Many folks in Patrick and Henry counties in Virginia and Rockingham County, North Carolina can claim ancestry to a truly remarkable woman, Leathia Pearl Moore Boyd. Leathia was born in Franklin County, Virginia on March 20th, 1818, to William Moore and Rebecca Tabor Swinney.
Leathia was the fifth child born to William and Rebecca, their known children were Abraham; Judith Elizabeth Moore Jones; Martha “Patsy” Moore Worley; Wilson; Cynthia Moore Goodson; William; and Mary “Polly” Moore Graham.
Leathia married John Jackson Boyd in Floyd County on the 27th of December 1836. John Jackson Boyd was the son of William Jesse Boyd and Sarah “Sally” Newberry of Franklin County. Leathia and John settled on the top of Belcher Mountain near the Floyd-Patrick County line.
Leathia and John’s first child, Samuel Shepard Boyd was born on the 15th of September 1837. Samuel married Miss Nancy Conner Jones, the daughter of David Conner and Susan Adams. Nancy was the widow of Floyd Jones, who died in 1864, during the Civil War. Floyd and Nancy had two young children and Samuel and Nancy had at least eight more children, who once they were married, filled the hills and hollers of Woolwine.
Leathia and John’s second child, Wilson, was born in 1838. On January 30th, 1862, Wilson married Miss Virginia Catherine Page, the daughter of James D. Page and Lucy Barringer of Floyd County. The wedding took place on Lucy Shelor’s farm and David Howell performed the ceremony. Wilson joined the 54th Virginia Infantry and was sent to fight with the Army of Tennessee. On the 19th of August 1863, Wilson was killed at the Battle of Strawberry Plains, Tennessee; he was 23 years old.
Leathia and John’s third child, William “Bill” Boyd was born in January of 1840. Bill married Miss Elmira Harmon, the daughter of Benjamin Harmon and Susanna Huff of Floyd County. Elmira was also the widow of a Confederate soldier, having married John William Thomas, who died in 1865 at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois. Bill and Elmira also had eight children who they raised on a farm on Belcher Mountain in Meadows of Dan. Tragically, Bill was working alongside his family hoeing corn on a hot, muggy day in June 1910. A thunderstorm quickly came up and the children all ran to the house. Bill sought shelter under a tree between the field and the house. Lightning struck the tree, killing Bill Boyd instantly.
Leathia and John’s fourth child (and only daughter), Julia Angelina Boyd was born on the 10th of March 1842. Julia married widower Henry B. Howell on the 11th of September 1862. Henry had lost his wife Luanna Epperly Howell to consumption in 1859. Julia and Henry raised ten children near the top of Rock Castle Gorge.
Leathia and John’s fifth child, Hiram Howard Boyd, was born on the 2nd of March 1847. Hiram married Miss Elizabeth Boyd, the daughter of Henry Boyd and Sarah Nancy Cockram of Meadows of Dan. Henry Boyd was the brother to John Jackson Boyd. Hiram and Elizabeth raised eight children in the Bent section of Patrick County.
Leathia and John’s sixth child, George Washington Boyd, was born on the 15th of July 1849. George married Miss Mildred Jane Conner, who was also the daughter of David Conner and Susan Adams of Woolwine. George and Mildred raised twelve children on top of Belcher Mountain.
Leathia and John’s seventh child, John Tyler Boyd, was born on the 8th of April 1850. John Tyler married Miss Lucinda Hylton, the daughter of Moses Hylton and Elizabeth Cruise of the Lone Ivy community of Patrick County. John and Lucinda raised seven children near the homeplace where John had grown up.
Leathia and John’s eighth child, Pleasant Green Boyd was born on the 11th of April 1852. Pleasant Green married Miss Sarah Jane Knowles on the 13th of December 1870 in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Sarah Jane was the daughter of David Knowles and Elizabeth Hill of the Round Meadow section of Patrick County. Pleasant Green and Sarah Jane had eleven children, their youngest named Leathie Pearl, in honor of her grandmother.
Leathia and John’s ninth child, James Andrew Boyd, was born on the 20th of May 1856. James married Miss Sarah Susan Jones, the daughter of Floyd Jones and Nancy Conner. Remember that James’ oldest brother, Samuel Shepard had married Floyd Jones’ widow, Nancy and Sarah was Samuel’s stepdaughter. James and Sarah raised seven children in the Bent section of Patrick County.
John Jackson Boyd passed away on November 15th, 1886, and was buried on top of Belcher Mountain overlooking Rock Castle Gorge. If you travel the fire trail in Rock Castle, you will pass a rock ledge at least two stories high with a small waterfall cascading down the ledge; this waterfall is known as the Leathie Springs in honor of Leathia Pearl Moore Boyd.
After Jack died, Leathia remained a tough, independent woman, living on her own on Belcher Mountain and running her farm. On the 12th of February 1908, Leathia’s only daughter, Julia Angelina Boyd Howell died. I suspect this was more than 89-year-old Leathia could bear because she passed away eight days later on the 20th of February 1908. Leathia was staying with her youngest son, James Andrew at the time and there was a big snow. The family was unable to return Leathia back to Belcher Mountain to be buried alongside Jack, so a cemetery was begun on James Andrew’s farm. Now, Leathia rests alongside twenty-six of her descendants at the Boyd cemetery on the Bent Road in Patrick County.
Thank you so much to Shirlien Belcher for all your help sorting out all these family members! Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
