Rev. John Boyd

     History of the Old Tennent Church with Biographical 
        Sketches of it's Pastors, Rev. Frank R. Symmes, 
                    Freehold, New Jersey, 1897

The Rev. A. P. Cobb stated in a historical sermon that the Rev. Mr. Keith
while a missionary at Topanemus preached in the Old Scots church, and that also probably John Gray preached there in 1708. But evidently as far as can now be definitely known, the Rev. John Boyd was the first regular preacher in the church 1706-1708. Possibly, before him, there was no stated preaching by one man, the church only being served when occasional supplies could be obtained. The two men mentioned by Mr. Cobb may have thus preached in Old Scots either before or after the ministry of John Boyd. When such supplies could not be obtained it is only justice to the old Covenanters to suppose that they gathered on the Lord's day at Old Scots meeting-house, read the sacred Scriptures, sang psalms, catechized the youth, and were led in prayer by Walter Ker, the church pillar, or some other good man of the company. 

John Boyd came to the church in its very early years. His name, identity, and grave must not be confounded with a certain John Boyd who came from Ireland, and was a teacher and afterwards a merchant in the Tennent community. This man died in 1863, and his grave is in the Old Tennent burying-ground surmounted with a marble headstone.

It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to discover the history of Rev. John
Boyd prior to his coming to the Old Scots church. A person by the same name came to New Jersey among the Campbell settlers in 1685, but he could scarcely have been this minister. Pastor Boyd likely came from Scotland; and possibly, as historian Webster says, he came over as a probationer with Makemie, Hampton, and McNish in 1705, and "probably at the solicitation of his countrymen." He must have had some sort of a license to preach, or was trusted as a man fitted to preach, at least a year before his ordination: for the early Monmouth court records read in Dec., 1705, that "Mr. John Boyd Minnister of the sd Presbeterians of freehold did also Parsonally Appear & did desire that he might be Admitted to quallify himself as the law directs in that behalf. Ordered that further Consideration thereof be Refered untill the next Court of Quarter Sessions." (See illustration of early Court records). On May 29,
1706, he did qualify himself "as ye Law in yt Case Directs."

The first page of the earliest records of the first Presbytery in America
opens with a minute concerning the examination of John Boyd in view of
ordination. These examinations were satisfactory to the members of
Presbytery, as also his popular sermon which he preached on trial before
Presbytery from John 1:12: "But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God." Accordingly he was ordained in the Old Scots meeting house (where it is probable the Presbytery was convened) on Sunday, Dec. 29, 1706, a large audience being present. The next day, Monday, he received his certificate. Rev. Francis McKemie, called the "Father of the American Presbyterian Church," was the Moderator of this meeting of Presbytery.  The first page of these Presbyterian Records begins thus,
                                 "BOOK.
         De Regimine Ecclesioe, which being heard was
        approved of and sustained. He gave in also his Thesis
        to be considered of against next sederunt.
                      Sederunt 2d. 10 bris. 27.
        Post preces sederunt. Mr. Francis McKemie Modr.
        Mr. Jedidiah Andrews and John Hampton Minisr.
                      Mr. John Boyd performed the other parts
        of his Tryals, viz. preached a popular sermon on
        Jno. 1. 12. defended his Thesis, gave satisfaction
        as to his Skill in the Languages & answered
        to extemporary questions: all which were approved
        of & sustained.
              Appointed his ordination to be on ye
        next Lds. day ye 29th Ins. which was accordingly
        performed in the publick Meeting house of this
        Place, before a numerous Assembly. And the next
        day he had ye Certificat of his Ordination."

As these Presbyterial records proceed, references to Mr. Boyd may be noticed in which he is appointed to matters and positions of importance among the churches. Because of some differences between the people of the Woodbridge church and the minister Mr. Wade, the Presbytery appointed Mr. Boyd to preach there every third Sabbath for a season, if the Woodbridge people desired it, and if the Freehold people consented to it. In the spring of 1708 the people of the Freehold church presented a letter to Presbytery concerning the settlement of Mr. Boyd among them. Action thereon was deferred for the time; and before the next spring Mr. Boyd had gone the way of all the earth. In the next meeting of the Presbytery this short, sad, and expressive record is made: "The Rev. Mr. John Boyd being dead, what relates to him ceases." Thus it may be noticed that Rev. John Boyd was not regularly settled as pastor of the Old Scots church, although nominally he acted in that capacity. He died August 30, 1708, and was buried in the Old Scots sacred acre. A 
tombstone marks his grave.  This at first was laid horizontal with the ground on a packing of stone and lime.  In this position it rested for nearly 175 years, until, about 1883, in a neglected and dilapidated state, and covered with a luxuriant growth of lichens, it attracted the attention of an observer (Gideon C. McDowell, living near by the cemetery), who respectfully thinking to preserve it, raised it to an erect position, fastening one end of the slab in the ground. The inscription is in Latin, the first line across the stone at the top being,..........

BOYD.--Robert Boyd, native of Scotland, first settled in Ireland, where a son
John was born; then came to Pennsylvania. John settled in Franklin co., Pa.
His son William, b. in 1758, became pastor of the Presbyterian church at
Lamington in 1784. Other brothers were Robert, Rev. John and James.

CHILDREN OF JOSEPH GASTON AND MARGARET LINN:
 MARTHA, b. about 1774; m., Jan., 1800, Dr. Elijah Everett, who d. Jan.
11, 1850. Dr. Everett resided in Greene twsp., six miles from Newton. They
had at least two children, Joseph G. and Margaret G. (As to land inheritance
of Martha, see under her father, Joseph, 41).

Margaret Gaston, b. about 1776;  married on  Apr. 10, 1806, Rev. John Boyd
(son of John Boyd, of Franklin Co., Pa.).  Rev. Mr. Boyd was a brother to
Rev. William Boyd, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Lamington, Somerset Co., N. J., from 1784-1807. From 1803-'12 he was pastor of the Yellow Frame Presbyterian church in Hardwick twp., Sussex Co. (now in Frelinghuysen twp., Warren co.), and of the Newton Presbyterian church, jointly, but when or where he died I have not been able to ascertain. They had at least one ch., Margaret.  (As to the land inheritance from her father, see under Joseph Gaston).
 

From: taube@nac.net (Ralph Taube)
To: Rboyd9@cs.com

I am not related to the Boyd family, however, I have been the "caretaker" of the Rev John Boyd and Margaret Gaston Boyd homestead, located in Sussex county, Fredon township, New Jersey, for the last 32 years.

According to deed listings and records Reverend Boyd purchased the property
from a John Linn Jr in 1807, while he was pastor of both the Yellow Frame
Church and Newton Presbyterian church (1803-1812) and marrying Margaret
Gaston in 1806.  Also, according to deed records, he owned the property until
1837.  Supposedly, in 1837, he moved to Monroe NY, however, he later returned
to Sussex County NJ, where he died in 1863.  While the deeds do not say
anything about existing dwellings on the property we would be very interested
in knowing if the house existed when he purchased the property or if it was built afterwards.  Also, any further information about Margaret Gaston, his wife, and her family would be appreciated, and I would also be happy to provide any further information about the property and history that I have been able to acquire.

From: taube@nac.net (Ralph Taube)
To: Rboyd9@cs.com

Richard,
This "New Jersey Boyd" page fills in the gap on Rev John Boyd, on whom I had
little information.   Some of the previous information that I had that indicated that Margaret Gaston Boyd's Mother was a "Linn," who had married Joseph Gaston. The Boyds purchased the property from John Linn jr, a nephew, I think, in 1807. The Linn family traces back to Ireland through 2 generations.  As local lore has it, the main part of the Boyd homestead had been built by the parishioners of the Newton Presbyterian Church and possibly the Yellow Frame Church as well, in lieu of his monetary stipend.  There was originally a one-room cabin with a sleeping loft that appears to date to the late 1790's from it's construction, and a larger center-hall 5x2 bay center hall added in the early 1800's.  When we purchased it in 1971 it had been on the market since 1956.  It had been used as a summer "retreat" since the mid 30's and had had virtually nothing done to it, seemingly since the Boyds had lived there (this should tell you something about the condition of the house when we bought it).

The NJ Boyd page indicated that there was information on Margaret Gaston Boyd's inheritance in the Gaston will.  Do you have any information on where I might find that will or some of the details?

I am of retirement age and could move at any time, but this property has a hold on me.  I hope that maybe some day we could have a "Boyd" family reunion here.   I have included some photos in the attachments.

Ralph Taube  taube@nac.net        Return to Main Boyd Site

               Photos below courtesy of Ralph Taupe