CHIEF:  Alastair Ivor Gilbert Boyd 7th Baron Kilmarnock

Richard G. and Jerri Lynn Boyd

568 W. Friedrich Street

Rogers City, Mich. 49779

SOLOMAN BOYD, KINGSTON, ONTARIO'S OLDEST CITIZEN

1909

The deceased came from Ireland 1837-Served in the Rebellion--Sailed the Great Lakes for more than 30 years.
 

Soloman Boyd, centenarian,  who  died  at  his  home  on Albert Street, on Monday, was born  in County Antrim, Ireland  a  little  over 100 years ago was without doubt the oldest citizen in Kingston. Few knew that among them was one so full of years. In his  early  days  Mr. Boyd  served as a salt water sailor.  In the year 1837 he came to Canada and settled in Kingston, Ontario. He took an active part in the  rebellion  (Canada's fight for freedom from the English yoke) of that  time  and  was  witness of the execution on Von Shultz, the Rebel leader and others of the captured band. After he  received his military discharge he followed his earlier vocation and sailed the Great Lakes for over thirty years. In 1852 he married Nancy Charlotte Hogan  and  settled  on a farm near Glenburnie, whereby industry and  integrity  he  became  a  successful  agriculturalist, beloved by his neighbors and respected by all who knew him. Twenty-four years ago he retired  from  active life, returning to the city and  building  for  himself  a  comfortable home,  where he enjoyed a well earned rest in his declining years.  His wife died about 16 years ago. Mr. Boyd is survived by all his children,  four  sons  and  two daughters, viz John Boyd of Fort William, James Boyd of Toronto, Archibald Boyd of Duluth Joseph Boyd a  building contractor of Kingston,  Mrs. P.A. Haffner of Kingston, and Miss Mary Boyd at home,  the latter  being  his stay and comfort since his wife passed to rest (1893).  Full of years and having served his generation well, he has fallen asleep and been gathered unto his fathers. In politics Mr. Boyd was  a  conservative  and in religion a Presbyterian, being a member of Cookes church and a devoted friend of the  late Reverand Samuel Houston, M.A., a former minister. Mr. Boyd was a guard at the penitentiary here in the early  days when that institution had only a picket fence as a wall.  In his sailing days he was at Buffalo, NY when that city was practically inundated and vessels sailed over places where orchards had formerly been. During  the  Rebellion  of  1837-1838  Mr. Boyd was at the  "Battle of the Windmill".  He had first hand  knowledge  of  the  burning  of  the Steamer "Sir Robert Peel" below Thousand Island Park. The funeral will take  place  from  his late residence on Albert Street on Wednesday afternoon, and will be of a private nature. Rev. Dr. McTavish of Cookes church will conduct the burial service.
 
 

                            BOYD LETTER DATED 1946

15 January 1946
Kingston, Ontario

 Dear Howard (Boyd) and Family

 We received your Christmas greetings from Mildred and Irene. We also received a letter from Mildred in October, 1945  telling us of the death of your dear mother and of her burial in Duluth (MN) beside your father. We missed her greeting and letter very much this Christmas. We also  enjoyed your note in your Christmas greeting card telling us about your family and what they were doing and also about  Hazel's boy Wallace. How about Betty Jane, you did not mention her, is she in  Duluth? and her father, where is he and what is he doing? He  was a newspaper man I believe. I suppose he is still at that
 work.  Well, you requested me to tell you all about the family.  Father Soloman Boyd, as far as I know, was born in County  Antrim, Ireland.  I think his parents were farmers. There  was a family of five boys and one girl. The eldest, John  went to Glasgow, Scotland and took up residence there.  Samuel and Sarah Boyd, I know nothing about.  Archie  (Archibald) whom your father was named after was a farmer in County Antrim near the city of Larne. That is all I can tell you about them except that they are dead several years ago. Father--your grandfather-- Soloman Boyd, took to the sea and  served seven years as an apprentice. He sailed the "Briney Deep" for several years and finally landed in Kingston in  the year 1837. At the time of the rebellion here he signed  up and seen service here. After his discharge he sailed the Great Lakes for a number of years. In 1852 he married Nancy Charlotte Hogan, Canadian born of Irish extraction, and they lived in Kingston for a time when he bought a farm in Kingston township about six miles north of Kingston. It was known as "Oval Hill", now Glenburnie, the place of mother's birth.

 We were all born on the farm except brother John, he was born in Kingston on or about 1886.  He (Soloman) retired and he and mother came to Kingston to live. He built a home and mother and dad lived there until they died. Mother died in 1893 at the age of 65 and father died in 1909 aged 101 years.

 Of their family; Your uncle John Boyd and Aunt Susie (Waller) Boyd are both dead.  They settled in Fort William, had two children, a boy and a girl. The boy, Raeford/Reeford died in his teens, the girl, Ella Boyd, now Ella Lindhop
 lives in Huntington Park, California. Your Aunt Mary never married and died in 1921. Your Aunt Kate, Mrs. P.H. Haffner lived in Kingston, both are dead.  They had two sons, Allan and Fred Haffner. They both served in WWI.  Allan, after his discharge, finished his education at Queens College and graduated in Medicine and took a special course and was an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. He died last summer (1945). When Fred enlisted he was a bank clerk and at his discharge got a good situation in the Income Tax Office and
 is there yet. He has a boy Doug (Boyd) in the military service in WWII.  He is somewhere in England and his daughter is married and lives at Niagara.  Your uncle Jim and his wife Florence took up residence in Toronto and had a large family of boys and girls. The two eldest were the boys Harry and Walter and both served in WWII. Harry was killed in action in France. Walter lives in Toronto-is married- and has a family. The other two boys, Bert and Gordon live in Toronto. Bert is in the grocery business and Gordon has a service station.  The four girls are all married and live in Toronto. Your Uncle Jim is dead and buried in Toronto. His wife, your aunt Florence is still alive, and lives at 75 St. Johns Road in Toronto. Arch Boyd, your dad, you know all about him and his family. Now comes yours truly, your Uncle Joe Boyd, that is me, and your aunt Annie are very much alive and live at 451 Princess Street, Kingston, Ontario. We celebrated our golden wedding anniversary January 30th, 1945 at the home of our son Eldon Matthews Boyd and his wife, Elenore. They have two children,
 a boy and a girl, Carl Boyd and Marian Boyd. They are in school. Carlie is eleven and Marian is eight years old. Eldon is a doctor and is on the staff of Queens College. He is a professor of Pharmacology and is in research. That is
 about all I can tell you about the Boyd family. 

Now I am going to tell you a little about mother's side of the picture. In her family there was 5 boys and three girls. David Hogan the eldest settled somewhere in the state of Michigan. Joe Hogan enlisted in the army and fought for the North in the American Civil War and was killed in action. Her three other brothers all resided in or near Kingston. She and her two sisters all also lived there. They are all gone now. Of all their offspring out side of mother's family there is only two first cousins left, Herbert Hogan of Belleville, Ontario and Mrs. Amgrove of Kingston. That is about all I can tell you. None of us were wealthy, nor was any of us beggars, just honest to God people. About your sister Stella, she and her daughter June live here in Kingston at 27 Kelson, Street. She is doing practical nursing and June is going to the KCVI, Kingston's high school. This is about all I can tell you. Have a very happy New Year, we remain yours

              (Signed) Uncle Joe & Aunt Emma Boyd
                            Kingston, Ontario, Canada
                                (Joseph Hogan Boyd)

NOTE: Use this data as a finding tool, just as you would any other secondary source. When you find the name of an ancestor listed, confirm the facts in original sources.

Back to Main Page

Canada

Other Countries

Copyright 2001- 2007  © Clan Boyd Society International. All Rights Reserved. Web Site

Do not duplicate in any form without permission of Clan Boyd Society International.