He was born in 1837/38 (6 (23 in 1861), 9 (23 in 1861), 10 [26 in 1863]). He was born in Albany, New York (9, 10).
When he enlisted, he was a moulder, and was living in Philadelphia (6, 9, 10).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a light complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair (6 [dark complexion], 9 [light complexion], 10 [light complexion]).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 23 September 1861 (1, 6, 8). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Smith (9). He was mustered in as a private at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 6). He was a private, in company D (1, 18, 19).
He was transferred to company F on 31 October 1861 (1, 7, 18).
He was promoted to corporal on 23 November 1861 (6).
He was reduced to the ranks on 16 July 1862 (6) or 18 June 1862 (8).
He was promoted to fourth sergeant on 5 August 1862 (6, 8, 9).
He was promoted to first sergeant on 1 January 1863 (6, 8, 9).
In February 1863, he was tried by court martial (16).
He was reduced to the ranks on 31 March 1863, by sentence of court martial (6 [31 May], 8 [31 Mar], 9 [31 Mar]).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (13).
On 12 December 1863, he returned to duty from hospital (5).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 24 December 1863 (1, 6, 10 [24 Dec]). He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant W H Carpenter (10).
He was wounded on 23 May 1864 (1, 14).
He was promoted on 20 (2, 11) or 21 (1) October 1864 to sergeant (6 [21 Oct 64], 8 [21 Oct]).
On 7 January 1865, he was promoted to commissary sergeant, effective 1 January 1865 (1, 3, 6, 8 [4 Jan], 12).
On 18 March 1865, he went on a furlough, which expired on 2 April 1865 (4). He returned (4).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with the regiment (1, 6). He was commissary sergeant, in Field and Staff (15, 18, 19).
On 4 February 1869, he successfully applied for a pension (15, 17).
He died on 20 November 1884 (15).
On 29 March 1886, his widow, Melinda Boyd, successfully applied from New York for a pension (15, 17).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 special order 98, HQ 91st PA, 20 October 1864 (Robert Boyd)
3 special order 3, HQ 91st PA, 7 January 1865
4 enlisted men's furloughs (Robt Boyd)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 12 December 1863 (Pri Boyd)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 16 May 2004 (Robert Boyd)
7 company D, register of men transferred, entry 2 (Robert Boyd)
8 company F, list of non-commissioned officers [3 entries] (Robert Boyd)
9 company F, descriptive roll, #7 (Robert Boyd)
10 company F, second descriptive roll, #5 (Robert Boyd)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 21 October 1864 (Privt Boyd)
12 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 12 January 1865 (Robt Boyd)
13 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Robert Boyd)
14 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (Robt Boyd)
15 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (Robert Boyd)
16 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (Robert Boyd)
17 pension index, by name (Robert Boyd)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Robert Boyed)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Robert Boyd)