George Boyd of Renfrew – During our tour of Renfrew Old we will look at the memorial stone of the Boyd’s. This stone was selected at random when i was developing an online graveyard trail for Renfrew Old. It is interesting as it is one of the few memorials on the walls of the 19th Century church building.
The stone reads:
The burial place of George Boyd, Wood Merchant in Renfrew. Janet his daughter died 13th April 1809 aged 6 years. Janet Duncan his spouse died 17th January 1821 aged 55 years. George Boyd died 29th March 1845 aged 76 years.
This tablet was erected in affectionate remembrance of George Boyd died 2nd October 1872 aged 66 years. Margaret Clark spouse of George Boyd died 11th August 1856 aged 55 years. John C Boyd their son died 19th October 1865 aged 25 years. George Boyd their son died at Glassdrum 26th May 1879 aged 42 years. John Clark, son of George Boyd died 5th February 1880 aged 10 months. George his son died 15th June 1921, aged 45 years.
Having looked at online records we can see that George Boyd snr & Janet Duncan married in November 1789 in Renfrew and their son George was born sometie between 1767 and 1679
Their son George who died in 1872, is the person of interest for this blog post. Like his father he was a successful wood merchant in Renfrew, but he was also a keen follower of politics. He lived at 27 Ferry Road, toady the corner of Canal Street & Renfield Street – the site of Castlehill Place building (Post Office).
George became the Provost of the Royal burgh of Renfrew in 1849, leaving the post in 1852. In the 1872 Trade Dirtectory for Renfrew, George is listed as Councillor and a Justice of the Peace. He is also listed as an honorary member of the Renfrew Kings Inch Curling Club and President of the Renfrew Horticultural Society. He appears to have been very active in Renfrew!
According to his death certificate, on the morning of the 3rd October 1872 his body was found in the arm of the Clyde that runs into Renfrew. On the Wednesday (2nd October) he had gone into Glasgow on business, and on returning it was believed he had fallen into the water and drowned. The article in the Glasgow Herald (below) on the 4th October tells us that Mr Boyd was greatly respected in the Burgh as a gentleman who had devoted a great portion of his life to the management of municipal matters having occupied the Chief Magistrates chair for 20 years ago. In politics he was considered conservative, and participated in several election campaigns. He had the reputation of being a kindly and genial gentleman.
The death certificate actually said his body was recovered from the canal, but a corrected entry on the 16th October tells us his body was found in the Harbour and changed the date to the 2nd October. At the time of his death, his address was 27 Ferry Road. The 1871/72 trade directory lists him as a councillor and justice of the Peace.
George’s story is one of intrest and sadness dur to the mannor of his death, but it shows what stories about local society that we can gain from any headstone selected at random within a graveyard.
Accidental Death of Mr George Boyd, ex-Provost of Renfrew. — Early yesterday morning the body of Mr George Boyd, of Renfrew, was found in an armlet of the Clyde which runs into the burgh. The deceased gentleman had gone to Glasgow on Wednesday on business, and it is supposed that on returning home he had fallen into the water and was drowned. The night was unusually dark, and the water, which reaches along the road in front of the dwelling of Mr Boyd, is wholly unprotected. Mr Boyd, who was about 66 years of age, was greatly respected in the burgh as a gentleman who had devoted a great portion of his life to the management of municipal matters, having occupied the Chief Magistrate’s chair some twenty years ago. In politics he was considered a most consistent Conservative; and during the heat of several election contests he took an active part in the furtherance of his political opinions. He long enjoyed the reputation of being a kindly and genial gentleman,
– Glasgow Herals 4th Oct 1872
