Boydville
Encyclopedia
Boydville is a late Georgian style mansion in Martinsburg, West Virginia
. The house is near the center of the associated Boydville Historic District
in 15.35 acres (6.2 ha). The house was built in 1812 by Elisha Boyd, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
and an officer of the Fourth Virginia Regiment in the War of 1812
.
The two story stucco-covered stone house consists of a center wing with nine rooms, a right wing that originally served as the nursery, and a left wing that housed the kitchens. The center-hall main house retains its original woodwork, with hand-carved door frames and mantelpieces imported from England. Interior partitions are brick covered with plaster.
Elisha Boyd
left the house to his daughter Mary at his death in 1841. Mary was married to Charles J. Faulkner
I (1806-1884), was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates who advocated a gradual abolition of slavery and the forcible annexation of Texas from Mexico. Faulkner served as ambassador to France in the James Buchanan
administration, 1859-1861. Faulkner was Stonewall Jackson
's assistant adjutant-general during the American Civil War
, and was temporary president of the West Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1872. Faulkner's son, Charles J. Faulkner
II (1847-1929) became a United States Senator.
During the American Civil War Boydville and two other houses were marked for burning by General David Hunter
in retaliation for the burning of Maryland Governor Bradford's house. On an hour's notice Mary Faulkner obtained an exemption from Abraham Lincoln
, saving the house.
Boydville was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970.
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
. The house is near the center of the associated Boydville Historic District
Boydville Historic District
The Boydville Historic District includes an area of Martinsburg, West Virginia that was developed for the well-to-do of Martinsburg at the turn of the twentieth century. The district is named for Boydville, the mansion at the core of the district...
in 15.35 acres (6.2 ha). The house was built in 1812 by Elisha Boyd, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and an officer of the Fourth Virginia Regiment in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
The two story stucco-covered stone house consists of a center wing with nine rooms, a right wing that originally served as the nursery, and a left wing that housed the kitchens. The center-hall main house retains its original woodwork, with hand-carved door frames and mantelpieces imported from England. Interior partitions are brick covered with plaster.
Elisha Boyd
Elisha Boyd
Elisha Boyd was an American politician, Brigadier General, and early developer of Berkeley County, Virginia.-Biography:...
left the house to his daughter Mary at his death in 1841. Mary was married to Charles J. Faulkner
Charles J. Faulkner
Charles James Faulkner was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia and West Virginia. He was the father of Charles James Faulkner....
I (1806-1884), was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates who advocated a gradual abolition of slavery and the forcible annexation of Texas from Mexico. Faulkner served as ambassador to France in the James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
administration, 1859-1861. Faulkner was Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
's assistant adjutant-general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and was temporary president of the West Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1872. Faulkner's son, Charles J. Faulkner
Charles James Faulkner
Charles James Faulkner was a United States Senator from West Virginia and the son of Charles James Faulkner, a U.S. Representative from Virginia and West Virginia. Born on the family estate, "Boydville," near Martinsburg, Virginia , he accompanied his father, who was U.S...
II (1847-1929) became a United States Senator.
During the American Civil War Boydville and two other houses were marked for burning by General David Hunter
David Hunter
David Hunter was a Union general in the American Civil War. He achieved fame by his unauthorized 1862 order emancipating slaves in three Southern states and as the president of the military commission trying the conspirators involved with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.-Early...
in retaliation for the burning of Maryland Governor Bradford's house. On an hour's notice Mary Faulkner obtained an exemption from Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, saving the house.
Boydville was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1970.