More on this Maryland Boyd family:

John and Mary Boyd

Of the families settled at New Scotland, Prince George's County, Maryland, none were more interesting or contributed more to the revolutionary history of the State than the Boyd family, of whom John Boyde was the early progenitor.  Settling first in Anne Arundel County where, on February 26, 1683, he received the first warrant for land, he soon removed to Prince George's County, and settled on his estate Amptill Grange, a tract of nearly a thousand acres granted to him by Charles, third Lord Baltimore, September 16, 1703.  This land was included in the original boundaries of Calvert County, in that part afterwards included in Prince George's.  John Boyd was a prominent man in his day, and while not having held public office, was called upon to discharge duties involving grave responsibility, as per following:

 Council of Maryland.  Maryland Archives, vol. 23, folios 327-328)

"At a Court held for Prince Georges County before his Majesties Justices and
Commissioners of the County aforesaid the 24th day of November, 1697, the
Grand Jury made the following report:

"We the Jurors for the body of Prince Georges County, having had it in charge
from the Worshipfull Court to inquire and make report to this Court what measures would most conduce to his Majesties Honor and Service and the
Interest & Safety of this Province to be now taken in relation to the forte at New Scotland and the defence and security of this Province and the good people thereof upon the frontier Plantations against any Incursions of Indians, et cetera."

The jury felt it to be necessary to the interest and safety of the Province that the Garrison at the falls of the Potomac be maintained and the same number of Rangers be kept out on guard at the fort and also on the frontier. The jury also recommended that a fort be built on the hill above the new fort, etc.

The jury consisted of twenty-four prominent gentlemen of Prince George's County among whom were JOHN BOYD, Edward Dawson, Francis Frisby, John Sprigg, Archibald Edmondston and Tomas Keniston.

John Boyd's will, dated October 5, 1704, was proved July 9, 1705, and is recorded in Liber 3, folio 635, Annapolis Wills.  In this he is called John Boyd of Prince George's County.  The provisions of the will are as follows:

"To wife Mary Boyd the home plantation called Amphill Grange, In Prince George's County, during her natural life.

"To eldest son Charles Boyd 150 acres of land part of 'Amphill Grange' failing heirs of his body to son John Boyd, second son.  Also to John Boyd, Second son, 100 acres part of 'Amphill Grange',--failing heirs of his body the land to go to the next heir of the Testator.

"To third son Abraham Boyd 100 acres part of 'Amphill Grange',--failing heirs
of his body the land to go to the next heir of the Testator.

"To fourth son Isaac Boyd 100 acres part of 'Amphill Grange',--reversion to next heir of the Testator.

"To dau. Mary Boyd Bateman wife of Ishmaell Bateman 100 acres part of 'Amphill Grange'.

"To dau. Martha Boyd 100 acres part of 'Amphill Grange'.  In the event of her
death two sons John and Abraham Boyd to act as executors.  Wife Mary Boyd
Executrix."

In the will of Mary, wife of John Boyd, proved in the year 1722, it is shown that their daughter Martha married Thomas Wells.  The high social status of the family is proven by the intermarriages of the sons and daughter of John Boyd.  Of these John Boyd married Elinor FitzRedmond, niece of Charles Carroll, first of the Carrolls of Carrollton in Maryland, the marriage being recorded in All Hallows Parish Register, Anne Arundel County, page 72, dated March 28, 1706.  The proof of the relationship is to be found in his will, dated December 1, 1718, proved July 28, 1720 (Annapolis Wills, Liber 16, folio 176) .....

The following is also on interest in this connection:

(Provincial Court Records.  Liber P.L. No. 6, flio 426, June 10, 1730)
"This indenture made the tenth day of June anno domini one thousand seven
hundred and thirty between Margaret Macnemarra of the City of Annapolis, in
Anne Arundel County, Relict of Thomas Macnemarra, Esq., of the said place,
deceased, of the first part, JOHN BOYD, of Queen Anne's Town in Prince George's County and ELINOR his wife of the second part ....."

John Boyd, husband of Elinor Fitz Redmond, who had inherited the part of
Amphill Grange from his father, was in the year 1743 granted by Lord Baltimore an estate known as Castle Plains, adjoining the land called "The Forest of Needwood", now in Frederick County, close to Washington County border.

The death of John Boyd, the second, is proven in a deed dated January 30, 1756, Prince George's County, Maryland, in which Benjamin Boyd, of Prince George's County, "for natural love and affection" gives to his son, Thomas Boyd, a tract of land containing 100 acres being part of Amphill Grange and that part whereon John Boyd "my father deceased" dwelt.

The children of John and Elinor Boyd are proven by the record of their births in Queen Anne's Parish Register, Prince George's County, on page 302.
Benjamin Boyd, born January 13, 1706; John Boyd born September 25, 1709;
Abraham Boyd born June 5, 1713; William Boyd born April 19, 1716; Elinor Boyd
born June 12, 1720.  All of these sons married--Benjamin to Elizabeth Harwood
on October 30, 1733; John to Susanna Baldwin May 8, 1735; William Boyd to
Charity Talbott; of Elinor Boyd there is no further record.

The descendants of Benjamin Boyd and Elizabeth Harwood have become prominent in public affairs in various parts of the country.  Thomas Boyd married
Charity Duckett and Miss Lansdale.  He was Lieutenant and Adjutant in the
Maryland Line and a charter member of the Maryland Society of the Cincinnati.
His son, Thomas Duckett Boyd, removed to Albemarle County, Virginia, and
married Mary Magruder of the Maryland family, and have many descendants.

William Boyd and Charity Talbott, his wife, lived in Washington County, at the time of his death.  His estate of Castle Plains adjoining Needwood Forest being located in that part of Maryland.  Among other children, William Boyd had sons, William Boyd, Jr., and Walter Boyd, to whom on September 25, 1782, a power of attorney was sent by "Captain Benj.  Price, Captain of the Maryland Line, now serving in the State of South Carolina, to be my true and lawful attorneys for me and in my name and my use to ask, demand, sue for and recover and receive for me from all persons whatsoever due in the State aforesaid. (Signed) Benjamin Price."

The Boyds who descended from John Boyd the first, of Prince George's County
became very numerous in the third and fourth generations.  They occupied lands in the home country and in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, and perhaps other counties in Maryland.  They settled in the south and west and did great credit to their Maryland blood by achieving honorable careers in the higher walks of life.  They were patriotic during the American Revolution, serving as officers and privates in the armies that fought in that momentous struggle, counting it not too great a sacrifice. In records of the Battalion of Prince George's County in 1778 appear the names of Abraham Boyd, lieutenant-colonel and Thomas Boyd, Ensign (MS. Revolutionary Muster Rolls of Prince George's County in 1778).

These men were brothers, sons of Benjamin Boyd, and nephews of William Boyd of Washington County .....

The following is from Revolutionary Muster Rolls of Maryland, volume 18 of the Maryland Archives:

Benjamin Boyd, sergeant, May, 1778, and November, 1780 (p. 86). Benjamin
Boyd, private in active service in 1780-81-83 (p. 431).  Thomas Boyd, private
in the 5th Regiment (Southern Maryland boys) January 1, 1781 (p. 364). Thomas Boyd, lieutenant January 1, 1781; also January 1, 1783