Boyd Slaves

This information is presented in the hope that it may be of use to those researching African-American ancestry. It is rare to find lists of slaves with actual names!

Elisha BOYD (1769-1841) was a General in the War of 1812. After the war, became the richest man in Berkeley County, West Virginia. When he died in 1841, his estate included 111 slaves, which were distributed to his sons and sons-in-law, in a settlement dated 9 Nov 1841, on file at the Berkeley County Courthouse, in Martinsburg, WV.

Sarah Ann BOYD, b. 29 Mar 1797, d. 16 Jul 1868, daughter of Elisha and Mary (WAGGONER) BOYD, married Philip Clayton PENDLETON on 25 Nov 1813. To Philip C. PENDLETON were allotted 18 slaves from the estate of Elisha BOYD:

Ann Rebecca BOYD married Col. Humphrey B. POWELL, to whom were allotted 16 slaves:

To Charles James FAULKNER were alloted 29 slaves:

To Andrew H.H. BOYD were allotted 17 slaves:

To John Elisha BOYD were allotted 23 slaves:

Amongest the Slaves of the late ELISHA BOYD are three who are charges upon the estate to wit: Amy, Dick and Isom. For greater conscience and with a view to their being attended to, Amy is consigned to the general care of CHARLES JAMES FAULKNER, Dick to A.H.H. BOYD, and Isom to JOHN ELISHA BOYD - they are expected to make provisions for their support at the expense of the estate.

All the slaves are taken at the appraisement valuation to be accounted for in the general and final settlement of the estate, except Bill Parks, in whose case the valuation of the appraisers if canceled and expunged, all which has been done to our joint and mutual satisfaction and which is certified to the County Court of Berkeley with a view to its being recorded.

Andrew H.H. BOYD biography

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

References

[B] Boydville historic mansion owned by Elisha Boyd

[BB] Boyd Biographies

[C] Cenantua's Blog/Christian F. Laise’s ties to Berkeley County’s freedmen and Unionists

[EB] Elisha Boyd on Wikipedia

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

Last updated 20 Aug 2020 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.