John Boyd was born on 1^st July 1849. The place of birth was Springburn, Glasgow, according to the 1861 & 1881 census records. The event was recorded in the Glasgow Parish Register for 1849 as follows:

James Boyd, Engineer & Elizabeth Jack, a Law. Son, John, bo. 1st July, Wit. John Anderson & John Reid

John lost his father within the next twenty-two months, although the exact date has not been established.

At the time of the 1851 census, John, aged two, was living with his widowed mother Elizabeth Jack, older siblings Janet, George, Mary and Ann, and uncle George Jack at Springvale, Glasgow.

In 1861, he was eleven years of age, and living with his widowed mother at 8, Bankhead Cottages, Springburn. Also living in the household were his older sisters Janet, Mary, and Ann, his older brother James, and his uncle George Jack.

In 1871, John was 21, a ‘fitter at works’, and born in Glasgow. He was living at 11, Craigton Terrace, Springburn, with his widowed mother, Elizabeth Boyd.

John married Elizabeth Latta Pinkerton on 15^th July 1875, at 3, Hamilton Street, Paisley, the bride’s home. The ceremony was conducted after the publication of banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland. John Boyd was then aged 26 and a bachelor. His profession was given as ‘engineer’. His residence was entered as 4, North Street, Springburn, Glasgow.

He was consistently designated as an ‘Engine fitter, journeyman’, on the birth certificates of his various children between 1875 and 1887. He also consistently acted as informant.

A daughter, Elizabeth Jack Boyd, was born at 8, Gourlay Street, Glasgow, on 18^th November 1875, indicating that this was probably the first family home.

By November 1876, however, the family had taken up residence at 4, Wellfield Street, Springburn.

At the time of the 1881 census, John and his wife Elizabeth were living at 4, Wellfield Street, Springburn. He was designated as an ‘engineer at works’. Living with them were daughter, Elizabeth, aged 5, and sons William, 4, and James, 3.

At the time of the 1891 census, the family was living in a tenement property at 113, Wellfield Street. There were two rooms having one or more window. John was employed as an engine fitter, aged 41 and born at Glasgow. Also resident in the household were his wife Elizabeth; sons William, 14, and James, 12, and daughters Jeanie, 8, and Mary, 4.

On Elizabeth’s 1898 mental health notes from Woodilee Asylum were entered the melancholly news: ‘Her husband does not behave himself & has left her now.’

On Elizabeth’s readmission to Woodilee Asylum, Lenzie, on 3^rd November 1899, she was stated to be married as opposed to single or widowed and John Boyd, of 141, Wellfield Street, was identified as her nearest relative. This may point to some form of reconciliation.

Elizabeth’s 1900 death certificate stated that she was ‘married to’ John Steele, a locomotive engineer. He therefore appears to have been living at this time and almost certainly he was employed at St Rollox.

He was however recalled as deceased by the time of Mary’s marriage to William McIntyre in 1912.

Brothers and Sisters

John Boyd was the last of the seven known children of James Boyd and Elizabeth Jack.

Janet was born on 18^th January 1835 and christened on the 31^st at Dundee (Forfarshire, St. Mary’s, according to the 1861 census).

‘Jannet’ was listed in the 1841 census as six years of age and living in the family home in Dundee.

In 1851, Janet was living with her widowed mother in Springvale, Glasgow. She was 16, a dressmaker, born Dundee.

In 1861, Janet was still living with her widowed mother, on this occasion at 8, Bankhead Cottages, Springburn. She was unmarried, a dressmaker, now aged 26. Her place of birth was given on this occasion as ‘Forfarshire, St Mary’s’.

James Anderson, blacksmith (bachelor), 26, married Janet Boyd, warehouse worker (spinster), 25, on 31^st December 1861 at Cowlairs, Springburn, After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. James was usually resident at 3, Silk Street, Paisley, and Janet at Cowlairs, Springburn. James’s parents were entered as Walter Anderson, quarry agent, and Mary Anderson. No indication was given that either was deceased. The Register was signed by James Arthur, Minister of Springburn, and by witnesses John Robert Jack and Alexander McAllister.

James and Janet were living in tenement premises with three rooms having one or more windows at 3, Hamilton Street, Paisley, at the time of the 1871 census.

William was born on 13^th May 1837 and christened on the 28^th at Dundee.

William appears, aged 4, residing with his grandparents, George Jack and Janet Ireland, at Leetown, Errol Parish, Perthshire, in the 1841 census. In this context, it was stated that he was born within the county (Perthshire), which does not necessarily conflict with the information that he was christened more than two weeks later in Dundee.

George was born on 2^nd July 1839 and christened on the 14^th in Dundee.

George was listed in the 1841 census as two years of age and living in the family home in Dundee.

In 1851, George was living with his widowed mother in Springvale, Glasgow. He was 12, a scholar, born in Dundee.

Mary was born and christened on 1^st October 1841 in Dundee. Her place of birth was Dundee according to the 1861 census record, although it must be noticed that the 1891 census return (inexplicably) gives it as Brechin.

Mary was listed in the 1851 census living with her widowed mother in Springvale, Glasgow. She was nine, a scholar, born in Dundee.

In 1861, Janet was still living with her widowed mother, on this occasion at 8, Bankhead Cottages, Springburn. She was unmarried, a dressmaker, now aged 19.

In 1871, Mary was a visitor in the household of James Anderson at 3, Hamilton Street, Paisley, listed as his sister-in-law. She was a ‘forewoman muslin warehouse’, aged 29, born in Forfarshire, Dundee.

In 1891, Mary was living with her unmarried mother at 5, Bellview Terrace, Glasgow. She was unmarried, aged 49, a dress and mantlemaker (employer), born, on this occasion at least, in Forfarshire, Brechin.

Ann Jack Boyd was born on 5^th December 1843 in St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh. The relevant Parish Register entry reads:

James Boyd, (empty space which would normally have recorded his occupation and the word ‘residing’, the reason for this is unclear) No 11 Romilly Place, & Elizabeth Jack his Spouse, had a Daughter Born on the Fifth December current, Named Ann Jack

Ann was listed in the 1851 census living with her widowed mother in Springvale, Glasgow. She was seven, a scholar, born in Edinburgh.

In 1861, Ann was still living with her widowed mother, on this occasion at 8, Bankhead Cottages, Springburn. She was unmarried, a dressmaker, now aged 17.

Ann was also listed as a visitor and sister-in-law to James Anderson at 3, Hamilton Street, Paisley, in the 1871 census. She was a dress-maker, aged 27, born Edinburgh.

James Alexander Boyd was born on 19^th November 1846 in St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh. The relevant Parish Register entry, dated the ‘First day of January 1847’, reads:

James Boyd, Engineer, Residing in No 2 Atholl Lane, & Elizabeth Jack his Spouse, had a Son born on the Nineteenth day of November last, named James Alexander

At the time of the 1851 census, James was resident with his grandparents, George Jack and Janet Ireland, in Leetown, Errol Parish. He was four years of age.

In 1861, James was living with his widowed mother, on this occasion at 8, Bankhead Cottages, Springburn. He was 14, an engine man’s apprentice.