Thanks for this superb piece of research, Boyd; the product of some wonderful collaborative research. The Rev. William Boyd. minister of Monreagh Presbyterian Church, Co. Donegal - what a life!
Len ________________________________ From: Boyd Gray <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, 9 September 2021 11:15 PM To: Len Swindley <[email protected]> Cc: CoTyroneIreland.com Mailing List <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [CoTyroneMailingList] Re: New Content - The Reverend William Boyd – 1718 Migration Hi Len, I have done quite a bit of research on the Reverend William Boyd over the years and use this document at Monreagh Heritage Centre: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Reverend William Boyd, 1685-1772 1685 Date of birth, calculated from the Reverend William Boyd’s gravestone in Taughboyne Parish Church, County Donegal. 31st January 1710 The Reverend William Boyd was ordained minister of Macosquin Presbyterian Church by the Coleraine Presbytery. There is no solid information on whether he was born in or near Macosquin but he may have been the son of the Reverend Thomas Boyd, who was an Episcopalian minister in neighbouring Aghadowey. The Reverend Thomas Boyd was deposed in 1661 for non-conformity (the year after the restoration of Charles II) but continued to preach in Aghadowey until his death in 1699. According to the Clan Boyd site, which appears to be using Bolton, and the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland’s History of Congregations, he also preached at Macosquin. 25th July 1718 The Reverend William Boyd arrived in Boston on board the “William and Mary”. Acting as their agent, he presented a petition signed by 319 people, including nine other Presbyterian ministers, from the Bann Valley area of Counties Londonderry and Antrim to Governor Shute of Massachussetts, requesting his support for a mass emigration to New England. These Ulster Scots Presbyterians were eager to leave their homes because of the high rents charged by the local landowner, Richard Jackson, the collapse of the linen trade around Coleraine and increasing persecution by the Established Church after the death of King William III. The petition reads, "We whose names are underwritten, Inhabitants of ye North of Ireland, Doe in our own names, and in the names of many others, our Neighbors, Gentlemen, Ministers, Farmers, and Tradesmen, Commissionate and appoint our trusty and well beloved friend, the Reverend Mr. William Boyd, of Macasky, to His Excellency, the Right Honorable Collonel Samuel Suitte, Governour of New England, and to assure His Excellency of our sincere and hearty Inclination to Transport ourselves to that very excellant and renowned Plantation upon our obtaining from His Excellency suitable incouragement. And further to act and Doe in our Names as his prudence shall direct. Given under our hands this 26th day of March, Anno Dom. 1718." “The Petition of Ulstermen”, as it has become known, is now hanging in the rooms of the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, NH. On 4th August 1718, without waiting for Governor Shute’s approval, 600 to 800 Scotch-Irish arrived in Boston in the famous “Five Ships”, led by the Reverend James McGregor of Aghadowey. He was probably married to a Mary Boyd and later founded, amongst others, the township of Londonderry in New Hampshire. Although preceded by other Presbyterian ministers, such as the Reverend Francis Makemie of Ramelton, County Donegal, this was the first large-scale migration of Scotch-Irish to America. 1718/19 The Reverend Boyd spent the winter in Charleston, living at Captain John Long’s hotel. He frequented the religious bookshop of a Benjamin Gray and became a prominent figure in Boston. 19th March 1719 The Reverend Boyd delivered a farewell sermon before returning to Ireland. 1721 Subscribed to the Westminster Confession of Faith, which laid down the doctrine to be followed by ministers of the Presbyterian Church. 1724 Drew up the papers for the Presbyterian Church Synod, prosecuting the Non-subscriber, Thomas Nevin. These “Non-subscribers” were often known as the “New Light” and eventually as “Seceders” when they formed their own “Associate Presbytery”, now known as the United Presbyterian Church. 25th April 1725 Appointed by the Derry Presbytery as the minister of Taughboyne, which later became known as Monreagh Presbyterian Church, near St Johnston, in County Donegal. There may be a connection with the fact that a Sir Thomas Boyd had acquired 1500 acres of land in the nearby Barony of Strabane, Co. Tyrone, in 1610 and Sir Thomas’ sister, Marion Boyd, married James Hamilton, Earl of Abercorn, who owned land in East Donegal (and later acquired Sir Thomas Boyd’s land in Tyrone). The Reverend Boyd became involved in a bitter conflict with the previous incumbent of Monreagh, the Reverend William Gray, when the latter returned from Dublin to set up a rival congregation in nearby St Johnston. 1730 The General Synod elected The Reverend Boyd Moderator at Dungannon. 1731 Published “A Good Conscience A Necessary Qualification of a Gospel Minister. A Sermon (Heb. Xiii 18) preached at Antrim on 15th June 1731, at a General Synod of the Protestants of the Presbyterian Persuasion in the North of Ireland”, Derry 1731. The sermon, with which he concluded his term of office, was directed specifically against a famous discourse by the non-subscribing minister, John Abernethy, M.A., whose “Religious Obedience founded on Personal Persuasion” was preached at Belfast in 1719. Boyd decided that, “conscience is not the supreme lawgiver,” and that it had no judicial authority except in so far as it administered “the law of god,” an expression which, to him, was synonymous with the Presbyterian interpretation of scripture. 1734 Unsuccessful candidate for the clerkship of the General Synod. 1739 Preached against the Reverend Richard Aprichard, who had criticised the Westminster Confession and who subsequently became a Non-subscriber. 16th June 1747 Appointed by the General Synod to draw up a “Serious Warning” to be read from the pulpits, condemning the teachings of the Non-subscribers. 15th May 1855 This notice appeared in the Belfast Newsletter of 23rd May 1855, as recorded in the Louisiana University Archives, suggesting that the Reverend William Boyd had a son who was still a minor, "Whereas I have been in.....d (1) that lands of the Vow near Ballymoney in the County of Antrim have been advertised to be sold. As I did once before, so I do once again, .........(2) all persons not to buy said lands on the insufficient Title the Sellers are able to give, or else to stand to their hazard; for as soon as my eldest son will be of Age, which is about a Year hence, he will put in his Claim and recover said Lands. Dated at Taughboyne May 15 1755. William Boyd" 1762 Attended the synod for probably the last time – very frail. 2nd May 1772 Died, his body buried in Taughboyne (Church of Ireland) Parish Church, St Johnston, County Donegal, where his gravestone has the inscription, “Here lyeth the body of the late Revd. Mr. William Boyd who departed this life May 2nd 1772. Aged 87 He had been Presbyterian Minister in Taughboyne 47 years. Here also lyes the body of his wife who died June 21st 1764 Aged 68.” The Clan Boyd site claims that he died “in service, 2nd May 1772, leaving children.” 1796 While there is no firm evidence that the Reverend William Boyd had any children, a Samuel Boyd is mentioned under Taughboyne in the “1796 Flax Seed Premium Lists” copied by a Gloria Baudouin from a microfilm in the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. 1834 Again, although is no real evidence that the Reverend William Boyd had any children, a Reverend William Boyd did hold land in the 1834 Tithe Applotment Book for Letterkenny. Sources: James McConnell and S. G. McConnell, “FASTI of the Presbyterian Church”, Genealogical Magazine, 1936 – extract supplied by The Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, Belfast. The Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland: “A History of Congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland” – extract supplied by the Society, Belfast. Charles A Hanna, “The Scotch Irish” Vol. II – extracts supplied by Barbara Braswell, Austin, Texas. The Reverend Thomas Hamilton, “History of Presbyterianism in Ulster”, Mourne Missionary Trust, 1982. The Clan Boyd internet site at www.clanboyd.info<http://www.clanboyd.info> Linda Merle, Dan Wilson, John McCutcheon, Roberta Fulton Hirth et al on the Scotch Irish list at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>, who quote from Hanna, Bolton and McCaughan. Bertie Roulston, “A History of Monreagh Presbyterian Church 1644 - 1994”, loaned by Elizabeth Craig, Drumcrow, Co. Donegal. The Reverend William Boyd’s gravestone in Taughboyne Parish Church, St Johnston, Co. Donegal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maybe others will find this interesting and have something new to add. Regards, Boyd https://www.facebook.com/westulstergenealogy/ http://familytrees.genopro.com/boydgray26/Boyd/ On Thu, 9 Sept 2021 at 12:06, Len Swindley <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Boyd, you may well have a claim to a connection to the Rev. William Boyd. He was ordained at Macosquin, Co. Londonderry Jan 31 1710 and it is speculated that he was the son of the Rev Thomas Boyd, minister of Aghadowey. Regards, Len ________________________________ From: Boyd Gray via CoTyroneList <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Tuesday, 7 September 2021 9:53 PM To: CoTyroneIreland.com Mailing List <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Cc: Boyd Gray <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Re: New Content - The Reverend William Boyd – 1718 Migration And the big question, which no-one has ever successfully answered, did he and his unnamed wife ever have any children? Could they have Boyd descendants still living in Ulster? My great great grandmother, for whom I am named, was a Mary Boyd, 1810-1885, from Macosquin, so I might have some claim to fame! Thanks, Jim. Boyd https://www.facebook.com/westulstergenealogy/ http://familytrees.genopro.com/boydgray26/Boyd/ On Tue, 7 Sept 2021 at 11:22, James McKane via CoTyroneList <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: The Reverend William Boyd – 1718 Migration<https://www.cotyroneireland.com/surnames/boyd2.html> Jim McKane Kitchener, Ontario ================================= Send a Message to the List - [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> List Archive - https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com Join the list by sending an email to - [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To receive the Digest version, send an email to - [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Unsubscribe by sending an email to - [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> =================================
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