William Austin Leyden was born on a Thursday, May 18, 1826 in Belfast, Center County Pennsylvania. He came from a distinguished lineage descended from Sir. John Leyden, a poet of rare literary attainments, worked with Sir Walter Scott, knew over 30 languages and was knighted for valuable services rendered in India. On his mother’s side, John McBride, a revolutionary war soldier who served under General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, and their family received bounty land in Pennsylvania. Austin was raised working with canal boats along the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers. By the age of 16 he became captain of a small fleet.

I was looking for more information on Leyden who was a Colonel and later a Major of the 9th Battallion Georgia Artillery. I could not find a Belfast in Center County. Any information would be helpful.