CHIEF:  Dr Robin Boyd, MA (Oxon); MB BS; LRCP, MRCS; DCH; AFOM, 8th Baron Kilmarnock

John Boyd ~ Sarah Armstrong

Clockmaker

Chester and Butler Counties, PA

                                JOHN BOYD'S GENEALOGY:

Adam Boyd was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland. He came to America in 1692.  On October 13, 1724, he was ordained and installed as a pastor of Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church in Sadsbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.   He filled this position until a few weeks before his death which occurred on November 23, 1768.  Adam owned more than 500 acres of land in  the  vicinity  of his church.  Part of this tract is still owned by his family.  On October 23, 1724,  Adam married Jane Craighead, daughter of Thomas Craighead. There were six daughters and four sons in this family.

One son was Thomas Boyd was born in 1733.  He settled on a farm conveyed to him by his father.  During the Revolutionary War Thomas served as a staff officer in the Colonial Army.  According to records of the Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, he died on September 22, 1778.  One of his sons:

Michael Wallace Boyd was born in 1762.  He inherited part of the family property in Sadsbury Township  where  he  was a farmer.  In 1794, he built the Black Horse Tavern which he operated  until  1816.  He died on November 25, 1827.  The children  of Michael Wallace and Sarah Boyd were:  Jane,  Sarah, Elizabeth, Thomas W., Joseph C., and John. Of them:

John Boyd, Clockmaker, was born in 1805.  In  addition to  running a farm he was a clock and watch maker.  He inherited the  tavern  property  on a part of which he had a clock shop. In 1857 he married Sarah Armstrong of Compass, a village a few miles from the  Boyd  home.  John and Sarah's children were  Sarah, Elizabeth, Margaret A., Clara, and J. Wallace.  Of them Clara was still living at the family homestead in 1945 where she showed the writer her father's watchmaker's tools.

Her brother ( J. Wallace) was born in 1865.  He  inherited  the family farm containing the old tavern.   This  location  has  been  designated  "Boyd's Corners" during recent decades.  J. Wallace Boyd married Eleanor Cowen.  Their children were: J. Douglas, R. Elizabeth, Margaret Jean, and Sarah V.  After the death of J. Wallace in  1935,  the  family  property  passed  into  the ownership of his son, J. Douglas.  Thus, during the past two centuries this property has been owned by six consecutive generations of the Boyd family.

From the time that Reverand Adam Boyd was installed as Pastor  of the  Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, in 1724, until the  present, members of the Boyd family have been functional  participants  in the  civic and ecclesiastical affairs of Sadsbury Township.  In 1794, when the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was under construction,  M. Wallace Boyd built the  present substantial structure at Boyd's Corner.  The property was known  as  the  "Sign of the Black Horse" or as the "Black Horse Tavern" for some thirty years.  Upon the completion of the Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad, in 1834, this inn, like many of the wayside taverns along the turnpike, became obsolete. The Boyd House was a tavern post offices for several years. The Black Horse of recent times is a mile west of Boyd's corner.

John Boyd the clock and watchmaker, grew up at this tavern property amid the colorful scenes which these old inns presented.  It is likely, however, that his parents saw to it that he was spending most of his time at work on the farm  rather than loitering about the tavern. It has not been possible to ascertain with whom he learned his trade. It seems possible that it was George W. Baldwin,  who, at this period, was actively engaged in making clocks at Sadsburyville. This village was only two miles east of the Boyd home. A perusal of the inventory on M. Wallace Boyd (papers 8179) dated December 13, 1827, gives  the  following clews: (sic)  "8 day clock $60.  Silver watch $10. Rifle and Moulds $18."  Perhaps John may have helped his father work with the above items.

John's name appeared for the  first time in the Sadsbury tax lists in  1830.  The following  year  he  is classified as a "W.  Maker." For several years following  this  he  is  classified  as a watchmaker and was assessed as the owner of ninety acres of land.  During this period there were three John Boyds recorded as living or owning property in Sadsbury Township.  One was a weaver, one  a chairmaker, and the other the watchmaker.

The United States Census Report for 1850 lists  "John Boyd age 45 Watch- maker, Real Estate 5500." This report also indicates that his mother, age seventy-eight, and his sisters, Elizabeth, and Sarah,  were  living  with him at the home property.  Perhaps this is why he did not marry until he was over fifty years old. 

According to his will (Will Book 22-495) dated January 28, 1867, John left  his  property to his wife and children.  He nominated his friend, George Richman to have the guardianship of his children during their minority.  In the inventory  of  his property (Papers 15609) are listed farm implememts &  "Contents of Shop $20"  His tombstone in the Octorara Grave Yard, is inscribed "John Boyd, April 26, 1867, 63 yrs 3,6"

John Boyd shared with David Anderson, of HoneyBrook, the honor of being among the last of the old school of clockmakers in Chester County.  At right is one of his business cards, which is still prized by his descendants. (graphics not yet shown here)

Seven grandfather clocks have been located which are inscribed "John Boyd".  Two of them are still in their native county bearing witness to their makers competency. These clocks are rather plain reflecting, perhaps, the  Scotch- Irish sense of good taste and simplicity.  The case of the clock pictured is of mahogany veneer and the enameled face is marked -- John Boyd. Several  unmarked clocks in the Sadsbury area are attributed to John Boyd, but any identification is lacking.  John Boyd's  clocks are but one of the many whole- some imprints  which the Boyds of Sadsbury have contributed to Chester County. 

Source: Chester County Clocks and Their Makers, Arthur E. James, 1947 

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.

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