad, he and his father-in-law were named as commissioners, being the fathers of the enterprise. He was also a commissioner in the charter for the Susquehanna Canal Company in 1835, after which he organized a company and built an iron furnace, which, however, was unsuccessful. He died Aug. 18, 1849, leaving seven children.

Source: History of Chester County, Pennsylvania with genealogical and biographical sketches by J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope; Microfilm of original published : Philadelphia : L. H. Everts, 1881. - FHL Film 20995

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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