Rev. Ebenezer Boyden, Cismont, Virginia
Ebenezer Boyden (May 25, 1803 -January 15, 1891) was the son of Daniel Boyden and Tabitha Goodenough of Guilford, Windham county,Vermont. He graduated from Yale University in 1825 and immediately entered the Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal). His graduation and ordination took place in May 1828. His first appointment was to Christ Episcopal Church in Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia. He was asked to care for a new mission church close to Staunton for a few years. When he left, the new community was named BOYDEN in his honor. He married quite well in the Staunton community. His wife, Mary Sheffey, was the daughter of Congressional Representative and highly reguarded lawyer, Daniel Sheffey, Esq. and his wife, Maria Hanson, headmistress and founder of a prestigous girl's secondary school, the Virginia Female Institute.
After the wedding (January 19, 1832 at Christ Episcopal Church in Staunton), Ebenezer was the rector of a church in Norfolk, Virginia and Cleveland, Ohio. The colder, northern winters never agreed with him, and he accepted the rectorship of Grace Episcopal Church in Cismont, Virginia in 1839. He purchased a lovely home close by which he named "Hopedale". He was the rector for over 40 years. There is today a lovely stained glass window dedicated to his many years of service in the chansel of the church.
In the churchyard cemetery there is a spire memorial to the Boyden family over their graves. Ebenezer and Mary (Sheffey) Boyden had 5 daughters and 3 sons. Their oldest son, Daniel Hanson Boyden was an ordained Episcopal priest and he enlisted on MAR 1862 CSA, Corporal, Carrington's Battery of Charlottesville Artillery. He saw plenty of action and returned home permanently 'shell-shocked'. He died of stomach cancer in 1871. Their youngest son, Peter Meriwether Boyden, was also ordained and served several ministries in Maryland. Their 5 daughters never married (the Civil War had taken all of their beaux) and they opened a respected girls school at their home.