|
|
MAINE
HISTORY
History of Portland,
Maine by William Willis.
Robert Boyd and Joseph
Coffin. These gentlemen, the first of the name who
settled in Portland, were sons of James Boyd of Newburyport, and
Susannah
Coffin, sister of Rev. Paul Coffin of Buxton, and daughter of Col.
Joseph Coffin of Newbury, who was a descendant from Tristram Coffin, the
first of the name who came to this country. Robert and Joseph, with
their brothers, Ebenezer and Gen. John Parker Boyd, were destined for
mercantile life, and were placed in stores in Boston. Ebenezer from
having become quite a distinguished merchant left commercial pursuits
and became a zealous Baptist preacher. And John, tired of the drudgery
of business, entered the American army, and in 1786 received a
commission as ensign. In 1788, not finding sufficient employment on the
peace establishment for his active mind, he went to India, and entering
the military
service, he rose by his merits to the command of a regiment in the
British army. Returning to this country he was made a brigadier general
and served through the war of 1812 with honor to himself and benefit to
the country. Robert came to Portland in 1784 and was soon followed by
his brother, Joseph C., when they commenced trade. In 1800, Joseph went
to France and was absent abroad eighteen months; on his return he left
commercial pursuits and engaged in other employments ; at one time as
clerk of the courts, as notary, and magistrate. He was the first
treasurer of the State in 1820, and died in 1823 while holding that
office, at the age of sixty three. In 1796 he married Isabella, a
daughter of Dr. Robert Southgate of Scarborough, by whom he had a large
family of children. One son, Robert, and children of' his eldest
daughter, Mary, widow of Dr. John Merrill, still reside in town.
Robert Boyd was the eldest brother ; he continued in trade on the corner
of Middle and Exchange streets till his death. He succeeded Stephen
Deblois, who had purchased that corner and the wooden store upon it, of
Deacon Richard Codman in 1788, and after Mr. Deblois' return to Boston
in 1794, Mr. Boyd purchased it and erected upon the spot in 1805 the
brick block which remains there, the property of some of his children.
Mr. Boyd erected about the same time the fine house on the corner of
High and Pleasant streets, now owned and occupied by Joseph W. Dyer, in
which he died in 1827, at the age of sixty-eight ; his wife died twenty
years later. Margaret, wife of the late Woodbury Storer, and Mrs.
William Little of Boston were the sisters of Mr. Boyd.
Robert Boyd married first, Ruth, a daughter of Capt. David Smith,
November 15, 1791, by whom he had all his children, viz: John P., Susan
Coffin, William, Robert, a daughter who died in infancy, and Lendall,
all of whom are living but the two daughters, three of them in Portland.
Mrs. Boyd died in 1805 at the age of thirty-six. His second wife was
Hannah Greenleaf of Newburyport, the excellent woman with whom he lived
more than twenty years. Mr. Boyd was a gentleman of fine qualities,
kind, benevolent, of easy manners, and universally respected.
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
|
|
New
Books
|
NOTES
TO RESEARCHERS
When
you use this site, please keep in mind the difference between
primary and secondary sources and the importance of checking those
sources. Accept nothing without further checking. It is our hope
that through this collection of data from many sources, you will
find a piece of the puzzle that you are working on and that may
lead you to other discoveries.
|
|
