Hawaiian Boyds

I had no interest in genealogy until my little Hawaiian-born 
mother began searching for her relatives some 12 years ago. She was having such fun in the search that I loved hearing of her discoveries. And then she died. And of course, I had not asked all the questions I should have. So I began my own search, with her notes in hand.  I had great fun, on line, learning about the few connectiions I could find. I didn't think I'd ever get to Hawaii,  much as I would have loved to go -- and then someone offered me an
opportunity to escort a choir to the islands and I went, thrilled for the opportunity.  The schedule allowed for me to have one full day to myself in Honolulu and I knew I had to get to the Bishop Museum to do family research.  What a wonderful place!  And the curators are incredibly helpful.

I worked all day, without stopping for lunch, in the documents department, looking up family names, properties, etc.  With only one hour left before the museum closed, I knew I'd have to at least begin a search in the photo department.  I explained to the photo curator that I had only one hour left and that I couldn't come back again -- and asked him where to start.  He graciously offered to help.  "You go to the card catalog, pull up the cards
with the names of your families, and I'll pull the photo files for you.  Go sit over at that table, and I'll bring the files to you." So I went and sat down.  He was back with the first file before I'd even had time to open my own notebooks.  He opened the file and laid it on the table.  I was thrilled!  It was the Boyd family file and I recognized some of the faces in those old photos.  I was so excited, it must have shown, because the young woman sit- ing at the table across from me leaned over, looked at the top photo, and said, "Are you related to those people?" "Yes," said I ---and she said, "So am I!" Well how marvelous, to find a  distant cousin!  I said, "Do you come here often?  Do you live in Hawaii?"
"No," she answered," I live in New York City.  My mother said she'd help finance my vacation if I'd just spend one day at the Bishop Museum doing some family research for her!" We each had only one day to spend -- and we found ourselves in the same little room, at the same table, at the same time - related to the same people!  We exchanged all of our notes and had the most fun!  What a wonderful adventure the genealogy hunt has become! 

Looking for ancestors of Robert Lopaka Boyd, born 1 May 1776 or 1785 either in Grenada, West Indies or in Honolulu, Oahu, HI (I've found both dates and birth sites). He was naturalized 18 May 1844 in the Hawaiian Islands -- and was King Kamehameha's shipbuilder. Family records show his father's name to be Robert but do not say where he came from. Robert Lopaka Boyd married Maria Ilikealii Harbottle 1827-1834 in Honolulu.  He died 17 July 1870 in Honolulu. A son of Robert Lopaka Boyd was Hon. Edward (or Edwin) Harbottle Boyd, b 8 Oct. 1831 or 1834 in Honolulu. He married both sisters Beke and Maria Adams, and died 4 Sept 1875 in Kailua, Oahu, HI. My great grandmother, Caroline Hawea Boyd, b 26 Apr 1860, was the daughter of Edward Boyd and Maria Adams. She married George Humphreys Robertson in Honolulu 25 Nov 1881. Her brother, Col. James Harbottle Alapuna Boyd, b 4 July 1858, married Helen Cleghorn 16 Aug 1888.

Now, if I could just find the Boyd connection back before Hawaii!
 

    Sandy Di Nanni  TSDinanni@cs.com

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