THE MORNING HEARLD Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Publication Date: Friday, February 22, 1924 Page: 13 TODAY'S STORY IN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY Service and Captivity of Captain John Boyd, Born February 22, 1750 By Frederic A. Godcharles (Copyright, 1923, by the Author) One of the distinguished patriots of the Continentat Army during the the Revolution was Captain John Boyd, a frontiersman who suffered Indian captivity and lived to rejoin his family and again become one of the foremost citizens of his time. The Boyd family gained a foothold in America when John Boyd, the emigrant from the north of Ireland, landed on these shores in 1744, and settled in Chester County. He married Sarah DeVane, and they removed to Northumberland County, where they continuted to reside until their decease. They were the parent of three patiortic sons, John, born February 22, 1750, Thomas, born 1752, and William born 1755. William Boyd was a lieutenant in the Twelfth Regiment of the Continortul Line, under Colonel William Cooke. He fell at the battle of Brandyline. Thomas Boyd was a lieutenant in General John Sullivan's command when he made his successful campaign against the Six Nations in Northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. In 1770, Lieutenant Boyd was in charge of a scouting detail on the march when he was captured by the Indians and Tories under the command of Colonel John Butler, near Little Beard's Town, on the Genesee. Boyd was surrounded by a strong detachment of the enemy, who killed fourteen of his men, he and a soldier were captured and only eight escaped. When General Sullivan learned of Boyd's fate the advance was quickened in the hope they could reach him, but on arriving at Genesee Castle, his remains and those of the other prisoners, were found sourrounded by all the horrid evidences of savage Barbarity. The torture fires were yet burning. Flaming pine knots had been thrust into their flesh, then finger nails pulled out, their tongues cut off, and their heads severed from their bodies. John, the eldest brother, was born in Chester County, where he spent his boyhood days, je joined his parents and brother in Northumberland in 1773, which was then almost the frontier. He took an early and decided part in favor of the colonists in the struggle forliberty. His commission as a First Lieutenant in the Continental Army is dated in May 1777, which rank he held until February 1781, when he accepted a Captain's commission from the State of Pennsylvania, which had resolved to raise and equip three companies of Rangers for the defense of the western frontier, then sorely distressed by the hostile incursions of the savages. It was to the command of one of these companies that Capt John Boyd was promoted. In June, 1781, while marching his men across the Allegheny Mountains he fell into an ambuscade of Indians near the headwaters of the Raystown branch of the Juniata River, in Hedford County and was made a prisoner with a number of his soldiers, and led captive thru the wilderness to Canada. One of thhe Indian chiefs, who was instrumental in saving Captain Boyd' life, when asked "Why he did not put his prisoners to death?" raised his eyes and pointint to the heavens, replied, "The Great Spirit protects him." Captain Boyd was confined during his imprisonment in Canada on an island in the St. Lawrence, near Montreal. In the spring of 1782 an exchange of prisoners took place and he was returned to Philadelphia by water with a number of his fellow soldiers. Previous to his capture he had been engaged int he battles of White Plains, Germantown, Brandywine, and Stony Point. He was one of the fifty who composed the "Forlong hope, " led by Mad Anthony Wayne at Stony Point, who met within the fort. He was of West Point, and witnessed the execution of the unfortunate Major Andre. The story of Boyd' experiences after his captivity is possby the most accourate of those handed down to the present generation for he lived many years afterwards. At the time of the ambuseade Captain Boyd was wounded during the skirmish, but after his capture and inspite of his wounds he made a desperate effort to escapt by running but was pursued and received three terrible gashes in his head with a tomahawk, when he was recaptured. The wounds to his head ever afterwards caused him to keep up a continual winking. The Indians immediately struck across the country reaching the West Branch of the Susquanhana near the mouth of the Shippenburg? Creek, they also had another prisoner named Ross, who was wounded even more severely than Boyd, and could travel no further. The Indians determined to massacre him in themost cruel manner. He was fastended to a stake, with his arms tied behind his back, his boyd was cut with sharp points and pitch line splinters stuck into the incisions, when the fire was lighted and the savages danced aroundh im in a fiendish glee, all the time uttering the most hideous yells. Heis tortures were terrible before death relieved him. During this tragic scene Captain Boyd, faint from the loss of blood, was tied to a small oak sapling in such a position that he could not refrain from being a silent spectater of the horrible scene: realizing that he was soon to suffer the same tortures. He summonded up all his courage and resigned himself to his fate. Certainly his thoughts must have reminded him of the sufferings ofh is heroic brother only two years before, almost the same manner. While the incarnate fiends were making preparations to torture him to death by tuches?, he sang a pretty Masonic song, with a plaintive air which attracted their attention and they listened to it closely until it was finished. At this critical moment an old squaw came up and claimed him for her son. The Indians did not interfere and she immediately dressed his wounds and attended to his comfort carefully guarding him during their journey to Canada. This old squaw accompanied Captain Boyd to Quebec where he was placed in a hospital and attended by an English surgeon. When he recovered he was turned out on the street without a penny or a friend. He found a Masonic Inn and made himself known to the proprietor who cared for him until he was exchanged. The old squaw who befriended him belonged to the Oneida tribe. Captain Boyd remembered her kindly as one of his bests friends and frequently sent her presents of money and trinkets. On one occasion he made a journey north to visit her in her aboriginal home and personally thank her for saving his life. Captain Boyd was a merchant and in partnership with Colonel William Wilson operated a mill on Chilliaquaque Creek, Northumberland County for many years. He was one of the surviving officers who enjoyed the provisions of the act of Congress, May 1828. He was a delegate in the convention that ratified the Federal Consitution December 12, 1787. He was an elector of president and vice president in 1792, when he voted for Washington and Adams. He was appointed by President Washington, Inspector of Internal Revenue for Pennsylvania. He also served as Registar and Recorder of Northumberland County. Captain Boyd, married May 13, 1791, Rebecca, daughter of Colonel John Bull, famous Revolutionary officer. The were the parents of five daughters and two sons. He died February 23, 1831. I transcribed this article word for word. The paper was very faded and some parts hard to read. Thought it was interested and might help someone. Mindy

Mindy and others This John Boyd came from Northumberland Co., PA and would from my comments be outlined in Pennsylvania Genealogies, William H. Egle, 1886. I have part of this family outlined in chapter 4/245. You will note below that Sara De Vane was a Huguenot, but John is said to have come form North of Ireland. So could this Boyd family have had some links to Holland before coming to America or did this couple meet in America? Mike Boyd Historical Committee, HBS The origin of this family is from the North of Ireland with Scotch parentage. In many ways it is very similar to the outline of the family set out in Ch 2/135 Boyd of Washingtonville, Northumberland Co., PA as this family also were in similar battles during the Revolution. I have been given this information from Mr James T. Curran, 1529 Denniston Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15217 USA which he has taken from Pennsylvania Genealogies, William H. Egle, 1886. It would appear that Mr Egle had two slightly different versions. The following is an amalgamation of the two, whoever I have slightly changed the format.. S1 John Boyd, bc 1719 (in the north of Ireland of Scotch parentage), d 178x ( ), bu , m / /1748 ( ), Sarah DeVane, dau of and (nee ) De Vane, b 1724 ( ), d 10/11/1813 ( ), bu , and had issue:- [Lived: ] - Sarah was a Huguenot. [My question, where they in this part of PA or was there some link with John's parents and Sarah's. It should be remembered that the First Earl's 4 brothers all fought in the Scots Dutch Brigade in the Flanders. Could there be such a link?] >From the journal of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania for June 15th, 1781, we have the following: "Petition of Sarah Boyd, of the town of Northumberland, in the county of Northumberland, widow, was read, representing that at an early period of life she had the misfortune of being deprived of her husband, and was left to struggle with many difficulties to support herself and three sons, her only children. That at the commencement of the present war, all of her said sons took an early and decided part in the grand contest, and she cheerfully consented to their serving their distressed country, that her youngest son, William, a Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania regiment fell in the battle of Brandywine. That her son, Thomas, after gaving sharing in all the dangers and fatigues of the Canadian expedition, fell a sacrifice to Indian barbarity, in the expedition commanded by Sullivan and that her remaining son now commands a company appointed for the defense of the frontiers of this State, and praying that she may be allowed the depreciation of the pay of her deceased sons, the same having been transferred to her by her surviving son." On the 29th of the same month, we have this: "That having considered the singular case of Sarah Boyd, as represented in her petition of the 15th inst., they would most earnestly recommend it to the House to make her a grant of a sum of money in lieu and satisfaction of the depreciation which would have descended to the widow and children of her deceased sons if any there had been." "p. 696, A - An act to settle and adjust the accounts of the troops of this State in the service of the United States and for other purposes therein mentioned, was brought in engrossed and compared at the table." "Resolved, that it be enacted into a law and signed by the Speaker." In the Northumberland Gazette of November 10, 1803, the following obituary appears: "Died on Saturday evening last, at the advanced age of 79 years, Mrs. Sarah Boyd. She had long resided in this county during which time her character had been well-known to be that of a sincere Christian and a particular friend to all those who stood in need of her assistance. No woman, perhaps, has ever died in this country whose loss has been more sincerely regretted than that of Mrs. Boyd. On Sunday afternoon, her remains were conducted to the place of interment attended by her relatives and other friends." ----- Original Message ----- From: Mindy Householder To: Boyd@rootsweb.com ; Mike Boyd Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 11:23 PM Subject: John Boyd THE MORNING HEARLD Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Publication Date: Friday, February 22, 1924 Page: 13 TODAY'S STORY IN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY Service and Captivity of Captain John Boyd, Born February 22, 1750 By Frederic A. Godcharles (Copyright, 1923, by the Author) One of the distinguished patriots of the Continentat Army during the the Revolution was Captain John Boyd, a frontiersman who suffered Indian captivity and lived to rejoin his family and again become one of the foremost citizens of his time. The Boyd family gained a foothold in America when John Boyd, the emigrant from the north of Ireland, landed on these shores in 1744, and settled in Chester County. He married Sarah DeVane, and they removed to Northumberland County, where they continuted to reside until their decease. They were the parent of three patiortic sons, John, born February 22, 1750, Thomas, born 1752, and William born 1755. William Boyd was a lieutenant in the Twelfth Regiment of the Continortul Line, under Colonel William Cooke. He fell at the battle of Brandyline. Thomas Boyd was a lieutenant in General John Sullivan's command when he made his successful campaign against the Six Nations in Northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. In 1770, Lieutenant Boyd was in charge of a scouting detail on the march when he was captured by the Indians and Tories under the command of Colonel John Butler, near Little Beard's Town, on the Genesee. Boyd was surrounded by a strong detachment of the enemy, who killed fourteen of his men, he and a soldier were captured and only eight escaped. When General Sullivan learned of Boyd's fate the advance was quickened in the hope they could reach him, but on arriving at Genesee Castle, his remains and those of the other prisoners, were found sourrounded by all the horrid evidences of savage Barbarity. The torture fires were yet burning. Flaming pine knots had been thrust into their flesh, then finger nails pulled out, their tongues cut off, and their heads severed from their bodies. John, the eldest brother, was born in Chester County, where he spent his boyhood days, je joined his parents and brother in Northumberland in 1773, which was then almost the frontier. He took an early and decided part in favor of the colonists in the struggle forliberty. His commission as a First Lieutenant in the Continental Army is dated in May 1777, which rank he held until February 1781, when he accepted a Captain's commission from the State of Pennsylvania, which had resolved to raise and equip three companies of Rangers for the defense of the western frontier, then sorely distressed by the hostile incursions of the savages. It was to the command of one of these companies that Capt John Boyd was promoted. In June, 1781, while marching his men across the Allegheny Mountains he fell into an ambuscade of Indians near the headwaters of the Raystown branch of the Juniata River, in Hedford County and was made a prisoner with a number of his soldiers, and led captive thru the wilderness to Canada. One of thhe Indian chiefs, who was instrumental in saving Captain Boyd' life, when asked "Why he did not put his prisoners to death?" raised his eyes and pointint to the heavens, replied, "The Great Spirit protects him." Captain Boyd was confined during his imprisonment in Canada on an island in the St. Lawrence, near Montreal. In the spring of 1782 an exchange of prisoners took place and he was returned to Philadelphia by water with a number of his fellow soldiers. Previous to his capture he had been engaged int he battles of White Plains, Germantown, Brandywine, and Stony Point. He was one of the fifty who composed the "Forlong hope, " led by Mad Anthony Wayne at Stony Point, who met within the fort. He was of West Point, and witnessed the execution of the unfortunate Major Andre. The story of Boyd' experiences after his captivity is possby the most accourate of those handed down to the present generation for he lived many years afterwards. At the time of the ambuseade Captain Boyd was wounded during the skirmish, but after his capture and inspite of his wounds he made a desperate effort to escapt by running but was pursued and received three terrible gashes in his head with a tomahawk, when he was recaptured. The wounds to his head ever afterwards caused him to keep up a continual winking. The Indians immediately struck across the country reaching the West Branch of the Susquanhana near the mouth of the Shippenburg? Creek, they also had another prisoner named Ross, who was wounded even more severely than Boyd, and could travel no further. The Indians determined to massacre him in themost cruel manner. He was fastended to a stake, with his arms tied behind his back, his boyd was cut with sharp points and pitch line splinters stuck into the incisions, when the fire was lighted and the savages danced aroundh im in a fiendish glee, all the time uttering the most hideous yells. Heis tortures were terrible before death relieved him. During this tragic scene Captain Boyd, faint from the loss of blood, was tied to a small oak sapling in such a position that he could not refrain from being a silent spectater of the horrible scene: realizing that he was soon to suffer the same tortures. He summonded up all his courage and resigned himself to his fate. Certainly his thoughts must have reminded him of the sufferings ofh is heroic brother only two years before, almost the same manner. While the incarnate fiends were making preparations to torture him to death by tuches?, he sang a pretty Masonic song, with a plaintive air which attracted their attention and they listened to it closely until it was finished. At this critical moment an old squaw came up and claimed him for her son. The Indians did not interfere and she immediately dressed his wounds and attended to his comfort carefully guarding him during their journey to Canada. This old squaw accompanied Captain Boyd to Quebec where he was placed in a hospital and attended by an English surgeon. When he recovered he was turned out on the street without a penny or a friend. He found a Masonic Inn and made himself known to the proprietor who cared for him until he was exchanged. The old squaw who befriended him belonged to the Oneida tribe. Captain Boyd remembered her kindly as one of his bests friends and frequently sent her presents of money and trinkets. On one occasion he made a journey north to visit her in her aboriginal home and personally thank her for saving his life. Captain Boyd was a merchant and in partnership with Colonel William Wilson operated a mill on Chilliaquaque Creek, Northumberland County for many years. He was one of the surviving officers who enjoyed the provisions of the act of Congress, May 1828. He was a delegate in the convention that ratified the Federal Consitution December 12, 1787. He was an elector of president and vice president in 1792, when he voted for Washington and Adams. He was appointed by President Washington, Inspector of Internal Revenue for Pennsylvania. He also served as Registar and Recorder of Northumberland County. Captain Boyd, married May 13, 1791, Rebecca, daughter of Colonel John Bull, famous Revolutionary officer. The were the parents of five daughters and two sons. He died February 23, 1831. ã?? I transcribed this article word for word. The paper was very faded and some parts hard to read. Thought it was interested and might help someone. Mindy

List Members these are the details that I have for Capt John Boyd's children. It would appear that only 4 of the 7 were married but I do not know if they had any children or not from the sources that gave me this information T1 John Boyd, b 22/2/1750 ( , Chester Co., PA), d 13/2/1831 ( , Northumberland, Pa. ), bu , m 13/5/1794 ( ), Rebecca Bull, dau of Col. John and (nee ) Bull, b /11/1767 ( ), d / /18xx ( ), bu , and had issue:- U1 Sarah-Haynes Boyd, b 9/4/1796 ( ), d 1866 (Peoria, Illinois), bu , m. 10/10/1822 ( ), Rev. William R. Smith, son of and (nee ) Smith, b / /17xx ( ) d / /18xx ( ), bu , and had issue:- [Lived: ] - William was a noted preacher at Sunbury. [need to check with James Curran if this is part of his family] U2 Annie-Smith Boyd, b 8/2/1798 ( ), d 24/11/1801 ( ), bu . U3 Mary-Philips Boyd, b 24/11/1799 ( ), d 7/12/1801 ( ), bu . U4 Elizabeth-Rittenhouse Boyd, b 20/9/1801 ( ), d 26/9/1826 (Alton, Illinois), bu , m / /182x ( , ), Dr. Henry Kent Lathey, son of and (nee ) Lathey, b 17xx ( ), d 18xx ( ), bu , and had issue:- ? [Lived: ] U5 John-Benjamin Boyd, b 11/1/1804 ( ) d / /18xx ( , Northumberland, ), bu , unm. [Lived: ] - He studied law and admitted to the bar at Sunbury, but never practiced. U6 William-Thomas Boyd, b 20/11/1805 ( ), d / /18xx ( ), bu , m / /18xx ( , ), Grace Slater, dau of and (nee ) Slater, b 18xx ( ), d 18xx ( ), bu , and had issue:- ? [Lived: ] U7 Marie-Josepha Boyd, b 16/9/1808 ( ), d / /18xx ( ), living 1887, bu , m 28/11/1832, Hon. Stephen/Samuel Freeman Headley, son of and (nee ) Headley, b / /18xx ( ), d / /18xx ( ), bu , and had issue:- [Lived: ] - Marie in 1887 was residing at Morristown, NJ. Stephen was a lawyer, senator from Columbia county c. 1850. If any members of the list have any more data on any of these children's families, the List and I would would like to hear from you please. Would there be any information on John Boyd's family from Colonel John Bull's family tree? Thak you Mike Boyd Historical Committee, HBS ----- Original Message ----- From: Mindy Householder To: Boyd@rootsweb.com ; Mike Boyd Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 11:23 PM Subject: John Boyd THE MORNING HEARLD Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Publication Date: Friday, February 22, 1924 Page: 13 TODAY'S STORY IN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY Service and Captivity of Captain John Boyd, Born February 22, 1750 By Frederic A. Godcharles (Copyright, 1923, by the Author) One of the distinguished patriots of the Continentat Army during the the Revolution was Captain John Boyd, a frontiersman who suffered Indian captivity and lived to rejoin his family and again become one of the foremost citizens of his time. The Boyd family gained a foothold in America when John Boyd, the emigrant from the north of Ireland, landed on these shores in 1744, and settled in Chester County. He married Sarah DeVane, and they removed to Northumberland County, where they continuted to reside until their decease. They were the parent of three patiortic sons, John, born February 22, 1750, Thomas, born 1752, and William born 1755. John, the eldest brother, was born in Chester County, where he spent his boyhood days, he joined his parents and brother in Northumberland in 1773, which was then almost the frontier. He took an early and decided part in favor of the colonists in the struggle for liberty. Captain Boyd was a merchant and in partnership with Colonel William Wilson operated a mill on Chilliaquaque Creek, Northumberland County for many years. Captain Boyd, married May 13, 1791, Rebecca, daughter of Colonel John Bull, famous Revolutionary officer. The were the parents of five daughters and two sons. He died February 23, 1831. I transcribed this article word for word. The paper was very faded and some parts hard to read. Thought it was interested and might help someone. Mindy