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William L. Boyd Jr.

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William L. Boyd Jr.
"Union Line! Regular New Orleans & Nashville Packets" – Steamer Nashville, Captain William Boyd – Daily Nashville Patriot, December 13, 1858
Born(1825-02-17)February 17, 1825
Tennessee, U.S.
DiedOctober 31, 1888(1888-10-31) (aged 63)
Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation(s)Slave trader, real estate broker, steamboat captain
Years active1853–1883
Known forSlave trading, steamboat operations, legal troubles
SpouseSusan Boyd

William L. Boyd Jr. (February 17, 1825 – October 31, 1888) was an American slave trader, real estate broker, and steamboat captain from Nashville, Tennessee.[1] Boyd was a prominent figure in the slave trade in Tennessee during the mid-19th century and was involved in several notable incidents, including being charged with murder in 1883.

Early life

Boyd was born on February 17, 1825, in Tennessee to parents with Virginia and North Carolina origins.[2] He began his career in the early 1850s, initially as a partner in a real estate and slave trading business located on North Cherry Street, Nashville.[3]

Career

Boyd's involvement in the slave trade became well-documented through his advertisements in local newspapers. In 1854, he listed both real estate and enslaved people for sale, a practice he continued throughout his career.[4]

In March 1855, three enslaved individuals escaped from Boyd’s "yard," and he offered a $30 reward for their capture.[5] By 1860, Boyd was established as a major figure in Nashville's slave trade, with his business listed in both city directories and census records.[1] Historian Frederic Bancroft noted that while Nashville's market was significant, it was overshadowed by the larger operations in Memphis.[6]

Boyd also ventured into the steamboat business, operating vessels like the Nashville and the James Wood along the Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers, extending his influence beyond Tennessee.[7]

Boyd's life was marked by significant legal issues. In 1861, it was determined in a court of law that Boyd was legally not a resident of Tennessee, possibly due to his steamboat operations and frequent travel.[8]

In 1868, Boyd was involved in a violent altercation where he brandished a gun during a fistfight between his son and another man.[9] His most infamous legal battle occurred in 1883 when he was charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Birdie Patterson. Boyd was convicted twice of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison, but both verdicts were overturned on appeal.[10] He died in 1888 while awaiting a third trial and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.[11]

Personal life

Boyd married Susan Boyd, and by 1880, he was listed as retired and living on Summer Street, Nashville.[2] In 1883, he placed an advertisement seeking a lost family Bible, highlighting his interest in preserving family heritage.[12] A family Bible matching his description was later found in a 2009 compilation of Tennessee family records.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Entry for Wm L Boyd and Tennessee Boyd, 1860", United States Census, 1860 – via FamilySearch, Occupation: Negro trader.
  2. ^ a b "Entry for William L. Boyd and Susan Boyd, 1880", United States Census, 1880 – via FamilySearch
  3. ^ Mooney, Chase C. (1971). "Chapter Two: Hire, Sale, Theft and Flight of Slaves". Slavery in Tennessee (Reprint ed.). Westport, Conn.: Negro Universities Press. pp. 44–45 – via HathiTrust.
  4. ^ "For sale". Nashville Union and American. October 12, 1854. p. 2. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "$30 Reward". The Tennessean. May 15, 1855. p. 4. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Bancroft, Frederic (2023). Slave Trading in the Old South. University of South Carolina Press. p. 249.
  7. ^ "Marine News". The Times-Picayune. April 17, 1861. p. 8. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Chancery Court at Nashville". Daily Nashville Patriot. February 24, 1861. p. 2. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  9. ^ "Pugilistic Encounter". Nashville Union and American. November 18, 1868. p. 4. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Allison, Brian (2016). Murder & Mayhem in Nashville. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4396-5772-0.
  11. ^ "Death of Wm. Boyd". Nashville Banner. November 1, 1888. p. 1. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Wanted—Information of an old family Bible". The Tennessean. March 18, 1883. p. 6. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Tennessee Records: Bible Records and Marriage Bonds. Heritage Books. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7884-2121-1.
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