There are no common stereotypes about the McCain or Boyd family, other than a history of divorce. If anything, the Boyd family would be expected to only complete high school, and occasionally college. They are likely to stay close to either Boydton or Clarksville. Very few of my fathers relatives have moved from that area or have stayed at least within 1 hour driving distance. Many of them have common jobs either involving labor or working in the town. My father is one of few people to truly leave his hometown and make something of himself. Most of my family lives a very simple life and is content with life in a small town.
Stereotypically, my mothers family has been known to pursue a degree and then leave to pursue a business venture. My mothers family is made up of business owners, real estate investors, home builders, hotel executives, lawyers, nurses, teachers, and business executives. Although a few of my relatives still live in Lexington, most have left to pursue their careers in larger cities like Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, and Tampa. McCain's are expected to work hard and live a flashier lifestyle. My uncles are typically competing to see who can make more money, befriend the most important people, and make a name for themselves.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Family Tree
My Mother's Side
My Father's Side
I have 1 sister, Holly, and we are the daughters of Barbara Dale McCain Boyd and Robert Richard Boyd II. My mother's side of the family is from Kentucky and my fathers is from Virginia. My parents are no longer married. My Mother is 1 of 5, although her brother passed away as an infant. She still has 3 brothers living both in Georgia and Florida. I am one of 8 cousins on my mothers side. My mothers parents are Allen McCain and Barbara White McCain. Both of my grandparents are no longer living. My grandfather Allen remarried Pat McCain and she is still living in Florida. My father is 1 of 2 and his sister Martha lives in Charleston, South Carolina. I am 1 of 4 cousins on my fathers side. My fathers parents are still married and live in Clarksville, Virginia.
Fun Family Photos
My mother's cousin Gatewood and his old fraternity brother and roommate Paul Ryan during the 2012 election.
My uncle Carter in a magazine shoot for his law practice.
The hotel that my grandfather used to own in North Carolina.
My mom and her 4 brothers.
A trip back to mom's alma mater to see a Kentucky Basketball game with our cousin.
A Christmas family tradition: matching pajamas!
Our family loves college football. My uncle is a board member for the Outback Bowl and has served as chairman for this New Years Day bowl game.
Family Roles, Beliefs, and Traditions
Family Roles
Family roles have changed a great deal in my family over time, however our beliefs and traditions have always stayed the same. In the older generations, the women always stayed home to take care of the family and the men worked. It did not matter how poor the family was, the woman would never go to work, but would rely on the husband to provide for the family. My grandfather on my fathers side was a member of the Army before working for Norfolk Southern on the railroads. He loved trains and still has a great deal of railroad memorabilia in his home. His wife stayed at home raising my dad as well as his sister. They lived a very simple life due to having very little. To this day, my grandparents barely spend a dime remembering how poor they once were. They have live in the same house that my father grew up in and all of my grandfathers siblings live on the same street. The town of Clarksville, Virginia has been blessed with 4 Boyd families all within 4 houses in a row.
My mothers family had a very different lifestyle than my fathers. My grandfather was loud, flashy, and was always looking for a good time. My mothers family is from Lexington, Kentucky. They are all born and raised there, and they went on to attend the University of Kentucky. My grandfather was an entrepreneur and he was always chasing the next great investment. He invested in everything from house boats and hotels, to nail polish companies and restaurants. I'm still a little upset that he turned down Colonel Sanders offer to invest in a brand new company that would come to be known as Kentucky Fried Chicken. My mothers family followed the traditional values that the woman stayed home and the man worked. My grandmother raised my mother as well as her 4 other brothers. Although my grandfather appeared to live a flashy and fast paced lifestyle, my mothers family often struggled to provide for their growing family and each child worked from an early age. Today, neither of my mother's parents are living and our family is spread across the East coast. Our family now lives in Chicago, Tampa, Atlanta, Lexington, and Palm Beach.
Although the older generations of my family followed the traditional values of the mother being the caretaker and the father being to breadwinner, times have changed a lot for our family. My mother has worked my whole life and has at often times been the breadwinner in our family. Each of my Aunts are well educated and hardworking women, balancing the life of a businesswoman and a mother. I look up a great deal to my mom and Aunts for all of their hard work and the way they have made something of themselves.
Beliefs
Both the McCain side and Boyd side of my family grew up with strong Christian beliefs. These beliefs were instilled in both my sister and I as well as our cousins and other relatives. My father's family grew up Baptist while my mother's family grew up Episcopalian. My sister and I were both raised Episcopalian, but our family now attends a nondenominational mega-church. Christian beliefs are a huge part of our family values and they have molded our family structure into what it is today. Everyone in my family gets Christened as a baby and is give at least 2 Godparents. Typically, the Godparents are relatives or occasionally close family friends. Our family recognizes all religious holidays and tries our best to spend them together. My fathers side is especially involved in the church. My Uncle is a Pastor and my Aunt plays the organ at their local church.
Values
Aside from our religious values, our family highly values a hard work ethic and pursuing higher education. My fathers side did not all go to college, however, my mothers side has always been passionate about pursuing a college degree and working hard to be the best you can be. My mother received her Bachelors from the University of Kentucky and my father received his from Longwood University where he also played college golf. My family has attended schools like the University of Kentucky, Auburn University, Georgetown, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, University of Georgia, University of Florida, Miami of Ohio, Longwood University, and the University of South Carolina.
Traditions
My family is large and chaotic, but we try our best to maintain our family traditions of spending holidays together and enjoying at least 1 family trip a year. Sadly, my family has been through a great deal of divorce, which complicates our ability to see each other. My parents as well as all of my moms brothers are divorced. This has made it hard on the family to get together when different sets of cousins are with the other parent for the holidays. Although our family is complicated, we are still close to each of my Aunts and Uncles that are technically no longer apart of the family. We do our best to include everyone for the holidays as well as on family vacations.
Family roles have changed a great deal in my family over time, however our beliefs and traditions have always stayed the same. In the older generations, the women always stayed home to take care of the family and the men worked. It did not matter how poor the family was, the woman would never go to work, but would rely on the husband to provide for the family. My grandfather on my fathers side was a member of the Army before working for Norfolk Southern on the railroads. He loved trains and still has a great deal of railroad memorabilia in his home. His wife stayed at home raising my dad as well as his sister. They lived a very simple life due to having very little. To this day, my grandparents barely spend a dime remembering how poor they once were. They have live in the same house that my father grew up in and all of my grandfathers siblings live on the same street. The town of Clarksville, Virginia has been blessed with 4 Boyd families all within 4 houses in a row.
My mothers family had a very different lifestyle than my fathers. My grandfather was loud, flashy, and was always looking for a good time. My mothers family is from Lexington, Kentucky. They are all born and raised there, and they went on to attend the University of Kentucky. My grandfather was an entrepreneur and he was always chasing the next great investment. He invested in everything from house boats and hotels, to nail polish companies and restaurants. I'm still a little upset that he turned down Colonel Sanders offer to invest in a brand new company that would come to be known as Kentucky Fried Chicken. My mothers family followed the traditional values that the woman stayed home and the man worked. My grandmother raised my mother as well as her 4 other brothers. Although my grandfather appeared to live a flashy and fast paced lifestyle, my mothers family often struggled to provide for their growing family and each child worked from an early age. Today, neither of my mother's parents are living and our family is spread across the East coast. Our family now lives in Chicago, Tampa, Atlanta, Lexington, and Palm Beach.
Although the older generations of my family followed the traditional values of the mother being the caretaker and the father being to breadwinner, times have changed a lot for our family. My mother has worked my whole life and has at often times been the breadwinner in our family. Each of my Aunts are well educated and hardworking women, balancing the life of a businesswoman and a mother. I look up a great deal to my mom and Aunts for all of their hard work and the way they have made something of themselves.
Beliefs
Both the McCain side and Boyd side of my family grew up with strong Christian beliefs. These beliefs were instilled in both my sister and I as well as our cousins and other relatives. My father's family grew up Baptist while my mother's family grew up Episcopalian. My sister and I were both raised Episcopalian, but our family now attends a nondenominational mega-church. Christian beliefs are a huge part of our family values and they have molded our family structure into what it is today. Everyone in my family gets Christened as a baby and is give at least 2 Godparents. Typically, the Godparents are relatives or occasionally close family friends. Our family recognizes all religious holidays and tries our best to spend them together. My fathers side is especially involved in the church. My Uncle is a Pastor and my Aunt plays the organ at their local church.
Values
Aside from our religious values, our family highly values a hard work ethic and pursuing higher education. My fathers side did not all go to college, however, my mothers side has always been passionate about pursuing a college degree and working hard to be the best you can be. My mother received her Bachelors from the University of Kentucky and my father received his from Longwood University where he also played college golf. My family has attended schools like the University of Kentucky, Auburn University, Georgetown, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, University of Georgia, University of Florida, Miami of Ohio, Longwood University, and the University of South Carolina.
Traditions
My family is large and chaotic, but we try our best to maintain our family traditions of spending holidays together and enjoying at least 1 family trip a year. Sadly, my family has been through a great deal of divorce, which complicates our ability to see each other. My parents as well as all of my moms brothers are divorced. This has made it hard on the family to get together when different sets of cousins are with the other parent for the holidays. Although our family is complicated, we are still close to each of my Aunts and Uncles that are technically no longer apart of the family. We do our best to include everyone for the holidays as well as on family vacations.
Ethnicity & Race
There is not a great deal of information about my family, although I do know I am half Scottish and half Irish. I know more about my father's side, Boyd, and they are of Scottish decent. My mother's side, McCain is of Irish decent. My family does not know at what time our ancestors moved to America or their reason for doing so. I would be very interested in learning more about them.
What I know about my father's side is that Alexander Boyd moved to Virginia sometime in the 18th century. He was a merchant and Scottish immigrant who opened The Boyd's Tavern which is still around today and open for tours. Is is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Boyd Tavern is located in Boydton, Virginia which was named after my family. Boydton was founded in 1812 and was the original home of Randolph-Macon College. Boydton now borders Kerr Lake and Clarksville, Virginia, which is where my fathers family still lives today.
Below is the Boyton, Virginia Seal as well as the Boyd Family Scottish Crest.
What I know about my father's side is that Alexander Boyd moved to Virginia sometime in the 18th century. He was a merchant and Scottish immigrant who opened The Boyd's Tavern which is still around today and open for tours. Is is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Boyd Tavern is located in Boydton, Virginia which was named after my family. Boydton was founded in 1812 and was the original home of Randolph-Macon College. Boydton now borders Kerr Lake and Clarksville, Virginia, which is where my fathers family still lives today.
Below is the Boyton, Virginia Seal as well as the Boyd Family Scottish Crest.
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