Generations Past

There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors and no slave who has not had a king among his.  
----Helen Keller

John Boyd Sr.

 John Boyd, Sr. was born in 1761 He married his first cousin, Elizabeth "Ruth" McGREW before 1785. She was the daughter of Archibald McGrew and Martha Bracken.  About 1785 he moved to lands his father gave him or helped him purchase in North Huntington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He also invested in lands in Ohio on which John Jr. settled after his death. John Sr. died 12 Feb 1815, aged 54. He was buried in the Old Dick Presbyterian Church Yard near West Newton, Pennsylvania. On his grave is a Revolutionary War Veteran emblem. He was a member of John Paxton's Ranging Company, Bedford County along with William Boyd.

He and Ruth were the parents of six children:

  1. Esther BOYD married Josiah Crawford
  2. William BOYD born about 1794 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; married Sarah; died about 1834 In Wayne Township, Jefferson County, Ohio.
  3. Catherine BOYD born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; married Samuel Porter; resided in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
  4. John BOYD born between 1794 and 1798 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; married Ann Baine on 24 Sep 1818 in Wayne County, Ohio.
  5. Isabella BOYD born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; married John Sample
  6. Margaret BOYD born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Much of the Boyd information is from the book, Boyd, compiled by Scott Lee Boyd and published in 1935 by Book Division, Haynes Corporation in Los Angeles


For more information on John's family or other Boyds please go to
the Castor Directory.  You will find more information and many more names.


I am interested in sharing any family history information and in correcting any misinformation. Please send corrections or additions to my e-mail box.