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From: Archives <>
Subject: Ga-Berrien Co. Bios (Boyd)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 05:40:58 -0400
Berrien County GaArchives Biographies.....Boyd, David 1814 - 1894
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Linda Meadows July 23, 2004, 5:40 am
Author: Linda Meadows
David Boyd
Co H 4th GA Cavalry
David Boyd was born in GA on 12 December 1814. His parents were Aden
Boyd and Nancy Sykes Boyd, from Tattnall County, GA. David and his family had
been living in Berrien County for sometime, when on 27 October 1858, he
married Anna Ford, who was born in Twiggs County 1 June 1841. The marriage
ceremony for David Boyd and Anna Ford was conducted by Berrien County Justice
of the Peace, Moses G. Sutton.
David was named for his paternal grandfather, David Boyd, who had
fought during the Revolutionary War. According to the older David Boyds War
Pension File, R. 1085, he enlisted at Culpepper County, VA and fought under
the highly esteemed Captain Elijah Clarke in GA. This Revolutionary veteran
married Sarah Dabney and reared a large family on land that later became
Tattnall County, GA. This elder Boyd couple both died during the early 1820s,
and are buried in Tattnall County.
Aden Boyd, Sr., father of Private David Boyd, married a widow named
Nancy Sykes Jones, daughter of Arthur Sykes, in Tattnall County on 19 December
1819. Justice of the Peace, J.A. Tippins, performed the ceremony. There,
Aden and Nancy farmed and reared their large family, including, Blansett Tison,
Aden Boyd Jr, Private David Boyd, Lucinda Baldree, Sarah Taylor, Mary Chapman,
Eliza H. Taylor, and William H. Boyd.
Although Private Boyds parents were listed among residents of Appling
County in the 1820 Census, they were living in Berrien County by the early
1850's. Aden Boyd donated the land for Empire Church and Cemetery in Land Lot #
335, Lowndes County on 26 May 1855. The church lands were later cut into
Berrien and Lanier counties. This deed transferring property from Aden to
Empire is registered on page 369, Book A, Berrien County, GA deeds. Aden and
Nancy were among the charter members of Empire Primitive Baptist Church, which
was previously known as Boyds Meeting House. Adens nearby tombstone
inscription also states that he donated the ground for this cemetery.
Minutes from the first church Conference held on Saturday, 27 May 1854 referred
to the church as Boyd Meeting House, which was now to be called Empire.
Aden Boyd lived to see his son fight as a Confederate soldier, but not
to see the War end. According to the 1860 Agricultural and Manufacturing
Census for Berrien County, which was enumerated 9 August 1860, by James
Griffin, Aden Boyd owned 100 acres of land, 15 of which were improved and 85
of which were unimproved. His farm was valued at $400. His livestock included
1 mule, 2 sheep, and 10 swine for a total value of $100. His farm production
included 50 bushels of Indian corn, 10 bushels of oats, 80 pounds of rice, 5
bushels of peas and beans,
and 40 bushels of sweet potatoes. No slaves were listed among Aden Boyds
property for 1860, which was the year before the War started. Sadly, Aden Boyd
would not live to know that his son would be a survivor of this bloody war.
Aden died in March 1864, and Nancy died 19 December 1872. Both are buried at
the foot of Private Boyds grave.
It is from this background that Private David Boyd, who served with Co
H, 4th GA Cavalry and Artillery, would come; not from slave owners, but from
men who respected freedom. Just as his Revolutionary ancestor had fought
against the forces of oppression, so did this man of the 1860s.
David Boyd enlisted with Colonel Duncan L. Clinchs 4th GA Cavalry,
Co. H, 3 Battalion GA Cavalry on 10 December 1862 in Waynesville, GA.
Officers of this Cavalry regiment included Lt. Colonel John L. Harris, Major
Jesse C. McDonald, and Captain T.S. Wylley, who served as Adjutant for the 4th
GA Cavalry, Co. H. This company later became Co. F, 4th Regiment, Clinchs GA
Cavalry. Most of the assigned duties for the 4th GA primarily involved scouting
and courier service in South Carolina, South GA, and North FL until the spring
of 1864. Skirmishes around Brunswick, GA on 8 June 1863, and fighting near
Olustee, FL 20 Feb 1864, are noted regimental involvements. The 4th GA Cavalry
also fought in AL and North GA in the spring of 1864. From May to Sept. 1864,
they were in the Atlanta Campaign, resisting William T. Shermans March to the
Sea.
According to the Official Records, It was hard and unglamourous work
and it took its toll in the health of men and animals and on the regiments
morale. For the use and risk of his own horse from January to April 1863,
Pvt. David Boyd was paid $46.80. He was listed as absent sick on the company
muster roll for April 1863. May and June 1863 saw him still in Berrien
County, sick and without a horse. Without a horse, he could not fulfill his
duties as a cavalry soldier, so Private Boyd was transferred to a newly-formed
artillery unit on 1 December 1863. Captain N.B.Clinchs Battery, GA Light
Artillery was raised and organized by authority of the Secretary of War from
the dismounted men of the 4th Regt. GA Cavalry and non-conscripts.
Captain Clinch was the youngest brother of Colonel Duncan L. Clinch. Captain
Clinch wrote of the GA Light Artillerys efforts to capture Federal gunboats
south of the Altamaha River on 26 Feb 1863. This new artillery group saw
service around Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, GA as they defended coastal
fortifications. Members were compensated for furnishing their own horses and
equipment.
The 4th GA Regiment surrendered in the spring of 1865 with the Army of
Tennessee in Goldsboro, N.C., following the Battle of Bentonville. At the
time, David Boyd was furloughed home on sick leave. Berrien County was home.
David was later living in Milltown District #1144 when the 1870 Federal census
was taken. He and his wife Anna were listed as parents of John aged 10, Nancy
aged 9, Sarah (Sallie) aged 7, Margaret A. aged 5, and Benoni aged 2 months.
David owned $157 worth of real property. Living nearby were his widowed
mother, Nancy Sykes Boyd, aged 70, and his 35-year-old sister, Sarah Boyd, who
was keeping house for his mother. His sister owned $245 worth of real property
and $91 worth of personal property. David continued to live in Berrien County
until his death in 1894.
In her first Pension Application filed in Berrien County Feb 1902,
Private Boyds widow, Annie Boyd, noted that she was born in Twiggs County, GA
1 June 1843. She was 59 years old. She stated that her husband, David Boyd,
was at home sick at the end of the war, noting that officials granted him a
sick furlough. Annie listed her reasons for a pension application as
blindness, infirmity, and poverty. She stated that she had suffered from
these ailments since her husbands death on 1 January 1894. A.W. Patterson,
Berrien County Ordinary, witnessed Anna Ford Boyd as she made her mark on the
pension application based on her husband, Private David Boyds, military
service for the Confederate States Army. Annie received pension payments of $60
per year for each year from 1903-1908 and from 1910-1912. There is no
reference to a pension in the Berrien County records for her in 1909 based on
Private David Boyds service. Annie Ford Boyd died in Berrien County on 15
February 1915, and lies buried beside her husband at Empire Church Cemetery.
We honor Confederate veteran, Private David Boyd and his family. We
salute him for his sacrifices and we ask God to vindicate his cause. Above all,
David Boyd passed the legacy of his honorable service unto future generations.
Bibliography:
1860 and 1870 Federal Census Berrien County, GA; 1860 Agricultural and
Manufacturing Census, Berrien County, GA; Official Record references to the 4th
GA Cavalry, Co. H; Empire Primitive Baptist Church Minutes and Cemetery;
Berrien County, GA deeds in Clerk of Courts Office; GA Archives: Pvt. David
Boyds Military Records and Annie Ford Boyds Pension Applications; Pioneers of
Wiregrass GA by Folks Huxford.
Written By: Linda Ward Meadows
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/berrien/bios/gbs33boyd.txt
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