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.
William L. Boyd Jr. | |
|---|---|
 "Union Line! Regular New Orleans & Nashville Packets" – Steamer Nashville, Captain William Boyd – Daily Nashville Patriot, December 13, 1858 | |
| Born | February 17, 1825 Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | October 31, 1888 (aged 63) Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Slave trader, real estate broker, steamboat captain |
| Years active | 1853–1883 |
| Known for | Slave trading, steamboat operations, legal troubles |
| Spouse | Susan Boyd |
Early life
editBoyd 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
editBoyd'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]
Legal troubles
editBoyd'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
editBoyd 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Entry for Wm L Boyd and Tennessee Boyd, 1860", United States Census, 1860 – via FamilySearch,
Occupation: Negro trader.
- ^ a b "Entry for William L. Boyd and Susan Boyd, 1880", United States Census, 1880 – via FamilySearch
- ^ 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.
- ^ "For sale". Nashville Union and American. October 12, 1854. p. 2. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "$30 Reward". The Tennessean. May 15, 1855. p. 4. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Bancroft, Frederic (2023). Slave Trading in the Old South. University of South Carolina Press. p. 249.
- ^ "Marine News". The Times-Picayune. April 17, 1861. p. 8. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Chancery Court at Nashville". Daily Nashville Patriot. February 24, 1861. p. 2. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Pugilistic Encounter". Nashville Union and American. November 18, 1868. p. 4. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Allison, Brian (2016). Murder & Mayhem in Nashville. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4396-5772-0.
- ^ "Death of Wm. Boyd". Nashville Banner. November 1, 1888. p. 1. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wanted—Information of an old family Bible". The Tennessean. March 18, 1883. p. 6. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Tennessee Records: Bible Records and Marriage Bonds. Heritage Books. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7884-2121-1.