The Boyd Antecedents &The First BoydThe Boyds of KilmarnockThe Boyds of CrosspatrickThe Boyds in Australia
& New Zealand

Robert
First Lord Boyd

Lord Robert, first Lord Boyd was doubtless the Robert Boyd who slew Sir James Stewart of Drumglass in May, 1443.

He was created by King James II, Lord Boyd in 1454.

On the death of James II in 1460 he was appointed Regent during the new King's minority.

In 1466 he seized the King at Linlithgow and took him to Edinburgh.

The King publicly expressed his approval, and a few days later Lord Boyd was made Sole Governor of the Realm.

He married Mariota Maxwell and had issue:

  1. Thomas, Earl of Arran
  2. Alexander, succeeded his nephew
  3. Archibald of Bonshaw - had five children of whom Margaret the youngest, when very young became mistress of King James IV, by whom she was mother of Alexander Stewart, Archbishop of St. Andrews, and of Catherine, wife of the Third Earl of Morton. It was partly through her influence that the King restored the lands and title to his nephew James and second Lord Boyd.
  4. John
  5. Elizabeth - married Archibald, fifth Earl of Angus
  6. Annabelle - married Sir John Gord of Lochinvar
  7. Margaret - married her cousin Robert Boyd of Badonheath

A SEGMENT OF SCOTTISH HISTORY THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BOYDS

"A Short History of Scotland" P. Hume Brown, 1908

James III came to the Scottish throne at the age of eight in 1460. James II was killed at the seige of Roxburghcastle. Three nobles made a bargain they were all to profit from. These three men were, Lord Gilbert Kennedy, Lord Robert Fleming, and Lord ALEXANDER BOYD. Kennedy and Boyd were to have possesion of the king, and Fleming was in some way to be made rich. As these barons had many powerful friends, they were quite able to carry out their plans.

Shortly after their bargains had been made, there was a great meeting at Lingithgow, at which the king and his officers were present. Then Boyd and Fleming held a hunting-party, and during the hunt they seized the young king and bore him off to Edinburgh castle against his will. Now that the conspirators had the king in their power, they took care to enrich themselves.

They pretended, however, to act within the laws. They held a parliament in Edinburgh castle, and Lord Boyd, the head of the Boyd family, fell at the king's feet, clasped his knees, and asked him if he had been brought to Edinburgh against his will. What could the poor king say? And now for a time the Boyds and their friends had it all their own way in the country. Sir Alexander Boyd was made guardian of the king and his two brothers, and all the royal fortresses were put into his hand. A great many lands were given to his family, and the Boyds became almost as powerful as the Douglases had been.

cont . . . under Thomas, Earl of Arran