Finding Your Folks: Robert H. Boyd of South Carolina and Georgia

I debated a long time before I came up with this topic and it may take more than one column to do it justice. It has many facets and it is tied into the two previous topics. The research involves stumbling over a marriage contract hidden within a deed. It also involves a dispute in probate and changing the reporting of annual returns from one county (Meriwether) to another (Pike) simply because the administrator lived in Pike and it was easier for her to settle the estate there. There are missing children, mystery wives, and an unknown burial site - all kinds of questions surrounding this family. Perhaps that is why it is so fascinating and why I can't let it go.

This is not my Robert Boyd but I firmly believe he is closely related to mine, and I know he is a first cousin of John "Waggoner Jack" Boyd who was the grandfather of all those Boyds at Bethany in Fayette. I have researched this Robert's family quite extensively, mainly to prove that he was not my Robert, and, in so doing, discovered many things I had never seen in court documents. Studying the proceedings surrounding Robert and his family, both in probate and in land records, added much to my learning experiences in genealogy. Also, although Robert had six children, I have only come across one direct descendant and one relative of this family, despite placing many queries on the Internet. Perhaps this column will bring more forward. I hope so. I'm going to give you the background on Robert as I have researched it, because I don't think many people have really bothered to do it.

First, who is this guy? Well, according to family Bible records, he was born 10 Oct. 1791, one of the younger sons of Hugh and Jennett Boyd of Newberry Co., S.C., and was named as a minor in Hugh's will in 1799. Robert's father, Hugh, was the son of John Boyd Sr. (known as John Boyd of Ballymena) and therefore a brother of John Boyd Jr. (known as Johnny Buckles) who was the father of John "Waggoner Jack" Boyd. Throughout his life, this Robert seems to have kept the middle initial "H" which always distinguishes him from my Robert who never used a middle initial. This was extremely helpful in figuring out Meriwether deeds. I believe my Robert was the uncle of this Robert H. but I cannot prove it. Evidence, yes; proof, no.

Robert H. apparently grew up in Newberry and was only eight years old when he lost his father. He had five brothers and sisters: Matthew Boyd, the oldest who never married; John Montgomery Boyd, b. 1776, m. Jennett (Jane) Dial; Jane, birth year unknown but who married a Campbell; Hugh Boyd who also was named as a minor in his father's will and whose wife's name was Frances; and Rosannah, his younger sister, who married William Boyd, son of my Robert Boyd and his wife, Rosannah Stewart. I believe William and Rosannah were first cousins.

One of the biggest eye-openers to Robert's family was, surprisingly, the will of his unmarried brother, Matthew, recorded in 1835. This document revealed many things about relationships in this family. Let me insert here that there are many excellent books available on court documents in Newberry. I bit the bullet a couple of years ago and purchased several. They are by no means inexpensive but are well worth the price if you had ancestors in Newberry. Many may be purchased though the local genealogy society (Old Newberry District Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society or ONDCSCGS) which has a Web site and an order form.

Robert H. Boyd, as a young man, received a bounty of inheritances from his family. He received 150 acres of land from his father in 1799 and an inheritance from his brother in 1835. He later received, through his wife, an inheritance from his father-in-law in 1837. Robert, apparently, did not hurt for money.

On 11 May 1815, probably in Abbeville, S.C., Robert H. Boyd married "Chloeretty" D. Gray, daughter of Major Frederick Gray and his first wife, Chloretta (Chloe) Dawkins. The spelling of "Chloeretty" is as it appears in Robert's Bible record but is seen spelled many other ways, even "Floretta" in one of the Newberry history books. I am going to call her "Chloeretta" as that is what one of her granddaughters was named. Chloeretta was born 11 Aug. 1798. I gave Abbeville as the possible marriage place since that is where Chloeretta's father moved after his first wife died. Al Franklin has an excellent Web site with much information on this Gray family.

Robert H. and Chloeretta D. Gray Boyd had six children: Frederick G. Boyd, b. 30 Oct. 1816; Mary E. Boyd, b. 4 Jan 1823; William H.B. Boyd, b. 3 June 1829; Julia Boyd, b. 1 Feb. 1831; Amanda M. Boyd, b. 10 Feb. 1833; and McDuffie C. Boyd, b. 14 Feb. 1836. I believe all the children were born in South Carolina. One descendant says that McDuffie was born in Elbert County, Ga., and that is where his wife, Amanda Herndon Brooks Boyd, was born. However, Robert H. Boyd did not appear in the Meriwether County census until 1840 and didn't start purchasing land there until 1838. I believe he remained in South Carolina until he received his wife's inheritance in 1837. However, Elbert County is just a short hop from Abbeville, so the latter may be true. I have not found any records of Robert in Elbert County but that's not to say they aren't there.

Next week: Robert and his family settle in Meriwether.

Stories and family histories about your ancestors who lived on Atlanta's south side are always welcome. Send them to jkilgore@thecitizen.com or JodieK444@aol.com. Mail to The Citizen, P.O. Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214. All letters and e-mails I receive are subject to being used in the column.