Constant Maguire settled in Rhode Island prior to 1750. His first name
as here given was probably an abbreviated form of Constantine. He was a
native of the County Fermanagh, in Ireland, was evidently a man of
education and seems to have taken much interest in matters pertaining to
genealogy.
In one record book he is described as “Constant Maguire, son of John,
son of Constantine, the younger, natives of the County Fermanagh.”
It should here be stated that Fermanagh was the ancient patrimony of the
Maguires. Thomas Maguire, lord of Fermanagh, died in 1430. He was
described by the Irish annalists as “a man of universal hospitality
toward poor and mighty, founder of monasteries and churches, ...
peacemaker for many chiefs and septs, beloved by all conditions for the
excellence of his administration.”
Bryan, another of the Maguires, was made baron of Enniskillen in 1627.
The title was forfeited by his son, Connor, attainted by British law in
1644.
Constantine, or Constant, the Rhode Island settler, located in Warwick,
R. I., but later removed to East Greenwich, R. I. His wife’s name was
Ruth. Among their children were Mary, born February 16, 1750; Mercy,
born March 28, 1753; and John, born April 19, 1755. Mary was born in
Warwick and the others in East Greenwich.
Another numerous family in East Greenwich and vicinity were the Boyds.
Some of them were born in Ireland; all are believed to have been of
Irish blood. Several bore the name Andrew. One Andrew Boyd is mentioned
as having been born in the County Antrim, Ireland, of which his mother,
Sarah (Moore) Boyd, was also a native. Another Andrew, probably of the
same stock, is thus mentioned in the records of the Rhode Island
Assembly, October, 1776:
In Council was read the return of Andrew Boyd, clerk of the company
of Kentish Guards, choosing Christopher Greene, of Warwick, son of
Nathaniel, second lieutenant of said company, in the room of Thomas
Holden, who refused.
The action of the Guards was approved. The East Greenwich records show
the marriage of Andrew Boyd and Abigail Moor in 1763; Mrs. Sarah Boyd
and a Mr. Weeden in 1783; Andrew Boyd and Elizabeth Spencer in 1788;
William Boyd and Freelove Arnold, daughter of Capt. Thomas Arnold, in
1792; Hannah Boyd and Capt. Michael Spencer in 1805; William Boyd and
Rhoda Andrews in 1819. In the Warwick records is found noted the
marriage, in 1797, of Catherine Boyd and Timothy Bentley. In 1798,
Hannah Boyd and Darius Havens were married.