Boyd, Elisha

Biography of Elisha BOYD

General Elisha Boyd was born in Berkeley County, October 6, 1769, a son of John Boyd, one of the early emigrants to the county. He attended the country schools of the time; in 1785 he entered Liberty Hall Academy, which was the nucleus of Washington and Lee University. He studied law in the office of Colonel Philip Pendleton.

In 1796, Elisha Boyd was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, with William Lamon as his colleague and in 1797 with Richard Baylor. He was chosen attorney for the State by the County Court of Berkeley County and held that position for 40 years.

Elisha Boyd married Mary Waggoner, daughter of Major Andrew Waggoner of Revolutionary War fame. They had one child, a daughter, Sara Ann Boyd, who married Philip C. Pendleton. Some years after the death of Sara Ann, he married Ann Holmes, daughter of Colonel Joseph Holmes and the sister of Governor Holmes of Virginia and Major Andrew Hunter Holmes. They had the following children: Ann Rebecca Holmes, John E. Boyd, Rev. Andrew H.H. Boyd, and Mary Boyd, who married Charles James Faulkner.

Elisha served in the War of 1812 with a commission of Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Virginia Militia and was engaged in the second defense of Norfolk and Portsmouth against a British attack of land and naval force. For his services in defense of Virginia, the General Assembly elected him a Brigadier-General. The United States Army was then composed of States Militia.

He was a member of the Convention of 1830 which amended the constitution of Virginia, elected in 1832 to a seat in the Senate of Virginia, commissioned a magistrate of the county of Berkeley in 1838, was an advocate of a reform of the “Old Constitution” of Virginia, and was elected chairman of the county meeting and a delegate to the State Reform Convention.

Elisha Boyd helped to establish Martinsburg Academy, and built “Boydville,” which he bequeathed to his daughter Mary, who lived there with her husband Charles Faulkner. Elisha married a third time, to Elizabeth Byrd of the Westover family; she died November 16, 1839. General Boyd died October 21, 1841, and was buried in the family burying ground at Norborne Cemetery.

West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wvberkel/boydbios.html

General Elisha BOYD biography

GENERAL ELISHA BOYD Was born in the County of Berkeley, at the eastern base of the North Mountain, on the 6th of October, 1769. Up to the age of 14 he enjoyed only the limited means of education which the common country schools of that period afforded. During that time he attended a small school not far from the present site of Martinsburg. Our thriving town was then a forest, and whilst its eligible locality, its gushing springs and valuable water power invited to such a destiny, few, if any at that time, contemplated it as a seat of population, manufactures and trade.

In 1785 he was entered as a student of Liberty Hall Academy, (so baptised amidst the revolutionary fires of 1776,) in Rockbridge County, Va., a most excellent and patriotic institution then under the rectorate of the Rev. William Graham, largely patronized throughout the south, and yielding a rich harvest of patriots and statesmen. Although bearing the modest title of an academy, it had all the attributes of a college, with power to hold land, confer degrees, etc. Like the great Virginia State University, springing from the germ of "Albemarle Academy," it grew into "Central College," and then reached its present grand proportions ; so did this spirited academy, expanding in dignity, reputation and importance, first develop into "Washington College," and recently—in 1871—into "Washington and Lee University." Amongst those well known in our State who were associated with young Boyd as schoolmates, were Dr. Archibald Alexander, of Princeton, Hon. John Baker, of Jefferson County ; Chancellor John Brown, Judge John Coalter, Col. James McDowell and many others distinguished for their worth, learning and ability.

He studied law in the office of Col. Philip Pendleton, one of the earliest as well as one of the ablest lawyers that ever qualified for practice in our courts. Mr. Boyd was elected to the House of Delegates in 1797, with Richard Baylor as his colleague, and also in 1796, with William Lamon as his colleague. In 1798 he was chosen by the County Court of Berkeley as its attorney for the State, which office he continued to fill for forty years. He was married in 1795 to Mary, the daughter of Major Andrew Waggoner of revolutionary memory, by whom he had one child, a daughter, Sarah Ann Boyd, who was married to Philip C. Pendleton on the 25th of November, 1813. For forty years he gave his almost undivided time to the practice of his profession and to attention to his several farms in this county, varied at occasional intervals by military service, a seat in the House of Delegates and Senate of the State, and in the Constitutional Convention. During all this time he had probably the largest and most lucrative practice of any lawyer in this section of Virginia.

Some years after the death of his first wife he was, in 1806, married to Ann Holmes, daughter of Col. Joseph Holmes and sister of Gov. Holmes and Major Andrew Hunter Holmes. By her he had four children—Ann Rebecca Holmes, married to Humphrey B. Powell, of Loudon [sic] County ; John E. Boyd, Rev. Andrew H. H. Boyd and Mary, married to Charles J. Faulkner.

Mrs. Ann Boyd died on the 20th of July, 1819. An eloquent and impressive funeral sermon was preached over her remains by the Rev. J. B. Hoge, which was printed in pamphlet form, and copies of it are carefully preserved by the family.

He had command of the 4th Regiment of Virginia militia in 1814 during the war with Great Britain, when the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth were threatened by a second attack of the British land and naval forces. The Norfolk Herald, 1814, contains an interesting correspondence between the officers of that regiment and Col. Boyd when the term of service of that regiment was about to expire. It bears date the 1st of August, at Camp Peach Orchard. The officers say that they cannot permit the occasion to pass by "without paying to Col. Boyd the tribute of their highest respect and esteem." "They have at all times felt confident that when the hour of danger arrived that on his patriotism and courage they could, with the utmost confidence, rely to lead them on in defense of the country." They also take pride in declaring that whatever military knowledge they have acquired is due to that strictness of military discipline which has uniformly characterized the 4th Regiment since he had the command of it. "And if they ever should again be called into the service of their country, it is their wish that they should be placed under his command." To this complimentary letter Col. Boyd replied, which is also published in the same paper. He was subsequently elected a brigadier general by the General Assembly of Virginia. He was a member of the convention of 1829-30, which framed the first amended Constitution of Virginia, serving in that body with Madison, Monroe, Marshall, Giles, Tazwell, Leigh, Barbour, Johnson and many other of the most distinguished men of Virginia.

In the election which occurred after the adoption of the "Amended Constitution" in 1830, he was chosen without opposition, and by the unanimous vote of the counties of Berkeley, Morgan and Hampshire, to a seat in the Senate of Virginia.

He was commissioned a magistrate of the County of Berkeley, in 1838, upon the resignation of his office of State's attorney.

He was an earnest and sincere advocate for a reform of the "Old Constitution" of Virginia, and for placing its government upon a more liberal and republican basis. He was generally selected as Chairman of the county meeting held here, and a delegate to the State Reform Convention.

He took an active interest in the educational institutions of the county ; and had the principal agency in establishing the Martinsburg Academy, not far from his residence.

He was a third time married and then to Elizabeth Byrd, of the Westover family, who died on the 16th of November, 1839, leaving no issue.

Gen. Boyd departed this life on the 21st day of October, 1841, and was buried in the family graveyard adjoining Norborne Cemetery.

He was a man of vigorous mind, and of indomitable energy and perserverance [sic]. His power at the bar consisted in his unflaging [sic] attention to business, his thorough capacity to master details, and in his earnest, direct and manly appeals to the common sense and intelligence of courts and juries. He was a man of perfect system and of extraordinary capacity for labor ; and he commanded universal confidence by his stern and unbending integrity of character.

Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia, by F. Vernon Aler, 1888, pp. 185-8

Andrew H. H. BOYD biography

REV. ANDREW H. H. BOYD, D. D.,

Second son of Gen. Elisha Boyd, was born at Martinsburg, in the year 1814. He received his academic education at Martinsburg and Middleburg ; when fourteen years old, he entered the junior class of Jefferson College, and graduated with distinction in 1830. Shortly after entering college he joined the Presbyterian Church and resolved to preach the gospel. After graduation in Jefferson College, he spent two years at New Haven, to perfect himself in particular studies ; completed a regular course of theological education thereafter at Princeton ; and subsequently visited Europe and attended lectures delivered by the celebrated Dr. Chalmers and Sir William Hamilton in Edinburg, Scotland. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Winchester in 1837 ; entered upon his first charge over the churches of Leesburg and Middleburg in 1838 ; accepted a call to Harrisonburg in 1840 ; and to Winchester in 1842. He was called, during all parts of his ministry to a number of distinguished churches in the great cities, but being wholly independent in his pecuniary circumstances, preferred to remain in Winchester, to the people of which city, and the County of Frederick, he exhibited a strong attachment. His prominence as a citizen during the late civil war, residing within the Confederate limits, caused him to be seized as a hostage, and held in retaliation [sic] for the arrest of other citizens attached to the cause of the Union. He bore the illegal and unjustifiable imprisonment consequent upon this seizure with all the patience and fortitude of a Christian minister, but a fatal blow was given to his health by the rigors of his long imprisonment. He never enjoyed a day of perfect health after his restoration to liberty. His valuable ministry of three and twenty years at Winchester was terminated after a mournful and protracted illness on the 16th of December, 1865. A funeral address was pronounced over his remains by Rev. Joseph C. Stiles, of Georgia, which was published in pamphlet form and is worthy of extensive perusal.

Dr. Boyd was a man of fine intellect. He was endowed with quick and clear perception, a sound, discriminating and comprehensive judgment, and especially with strong and active reasoning faculties. He loved study and ever felt both its necessity and obligation. He was a man of extensive and useful information. On almost every topic of literature and science he discoursed like one who had given exclusive attention to those subjects, while in his proper department of didactic and polemic theology, ecclesiastical history and biblical criticism, few men in the country had made such eminent attainments.

During his illness the presbytery met in Winchester and appointed a committee to convey to Dr. Boyd their christian salutations and to assure him of their sincere condolence in the painful and protracted trial which he was then enduring. He received the distinguished attention with such humble and touching gratitude to his brethren, and in such calm and assured submission to the will of God, that on the return of the committee the chairman reported to presbytery that "he had seen Bunyan's Pilgrim on the banks of the river, joyfully awaiting his transportation to the opposite shore."

Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia, by F. Vernon Aler, 1888, pp. 146-8

A. H. H. BOYD and Slavery

ANDREW HUNTER HOLMES BOYD - born in Boydsville, Virginia, in 1814, died there December 16, 1865. He was graduated at Jefferson College in 1830, studied theology in Scotland, was ordained by the presbytery of Winchester, and passed his life in the pastorate of the Presbyterian church in that section. He was connected with the new school Presbyterian body until 1859; but at the session of the general assembly at Cleveland in that year the discussion of the slavery question developed irreconcilable differences, and Dr. Boyd, with other commissioners from the slave holding states, seceded from the assembly and organized the "United Synod of the Presbyterian Church," composed of those presbyteries in the slave holding states which had belonged to the new-school general assembly, but were dissatisfied with its course on the subject of slavery. At the beginning of the war he took decided ground in favor of secession.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY, VOLS I-V, PROMINENT PERSONS

Prominent Men of Berkeley County

My memory naturally carries me back to the era in which prominent men of Berkeley were in the vigor of life and usefulness, such as Col. Elisha Boyd, Judge Philip C. Pendleton, Col. William. Gregory, Maj. Andrew Waggoner, Maj. Jas. Faulkner, Capt. Rob't Wilson, Capt. James Mason and others, who were in military service in the war of 1812.

[A] Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia, by F. Vernon Aler, 1888, p. 121

David HOLMES biography

DAVID HOLMES,

Born in Winchester, was the son of Col. Joseph Holmes, of Frederick County, Va., and a brother of Major Andrew Hunter Holmes, so distinguished during the recent war with Great Britain for his talents and high military qualities. He [Andrew] was killed in the battle of Mackinaw, on the northern frontiers, on the 4th of August, 1814, and a sword voted to his heirs by the General Assembly of Virginia, in consideration of his gallantry and good conduct. Also brother to Judge Holmes, who occasionally presided in this judicial circuit, and brother to Ann Holmes, married to Gen. Elisha Boyd, of this county. He was a member of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Congresses.

At the close of his service in Congress he was, in 1809, appointed by President Madison Governor of the territory of Mississippi, and when admitted into the Union as a State he was elected Governor by the people. He was subsequently, in 1820, elected a Senator in Congress for six years, from the same State, but resigned before the end of his term of service. He died in Winchester on the 20th of August, 1832.

Although twelve consecutive years a member of the House of Representatives, and six in the Senate, the records of Congress show nothing but his votes. It does not appear that he ever submitted a motion or made a remark in either body. And yet there must have been something very remarkable in the intellect and bearing of a man who could, with a different constituency, thus pass so triumphantly through all the stages of political life, without any of the adventitious [sic] aids of public speaking. When elected to the 5th Congress he was a resident of Shenandoah. Gen. Morgan then represented Berkeley and Frederick in that Congress. In 1799 (6th Congress) Holmes having removed back to Winchester, was elected from the district of Berkeley and Frederick ; so in the 7th Congress he represented this district. When the district was re-arranged after the census of 1803, he represented Frederick and Shenandoah from 1803 to 1809, thus consecutively representing three distinct districts of the State within the twelve years of his service in the House.

Gov. Holmes was a man of modest and retiring habits, but of captivating manners, and bore the reputation of marked ability and of great integrity of character. He was the uncle of David Holmes Conrad, now residing in this county, after whom he was named.

Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia, by F. Vernon Aler, 1888, pp. 183-5

Elisha Boyd FAULKNER biography

HON. E. BOYD FAULKNER.

E. Boyd Faulkner was born in July, 1841. He received his early education at Georgetown College, and University of Virginia, and traveled extensively in Switzerland and Italy. He attended lectures upon constitutional law in Paris, and at the age of eighteen was acting as Secretary of the American Legation at Paris—an unusual and complimentary preferment to one so young—and which gave evidence of rare mental attainments, and of that strongly marked mind and character which distinguishes the man of to-day. He returned to the United States in 1861, was appointed aide on Gov. Letcher's Staff, but resigned shortly afterward and became an officer of distinction in the Confederate Army, until his capture at Port Republic, in June, 1864, when he was taken with other prisoners to Johnson's Island, where he was confined a year, being released in June, 1865. In 1867, he went to Hopkinsville, Ky., where he formed a law partnership with Judge Petree, and the firm had an extensive practice. By his energy and talent Mr. Faulkner soon earned for himself a line reputation as a lawyer and speaker, and in the Seymour Campaign of 1868, was appointed an Elector for the Second Congressional District of Kentucky. In 1872 inducements were offered him to return to his native State, and he located permanently in Martinsburg. He is well known at home and abroad as a gentleman of unswerving integrity of character, and his splendid abilities as a lawyer and public speaker in his professional and political career, are so well and favorably known to the people of this section and throughout the State as to require no commendation. He was elected to the Legislature in 1876, where he served with distinguished prominence and ability, and with a faithfulness to the interests of the people which will long be remembered, and especially noteworthy was the legislation by him to relieve the bonded indebtedness of Berkeley County. Under the arrangement made by the court and through the legislation of Mr. Faulkner, on the 2d of January, 1881, the 8 per cent. bonds were paid off or exchanged, and the county relieved of an annual drain upon it for interest and commission alone of about $3,465, besides having the bonds bear their just proportion of the taxes which weighed so heavily upon the people. Such was the universal esteem in which Mr. Faulkner was held that he was elected to the Senate in 1873, upon the expiration of his term in the Legislature. He was an eminent member of that body, and held in the highest regard by his fellow Senators. He declined the Presidency of the Senate, and remained where the work was to be done, becoming chairman of important committees, and his record was such as has been referred to with just pride and pleasure, and led to his being urged to become a candidate for the nomination of Governor of West Virginia in 1834.

At the present time his extensive and important law practice occupies all his time and attention. President Cleveland tendered to Mr. Faulkner the office of Consul General and Agent to Egypt, which, at the earnest solicitation of his friends throughout the State, he decided not to accept. He was then tendered the Mission to Persia, which he likewise declined. For several years friends of Mr. Faulkner in every part of the State have been urging his candidacy for Governor of West Virginia. That he would receive a large vote and discharge the dignity and duty of the position in the most courtly and popular manner, is admitted by all.

Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia, by F. Vernon Aler, 1888, pp. 400-402

A Wedding at Boydville

FASHIONABLE VIRGINIA WEDDING

A correspondent of a New York paper who was a guest at the nuptials of MISS FAULKNER, of Virginia, and the Hon. JOHN P. CAMPBELL, of Kentucky, furnished a spirited account of the brilliant affair. Judging from the number of M. C.’s who participated, the House of Representatives must have been considerably thinned at that time. He writes:

Situated outside the limits of the town of Martinsburg, is Boydville, embracing near one thousand acres of land, the country seat of the Hon. Chas. J. Faulkner ; a magnificent place where hospitality is dispensed as free as water. Boydville is situated on a commanding eminence, and is composed of spacious grounds, ornamented with beautiful promenades, all centered at a splendid residence which commands a view of the surrounding country, and which is Mr. Faulkner’s abode.

I visited this place under pleasant circumstances. The Hon. Jno. P. Campbell, of Kentucky, was to be united in marriage to Miss Mary Boyd, the daughter of Faulkner. I was invited and came. In fact a great throng came. This fashionable marriage caused the fashionable world to make Boydville their Mecca. Its renown, earned three years ago, when two other daughters of its distinguished owner were led to the altar, attracted the handsome misses, the venerable madams, the blooming old maids, the splendid gentlemen, the young beaux, all to come hither to do honor to the bridal festivities of so universally a favorite lady to a highly esteemed gentleman. Statesmen were here, enjoying themselves in the ceremonies of the day, as if such were their forte instead of government.

At 8 o’clock the marriage took place before a large audience of the youth and beauty and fashion of the country, for really there was no limit to the loyalty from whence the company came. Every state it seemed had sent forth its stream of fashion and of beauty.

The time for the ceremony having arrived, the bridesmaids and groomsmen entered the parlor, where the vast company assembled in the following order:

The Hon. L. M. Keitt, of South Carolina, and Miss Lizzie Faulkner, the handsome sister of the bride.

The Hon. H. A. Edmundson, of Virginia with Miss Dundridge, a leading belle of Jefferson county, Va.

The Hon. Sherrard Clemens, of Wheeling, with the gay Miss Sallie Dundridge, a sister to the last mentioned lady.

The Hon. Thomas Ruffin, of North Carolina, with the accomplished Miss Hopkins, of Baltimore.

The Hon. John V. Wright, of Tennessee, with the interesting Miss Brooke, of Fredericksburg Virginia.

The Hon. Zedekiah Kidwell, of Virginia, with the interesting Miss Tyler, of Washington.

The above couples marched up, and divided into two divisions, with the ladies on one side, and the gentlemen on the other, left an open space between through which the intended groom and the anticipated bride marched with steady step and pleasant face. The Rev. A. H. A. Boyd, of Winchester, Va., an uncle of the bride, performed the service, under the forms of the Presbyterian church, in a solemn and impressive manner. After the knot was tied, the lucky groom and happy bride were congratulated by a throng of friends, and then the whole company partook of a splendid supper got up in the most magnificent style. You think in New York that that out of your fine culinary establishment nothing good can be had ; but what will you think when I tell you that this supper at Boydville, Va., prepared by a Virginia housekeeper, by Virginia cooks, by Virginia everything, equaled in the magnificence of its bill of fare, the excellence of its preparation and everything else about it, some of the finest suppers that I have partaken of at Delmonico’s at Taylor’s, Thompson’s and other tip-top places of New York.

The company was in addition to the names I have mentioned, composed of men of eminence from everywhere, and of some of the first citizens of this district and of the ancient Commonwealth.

Memphis Daily Appeal (Memphis, TN) Sat, 17 Jan 1857 First Edition page 2