Boyd, John Jr

John BOYD Jr (1760 VA - 1828 IN) and Ann Nancy MARTIN (1770 VA - 1825 KY)

my 4g-grandparents

John BOYD Jr was born 9 Jan 1760, probably at the BOYD home, on the eastern slope of North Mountain, about 5 miles west of Martinsburg, VA (now WV). See the John BOYD Sr page for more about this property. Most of the information I have about John BOYD Jr comes from [JBBC].

In 1777, at age 17, John BOYD Jr. enlisted in Captain George Wallis' Company, 4th Virginia Regiment, and in 1778 as a Wagoner in Captain Gabriel Long's Company, Colonel Daniel Morgan's Regiment. See the Revolutionary War page.

John BOYD Jr married (1) Sarah CORBIN on 28 Feb 1788 in Berkeley County. She must have died or left, and John married (2) Ann "Nancy" MARTIN on 7 Sep 1791, in Berkeley County, by the Reverend John David YOUNG of St John's Lutheran Church in Martinsburg. All of John's 14 children were from his second wife.

I don't believe Nancy is connected to my MARTIN ancestors from Fauquier County, VA. Nancy had a sister, Elizabeth "Betty" MARTIN, who married Thomas CALLAHAN in 1803, Martinsburg. The parents of Nancy and Betty are unknown. They had 3 children in Virginia, and in the mid 1790s, the family moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky, and had 10 more children. After Nancy died in 1825, John moved to Indiana, where he died in 1828.

Paul [JBBC] gives names and dates for the children of John and Nancy BOYD. The list below is based on [JBBC] and other sources described on this page. For brevity, Martinsburg is in Berkeley County, VA (now WV) and Bedford is in Lawrence County, IN.

1 John BOYD b: 09 Jan 1760 in N Mt, Berkeley, VA, d: 1828 in Eurkea, Lawrence, IN
+ Sarah CORBIN m: 28 Feb 1788 in Berkeley, VA
+ Ann Nancy MARTIN b: 03 Mar 1770 in Martinsburg, m: 07 Sep 1791 in Berkeley, VA, d: 1825 in Nicholas, KY
......2 William Glenn BOYD b: 16 May 1792 in Martinsburg, d: 09 Jul 1863 in Saline City, Sainte Genevieve, MO
...... + Tansey COFFER b: 1788 in Martinsburg, m: 09 Jan 1812 in Owingsville, Bath, KY, d: 31 Jan 1864 in Saline City, Sainte Genevieve, MO
......2 Sarah D. BOYD b: 10 Feb 1794 in Martinsburg, d: 18 Oct 1858 in Clinton, Boone, IN
...... + Isaac POWELL b: 1780 in Martinsburg, m: 29 Jan 1811 in Martinsburg, d: 1843 in Clinton, Boone, IN
...... + Jasper VIDITO m: 09 Dec 1847 in , Boone, IN
......2 Charlotte Elizabeth BOYD b: 15 Nov 1795 in Berkeley, VA, d: 1797 in Berkeley, VA
......2 John W BOYD b: 14 Sep 1797 in Nicholas, KY, d: 04 Mar 1871 in Bedford
...... + Nancy m: 1816
...... + Eliza J. EVANS m: 12 Jun 1828 in Lawrence, IN
......2 Elijah BOYD b: 29 Mar 1799 in Bourbon, KY, d: 1836 in Phillips, AR
...... + Virginia b: Abt. 1813 in TN, m: Abt. 1820
......2 Nancy BOYD b: 13 Mar 1801 in Nicholas, KY, d: 09 Aug 1869 in Fayetteville, Lawrence, IN
...... + Alexander Julius KERN b: 19 Dec 1801 in Rowan, NC, m: 14 Dec 1823 in Nicholas, KY, d: 15 Sep 1856 in Fayetteville, Lawrence, IN
...... + Elisha Nathan HURD b: 1769 in KY, m: 05 Nov 1819 in Nicholas, KY, d: Aug 1820 in Nicholas, KY
......2 Elisha BOYD b: 01 Feb 1803 in Nicholas, KY, d: 1873 in Carbondale, Jackson, IL
...... + Phebe KERN b: 03 Aug 1805 in NC, m: 13 May 1824 in Nicholas, KY, d: 19 May 1852 in Bedford
...... + Mary Jane "Martha" TILFORD m: 17 Aug 1854 in IN, d: 23 Sep 1891 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS
......2 Sally Ann "Polly" BOYD b: 15 Jan 1805 in Nicholas, KY, d: 1829 in TX
...... + Elijah HURD m: 09 Mar 1820
......2 Virginia Jane "Jennie" BOYD b: 29 Sep 1806 in Nicholas, KY, d: 18 Dec 1880 in Bedford
...... + Isaac CALLAHAN b: 14 Dec 1805 in Somerset, Somerset, PA, m: 1825 in Nicholas, KY, d: 26 Feb 1883 in Bedford
......2 Isaac BOYD b: 23 Sep 1808 in Nicholas, KY, d: 13 Nov 1889 in Bedford
...... + Mahala Mable EVANS b: 22 May 1810 in Lincoln, KY, m: 17 Jul 1828 in Lawrence, IN, d: 12 May 1865 in Bedford
......2 Juliana Asia BOYD b: 27 May 1810 in Nicholas, KY, d: 1870 in Martin, IN
...... + Jacob FISHER b: 17 Feb 1805 in Ivanhoe, Wythe, VA, m: 06 Oct 1830 in Bedford, d: 14 Dec 1858 in Martin, IN
......2 Ann Rebecca BOYD b: 26 Mar 1812 in Nicholas, KY, d: 07 May 1904 in Dubuque, Dubuque, IA
...... + William WOODHOUSE b: 1808 in VA, m: 1830 in Lawrence, IN, d: Jun 1869 in Durango, Dubuque, IA
......2 Charles BOYD b: 21 May 1814 in Nicholas, KY, d: 02 Jun 1814 in Nicholas, KY
......2 Lucinda BOYD b: 06 Dec 1816 in Nicholas, KY, d: Sep 1817 in Nicholas, KY

Judging by the birthplaces, it appears that the BOYD family moved about 400 miles west, to Bourbon County, northern KY, in 1797. Several of John BOYD's siblings also moved their families to Kentucky, but I don't know if they all moved at the same time. I think that John returned to Martinsburg briefly, when his father died in 1800.

The journey from Virginia to Kentucky would have included John (36), Ann (26), and 2 children: William (5) and Sarah (3). Several more children were born in Kentucky. Although John's parents, John and Sarah, remained in West Virginia, all of his siblings except Elisha eventually moved their families to Kentucky. It's not know if they traveled together, although [JBBC] relays a rumor about 3 BOYD brothers coming down the Ohio river on a flat boat and staying in Mayville, KY, then settling in Bath County, KY.

The names John BOYD and William BOYD appear on a tax list for 1800 in both Bourbon and Nicholas Counties. John BOYD is also on the tax list for Nicholas County in 1810. He was involved in several real estate transactions, in the vicinity of Somerset Creek (west of Moorefield) and Little Flat Creek (southeast of Moorefield), in what became Nicholas County when it was formed from Bourbon County in 1800. The first one seems to have been 10 Feb 1797, a sale of 250 acres in Bourbon County, from John BOYD to Elijah BOYD, his younger brother. At one point, John acquired 1,000 acres from Curtis Midkiff.

The county boundaries and names in Kentucky have changed many times. The BOYDs settled in Bourbon County, and were in the part that was made into Nicholas County in 1800. (Links to more maps are at the bottom of this page.)

The 1810 US Census has 12 John BOYDs in Kentucky, with 2 of them in Nicholas County. There were no other BOYD families in Nicholas County in 1810. [My comments are in brackets.]

This (above) looks like the right family. Juliana is missing, which probably means that the census was taken before her birth date, 27 May 1810.

The 1820 US Census has 4 BOYD families in Nicholas County, and 2 had John BOYD Jr as head of household. Since both John (1760 and John (1797) had fathers named John, they could both be called John Jr. I have called them John Jr and John III, but I really don't know id the father of John (1735) was also named John. Anyway, I think these records refer to John Jr (1760) and John III (1797).

William (28) was married in 1812, and John Jr (23) was married in 1817, and they are living with their own families in 1820. See the sections below. Note that males 16 thru 18 are counted twice in this census. Nancy Jr (18) had just married Nathan HURD (51), and the couple appears here, staying with her parents. Nathan died in August 1820, evidently right after the census was taken. Nancy seems to have moved back and forth between Nicholas County, KY and Lawrence County, IN several times. Only Sarah (26) seems to be missing. Is she married?

Ann "Nancy" (MARTIN) BOYD died of cancer in about 1825, about 52 years of age, probably in Nicholas, KY. In 1826, John BOYD and many of his descendants made another mass migration, this time about 150 miles further west, to Lawrence County, IN. John BOYD died there in 1828, at the age of 68. So the BOYDs only stayed in Kentucky for 30 years.

Intermarriages

The extended families of BOYD, KERN, EVANS, CALLAHAN and HURD stayed in the Lawrence County, Indiana area for several generations, and had many intermarriages.

Two of the children of John BOYD and Ann Nancy MARTIN, married children of William and Susan KERN: Nancy BOYD married second Alexander J. KERN, and Elisha BOYD married Phebe KERN. Also, Evaline HURD, daughter of Nancy BOYD and her 1st husband, Nathan Elisha HURD, married Noah KERN, brother of Alexander and Phebe. So Evaline married her step-father's brother. In other words, father and son married sisters.

Two more sons of John BOYD and Ann Nancy MARTIN married daughters of Edward EVANS and Elizabeth HOWARD: Isaac BOYD married Mahala EVANS and John W. BOYD married Eliza EVANS. Also, William BOYD, son of John W. BOYD and Eliza EVANS, married Lucinda EVANS, sister of Mahala and Eliza. So William married his aunt.

I have not yet determined where the HURD family came from. Polly BOYD, daughter of John BOYD and Ann Nancy MARTIN, married Elijah HURD, possibly related to Nathan Elisha HURD, first husband of Nancy BOYD.

A daughter of John BOYD and Ann Nancy MARTIN, Virginia Jane "Jennie" BOYD, married Isaac CALLAHAN, the son of Thomas CALLAHAN and Betty MARTIN, the sister of Ann Nancy MARTIN. Thus Isaac and Jennie were 1st cousins, since their mothers were sisters.

I am trying to find a way to show all of this in a diagram! -WH

Descendants

The sections below will cover each of the 13 known children of John BOYD and Ann "Nancy" MARTIN.

1. William G. BOYD was born 16 May 1792 in Berkeley County, VA, probably in or near the BOYD residence at North Mountain. He married Joyce Tansey COFFER or COFFERS on 9 Jan 1812 in Bath County, KY. Tansey was also born in VA, in 1788. So William was almost 20 and Tansey was about 23.

William moved to KY in 1797, at age 5, along with his parents and younger sister, Sarah. They settled in a part of Bourbon County which became part of Nicholas County in 1800. The first record of William in KY is for his marriage.

Later that year, William enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in Capt. William Young’s Company, 1st Regiment, Kentucky Light Dragoons, serving a little more than 2 months, from 27 Aug 1812 to 31 Oct 1812. [KS]

From [JBBC] we know of 4 children: Sarah, b. 1812, d. 1818; John, b. 1814; Elijah P. b. 3 Apr 1816; Nancy, b. 5 Apr 1818. They were probably born in Nicholas County. If the census records shown below are for this family, there must have been more children.

In 1820 William and family are found in Shelby County, KY, a few miles to the west of Nicholas County. They have 17 slaves. The older children may be from another family. The woman in the 45 and over category could be Tansey's mother. At least we see possible reference to the family members we know about.

Family lore says, according to [JBBC], that William and family went to Arkansas after 1820. However, in 1830 they are found in north central Missouri.

If this is the right family, they have sold all the slaves they had in 1820, and have the same 3 children we know about. The male and female 20-29 may be 2 of the older children they had living with them in 1820, or they could be a married couple. The 5 children under 10 could be long to William and Tansey, or the younger couple.

The 1850 US Census has 2 BOYD families listed consecutively.

In 1850, William and Tansey/Tomsey still have their youngest son (or possibly a grandson) at home, and we learn that his name is William. Listed next door (probably, since they are consecutive in the census) in John BOYD, who is the right age to be the son of William and Tomsey. William Sr and John are Farmers, each with real estate valued at $300. It sounds like they were poor farmers, not like the William G. BOYD who had 17 slaves in Kentucky, 30 years earlier. William Jr has no occupation, which is unusual. Usually the 16-year-old son of a Farmer would be listed as a Farm Laborer. Tomsey is illiterate, which may explain why her first name is spelled several different ways.

In 1860 there were several BOYD families in Saline Township, Sainte Genevieve County, MO living close together, as indicated by their proximity in the census. All the adult males are farmers, and most are owners of small farms. Many of the adult women are illiterate.

Family #981 is Elliot C. BOYD and his wife, Sarah, with 8 children. It says Elliot was born in TN, but that must be a mistake.

Family #983 has William BOYD, apparently the same William who lived with William Sr and Tomsey in 1850. I don't know if he is their son or grandson. They are still all in the same household, but now the younger William is listed first, probably indicating that he was head of household.

Family #984 is Elijah Fletcher BOYD and his wife Elizabeth, with 4 children, and a young married couple, probably a nephew of Tomsey (COFER) BOYD. The census also tells us that Joseph and Sarah COFER had been married within the past year.

Family #999 is George D. BOYD and his wife, Rebecca, with their 5 children. George was born about 1827 in MO, indicating that the family had moved to MO by that date.

Family #1001 is John W. BOYD, his wife Martha, and 6 children. This family appears, at a later date, in the photo below.

1 William Glenn BOYD b: 16 May 1792 in Martinsburg, Berkeley, VA, d: 09 Jul 1863 in Saline City, Sainte Genevieve, MO
+ Tansey COFFER b: 1788 in Martinsburg, Berkeley, VA, m: 09 Jan 1812 in Owingsville, Bath, KY, d: 31 Jan 1864 in Saline City, Sainte Genevieve, MO
......2 Sarah BOYD b: 29 Sep 1812 in Bath County, KY
......2 John William BOYD b: 01 Apr 1814 in Bath County, KY, d: 19 Mar 1897 in St Genevieve, MO
...... + Martha COUNTS b: 1824 in TN, m: 1840 in MO
......2 Elijah Fletcher BOYD b: 03 Apr 1816 in Bath, KY, d: Abt. 1875
...... + Elizabeth Matilda REYNOLDS b: 1815 in Buncombe, NC, m: 1837 in St Genevieve, MO, d: 20 Dec 1890 in St Genevieve, MO
......2 Nancy BOYD b: 05 Apr 1818 in Bath, KY, d: Abt. 1836
......2 Jackson Madison BOYD b: 1820 in Sainte Genevieve, Sainte Genevieve, MO, d: 1889 in TX
......2 Elliott C BOYD b: 21 Jan 1821 in Avon, Saint Genevieve, MO, d: 10 Feb 1888
...... + Sarah b:1820 in TN
......2 Mary Elizabeth BOYD b: 12 Apr 1826 in Avon, Saint Genevieve, MO, d: 26 Apr 1904 in Waverly, IL
......2 George D BOYD b: 07 Jan 1827 in Avon, Saint Genevieve, MO, d: 17 Jan 1913 in Parker County, TX
......2 Clarissa Sarah BOYD b: 1829 in New Tennessee, Sainte Genevieve, MO, d: 27 Jan 1896 in St Genevieve, St Genevieve, MO

2. Sarah D. BOYD was born in Feb 1794, near Martinsburg, Berkeley, VA, and at the age of 3, moved with her parents and older brother to Bourbon (now Nicholas) County, KY. At age 15 she married Isaac POWELL on 13 Feb 1809 in Nicholas, KY. Isaac was born about 1780, also in Martinsburg, the 5th son and 7th child of of Thomas POWELL and Nancy CHANEY, who had settled in Nicholas County, KY in 1796. Sarah and Isaac had 11 children:

1-Sarah D. BOYD b. 10 Feb 1794, Martinsburg, d. 18 Oct 1858, Clinton, Boone, IN
+ Isaac POWELL b. 1780, Martinsburg, m. 29 Jan 1811, Martinsburg, d. 1843, Clinton, Boone, IN
2-Angelina POWELL b. 10 Sep 1812, Nicholas, KY, d. 8 May 1881, , Boone, IN
+Robert B. ALLEN m. 2 Jan 1838
2-Mary Polly Jane POWELL b. 1 Jul 1813, Nicholas, KY, d. 22 Feb 1865, Boone, IN
+John WILLS m. 2 Dec 1830
2-Robert Martin POWELL b. 19 Jan 1815, Nicholas, KY, d. 8 Aug 1904, Lebanon, Boone, IN
+Patsy Jane SMITH m. 1839
2-Charles E. POWELL b. 18 Oct 1816, Nicholas, KY, d. 21 May 1899, Indian Grove, Chariton, MO
+Lydia WEST m. 17 May 1838
+Sarah B. DE WEESE m. 20 Aug 1848
2-Nancy Marina POWELL b. 27 Oct 1819, KY
+William M. STEPHENSON m. 1840
2-Sarah B POWELL b. 10 Sep 1820, Nicholas, KY, d. 14 Feb 1917, Lebanon, Boone, IN
+William MCCANN m. 29 Sep 1842
2-Elizabeth POWELL b. 1823, d. 1830
2-Martha R POWELL b. 5 Apr 1825, KY, d. 10 Nov 1864, Lebanon, Boone, IN
+Riley H. PERKINS m. 25 Nov 1845
2-William C POWELL b. 14 Oct 1827, Rosstown, IN, d. 19 Jan 1900, Lebanon, Boone, IN
+Mary J. CALDWELL
+Mildred Ann PADGETT m. 22 Oct 1868
2-Eliza POWELL b. 10 Jun 1829, Montgomery, IN, d. 1840, Spokane, WA
2-Jeremiah Jerry POWELL b. 1831, KY, d. After 1850
+Jasper VIDITO m. 9 Dec 1847, Boone, IN

Isaac died in 1843, in Clinton, Boone, IN, and Sarah remarried, to Jasper VIDITO, on 9 Dec 1847, in Boone County, IN. Sarah died on 18 Oct 1858 in Clinton, Boone, IN.

3. Charlotte Elizabeth BOYD was born 15 Nov 1795 in Berkeley County, VA, and died in 1797, probably in Berkeley County, before the family left for Kentucky, or perhaps on the journey to Kentucky.

4. John W. BOYD III was born 14 Sep 1797 in Bourbon County, soon to be Nicholas County, KY. He was the first of his family to be born in Kentucky, as his brother William (5) and sister Sarah (3) had been born in Virginia, and Charlotte, who would have been 22 months old when John was born. From [JNNC] we find that John's first wife was named Nancy, and they had 6 children. His second wife, who he married 17 Jun 1828 after moving to Bedford, Lawrence, IN, was Eliza J. EVANS, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (HOWARD) EVANS. He had at least 2 more children with Eliza. John W. BOYD died on 4 Mar 1871 in Bedford. His grave can be seen in New Union Cemetery, Eureka, Lawrence County, Indiana.

1-John W. BOYD III b. 14 Sep 1797, , Nicholas, KY, d. 4 Mar 1871, Bedford

+Nancy UNKNOWN m. 1816
2-William M. BOYD b. 3 Aug 1817, Nicholas, d. 23 Feb 1889, Bedford
+Lucinda A. EVANS b. 22 May 1812, Nicholas, m. 19 Jun 1845, Bedford, d. 5 Nov 1892, Bedford
2-John Moore BOYD b. 1819
+Margaret GEORGE m. 17 Dec 1840
+Julianna J. HOLDER m. 6 Jul 1849
2-Robert BOYD b. 13 Apr 1821, Nicholas, KY, d. 1890
+Euphemia RIBELIN m. 7 Nov 1843
2-James Howard BOYD b. 2 Jun 1823, Nicholas, KY
+Cornelia WILLIAMS m. 22 Feb 1847
2-Sally Ann BOYD b. 1824
+James F. CROOK m. 20 Oct 1944
2-Polly Rebecca BOYD b. 22 Dec 1827, Lawrence, IN

+Eliza J. EVANS m. 12 Jun 1828, Lawrence, IN
2-Emily Mariah BOYD b. 1829
2-Emma M. BOYD b. 1849

It is very surprising to see a 20-year gap between Emily and Emma. This may be a mistake.

The record above, from the 1820 US Census, seems to be for John BOYD III, who lived with his parents in 1810 (above). He married Elizabeth B. PARK, and they have 2 sons.

5. Elijah BOYD was born 29 Mar 1799 in Bourbon, KY, and died in 1836 in Phillips, AR. [JBBC]

On 30 Sep 1826 the post office at Helena, AR had an Elijah BOYD on a list of those who had unclaimed letters. So at least someone thought he was in AR at that time.

Elijah BOYD appeared in the Tax List for St Francis Township, Phillips County, AR in 1828 and 1835, and the Elijah BOYD Estate appears in 1837.

Founded on 1 May 1820, Phillips County, Arkansas Territory has the Mississippi River as its eastern boundary. Its largest city is Helena, which lies in St Francis Township, about 50 miles southwest of Memphis, TN. Arkansas became a state in 1836. So I'm a little sloppy in referring to it as AR before then.

The 1860 Mortality Schedule for St Francis, Phillips, AR is hard to read, but it looks like Isom BOYD, age 18, died in Jul 1859, and Sarah BOYD, age 23, died in Nov 1859. This family suffered several untimely deaths. Elijah died at age 36-7, and 3 of his 5 children died before age 31. The 2 who lived longer both had spouses who didn't.

6. Nancy BOYD

Timeline for Nancy BOYD Jr

1801 Mar 13 - Nancy was born

1819 Sep 23 - Nancy (18) had a child, Evaline Boyd HURD

1819 Nov 5 - Nancy (18) married Nathan HURD (50)

1820 Aug 7 - US Census shows Nancy (19) and Nathan (51) living with her parents

1820 Aug - Nathan HURD (51) died

1820 Nov 3 - Nancy (19) had a second child, Nathan HURD Jr

1823 Dec 14 - Nancy (22) married Alexander KERN (21)

They had 11 more children

1856 Sep 15 - Alexander KERN died

1869 Aug 9 - Nancy died in Fayetteville, Lawrence, IN

Evaline Boyd HURD married her step-second-cousin, Noah KERN (1816 IN - 1885 IN). Her husband's father and her step-father were both grandsons of Conrad KERN (1736 Germany - 1812 NC). See the KERN page.

7. Elisha BOYD was born on 1 Feb 1803 in Nicholas County, KY, and died about 1873 in Carbondale, Jackson County, IL. He was named after his famous uncle, Gen. Elisha BOYD. He married 1) Phebe KERN on 13 May 1824 in Nicholas County, KY, and 2) Mary Jane TILFORD on 17 Aug 1854 in IN.

Phebe KERN was born on 3 Aug 1805 in NC, the daughter of Simeon KERN and Rachel RIBLIN, and sister of Alexander KERN, who married Elisha's sister, Nancy BOYD. Elisha and Phebe had 3 children: Thomas Martin (1825), William E (1828) and Mary Ann (1829). Phebe died on 19 May 1852, at age 46. Her gravestone can be found in Leatherwood Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence, IN.

Mary Jane "Martha" TILFORD was born about 1820 in KY. Martha and Elisha had 4 children: Frank L (1855), Charles Tilford (1857), Luella Bell (1859) and Lovie M (1862). Around 1878 Martha and her children moved to Topeka, KS, where she died on 23 Sep 1891.

Elisha BOYD's mother, Ann Nancy MARTIN, died in Nicholas, KY in 1825, and by 1828 his father and mostly grown siblings had moved to Lawrence County, IN. Elisha and Phebe and family are found there in the 1830 and 1840 US Censuses.

Elisha and Phebe and their 3 children were charter members of the Bedford Christian Church, founded in 1846. This is a Disciples of Christ church, still active today. Elisha was a Deacon, elected as a trustee in 1853. Phebe didn't live to see the first church building, constructed in 1854-5.

In 1850, Elisha had a sizable farm in Lawrence County. Elisha and Phebe had 2 of their grown children living with them. Polly A must be Mary Ann. This says that Phebe/Phoebe was born in NC.

[Thanks to Mike BOYD for the pictures.]

In 1858, Elisha BOYD sold all his land in IN and moved his family to Coles County, IL, to a farm 1 mile from Mattoon. Along with Elisha were 2 of his 3 adult children, and their families, as well as Elisha's second wife and their 2 young children.

By 1860 Elisha and Mary had 1 more child, Luella (1859). This record is hard to find because Elisha BOYD is called E. BODY.

Between 1860 and 1870 Elisha and Mary had moved again, this time to Mattoon County, near Carbondale. Elisha was retired, and had accumulated some wealth. No one in the family could read or write, according to the 1870 US Census. Elisha had moved to Carbondale "in order to provide better educational opportunities for the children." [JBBC, p. 24]

1 Elisha BOYD b: 01 Feb 1803 in Nicholas, KY, d: 1873 in Carbondale, Jackson, IL
+ Phebe KERN b: 03 Aug 1805 in NC, m: 13 May 1824 in Nicholas, KY, d: 19 May 1852 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN
......2 Thomas Martin BOYD b: 31 Oct 1825 in Nicholas, KY, d: 01 Dec 1895 in Gays, Moultrie, IL
...... + Catherine COX b: 21 Dec 1835 in , Lawrence, IN, m: 09 Aug 1854 in Lawrence, IN, d: 11 Dec 1916 in Gays, Moultrie, IL
......2 William E BOYD b: 20 Apr 1828 in Owen, KY, d: 30 Mar 1893
...... + Elizabeth Jane ADAMSON m: 07 Jul 1853
......2 Mary Ann "Polly" BOYD b: 03 Nov 1829 in KY, d: 22 Dec 1903 in KY
...... + James W. WILLS m: 13 Mar 1857
+ Mary Jane "Martha" TILFORD m: 17 Aug 1854 in IN, d: 23 Sep 1891 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS
......2 Frank Leslie BOYD b: 27 Oct 1855 in Lawrence, IN, d: 08 Jul 1928 in KY
...... + Elizabeth RENDLEMAN m: 10 Nov 1878
......2 Charles Tilford BOYD b: 28 Sep 1857 in Lawrence, IN, d: 02 Mar 1886
...... + Ida WEEKS m: 16 Jul 1885
......2 Luella Bell BOYD b: 05 Jul 1859 in Mattoon, Coles, IL, d: 13 Oct 1918
...... + James Madison Sharp SHEPHERD m: 05 Feb 1884
......2 Lovie M BOYD b: 08 Jul 1862 in Mattoon, Coles, IL, d: 14 Apr 1897
...... + Francis Marion RAINS m: 28 Feb 1884

8. Sally Ann "Polly" BOYD was, according to [JBBC, p. 25], born 15 Jan 1805 in Nicholas, KY, and died 1829 in TX. She married 1) Elijah HURD on 9 Mar 1820, at age 15, and had 2 children: Elisha and Martin. She married 2) John SHELLY on 25 Sep 1823, at age 18, and had 3 more children: William C, Charles, and James. I have not been able to verify the marriage to SHELLY.

Instead, it seems that Polly and Elijah HURD moved to St Francis, Phillips, AR along with Polly's brother, Elijah BOYD, and his family.

The gravestone for Polly HURD in Harris Chapel Cemetery, Wynne, Cross Country, AR has birth date 15 Feb 1805, and death 19 Jul 1878, at age 73. The engraving tells us that she was the wife of Elijah HURD. In the same cemetery is the gravestone of Elijah HURD, born 16 Dec 1799, died 30 Dec 1870, at age 71.

Elijah HURD appeared on a tax list in 1836 and 1838 for St Thomas Township, Phillips County, AR, and in 1837 and 1839 for St Francis Township, Phillips County, AR.

The 1850 Census has Elijah HURD and family in St Francis County. His wife is now named Mary, so I'm not sure this is the right family. If so, they had moved to AR by 1834.

Elijah HURD wrote his will on 3 Jan 1871 in the Town of Wittsburg, Cross County, AR. Named in his will are:

Polly HURD, wife

Washington HURD son

Ann Rebecca McKENZIE, daughter

Mary HAGGARD, daughter

Sophronia Albertine DAUGHERTY, granddaughter

Columbus HURD, son

9. Virginia Jane "Jennie" BOYD was born 29 Sep 1806 in Nicholas, KY, and died 18 Dec 1880 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN. She married 1) Elisha GROVES or GRAVES on 19 Sep 1820 in Nicholas,KY. This was 10 days before her 14th birthday. Witnesses: Elijah HURD and Elisha BOYD. Jennie next married 2) Isaac CALLAHAN on 25 May 1825, in Nicholas, KY. They moved to Lawrence County, IN with their 2 small children, around 1827, where they had 11 more children.

Isaac was born 14 Dec 1805 in Somerset, Somerset, PA, and died 26 Feb 1883 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN. He was the son of Thomas CALLAHAN and Betty MARTIN, the sister of Ann Nancy MARTIN. Thus Isaac and Jennie were 1st cousins, since their mothers were sisters. I have not found any information about their parents or siblings, but I suspect that they are descendants of John J. MARTIN, who was one of the original settlers in the Germanna Colony in Virginia, 1714, and was also my ancestor. See the John J. MARTIN page.

Isaac and Jennie settled on a farm southwest of Fayetteville, when they first moved to Lawrence County in 1827. After his father died in 1853, they moved to the farm that had belonged to Jennie's father, north of New Union. Isaac was a shoemaker by trade, but apparently liked farm living.

In 1830, Isaac CALLAHAN had a family of 6. One of the daughters under 5 must not have survived to 1840.

In 1840 they had a family of 9. There should be 2 boys in the 10 thru 14 category: Elisha would be 11-12 and John would be 13-14. Maybe one of them was working outside the home. That could explain why 1 person was employed in mining.

The gravestone for John Thomas CALLAHAN in Odons Old Cemetery, Odon, Daviess, IN has engraved death date 10 Dec 1856 and age 30 yrs 8 mos 15 days, so his birth date would be 26 Mar 1826. The 1850 US Census says his birthplace was KY.

1 Isaac CALLAHAN b: 14 Dec 1805 in Somerset, Somerset, PA, d: 26 Feb 1883 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN
+ Virginia Jane "Jennie" BOYD b: 29 Sep 1806 in Nicholas, KY, m: 1825 in Nicholas, KY, d: 18 Dec 1880 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN
......2 John Thomas CALLAHAN b: 26 Mar 1826 in KY, d: 10 Dec 1856
...... + Melinda "Peggy" SMITH b: 1828 in IN, m: 5 Feb 1846 in Lawrence, IN
......2 Sarah Elizabeth CALLAHAN b: Sep 1827 in KY, d: 23 Jan 1907 in Indian Creek, Lawrence, IN
...... + William MOORE m: 28 Jun 1846 in IN
......2 Elisha Boyd CALLAHAN b: 27 Nov 1828 in IN, d: 25 Oct 1909
......2 Sciotha Evans CALLAHAN b: 24 Sep 1831 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN, d: 30 Oct 1899 in Odon, Daviess, IN
...... + Margaret Ann SEARS b: 27 Apr 1835 in Lawrence, IN, m: 06 Apr 1851 in Lawrence, IN, d: 06 Oct 1909 in Odon, Daviess, IN
......2 Nancy Jane CALLAHAN b: 1831 in IN, d: Odon, Daviess, IN
...... + Premenus LAMB m: 21 Mar 1847
......2 Solomon Frazier CALLAHAN b: 1834 in IN, d: 1835 in IN
......2 Phoebe Ann CALLAHAN b: 1836 in IN, d: 1837 in IN
......2 Isaac Martin CALLAHAN b: 26 Feb 1838 in Bedford, IN, d: 10 Feb 1904 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, OK
...... + Sophie Oregon TANNEHILL
...... + Lottie DARNELL
......2 William Alexander CALLAHAN b: 07 May 1840 in IN, d: 1922 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN
...... + Arminda Jane REYNOLDS m: 29 Nov 1857
...... + Jemima KIMBELL m: 14 Jul 1858
......2 Nathaniel J. CALLAHAN b: 1842 in IN, d: 1862
...... + Emily PHIPPS
......2 Evaline CALLAHAN b: Sep 1844 in IN, d: IN
...... + Oscar TUMEY
......2 Henry C. CALLAHAN b: 05 May 1846 in IN, d: 16 Sep 1906
...... + Susan M. TATUM
......2 Polly A CALLAHAN b: 1848 in IN, d: 1867 in Lawrence, IN

9. Isaac BOYD was born 23 Sep 1808 in Nicholas County, KY, and died 13 Nov 1889 in Bedford, Lawrence County, IN, at age 81. He married Mahala Mable EVANS on 17 Jul 1828 in Lawrence County, IN. Mahala was born 22 May 1810 in Lincoln County, KY and died 12 May 1865 in Bedford.

Isaac BOYD lived in Bedford most of his life, and died of senile gangreen. He was a carpenter and mechanic. [JBBC, p. 27]

In 1830, the Isaac BOYD household seems to be missing an adult male, so where was Isaac BOYD?

There were several Mary BOYDs in Indiana who were born around 1836-40. I'm not sure which is the right one.

1 Isaac BOYD b: 23 Sep 1808 in Nicholas, KY, d: 13 Nov 1889 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN
+ Mahala Mable EVANS b: 22 May 1810 in Lincoln, KY, m: 17 Jul 1828 in Lawrence, IN, d: 12 May 1865 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN
......2 William E. BOYD b: 13 Jun 1829 in Lawrence, IN, d: 28 Jan 1899 in Lawrence, IN
...... + Martha E. JORDAN m: 04 Apr 1853
......2 Eliza Rebecca BOYD b: 03 Oct 1831 in Utica, Clark, IN, d: 31 May 1907 in Perry, Monroe, IN
...... + Alfred Perry WRIGHT b: 11 Feb 1833 in Indian Creek, Monroe, IN, m: 07 Mar 1850 in Monroe, IN, d: 21 Aug 1917 in Indian Creek, Monroe, IN
......2 Lucinda BOYD b: Mar 1834 in Bedford, Lawrence, IN, d: Aft. 1910
...... + Lewis R. MORGAN m: Abt. 1850
......2 Mary E. BOYD b: 1839 in IN
......2 Evaline E. BOYD b: 1842 in Lawrence, IN, d: 1865
...... + Tilman J. CHAMBERS m: 15 Aug 1859
......2 Susan E. BOYD b: 1846 in Lawrence, IN, d: 1847

10. Juliana Asia BOYD was born 27 May 1810 in Nicholas County, KY and died about 1870 in Martin County, IN. She married Jacob FISHER on 06 Oct 1830 in Bedford. Juliana and Jacob were my ggg-grandparents.

See the Jacob FISHER page.

11. Ann Rebecca BOYD was born 26 Mar 1812 in Nicholas County, KY, and died 07 May 1904 in Dubuque, Dubuque County, IA, at age 92.. She married William WOODHOUSE in 1830 in Lawrence County, IN. William was born about 1808 in VA.

In [JBBC, p. 28] we find the story, "They lived near Kokomo, Howard County, IN for a while and in 1842 built a large raft and floated down the White River into the Wabash, then into the Ohio to the Mississippi, from where they took their belongings by steamer upriver to Dubuque, Iowa. They settled 12 miles northwest of Dubuque in Durango...."

It would seem to require strong motivation for a family with 3 young children to board a raft and travel 350 miles down river, then take a steamer up another river some 450 miles, to a particular location. Perhaps the motivation was the money to be made in mining. The Dubuque area had a thriving business in the mining of many resources, especially lead. William WOODHOUSE was a miner in 1850.

The next family is headed by Sarah SMITH, with no adult male. I think Thomas should have been included in family #841.

The 1856 Iowa State Census has the WOODHOUSE family in Dubuque County. This census also tells us that the family has been in IA for 14 years, so they moved there in 1841-2.

The towns and townships of Dubuque County, IA are shown in this 1875 map. The tiny town of Durango is in the southeast corner of Jefferson Township.

1 Ann Rebecca BOYD b: 26 Mar 1812 in Nicholas, KY, d: 07 May 1904 in Dubuque, Dubuque, IA
+ William WOODHOUSE b: 1808 in VA, m: 1830 in Lawrence, IN, d: Jun 1869 in Durango, Dubuque, IA
......2 David WOODHOUSE d: Bef. 1842
......2 Elizabeth Jane WOODHOUSE b: 1834
...... + Garrett F. BLISS m: 23 May 1852
......2 Joseph Martin WOODHOUSE b: 06 Dec 1836 in IN, d: 20 Apr 1925
...... + Anna PYLE m: 28 Nov 1861
......2 William Boyd WOODHOUSE b: 1839, d: 9 Aug 1913
......2 William H. Paley WOODHOUSE b: 1841, d: Aft. 1856
......2 Mary Ann "Polly" WOODHOUSE b: 1843, d: Aft. 1856
......2 Amanda E. "Mandy" WOODHOUSE b: 1844, d: 1914
...... + Jonathan L. CLARK m: 21 Oct 1862
......2 Susan Rebecca WOODHOUSE b: 26 Oct 1847, d: 04 Jul 1883
...... + Rev. J. Francis FAWKES m: 02 Sep 1869
......2 Malina F. WOODHOUSE b: Abt. 1854 in Iowa, d: Jul 1919

If this is the right one, William and Ann's son William Jr was an invalid. He was cared for by his brother Jonathan (?), and lived to age 74, in Dearborn, near St Joseph, MO.

12. Charles BOYD was born 21 May 1814 in Nicholas County, KY and died 02 Jun 1814 in Nicholas County, KY, at age 12 days.

13. Lucinda BOYD was born 06 Dec 1816 in Nicholas County, KY and died in Sep 1817 Nicholas County, KY at age about 9 months.

Sources

[SH] Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana

[JBBC] John Boyd of Berkeley County, West Virginia, by Gordon W. Paul, 1991

[KF] The Kern family of Rowan County, N.C., Nicholas, KY, Indiana, Iowa, 1992 (requires Ancestry license]

[1795] Kentucky Map 1795

[1804] Kentucky Map 1804

[1814] Kentucky Map 1814

[1822] Kentucky Map 1822

[KS] Kentucky Soldiers in the War of 1812

[ECS] American history and its geographic conditions (1903) by Ellen Churchill Semple

Last updated 30 Apr 2022 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.