I would like to pose a theory for discussion which may shed some light on a question that seems to have plagued researchers of ROBERT BOYD and ROSANNAH STEWART for decades. This will involve all descendants of JOHN BOYD, Sr., known generally as John Boyd of Ballymena. This John Boyd Sr. was from County Antrim, Ireland, and appeared in South Carolina sometime before 1772, when he petitioned the South Carolina Council for a grant of land. Much has been written on his known descendants, John, Hugh and David. This theory may add another son, my Robert Boyd of Newberry County, SC who moved to Meriwether County, GA about 1832-33. He was in Newberry in the 1830 census, but made land purchases in Meriwether in 1833 and 1834. I have copies of the actual deeds filed in the Meriwether County courthouse. He lived with his son William in 1840 and died in 1846-47. His burial place has never been located. However, information has recently surfaced of a cemetery containing 8 unmarked adult graves and 1 infant grave which appears to be in the vicinity of the Boyd land. This is being investigated by two of us who live in the area. As most of you may know, I have been studying the family of this Robert Boyd intensely for the past five years. He was my 4th great-grandfather. This theory was proposed to me about four weeks ago by another Boyd researcher, Mr. Robert Wells, who is descended from David Boyd, son of John Boyd of Ballymena. Robert gets all the credit for putting the facts together (some which I knew, some which I didn't know) and coming up with this theory. I thought it was pure poppycock, but after hearing him out and researching the facts myself, I have come to the conclusion that this is the most likely answer to the puzzle. It was right under our noses and I am amazed that others didn't see it (including me). First, we have to throw out some bad information which seems to have been accepted by many as being true. BAD INFO NO. 1: George Lelend Summer in his "Newberry County South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Annals," page 198, states that John Boyd Sr.'s estate was administered in 1806 by his sons John and David, since his other son, Hugh, had died in 1799. This is absolutely not true. I have a copy of these estate papers and the estate was administered by Robert Boyd and Mary Boyd (the widow), with John Kinnard and Hugh Hopper as security. My thanks to Dick Stewart for transcribing the estate papers and sending them to me. Dick is descended from the parents of Rosannah Stewart, Joseph and Mary Stewart. BAD INFO NO. 2: Those who know that a Robert Boyd administered the estate of John Boyd., Sr., have accepted the information that this Robert Boyd was the grandson of John Boyd. Sr. If they are referring to the Robert H. Boyd, son of the deceased son Hugh Boyd, as being the administrator, this also is not true. Robert H. Boyd, son of Hugh and Jennett Boyd, was born about 1792 and would only be 14 years old when his grandfather's estate was administered in 1806. This has recently been proved with information that this Robert H. Boyd married Cloretta Gray and moved to Meriwether County about 1837-1838 when he purchased land there. I have accumulated much information on Robert H. Boyd and his descendants. He died in 1857 in Meriwether County and I have transcribed copies of his estate papers. Of John Boyd Sr.'s other known sons, John and David, neither had a son named Robert. In 1806, when John Boyd Sr. died, one of his sons, John (known as Johnny Buckles because of his occupation as a harness maker and shoe buckler), was in Kentucky. As mentioned before, Hugh Boyd, another son, had died 7 years previously. This left only David, the other known son, to administer the estate. But David did not. Robert did. Why? I believe it was because Robert was another son of John Boyd Sr. When Hugh Boyd made his will in 1798, Robert Boyd was a witness to his will. This could not possibly have been his son, Robert H. Boyd, since he would have been only 6 or 7 years old. I believe this Robert Boyd was Hugh Boyd's brother. The other witnesses were John Boyd "Wheelwright" (Hugh's father) and Archibald McMellan/McMillan. (Robert Boyd's son, Joseph) married Jane McMillan, relationship to Archibald as yet unknown.) An analysis of the estate sale of John Boyd, Sr., shows that the widow, Mary Boyd, purchased 38 items, as is customary. Robert Boyd purchased 15 items, indicating (but not proof, of course) that he also was a family member. (Thanks, again, to Dick Stewart, for this analysis. I think this is when my eyes started opening to the truth.) Of the other purchasers (the next highest number of items was purchased by William Hopper -- 7 items) three of them carried surnames of those who married Robert's children --- Hopper, Blackburn and McMillan. Robert's son Hugh, married Nancy Hopper. His son, John, married Elizabeth Blackburn, and, as mentioned before, his son Joseph married Jane McMillan. Many more purchasers are known to have had relationships with this Boyd family. In the 1810 census of Newberry, Robert Boyd is shown living next door to Mary Boyd, with Hugh Hopper, William Hopper and John Hopper on the other side. It is now a known fact that Robert Boyd's son, William, married Rosannah Boyd, daughter of Hugh and Jennett Boyd. Proof lies in the will of Matthew Boyd, son of Hugh and Jennett, who left part of his estate to his sister, Rosannah, and her children. These children of Rosannah were specifically mentioned in later annual returns (Newberry) as being named Hugh and Melinda. In 1840 in Meriwether County, William Boyd (son of Robert) applied for guardianship of his children, Hugh and Melinda (I transcribed a copy of this document from Meriwether County), and shows in the 1850 census with a wife named Rosanna. Hugh and Melinda had both married by this time and were living in the same vicinity --- Melinda and her husband, Lewis Dudley Groce, were next door. I have agonized for several years over the close relationship of the Boyds when they arrived in Meriwether -- known descendants of John Boyd Sr. (Waggoner Jack and his son James and others who were in Meriwether) and my Robert. They lived adjacent to each other (I have land lot maps showing which Boyd owned which land and where it was located), signed each others deeds and other court documents, and even married into the same families. Robert's daughter, Frances Boyd, married Mark Tidwell, and Waggoner Jack's son, James, married Amelia Tidwell who was Mark's sister. I knew these Boyd families had to be related but I couldn't put my finger on it. This theory, that Robert was the son of John Sr., makes everything fit together and I believe it to be true. I am truly grateful to Robert Wells, Carol Wells, and Liz Dial, for help with the research which led to this conclusion. For the sake of space, I have left out many details which I will gladly share with others and would appreciate any thoughts or comments on this theory. I would also appreciate those who have Robert's parents as Hugh K. and Rosanna Boyd expressing their logic, source, proof, theories or any information which led to their conclusions of that relationship. The only way we're going to get to the bottom of this is by sharing information. Judy Kilgore Newnan, GA

Dear Judy, This may or may not help you. I am chasing a rabbit trail that your theory brought up. My Elizabeth BOYD, married John DIXON B: 1795. It is still up in the air where he came from, North Carolina, Georgia. I have no clue about Elizabeth's origin before she married. They married in Bedford County, Tennessee. Here's the connection, maybe. The John KINNARD that you mentioned as helping with the will of John BOYD could be connected to Elizabeth BOYD in this way. My DIXON line married into a GRIMES line and the GRIMES line has a KINNARD in it further back from the marriage connection. I know that the progenitor GRIMES who was married to the KINNARD was in North Carolina in the general time frame -- oh well, you can see where this is going. I told you it is a rabbit trail. What I am wondering is if you have any further information on John KINNARD since you seem to be chasing a theory too and have tried just about every angle? I know this is a BOYD list and I have mentioned my BOYD, but should you feel it is too far afield, please reply to me at <Godisloved@worldnet.att.net> In case you can't tell I have tried just about everything I can think of too. Anybody else out there with this BOYD/DIXON/GRIMES/ KINNARD type of connection? Respectfully, Deborah 3 Nails + 1 Cross = 4 Given JodieK444@aol.com wrote: >I would like to pose a theory for discussion which may shed some light on a >question that seems to have plagued researchers of ROBERT BOYD and ROSANNAH >STEWART for decades. This will involve all descendants of JOHN BOYD, Sr., known >generally as John Boyd of Ballymena. This John Boyd Sr. was from County Antrim, >Ireland, and appeared in South Carolina sometime before 1772, when he >petitioned the South Carolina Council for a grant of land. > >Much has been written on his known descendants, John, Hugh and David. This >theory may add another son, my Robert Boyd of Newberry County, SC who moved to >Meriwether County, GA about 1832-33. He was in Newberry in the 1830 census, but >made land purchases in Meriwether in 1833 and 1834. I have copies of the >actual deeds filed in the Meriwether County courthouse. He lived with his son >William in 1840 and died in 1846-47. His burial place has never been located. >However, information has recently surfaced of a cemetery containing 8 unmarked >adult graves and 1 infant grave which appears to be in the vicinity of the Boyd >land. This is being investigated by two of us who live in the area. > >As most of you may know, I have been studying the family of this Robert Boyd >intensely for the past five years. He was my 4th great-grandfather. > >This theory was proposed to me about four weeks ago by another Boyd >researcher, Mr. Robert Wells, who is descended from David Boyd, son of John Boyd of >Ballymena. Robert gets all the credit for putting the facts together (some which >I knew, some which I didn't know) and coming up with this theory. I thought it >was pure poppycock, but after hearing him out and researching the facts >myself, I have come to the conclusion that this is the most likely answer to the >puzzle. It was right under our noses and I am amazed that others didn't see it >(including me). > >First, we have to throw out some bad information which seems to have been >accepted by many as being true. > >BAD INFO NO. 1: George Lelend Summer in his "Newberry County South Carolina >Historical and Genealogical Annals," page 198, states that John Boyd Sr.'s >estate was administered in 1806 by his sons John and David, since his other son, >Hugh, had died in 1799. This is absolutely not true. I have a copy of these >estate papers and the estate was administered by Robert Boyd and Mary Boyd (the >widow), with John Kinnard and Hugh Hopper as security. My thanks to Dick >Stewart for transcribing the estate papers and sending them to me. Dick is descended >from the parents of Rosannah Stewart, Joseph and Mary Stewart. > >BAD INFO NO. 2: Those who know that a Robert Boyd administered the estate of >John Boyd., Sr., have accepted the information that this Robert Boyd was the >grandson of John Boyd. Sr. If they are referring to the Robert H. Boyd, son of >the deceased son Hugh Boyd, as being the administrator, this also is not true. >Robert H. Boyd, son of Hugh and Jennett Boyd, was born about 1792 and would >only be 14 years old when his grandfather's estate was administered in 1806. >This has recently been proved with information that this Robert H. Boyd married >Cloretta Gray and moved to Meriwether County about 1837-1838 when he purchased >land there. I have accumulated much information on Robert H. Boyd and his >descendants. He died in 1857 in Meriwether County and I have transcribed copies >of his estate papers. Of John Boyd Sr.'s other known sons, John and David, >neither had a son named Robert. > >In 1806, when John Boyd Sr. died, one of his sons, John (known as Johnny >Buckles because of his occupation as a harness maker and shoe buckler), was in >Kentucky. As mentioned before, Hugh Boyd, another son, had died 7 years >previously. This left only David, the other known son, to administer the estate. But >David did not. Robert did. Why? I believe it was because Robert was another son >of John Boyd Sr. > >When Hugh Boyd made his will in 1798, Robert Boyd was a witness to his will. >This could not possibly have been his son, Robert H. Boyd, since he would have >been only 6 or 7 years old. I believe this Robert Boyd was Hugh Boyd's >brother. The other witnesses were John Boyd "Wheelwright" (Hugh's father) and >Archibald McMellan/McMillan. (Robert Boyd's son, Joseph) married Jane McMillan, >relationship to Archibald as yet unknown.) > >An analysis of the estate sale of John Boyd, Sr., shows that the widow, Mary >Boyd, purchased 38 items, as is customary. Robert Boyd purchased 15 items, >indicating (but not proof, of course) that he also was a family member. (Thanks, >again, to Dick Stewart, for this analysis. I think this is when my eyes >started opening to the truth.) > >Of the other purchasers (the next highest number of items was purchased by >William Hopper -- 7 items) three of them carried surnames of those who married >Robert's children --- Hopper, Blackburn and McMillan. Robert's son Hugh, >married Nancy Hopper. His son, John, married Elizabeth Blackburn, and, as mentioned >before, his son Joseph married Jane McMillan. Many more purchasers are known >to have had relationships with this Boyd family. > >In the 1810 census of Newberry, Robert Boyd is shown living next door to Mary >Boyd, with Hugh Hopper, William Hopper and John Hopper on the other side. > >It is now a known fact that Robert Boyd's son, William, married Rosannah >Boyd, daughter of Hugh and Jennett Boyd. Proof lies in the will of Matthew Boyd, >son of Hugh and Jennett, who left part of his estate to his sister, Rosannah, >and her children. These children of Rosannah were specifically mentioned in >later annual returns (Newberry) as being named Hugh and Melinda. In 1840 in >Meriwether County, William Boyd (son of Robert) applied for guardianship of his >children, Hugh and Melinda (I transcribed a copy of this document from Meriwether >County), and shows in the 1850 census with a wife named Rosanna. Hugh and >Melinda had both married by this time and were living in the same vicinity --- >Melinda and her husband, Lewis Dudley Groce, were next door. > >I have agonized for several years over the close relationship of the Boyds >when they arrived in Meriwether -- known descendants of John Boyd Sr. (Waggoner >Jack and his son James and others who were in Meriwether) and my Robert. They >lived adjacent to each other (I have land lot maps showing which Boyd owned >which land and where it was located), signed each others deeds and other court >documents, and even married into the same families. Robert's daughter, Frances >Boyd, married Mark Tidwell, and Waggoner Jack's son, James, married Amelia >Tidwell who was Mark's sister. I knew these Boyd families had to be related but I >couldn't put my finger on it. This theory, that Robert was the son of John >Sr., makes everything fit together and I believe it to be true. I am truly >grateful to Robert Wells, Carol Wells, and Liz Dial, for help with the research >which led to this conclusion. > >For the sake of space, I have left out many details which I will gladly share >with others and would appreciate any thoughts or comments on this theory. > >I would also appreciate those who have Robert's parents as Hugh K. and >Rosanna Boyd expressing their logic, source, proof, theories or any information >which led to their conclusions of that relationship. The only way we're going to >get to the bottom of this is by sharing information. > >Judy Kilgore >Newnan, GA > > >==== CLANBOYD Mailing List ==== >RING OF BOYDS http://k.webring.com/wrman?ring=clanboydwebring&addsite >BOOKS http://clanboyd.info/books/forsale >http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=boyd-trees > > > >