Rev. James Boyd

Cal 1814 - 1888  (~ 73 years)

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  Rev. James Boyd

  
  

• Name	James Boyd
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	CALC 3 Dec 1814	Pollokshaws, Renfrewshire, Scotland   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1859	Zion Presbyterian Church, Wellesley Township, Ontario
  	minister
  	This congregation, in the southwestern section of the Township on the 3rd line, was organized in 1859 by Rev. James Boyd who ministered to it in a joint charge with the Presbyterian Church in Crosshill. The first church was a log house, followed by a stone church which was built in 1868 on the same site. Rev. Boyd died on June 10, 1888, and at a meeting on October 8th, 1888, Crosshill was placed with Knox Presbyterian Church, Millbank, and Zion was placed with Burns Presbyterian Church, Milverton. 1a 1aAmbrose, Rosemary. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide to Churches Established Before 1900. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. [used the kind permission of Rosemary Ambrose 2011]
  Occupation	1861	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Minister
  Residence	1861	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Crosshill
  Residence	1861	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Free Church
  Occupation	1871	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Minister
  Residence	1871	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	C. Presb.
  Occupation	1881	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Minister
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-107470
  Died	10 Jun 1888	Crosshill, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 4, 6, 7]
  Buried	Rushes Cemetery, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6, 7]
  Person ID	I107470	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2024

  
  

  Family	Annie Inglis,   b. CALC 20 Jun 1819, , Scotland ,   d. 12 Sep 1900, Crosshill, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 81 years)
  Married	1841  [5]
  Children	1. Benjamin B. Boyd,   b. 1848, Markham, York Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Dec 1891, Port Elgin, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 43 years)   2. Janet Inglis Boyd,   b. 31 Dec 1849, Richmond Hill, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 3 Aug 1928, Bala, Muskoka Lakes, Muskoka District, Ontario, Canada  (Age 78 years)   3. Jane Boyd,   b. 1853, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Annie McFarlane Boyd,   b. 1853, Richmond Hill, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1909  (Age 56 years)   5. Jane Bowman Boyd,   b. 13 May 1856, , Scotland ,   d. 30 Dec 1901  (Age 45 years)   6. Sarah A. Boyd,   b. 1858, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. Mary A. Boyd,   b. 1859, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Flora McLean Boyd,   b. 12 Jan 1864, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 27 Mar 1902, Troy, Rensselaer, New York, United States  (Age 38 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F27485	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  At Crosshill, on 10th June, Rev. Jas. Boyd, aged 73 years. Galt Reporter Jun 15 1888 pg 8 ________________________ There was no secondary schooling in Richmond Hill until 1851, when "grammar school" classes began in a private residence. Two years later the Richmond Hill Grammar School moved into a building adjoining the public school and employed Reverend James Boyd as its headmaster. Boyd was a busy man, teaching all week in Richmond Hill, then serving as Presbyterian minister in Markham on Sundays. Still, he found time to develop a new approach to teaching geometry that was accepted by the provincial education authorities. [Reverend James Boyd,"Memoir of the Rev. James Boyd of Crosshill, Ontario, 1814-1888" (N.P: n.d.), p. 6.] But like so many nineteenth-century schoolmasters and clergymen, Boyd's stay in Richmond Hill was brief; after four years he moved on to another church position in Waterloo County. " Early Days In Richmond Hill: A History Of The Community To 1930 : Electronic Edition. : Stagecoach Lines And Railway Tracks ". 2022. Edrh.Rhpl.Richmondhill.On.Ca. https://edrh.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca//default.asp?ID=s6.1. ______________________ Information taken from the Memoir of the Rev. James Boyd, 1814-1888. (24 pages. Author and publication date unknown.) James Boyd was born in the town of Pollockshaw, near Glasgow, Scotland in the year 1814. He was engaged as a cashier in a large factory in Glasgow; in addition he attended lectures in medicine and theology with the intention of going to the South Seas as a missionary. A classmate was David Livingstone, who later went to Africa as a missionary. Ill health thwarted James Boyd's plans to be a missionary. He therefore became a public school teacher, during which time he was married to Annie Inglis. The Church of Scotland asked him to go to Canada to engage in mission work. Leaving his wife behind, he sailed for New York in 1845, a seven week journey. Arriving there, a two week journey took him from New York via the Hudson River, a canal, and a lake boat across Lake Ontario to Toronto, where he studied at Knox (Presbyterian) College, being one of the first graduates of that college. The Presbytery of Toronto granted him a certificate of licence to preach on April 28th, 1847. A call was accepted for Mr. Boyd to be the first minister to a newly organized congregation at Markham. On July 7th, 1847, James Boyd was ordained and inducted as the new minister of the Markham congregation. Shortly after this, Mrs. Boyd arrived from Scotland. In addition to his duties as minister, he organized new missions in the district, cared for newly-arrived British immigrants and visited public schools. As he was said to be interested in education, he was appointed superintendent of schools, the first person to occupy this position in Markham Township. In addition, his knowledge of medicine received at Glasgow University was of great value. James Boyd later was offered the position of Headmaster of the Richmond Hill Grammar School, a position he accepted with the understanding that he would be allowed to continue preaching on Sundays in the neighbouring mission churches. After four years and seven months in Richmond Hill, Mr. Boyd again heard the call of the Church. There were three opportunities before him: one in Orillia, one in Oakville, and the third in a much smaller charge in Wellesley Township, in Waterloo County. He accepted the latter although it offered fewer advantages in the way of education for his growing family. "In October, 1859, Mr. Boyd moved with his family to Crosshill in Wellesley Township, where he became the minister of the united congregations of Zion Church, Wellesley, and Crosshill, continuing in the same charge until his death in 1888, 29 years later. Here again he was the first settled minister of a new charge. As there was no church building at Crosshill, services were held in the township hall, a fine stone structure recently erected. This continued to serve the purposes of the congregation for both Sunday School and church services until a brick church was built in 1888. At Zion, Wellesley, services were held in a log house for several years until it was replaced by a stone church on the same grounds in 1868. This church had a high pulpit after the fashion of Old Country churches with several steps leading up to it." At a public meeting on January 17, 1871, the Presbyterian congregation of Wellesley passed a resolution, moved by Thos. Freeborn and seconded by John Kyle, unanimously expressing its thorough appreciation for the services of Rev. Mr. Boyd during his time of more than eleven years as their pastor. Signatories were John Wilson, Chairman and Joseph Hammond, Secretary. About this time Mr. Boyd was appointed Inspector of Public Schools for Waterloo County. For many years he was secretary to the Board of Examiners of Public School Teachers in the County of Waterloo. During that time "he prepared all the examination questions on Geography, History, Vegetable and Animal physiology and Natural Philosophy, and sometimes in addition also those in Mathematics, Grammar and Bookkeeping." Certification of this was signed by D.S. Bowlby, M.E.D., Chairman, Board of Public Instruction, County of Waterloo. In early 1871 it was proposed that Rev. Boyd be appointed Inspector of Schools for the County of Waterloo; from the time he came to the area he had acted as superintendent of public schools in Wellesley Township. His appointment to this position was signed by Ferd'd Walter, Reeve of Wellesley Tp.; Henry Martinson, Dep. Reeve; Valentine Otterbine, Councilor; John McKee, Councilor; Gregory Starr, Councilor; John Zoeger, Tp. Clerk; George Deer, I.P.; John Strah, I.P. In 1875, Rev. Mr. Boyd made his first and only trip back to Scotland, his native country. For some time his health had been failing and his congregation were deeply concerned about him. They suggested that he take a three month's vacation and visit Scotland. Good wishes were signed at a church meeting on July 27th, 1875 on behalf of the Crosshil congregation by John J. Campbell, Alex Webster, Thomas Campbell, John Scott, Charles Coote, Peter Campbell, and William Burnett. A meal was served by the ladies of the congregation and speeches were made by R.M. Richards of the P.M. (Primitive Methodist) Church, and John Halloway, of the W.M. (Wesleyan Methodist) Church. Good wishes came locally from Thomas Pearce, Thomas Hilliard, Jeremiah Suddaby and David Bergy. Rev. Mr. Boyd returned from Scotland renewed in health and strength. His ministry continued with increasing success during the years that followed. In 1887 it was determined that there was a need for a more suitable place of worship in Crosshill. A site was purchased, and plans were completed for the erection of a church. Mr. Boyd, however, did not live to see its completion. He passed away on June 10th, 1888 at the age of 73 years, leaving behind him his wife and eight children, James, Janet, Annie, Sara, Benjamin, Jennie, Mary and Flora. The congregation at Crosshill decided to name the new church "Boyd Presbyterian Church" in honour of their first minister.

  
  

• Sources

  [S113] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1881, Division 3 Page 5. [S269] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1871, Div. 4, Pg. 78. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 14 Jun 1888. Died 10 Jun 1888 Rev. James Boyd died in Crosshill at age of 73 years & 6 months & 7 days. He had been pastor of the Presbyterian church there for the last 30 years and earned the love and respect of both the English and German-speaking population by his modest and unpretentious manner. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 21 Jun 1888. Died 10 Jun 1888 Rev. James Boyd died in Crosshill at age of 73 years & 6 months & 7 days. He had been pastor of the Presbyterian church there for the last 30 years and earned the love and respect of both the English and German-speaking population by his modest and unpretentious manner. [S855] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1861, Sect. 17 Page 116. [S241] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley - Rushes CC#4536 Waterloo Region Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society. [Front] In loving memory of/ Rev. James Boyd/ Died/ June 10, 1888/ Aged 73 yrs. 6 m./ Boyd [Left] Annie Inglis/ His beloved wife/ Died/ Sept. 12, 1900/ Aged/ 81 yrs. 2 m. 23 dys./ Sara A. Boyd [Back] Jane Bowman/ Boyd/ Born May 13, 1856/ Died/ Dec. 30, 1901 [Right] Flora McLean/ Boyd/ Born/ Jan. 12, 1864/ Died/ Mar. 27, 1902/ Mary Boyd [A] Mother [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197844532/james-boyd.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - CALC 3 Dec 1814 - Pollokshaws, Renfrewshire, Scotland Occupation - minister - 1859 - Zion Presbyterian Church, Wellesley Township, Ontario Occupation - Minister - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Crosshill - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Free Church - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Minister - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presb. - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Minister - 1881 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 10 Jun 1888 - Crosshill, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Rushes Cemetery, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth