John Boyd & Jessie Stevenson

[elna]

I think you would probably win your bet. Having taken a second look at my family tree I think the father is more likely to be William Boyd born 1863 who died in 1899.

Have not been able to trace any marriage or death certificates for William Boyd Davidson as yet. It is a pity no fathers name on his birth certificate.

Regards

Elna

[SarahND]

Hi Elna,
I would agree that William sounds like a more likely father, given the age and the name.

Meanwhile, I do believe I have found him. There is a William Boyd, born in Banff, Scotland on 9 Dec 1880, who filled out a U.S. WWII Draft Registration card in 1942. He was living in Oswego, Oregon and had gray eyes, black hair and a ruddy complexion.
The contact name and address he gave was a James Boyd living in Portland, Oregon. There is a James Boyd, born abt 1865 in Scotland living there in the 1940 census. Sounds like his uncle.

So I looked William up on the 1940 census and he is there in Oswego (called William D Boyd) with his wife Kathryn A J, who was born in Kansas. William is a banker (as was also reported for his occupation on the draft card).

Going back in the censuses, it doesn't look like they had any children. However, in 1910 he is alone and says he is a widower, so perhaps had children with another wife. He says he came to the U.S. in either 1903 or 1905 (depending on which census you believe). With luck, his first marriage will have been in Scotland.

I also see his marriage record in the Oregon index for June 15,1910. His name is spelled out as William Davidson Boyd, so if you had any doubts about him… they should have disappeared by now. His wife was Kathryn Anne Jones.

It looks as though he died in Oregon in 1965.

Well, got to get back to work, but this is enough for you to chew on for a bit

All the best,
Sarah

[elna]

Hello,

Thankyou so much for the latest info. I would not have discovered without you help.
On my recent trip to Scotland I found a gravestone in Portsoy for William Boyd born 1863 died 1899 husband of a Maria Lovie. Occupation Bank Teller. I see from the info you sent for William Davidson Boyd states he was a Bank Manager. Is this a case of "Like Father Like Son".

You mentioned James Boyd who was born 1864 in Fordyce. James was a blacksmith. Your info now also sets out another area for research as James married an Ann Jones. I wonder if she was the sister of Kathryn Jones who married Wiliam D Boyd. More research to keep me busy.

Best wishes

Elna

[nelmit]

Well done Sarah - I've enjoyed following this one.

If you have a spare 10 credits Elna it might be worth a look at his 2 page inventory to see if he mentions young William.

Regards,
Annette

[trish1]

Well done Sarah - I've enjoyed following this one.

Regards,
Annette

I did also Annette - great work by Sarah - and a wonderful insight into all the paths to follow.

Trish

[SarahND]

Thanks Annette and Trish
If you could have seen me while I was looking up those things, seated in a screened tent on the top of a ridge in north Idaho, taking a break from sanding logs, you would have wondered (rightly) at my sanity! Definitely appreciated the break though

Have either of you found William Boyd entering the U.S.? I can't find any that I'm convinced by, although there is no lack of William Boyds entering the country.


Sarah

[Currie]

Nice work Sarah.

There’s an obit for the bank teller in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Wednesday, June 14, 1899.

DEATH OF MR BOYD, TELLER, UNION BANK.
The death took place last week at his residence, 49 Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen, of Mr. William Boyd, teller in the Union Bank. The news of the sad event will be heard with regret by servants of the bank throughout Scotland, Mr. Boyd having been well known and highly respected. A native of Portsoy, he served his apprenticeship under Mr. Peter Murray, a strict disciplinarian, and one who was deeply devoted to the interests of the bank. Mr. Boyd benefited by the training of his apprentice-master, and carried out his methods to the letter, From Portsoy, Mr. Boyd went to the Peterhead branch, where he remained until 1894, when he was transferred to the head office in Aberdeen. For years he suffered from an incurable malady, and although his colleagues feared that he would never survive his illness, they did not expect that the end would come so soon. Mr. Boyd was on duty on Saturday, but since then he was prostrated, and passed quietly away this morning. He was a man of sterling character. He is survived by a widow—a Portsoy lady—and three children. Mr. Boyd was 36 years of age.

All the best,
Alan

[SarahND]

Nice find, Alan! Too bad they didn't name the children...
Cheers,
Sarah

[elna]

Hello,

Thankyou everyone for all your help.

William Boyd was born 16/2/1863 in Fordyce to John Boyd and Jessie Stevenson. William married Maria Lovie on the 25/12/1888 in Aberdeen.
They had four children Hilda 1891 -1893 (Buried with her father in Portsoy), William S born 1891, John born 1894 and George A born 1898.
Scotlands People are doing well today!!!

PS. William died of Diabetes.

Regards

Elna

[nelmit]

Thanks Annette and Trish

Have either of you found William Boyd entering the U.S.? I can't find any that I'm convinced by, although there is no lack of William Boyds entering the country.


Sarah

The most likely looking one to me sailed from Glasgow to New York on 10th September 1903 - Wm Boyd, a blacksmith age 22.

Regards,
Annette