Boyd of Ballycastle

THE BOYDS OWNED 5,304 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

THE REV WILLIAM BOYD (1650-1720), Vicar of Ramoan, 1679-81, married Rose, great-granddaughter of Hugh McNeil, and had issue,

HUGH;

William (Rev);

Charles (Rev);

Alexander.

Hugh McNeil, who was appointed First Constable of Dunynie by Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim, was granted lands which formed the basis of the Ballycastle Estate.

The Vicar's eldest son,

HUGH BOYD (1690-1765), born at Drumawillan House, Glentaise, inherited his father's estate in 1711; Lieutenant-Colonel, County Antrim Militia, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1734, who married Anne, daughter of Randal McAllister, of Kinbane Castle, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;

Hugh;
Margaret; Leonora; Anne.

His eldest son,

COLONEL WILLIAM BOYD, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1740, espoused Mary, daughter of Ezekiel Davys Wilson, and issue,

Alexander;

Hugh;

EZEKIEL DAVYS;

Daniel

William;
Adam;
James (Rev);
Mary; Margaret.

Colonel Boyd's younger son,

EZEKIEL DAVYS BOYD (1740-1801), High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1776, married Ann, daughter of John Frisby, and had issue,

HUGH;

William;

Francis;

Ezekiel Davys;

Sarah Catherine.

The eldest son,

HUGH BOYD (1765-95), of Ballycastle, County Antrim, MP for County Antrim, 1792, married twice, and by his second wife, Rosetta, and issue,

ALEXANDER;

Hugh;

Amy; Harriet, m, 1818, Sir John Boyd Bt; Anna Maria.

His second son,

ALEXANDER BOYD (1791-1868), Lord of the Manor of Ballycastle, was father of

HUGH BOYD, of Ballycastle (1826-91), who married Marianne, elder daughter of James McKinley, of Carneatly.

The eldest son,

ALEXANDER BOYD JP (1865-1952), of Ballycastle, married, in 1903, Letitia, fifth daughter of John Nicholl, of The Orchard, Ballycastle.

His eldest son,

HUGH ALEXANDER BOYD, of Islandview, Ballycastle, married and had issue, his eldest son,

ALEXANDER JOHN BOYD, born in 1940.

THE MANSION, Ballycastle, County Antrim, is a mid-18th century building.

The Manor House, Ballycastle (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

It had an archway above which was set a statue of an Indian river god, presumably supplied by Major-General Hugh Boyd, of the Bengal Army, at the time of the mutiny,

Boyd - Major-General Hugh - Bengal Army - died 24th December 1876. Ensign Hugh Boyd, 62nd Native Infantry) served at Bhurtpore 1826 (medal and bar).

Memorial at Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland - In memory of Major General Hugh Boyd. Who died 24th December 1876 aged 76 years. General Boyd (of the Late Bengal Army) served with his regiment and on the General Staff throughout India for a uninterrupted term of 32 years from January 1824, a period of India's history as eventful in military successes and glory as any preceding it, returning to India after a short furlough in 1856.

He closed his military career commanding a brigade throughout the memorable Sepoy Mutiny of 1857-58.

There is a stable block with cut-stone window surrounds.

The Manor House became a Barnardo boys' home.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

Little remains of the original house.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

First published in April, 2013.