William and Elizabeth (West) Boyles

William Boyles married Elizabeth West, the sister to our direct ancestor, Susan Evaline West.

William Boyles was born about 1826 in Kentucky. William Boyles and his father, Joseph Boyles, came to Texas prior to 1848 and both received land as a part of Peter's Colony that settled North Central Texas. William died about 1863 in Collinsville, Grayson, Texas. It is believed that he died from a gunshot wound and exposure as he hid from the same group responsible for the Great Hangings at Gainesville, Texas in October 1862. William's brother-in-law, David Miller Leffel, was one of the victims of the Hanging. Diamond stated that Boyles was "later killed at Collinsville." His death was a result of his participation in the Peace Party and resulting arrests, trials & Hangings at Gainesville, Texas in 1862.

William married Elizabeth T. West daughter of Michael West and Susannah McKee West on 19 May 1849 in , Grayson, Texas. Elizabeth was born on 5 Dec 1831 in Champaign, Ohio. She died on 14 Mar 1898 in Erath, Texas. She was buried in Mar 1898 in Alexander Cemetery, Erath, Texas.
They had the following children:
1. Joseph McKee Boyles was born on 6 Dec 1852 in Sherman, Grayson, Texas. He died on 19 Mar 1933 in Portales, Curry, New Mexico. He was buried in Portales, Curry, New Mexico.Joseph married (1) Mary Rose Auvenshire "Polly" on 5 Jul 1877 in Jonesboro, Coryell, Texas. Mary was born on 1 Jan 1860 in , Carroll, Tennessee. She died on 3 Apr 1879 in Aurora, Wise, Texas. She was buried in Old Bethel Cemetery, Rhome, Wise, Texas.Joseph married (2) Sara Elizabeth Pennington in 1880 in . Sara was born on 14 Jun 1861.
2. Sarah L. Boyles was born about 1855 in , , Texas.? IGI possible spouse: Sarah L Boyles; Female; Birth: 1855 , Texas married spouse: Thomas Grimes; Marriage: 14 APR 1872 , Coryell, TX
3. Martha S. Boyles was born on 2 Jun 1857 in , Crawford, Arkansas.Your information on the Boyles is the same family as mine. My husbands Great Grandmother Martha Jane Boyles was born June,2 1857. She had 4 brothers, one who was Joseph McKee Boyles born 1853 according to our information. Elizabeth married a Issac Lee April 30, 1865 and Elizabeth died March 14, 1898 in Earth CoTexas. We have been told that Martha Jane is part Cherokee Indian. I have a picture of her and Andrew Jackson Roberts her husband, and she looks Indian. But, so far I haven't been where I can check out the Indian information. My husband's niece has a Dawls Book and she showed a Martha Jane Bowles. But, her Dad's last name was Boyles. But, I need to study the book better if I ever get back to Abilene Texas where she lives. My husband's Dad always said his Grandmother was a Cherokee Indian.
4. William Tomes Nelson Boyles was born in 8 Nov 1859 in , Cooke, Texas.William preferred to spell his name as Boils. There was much discussion over the fact that he felt Boils was the proper spelling.Marriage 1 Martha J. Pennington, 2 MAY 1881 in Coryell Co., TX

The Story of William Boyles by S. H. Harrison 1997 Fort Worth, TXWilliam Boyles was the son of Joseph Boyles, his mother is still unknown. Joseph Boyles came to Texas from Illinois, I found him in Green County in 1830 and 1840 census records. According to these records he had other sons and a daughter (or perhaps extended family living with them), however, we only know the names of William and Sarah. According to the 1850 census records, Joseph was born in Virginia, William was born in Kentucky and Sarah in Illinois. Joseph Boyles arrived in Texas a widower and obtained land from Peters Colony in Collin and Cooke Counties. William served in ranger companies during 1846 and 1848. He obtained a Headright in Grayson County as a single man and married Elizabeth West in Grayson County, 19 May 1849.When his father, Joseph, died 19 May 1853, William was appointed the executor of the estate. It is unclear on what date he and Elizabeth went to Arkansas, however there are probate records indicating that the court had not heard from William Boyles. The court cost by the October 1857 term, amounted to over $500.00 and the decision was made to sell the property in Cooke County to cover court costs. It was at this time that William, from Crawford County, Arkansas, sold all of his interest in his father’s estate to his sister Sarah Gibson. He apparently thought he had taken care of his obligations of Joseph’s estate, or thought they would take care of themselves. They could have been in Arkansas the entire four years, census records show the birth of a daughter in Arkansas. At any rate, they were back in Texas in time for the 1860 census. (His family is listed in both Cooke & Grayson Counties in the 1860 Census.)Sister, Sarah Boiles, age 19 was living with William Fitzhugh in Collin County in the 1850 census. I have wondered if there is a relationship with them since Fitzhugh’s wife, Mary, was also born in Illinois, however, nothing has been proven one way or the other. Sarah married Nelson Gibson from Pettis County, Missouri (Nelson’s name is recorded in deed records as her husband). In the 1860 census Sarah and Nelson Gibson are listed on the same census page as O.T. Mallow with other Mallows on the other census pages. For those who don’t recognize the name, Mother’s youngest sister, Dovie, married J.T. Mallow. I checked with their daughter, Jeanie, their Mallows were in Collin County at that time.Back to William Boyles. Family tradition stated that "he did not want to fight in the Civil War, hid out in the hills, contracted pneumonia and died." Let’s take a look at the time period. Both the Boyles and West families moved to Texas from Illinois in the middle 1840's. They had both been subjected to "Texas Justice." William had served with the home rangers protecting the frontier families from Indian attacks, so he was not afraid of fighting. By the time they arrived, slave owners from the south manned most of the political offices. In 1862, Texas became embroiled in the question of secession and called for a vote. The vote in Cooke and Grayson Counties was overwhelmingly against secession. However, as a state, the vote was for secession. A large number of men in the Red River border counties joined a secret society that was loyal to the government of their fathers (Old Constitution and the Union).This sets the stage for what later became known as "The Great Hangings of Gainesville." The West (Elizabeth West Boyles) sister, Susan and her husband David M. Leffel arrived in Texas in time to become embroiled in it too. September 1862 Union forces had advanced into the Oklahoma Territory and there was a good deal of unrest in the Red River area. The Confederate army in the area learned of the secret society and suspected treason. What ensued was mass hysteria and mass arrests. David Leffel was among them and William Boyles’ name came up during the so-called trial. David was one of the 42 men who were hanged in Gainesville the middle of October and William was one of the wanted. One report says that William was killed near Collinsville. The family tradition said pneumonia. Could they both have been right? It was October and he was hiding out in the Timbers. He could have suffered a gunshot wound and contracted pneumonia, too.Elizabeth Boyles moved her family to Coryell County and Susan Leffel continued to live in the area until problems erupted after the return of the confederate veterans at the end of the Civil War. A neighbor, Joel F. DeLemeron, tried to help Elizabeth and her children by giving her a horse and was charged with treason for aiding the victim’s families.