Elisha Boyd
Encyclopedia
Elisha Boyd was an American politician, Brigadier General, and early developer of Berkeley County, Virginia
.
, in 1785, and studied law in the office of Colonel Philip Pendleton. Elisha Boyd helped to establish Martinsburg Academy.
He was married three times. His first wife was Mary Waggoner, a daughter of Major Andrew Waggoner, and they had one child. His second wife was Ann Holmes, daughter of Colonel Joseph Holmes and the sister of Governor Holmes of Virginia and Major Andrew Hunter Holmes. They four children. Their daughter Mary Boyd, married Charles J. Faulkner I (1806-1884). He built “Boydville
” in 1812 and it was bequeathed to Mary and Charles Faulkner upon his death. His third wife was Elizabeth Byrd of the Westover family; she died November 16, 1839.
with a commission of Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Virginia Militia and was engaged in the second defense of Norfolk and Portsmouth against a British attack of land and naval force. For his services in defense of Virginia, the General Assembly elected him a Brigadier General
.
, commissioned a magistrate of Berkeley County in 1838, was an advocate of a reform of the “Old Constitution” of Virginia, and was elected chairman of the county meeting and a delegate to the State Reform Convention.
.
. They are: "Boydville
" and Boydville Historic District
; Edgewood Manor
; and a number of buildings located in the Bunker Hill Historic District
and Mill Creek Historic District
.
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
.
Biography
Elisha Boyd was born on October 6, 1769, in Berkeley County, Virginia, a son of John Boyd and Sarah Griffith Boyd. His father was one of the early emigrants to the county. He entered Liberty Hall Academy, a predecessor of Washington and Lee UniversityWashington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
, in 1785, and studied law in the office of Colonel Philip Pendleton. Elisha Boyd helped to establish Martinsburg Academy.
He was married three times. His first wife was Mary Waggoner, a daughter of Major Andrew Waggoner, and they had one child. His second wife was Ann Holmes, daughter of Colonel Joseph Holmes and the sister of Governor Holmes of Virginia and Major Andrew Hunter Holmes. They four children. Their daughter Mary Boyd, married Charles J. Faulkner I (1806-1884). He built “Boydville
Boydville
Boydville is a late Georgian style mansion in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The house is near the center of the associated Boydville Historic District in...
” in 1812 and it was bequeathed to Mary and Charles Faulkner upon his death. His third wife was Elizabeth Byrd of the Westover family; she died November 16, 1839.
Military service
He served in the War of 1812War 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...
with a commission of Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Virginia Militia and was engaged in the second defense of Norfolk and Portsmouth against a British attack of land and naval force. For his services in defense of Virginia, the General Assembly elected him a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
.
Politics
In 1796, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. He served as attorney for the State by the County Court of Berkeley County and held that position for 40 years. He was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1830, elected in 1832 to a seat in the Senate of VirginiaSenate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
, commissioned a magistrate of Berkeley County in 1838, was an advocate of a reform of the “Old Constitution” of Virginia, and was elected chairman of the county meeting and a delegate to the State Reform Convention.
Death
General Boyd died October 21, 1841, and was buried in the family plot at Norborne Cemetery, Martinsburg, West VirginiaMartinsburg, 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...
.
Legacy
Five sites in Berkeley County, West Virginia, are associated with Elisha Boyd and listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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...
. They are: "Boydville
Boydville
Boydville is a late Georgian style mansion in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The house is near the center of the associated Boydville Historic District in...
" and 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...
; Edgewood Manor
Edgewood (Bunker Hill, West Virginia)
Edgewood, also known as the John Boyd House, is a historic home located at Bunker Hill, Berkeley County, West Virginia. It was built in 1839 and is a two story, five bay, brick dwelling with a gable roof in the Greek Revival style. The entrance features a semi-elliptical transom and sidelights. ...
; and a number of buildings located in the Bunker Hill Historic District
Bunker Hill Historic District
The Bunker Hill Historic District is the center of the town of Bunker Hill, West Virginia. Today located on the road called US 11, the town was developed along the Martinsburg, West Virginia - Winchester, Virginia road. Bunker Hill served southern Berkeley County with three stores, six mills and...
and Mill Creek Historic District
Mill Creek Historic District (Bunker Hill, West Virginia)
Mill Creek Historic District is a national historic district located at Bunker Hill, Berkeley County, West Virginia. It encompasses nine contributing buildings, eight contributing sites, and three contributing objects that relate to an early industrial-commercial center in the county. They...
.