Boyd, Hugh (1765–95), MP and mine owner, was born 23 February 1765, probably in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, eldest son of Ezekiel Davys Boyd and Amy Boyd (née Frisby). His father, a grandson of Hugh Boyd (qv) (d. 1765), owned estates and collieries in Ballycastle. Hugh Boyd entered TCD in 1782, but may not have graduated. He united the assets of all branches of the family by marrying his cousin Rose, daughter of Alexander Boyd of Clare Park. Ezekiel Boyd, who had inherited his brothers' shares of family property, surrendered his estate to Hugh (1786) in exchange for an annuity.
Hugh Boyd was high sheriff of Co. Antrim (1792) and MP for Co. Antrim (1794–5), and as a member of the Whig Club in Belfast was described as ‘one of the very very few country gentlemen who were wise enough to mingle with the people, to learn their grievances and endeavour to have them redressed’ (Northern Star). In March 1785 Boyd chaired a meeting of Co. Antrim freeholders which passed resolutions deploring the departure of the popular lord lieutenant Earl Fitzwilliam (qv), and demanding catholic emancipation and a ‘radical reform of the representation of the people’ (ibid.). Ballycastle's prosperity should have been secure in Boyd's hands, but circumstances conspired against this; the economic situation was unfavourable, and on a visit to Coagh, Co. Tyrone, he died very unexpectedly on 26 November 1795, aged only 30.
His son and heir was still a child, and later became a seriously mentally ill. As he lived till 1862, the estate was in the court of chancery for most of the century. There were three other children, a son Alexander, and two daughters, who ultimately inherited the estate.