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Dunlop of that Ilk
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Robert Boyd - Blacksmith - Axemaker
I am a marine archaeologist completing a final write-up of
an archaeological site (a colonial American shipwreck lost outside of St.
Augustine, Florida in 1764, the “Industry” en route from New York.)
Recovered from the site were some 54 American-style felling axes marked with
the name of the maker: R Boyd and a pair of crossed axe heads. I have
recently identified the axe maker as Robert Boyd, a NY blacksmith, and
believe he might have become the first president of the NY General Society
of Mechanics and Tradesmen in 1785.
As cleaning continues the surface of two axe heads have been exposed
(8SJ3478-61-04, 05). The axes appear to be felling axes that were in very
good condition at the time of their loss. Their cutting edges are flat, not
sharpened to a bevel. More will be determined after the axe heads are
completely excavated and recorded. The figure above shows the axe heads and
the brass pin.
The separation of artifacts in Box 8SJ3478-61 has been com-pleted. At final
count, fourteen American style felling axes, seventeen brass straight pins,
one silver button, and an encrusted tool were removed from the broken box.
The axes were packed carefully into place, alternating from blade to poll.
Several of the axe heads are stamped "R BOYD".
As labeled, both boxes contain twenty American style felling axes. This
makes a total of fifty-four identical axe heads that have been recovered
from the site. The majority of the axes are stamped with a makers mark.
Above the name "R BOYD" is a second stamp that shows two crossed axes. Does
anyone have genealogical information on this Robert Boyd? You can see his
maker's mark logo and read an older summary of my work at this site:
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/CRL/Report10/update1.html
Thank you, Marianne Franklin soarmaf "at" aol.com
Marianne Franklin, Director
Southern Oceans Archaeological Research, Inc. PO Box 13512
Pensacola, Florida 32591 USA (850) 418-2763Conservation Research Laboratory,
Nautical Archaeology Program, Texas A&M University.
Robert Boyd Axes - Update
The following is an email from Marianne Franklin that I received in re the
R. Boyd axes from last quarter’s newsletter.
“Mr. Boyd, thanks for paying attention to this. I do think we're in the
right ballpark. I actually have the will, that I found on your web page,
copied below, that told me that the Robert Boyd I am looking for would have
been a blacksmith in NY between 1757-1760, which would make him the correct
axe maker for the tools found on the Industry, which were shipped from NY in
1764. Abstracts of Wills Vol V 1754-1760
From The New York Historical Society Collections, this 1896 volume features
abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogates Office, City of New York, from
1754-1760. Bibliographic Information: Abstracts of Wills Vol V 1754-1760,
The New York Historical Society, 1896.
Page 219.--In the name of God, Amen. I, Samuel Boyd, of New York, Taylor,
being of sound mind. "I leave to my brother, Robert Boyd, a lot of land in
Ulster County, being 151 acres, commonly called by the name of Boyd's Hall.
My sister, Janet Boyd, is to have a living on the place during her
widowhood, till the youngest child be of age." I leave to my brother,
Nathaniel Boyd, a lot of land in Orange County, being 56 acres, commonly
called by the name of Boyd's Grove, And my sister, Margaret Boyd, is to have
a living on it during her widowhood, or till the youngest child is of age, I
also leave him 85 (English pounds). I leave to my brother, James Boyd, a lot
of land, 100 acres, in Ulster County, commonly called Boyd's Folly, and my
sister, Mary Boyd, is to have a living on it during her widowhood, or till
the youngest child is of age. I leave to my sister, Mary Waugh, 100 acres of
land in Ulster County, called by the name of Boyd's Promise, and I also
further order that if her male heirs should wear out, then that 100 acres
shall return to my brother, Nathaniel Boyd. I leave to my brother David and
his children in Ireland 100 and 20 now in the hands of Mr. Jesse Craig. I
leave to my honored father [not named] 3 pounds Stirling yearly during his
life. I leave to my cousin, Robert Boyd, blacksmith, 5, and to every
brother's son that is named after me 10. "All the rest to my brothers and
sisters and their children." I make Abraham Van Gelder, cordwainer, Robert
Boyd, blacksmith, James Boyd, farmer, and Nathaniel Boyd, farmer, executors.
Dated February 7, 1757. Witnesses, Abraham Van Gelder, Edward Snape, Andrew
Sloane. Proved, April 7, 1757.
New York Historical Society Collections, 1905. Abstracts of wills on file in
the Surrogates Office, City of New York, Vol XIV 6/12/1786 to 2/13/1796.
From the section of your website I saw it looks like Col. Robert Boyd
would have been born in 1734, so the age is right. Your site says he moved
to NY early "in this century" after inheriting his bachelor Uncle's estate.
I will keep searching through the records you have on the site. You
certainly have worked very hard and compiled an impressive amount of
information. Thank you so much for your help.
Best Regards, Marianne Franklin.
soarmaf "at" aol.com
More on this family in Connecticut
For even more on the origin of this family click here
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