Hugh Boyd 1800 : Short Biography

Hugh Boyd of Ballinvilla (1800-1880) was a gentleman farmer and grazier aka "stock grower".  He came into the Barrett-held townland of Ballinvilla through marriage to Anne Barrett. As a result, his name has endured here for generations in this grazing townland.  

The first record of this union appears with the baptism of Eleanor Boyd on 14/5/1826. They invited William Boyd and Mary Hanly (the wife of John Barrett of Finnor House (1790-1844) to godparent. John Barrett & Mary Hanly of Finnor also invited Hugh Boyd to godparent for them in 1826. He also godparents children of Patrick Barrett Sr. of Ballinvilla (1771-1829)

He was not the first nor the only Hugh Boyd to baptise children the district of Croghan near Carrick-on Shannon however. The name Hugh Boyd appears frequently in the baptismal records in Croghan (aka Killukin & Killummod) from 1811 onwards. It looks like there were two Hugh Boyds baptising children in the parish around the same time:

On 12 June 1825, a Hugh Boyd & Diana Callaghan baptise a son: Hugh Boyd Jr. 

(By August 1825, Hugh Boyd and Anne Barrett had conceived their child Eleanor b.1826). 

Hugh Boyd (Catholic) godparents for:

Michael McGreevy & Judith Timon (Carroward) 1821 | John Barrett & Mary Hanly (Finnor) 1826 | Michael Barrett & Honor Byrne (Finnor) 1827 | Patrick Barrett & Brigid Moraghan (Ballinvilla) 1834 & 35 | Daniel Collins & Mary Barrett (Ballinvilla) 1836 |  Thomas Boyd & Eliza Geehan 1839 | Patrick Boyd & Brigid Doud (Tawlaght) 1845.

In 1835, Tithe Records show 3 Boyds in the civil parish of Killukin (to incl. Pat Boyd with 61 acres) and an additional 3 Boyds nearby in the civil parish of Tumna (incl. Douglas Boyd of Springfield with 63 acres in Cuiltyconeen and 45 acres in Clongownagh). 

In 1840,  Dougal Boyd (1791-1883) Yeoman, of “Kiltaameen”  (Cuiltyconneen aka Springfield) registered to vote at the Strokestown sessions. He was a freeholder with an annual value of £50 (most freeholds were valued at £10). It states he had land at Cashell, Torymartin and Carraward – all townlands in the north of Killukin parish near Croghan.  [Roscommon Journal - 17 Dec 1840] It was this Mr Douglas Boyd (a Protestant) who sat on the Carrick Board of Guardians at this time. 

Hugh Boyd and Anne Barrett raised a large family at Ballinvilla during the Great Irish Famine. They were comfortable enough not to have been adversely affected by it, however, their landlord Richard O'Farrell Caddell, graciously reduced their rent during this period. 

The Boyd Farm at Ballinvilla

The Barrett-Boyd family farm at #4a was by far the most valuable farm in Ballinvilla. It comprised of 48 acres (including part of a bog near Ballinvilla lough) and a house with outbuildings. In 1857 the property was valued at £21 & 10 shillings per annum (the highest rates in Ballinvilla). They also had the largest house in Ballinvilla at that time. (This original house is no longer standing). The Boyds also sub-let a house and garden on their land for 5s p.a. to John Brennan (d.1874). ​

In 1860, their sons John and Thomas Boyd appear on Petty Court records as residing at Ballinvilla. In 1866, Hugh and Anne’s son, Hugh Boyd Jr of Ballinvilla was a Road Contractor. He took a couple of farmers to court in September 1866 for building walls ‘within 30 feet of the centre of the public road’ without permission of the County Surveyor. 

On 16-Feb-1870, Hugh Boyd of Ballinvilla is recorded as the father of Mary Boyd of Ballinvilla (b. 1850) who married Andrew Collins of Canbo (just south of Ballinvilla). 
 

On 26-Nov-1880 Hugh Boyd of Ballinvilla, farmer, widower, died age 80. Informant Andrew Boyd (son). The Boyd farm at Ballinvilla was inherited by his son, James Boyd Sr. (1834-1900) who married Catherine Shivenan of Crosna (dau. of Pat Shivnan) in 1869.