I was recently given a website that outlined the descendants of Nicholas Boyd, the eldest child Cooper Boyd and Elizabeth Bracken. Cooper Boyd is the third child of John Boyd (1731-1799) and Agnes Cooper of Lancaster Co, PA. This John is the fifth child of Samuel Boyd (1689-1770) who married Margaret Campbell, most likely in County Antrim, Ireland, and came to America in 1736. While Samuel, was the first child of John Boyd (1656-17xx) and Miss Moore, daughter of James Moore, Sr. of Ireland. It is assumed that Samuel lived in County Antrim and he is said to be the son of Captain Adam Boyd of Ireland, whose origins are uncertain but a number of sources say he came to Ireland with the Scottish Army in the 1640’s. This has yet to be proved. He might also have come with Cromwell’s Army or been a “Captain” with one of the local Irish forces of this period defending the Protestant’s of Ireland. I do not known the origins of “James Moore, Sr. of Ireland”, but I do know that there was a Moore family in the area between Ballymoney and Dunlace in northern County Antrim. This family stems from the Mure’s of Rowallen in Ayrshire who had married a Margaret Boyd of Bonshaw in 1494. So this Moore family of Ireland, may have maintain a link between the Boyds and Moores which the family of James Moore might be able to This Captain Adam Boyd, is also claimed to be the great grandfather of Rev Adam Boyd of Upper Octorara, Chester County, PA, who was born in 1692 in Ballymoney, County Antrim. With Rev Adam Boyd being the fourth Adam Boyd in a line. It is said that Cooper Boyd was born in Drumore Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on 18 December 1758. (From memory Drumore township is next to or near Chestnut Level, Lancaster County, PA.). He died on 12 August 1832 in Harford County, Maryland, but the town is not given. His wife, Elizabeth Bracken, was born 11 February 1764 in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware and died on 3 November 1840 in Hartford County, Maryland. (Again no town given.) Children of Elizabeth Bracken and Cooper Boyd are: 1. Nicholas Boyd was born 13 MAR 1783 in Harford County, Maryland, and died 2 JAN 1846 in Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Rachel Weeks 2 SEP 1818 in Harford County, Maryland. She was born 23 AUG 1793 in Harford County, Maryland, and died 25 JUN 1848 in Street, Harford County, Maryland. 2. John Boyd was born ABT 1784, and died BEF 1848. He married ????? Ailes. 3. Susannah Boyd was born ABT 1785, and died UNKNOWN. She married Robert Smith in about 1800, while he was born about 1780. 4. Joseph Boyd was born 6 AUG 1789, and died ABT 1865. He married Mary Heiner who was born about 1790. 5. Cooper S. Boyd, Sr., was born 5 JAN 1792 in Harford County, Maryland, and died 30 MAY 1850 in Harford County, Maryland. He married Milcah Taylor on 22 Feb. 1821 in Harford County, Maryland. She was born 13 FEB 1802 in Maryland, and died 25 DEC 1887 in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia. 6. Alice Boyd, was born ABT 1794, and died UNKNOWN. She married Samuel Ailes. He was born NOV 1777 in Probably Pennsylvania, and died AFT 14 JAN 1834 in Muskingum County, Ohio. (It is not given if Samuel was a brother to John Boyd’s wife (2). 7. Betsey Boyd was born 16 APR 1794. (it is not clear if she married or died young.) 8. Sarah Boyd, was born ABT 1800, and died BEF 1848 in Harford County, Maryland. She married Richard Ward, Jr. on 23 Jan. 1820. He died before 1840 Harford County, Maryland. 9. Margaret Jane Eleanor (Janellen) Boyd, was born 6 JUL 1805 in Harford County, Maryland, and died 16 SEP 1875 in Mahaska County, Iowa. She married James E. Fisher 22 Oct. 1821 in York County, Pennsylvania, son of Thomas Fisher. He was born ABT 1795 in Harford County, Maryland, and died 14 MAY 1852 in Kenton County, Kentucky. The only town given for these children is “Street, Harford County, Maryland” for the son Nicholas Boyd. So I am uncertain if this might be the town/area that Cooper Boyd and Elizabeth Bracken might have lived in, but it would be a starting point searching for Land, Census, Vital and other records for this family. The other area to search would be the Harford County histories. Are any of these children part of your family tree? If so, I would like to hear from you please, so I can add your known family to the family Chapter for Captain Adam Boyd of Ireland. I would also like to hear form anyone who might be able to add to the origins of any of the spouse families, whom seem to carry a number of good Ayrshire names. Thank you Mike Boyd Historical Committee House of Boyd Society