Boyds ... from Ballymena to Bethany

We continue our story from last week on the descendants of John Boyd of Ballymena who eventually made their way to Fayette County and were members of Bethany United Methodist Church. Their story is told in the Book, "Our Boyd Family, Allied Families, deGraffenried, Tidwell, Milam, Patton" by George Hugh Boyd and Rosalie Brown Boyd. The book may be found at the Coweta genealogical library in Grantville.

When John Boyd came from Ireland to South Carolina in the 1700s, he probably couldn't even imagine that some of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren would end up in a little county called Fayette (which didn't even exist then) just south of a city called Atlanta (which didn't exist either). But to Georgia they came, following the death in 1827 of their grandfather, John Boyd Jr. (Johnny Buckles), who named all his children and grandchildren in his will. (Not all of these came to Georgia.) They were:

Children of daughter Elizabeth Boyd and Hugh Park: John Park, James Park, Margaret Park, Agnes Park, Mary Park, Hugh Park, and Elizabeth Park.

Children of daughter Jane Boyd and Anthony Hall: John Hall, William Hall, Wilson Hall, Joseph Hall, Elizabeth Hall and Anthony Hall.

Children of son John Boyd (Waggoner Jack) and Nancy Chambers Boyd: Margaret Boyd, wife of Wilson Spence; Sarah Boyd, wife of Thomas N. Bell; Janetta Boyd, wife of Ira Corbin; James Boyd, married Emily (Milly) Tidwell; and Nancy Boyd.

Children of daughter Janetta Boyd and Joseph Campbell: Margaret Campbell, wife of James Caldwell; Jane Campbell, wife of David S. Willson; John Campbell; Mary Campbell; Willson Campbell; Elizabeth Campbell; Agnes Campbell; and Rachel Campbell.

Children of son Hugh Boyd, deceased, and Anna Caldwell: John Boyd, Jane Boyd, Elizabeth Boyd, and William Boyd.

Children of Wilson Boyd and unknown wife: John K. Boyd, Benjamin Boyd, Martha E. Boyd, Margaret Boyd, Elizabeth Boyd, and Hugh N. Boyd (born after John died).

Children of daughter Margaret Boyd and James Dick: Janetta Dick, Hugh Dick, Alexander Dick, John Dick, James Dick, William Dick, and Joseph Dick.

In addition, an Agnes Boyd filed a petition in 1833, showing that she was a minor over 12 years of age and a granddaughter of John Boyd deceased. She asked that David Boozer be appointed her guardian to accept her share of the estate. On Feb. 5, 1833, payment of $127.98 was made to David Boozer on behalf of Agnes Boyd. Since David was appointed guardian of Hugh Boyd's children, it is assumed that Agnes was a child of Hugh Boyd and Anna Caldwell.

One of the above named sons of John Boyd Jr. (Johnny Buckles), John (Waggoner Jack) Boyd, was quite a colorful character, having been hauled into court by his wife, Nancy Chambers Boyd, for alleged mistreatment of her (the charges were dismissed), but the court acknowledged that John was "a poor wagoner of crude manners and given to intoxication." Of Nancy, they said they felt her conduct had been "provocative." They advised both parties to "make their peace" with one another.

Another story involves Waggoner Jack Boyd's pride in having the finest wagon teams of any in the area. Mr. Boyd says the story may be more fiction than fact, but it is said that once when John was crossing the river on a ferry with two four-horse teams, something frightened the front team and all four horses went overboard into the river. Quoting from the book, " ... Seeing the probability that his horses would be drowned unless they could be freed from the harness and, in spite of the fact that he was wearing boots and heavy clothing, he jumped into the river in the effort to cut them free of the harness. One horse succeeded in freeing itself but the other three were drowned. Waggoner Jack was himself about to drown also, and in thrashing about for something to which he could anchor himself, he accidentally seized the tail of the one fortunate horse and was carried to safety."

Nancy and John apparently never "made their peace," for she is said to have been estranged from John for most of the rest of their married life. She is said to have accompanied her son, James, on horseback to Pike county late in life, and to have lived with him until her death. Nancy was, indeed, listed in the home of her son James in the 1850 Pike Co., Ga. census. Her age was given as 70 and her birth place, Virginia. However, it is doubtful that her correct age was given. She presumably is buried in Pike County.

Waggoner Jack also is said to have accompanied his children to Georgia as early as 1831, although his death date and place of burial are unknown.

Mr. Boyd's story continues with two of those descendants, Margaret Boyd and James Boyd, both children of John (Wagonner Jack) Boyd.

Margaret Boyd was born 16 Oct 1800 and died in 1852. She married Wilson Spence, b. July 1797, and they had 12 children: John C. Spence, b. 1818. died in infancy; James Spence, b. 1819, died in infancy; William Spence, b. 1822, m. Bettie Blalock; Martha Jane Spence, b. 1824, d. 1901, m. Patillo W. Huggins; Robert Presley Spence, b. 1826, d. 1890, m. Jane F. Slone; Nancy Elizabeth Spence, b. 1828, d. 1895, m. John S. Moody; Wilson Spence, b. 1830, d. 1862, m. Lucy Ann Williams; Margaret B. Spence, b. 1832. d. 1885, m. Robert N. Higgins; Huie Preston Spence, b. 1838, d. 1852; and James Andrew Spence, b. 9 July 1840, d. 26 Feb. 1922, m. Epsie Elizabeth Milam in 1869.

James Boyd, about whom the remainder of this column will be written, married Milly Tidwell in Meriwether Co. on 13 Sept. 1831. They had eight children. By 1860, James and Milly were in Fayette County and remained there the rest of their lives.

Their story, and their descendants at Bethany, will be detailed next week.

Do you have ancestors who lived on the south side of Atlanta? Send their stories to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others. She will willingly share research information on her own family lines, including collateral and allied lines.