Black's Graveyard - Thomas Boyd

Thomas Boyd's Marker

Here lys ye Body of Thomas

Boyd who departed this life

October ye 12th 1760 aged 35

years -- Also here lys ye

Body of Rebecca Stevenson who

Departed this life April ye 19th 1767

Aged 36 years

"This gravestone is worn smooth and is in fair condition considering its age. It does not lie flat but the head is lifted slightly and the bottom sunken almost below soil level. There is a piece missing from the bottom left corner, the upper left corner has a lateral crack running from the top of the stone along the left side of the shield and down into the inscription. It looks as though this piece might separate and fall off at any time. The top is wonderfully carved. There is a shield containing the head of either a wolf or a dog above a Scottish thistle. Above the shield is a detailed carving of an arm, complete with cuffed sleeve, clutching a short sword."

"According to "The Boyd Family, Including the Allied Families of Bell, Bracken, Cullar, Cunningham, Finley, Gaut, Hoover, Hough, Markle, McGrew, Parrish, Perry, Pinkerton, School, Speet, Warfel, Welday and Williams by Scott Lee Boyd, 1935, pp. 21-23, Thomas Boyd, the immigrant ancestor, was born in Ireland about 1710. He followed Hance Hamilton from Ireland to America in 1729 together with William Boyd and John Boyd. It is presumed that Thomas and William were brothers, and that John was a son of William.

Thomas Boyd settled on 317 acres of unimproved land along Marsh Creek. He was a tanner and farmer by occupation. He was married to Rebecca and they had five children: William, Elizabeth, Jean, Rebecca and Andrew.

After his death in 1760 his widow married Thomas Stevenson. Thomas Boyd's tanning yards and small farm were taken over by his oldest son, William, who gave bond in court to protect the interests of the remaining four children who were not of age. Thomas' widow Rebecca asked the court to appoint guardians for these children and Robert McPherson and Samuel Edie, officers in the county, were appointed.

William, the oldest son, married Elizabeth, the widow of Andrew Emmach, in 1774. He continued, as his father before him, in the occupation of tanner and farmer. When he came of age in 1774, he assumed full responsibility for his underage siblings, and in 1776 when his brother Andrew came of age, he made over to him his share of the 317 acre farm.

William and Elizabeth left children not traced in this book. From the inscription on the obelisk marker we can find a clue: William must have left a son, also William, hence the designation "Sen." Mary, Benjamin and Sam were also buried in the family plot. Gloria Boyd, January, 1999 "The Dean Road".

Father and Mother
Wm. Boyd Sen.& Elizabeth, His Wife, also Mary, Benj.& Sam
Children of W.& E. Boyd

Full photo of obelisk, above

Jennet Mc Mordie daughter of Jane Boyd and Robert McMordie married Quinton Armstrong Jr. in the mid 1700's. Quinton Armstrong Sr. came in around 1728-1739 and homesteaded on the Manor of the Maske on a plot of land known as Mt Airy. Dwight Eisenhower, when he was President in 1952-60, bought the farm there for a retreat for himself and Mamie. They tried to save the house but could only save part of the cabin and fireplace which became his den. The beams in the room are from the original cabin along with the mantle. Thanks to Joann Palmer for the data and photos. dupa48 "at" embarqmail.com

The Quinton and Jennet McMordie's Armstrong's Home

The Eisenhower's bought the home 1950s.

The home after reconstruction. Below - the home today.

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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NOTES TO RESEARCHERS

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