Lt. Adam Boyd

Adam Boyd, the son of John Boyd and Elizabeth Young, was a native of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, born in 1746.

Adam learned the trade of a carpenter, and was following that avocation when the war of the Revolution called to arms. He was an early associator, and when the state of Pennsylvania had formed its little navy for the protector of the ports on Delaware, Lieut. Boyd received a commission therein. During the year 1776, and the early part of 1777, he was most of time in command of the armed sloop "Burke," and rendered efficient service in the conflict between the Pennsylvania navy and the British ships "Roebuck" and "Liverpool" in May, 1776. Growing tired on that branch of service Lieut. Boyd requested to be discharged, that he might volunteer for the land forces. Being honorably dismissed the navy, he once entered the army proper, holding the same rank therein. He was at the battle of Brandywine and Germantown, with two of his brothers, one of whom was killed in the later engagement. Subsequently, Lieut. Boyd acted as "masters of wagons," and as such remained in the army until after the surrender in Yorktown.

Returning to the home of his mother, near Newville, he married and came to Harrisburg. While passing through Harris' Ferry, in the Spring of 1782, Mr. Boyd was struck with immense advantages offered by the location of the proposed town, and subsequently purchased of the proprietor a lot on the corner of Second and Mulberry streets. In 1784 he became a permanent resident. The dwelling-house erected by him in 1792 on lots 210 and 212 of the original plan of the borough is yet in the ownership of his descendants.

Upon the incorporation of the borough of Harrisburg, in 1791, he was chosen as burgess. In 1792 he was elected as treasurer of the county, and held office until 1806, when he declined re-election. In 1809, Mr. Boyd was elected a director of the poor, and during his term in office the county poor-house and mill were erected.

Mr. Boyd died on the 14th of May, 1814; he was interred in the Presbyterian graveyard, but subsequently his remains were removed to the Harrisburg cemetery.

Mr. Boyd married, in 1784, Jeannette Macfarlane, of Big Spring, Cumberland County, daughter of Patrick Macfarlane.

(Please see the following for the full biography: Egle, William Henry. History of the Counties of Dauphin and Lebanon in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1883. 468)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 1 2018, 5:20:41 UTC