The purpose of this post is to help our readers understand the structure of the wider Boyd family at a pivotal moment in Scottish history. Through their feudal Lord, Robert Boyd, 5th Lord Boyd, the family had been a supporter of the changes that had occurred in Scotland around the time of the Reformation in 1560. However Robert Lord Boyd had also placed himself firmly in support of Queen Mary of Scots after 1566 with matters coming to a head on 13 May 1568 at the Battle of Langside which resulted in the defeat of the Queen and her supporters, including Robert Lord Boyd and his wider family.
Despite efforts to intercede on the Queen’s behalf while held in England he eventually decided that efforts to restore Mary to the the throne of Scotland would be unsuccessful. Accepted back into the fold of the court surrounding Mary’s son, James VI, he along with the wider Boyd family and many others were pardoned for their role in support of the Queen at Stirling on 8 September 1571. The charter of remission is detailed in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland1 which includes a lengthy list of those pardoned beginning with Robert Lord Boyd. Closer inspection of the charter, at least in regard to the Boyds, reveals what appears to be a deliberate act on behalf of the writers of the charter to list the Boyd family in a seeming order of seniority which we have simplified as a numbered list below. The list is headed by Robert Lord Boyd down through his immediate family, cousins and others holding feudal right to their lands and then through others holding traditional tenancies and finally those who are part of the mercantile classes finishing with Alexander Boyd servitor to Lord Boyd.
One other issue of note is that this period coincides with the Boyd family’s interests being directed towards Glasgow with Robert Lord Boyd becoming Provost (1573-6) and James Boyd Archbishop of Glasgow (1573-81). Also in this time James Boyd of Hullerhill moves to Glasgow and becomes a leading figure involved in property and lending and John Boyd Burgess of Glasgow is likely the progenitor of the remarkable Boyd Mason Burgesses of Glasgow who were predominant in the Guild of Masons throughout most of the 17th century.
- Robert, Lord Boyd, (5th Lord Boyd2 c1517-90)
- Thomas, Master of Boyd, (eldest son of the 5th Lord Boyd later 6th Lord Boyd c1547-1611)
- Robert Boyd of Badenheath, (likely second son of 5th Lord Boyd, d. 1611)
- Adam Boyd of Pinkill, (1st Laird of Penkill, a son of Alexander de jure 3rd Lord Boyd, d. c1575)
- Mr James Boyd of Trochrig, his son, (James Boyd, Archbishop of Glasgow, c1530-81)
- Robert Boyd of Portincross, (4th cousin once removed of 5th Lord Boyd, 4th Laird of Portencross, c1500-1573)
- Archibald Boyd, his son and apparent heir, (later 5th Laird of Portencross, c1527-1602)
- Thomas Boyd of Pitcon, (grandson of Alexander de jure 3rd Lord Boyd, 2nd Laird of Pitcon, d. 1617)
- Robert Boyd, his brother, (grandson of Alexander de jure 3rd Lord Boyd, d. bef. 1599)
- John Boyd of Bonshaw, (gt grandson of Alexander de jure 3rd Lord Boyd, d. aft. 1593)
- James Boyd of Hullerhill, (gt grandson of Alexander de jure 3rd Lord Boyd, c1527-c1581)
- Alexander Boyd in Craig,
- Robert Boyd, his son,
- Thomas Boyd of Kipps , (1st Laird of Kipps (1572), d.1575)
- James Boyd, his son, (2nd Laird of Kipps, c1550-1614)
- John Boyd in Kirktoun of Kilmarnock,
- George Boyd, his son,
- Robert Boyd in Kilbride,
- William Boyd and John Boyd, merchants in Kilmarnock,
- John Boyd, burgess of Glasgow, (d. bef. 1576, a progenitor of the Boyd Mason Burgesses of Glasgow)
- Robert Boyd, of Cuikstoun,
- John Boyd in Whiteleyburn,
- William Boyd in Noddesdale,
- John Boyd in Gowanlie,
- Robert Boyd, in Wardlaw,
- Robert Boyd in Lynn,
- Robert Boyd, his son,
- William Boyd in Lasswade,
- Quintin Boyd, his brother,
- Alexander Boyd, servitor to the said Lord Boyd