William Boyd was a gunsmith, and in the War of 1812 he was commissioned Captain of Volunteers. In his company were six of his apprentices, all of whom were killed in the same battle.

Captain Boyd married Ruth Carr, of Pennsylvania, and settled in Spencer County, Kentucky, in 1792. In 1829 he went to Missouri, and, selecting a location in St. Charles County, for his future residence, he returned to Kentucky, but died before he had completed his arrangements for moving. His widow and children came to St. Charles County, Missouri, in 1830.