Boyd & Sons was founded in 1819 at Boston, Massachusetts by James Boyd, an Irish Immigrant. James was the son of Hugh and Mary Patton Boyd, and was born in Newtownand, Ireland on November 11, 1793. He married Margaret Curry of Cainey Caw, Ireland in 1815 and came to Boston in 1817. James died in Boston in 1855..

His firm was well known as saddlers and manufacturer of leather fire hose, buckets and helmets and general fireman’s supplies. The Boston firm was also a well established accoutrement maker for the U.S. Government.

During  the War Between the States James Boyd’s son Alexander Boyd continued the business.

The Boyd company went out of business in 1918 due to World War I.  James Boyd later would found the National Foam Company sometime after World War I.  Today National Foam is part of the well known Kidde brand of fire protection equipment and systems.