Boyd Margaret | Clara Maltby, Student Researcher
IN MEMORY OF /
MARGARET BOYD /
BORN /
DEC. 26, 1827 /
DIED /
SEPT. 11, 1877 /
May her soul rest in /
Peace. /
J. McIsaac / [stonecarver]
1882 /
Unfortunately, the obituary for Margaret Boyd does not exist in extant issues of The Casket. At the time her brother Angus was Editor of the paper. It was common practice to share obits and items of interest with NS papers so we followed up searching the Eastern Chronicle, Acadian Recorder and others; no reporting of Margaret Boyd’s death appears. More surprisingly the NS Civil Registration of Deaths for 1877 does not have an entry for Margaret’s death.
Biographical information [1] on the Boyd family identifies Margaret as a half sister to John Boyd, founder of The Casket. The siblings reside at Malignant Cove where Margaret maintains the household, while John teaches at the local school and begins his foray into the publishing business.[2]
Early in 1871, we see Margaret purchasing a quarter acre lot of land from John Randall [3] on the north side of Main Street. It is to become the location of Margaret Boyd’s confectionary shop and her residence, both of which are highlighted here on the A F Church Map c. 1878. On the property, there is a garden lot on which several bushels of potatoes are produced that first year.
On page 7 of the 1871 Census for Antigonish County; Division 2; Household #27; the following residents are listed, but relationships not defined. We assume the women are related.
Boyd, Margaret | age 40 | Confectionary Shop
Boyd, Janet | age 24
Boyd, Isabella | age 15
The Nova Scotia Lovell’s Business Directory for 1871 shows an Antigonish entry for Miss Margaret Boyd, Confectionery. Unfortunately, we are unable to locate an advertisement for this operation. One might imagine fudge, taffy, and other sweet treats!
In perusing the will and probate record for Margaret Boyd, we are able to confirm her siblings and parentage. Those excerpts are listed below.
Margaret’s brother Angus [4] [1881 Census; Antigonish Division 1; Household #23; pgs. 5/6] is listed as Executor of the will and is well known in the community as Publisher of The Casket. He resided in a home which today would be identified as 77 Church Street. … I give devise and bequeath to my Sister Marcella [5] [1868 marriage] wife of Charles Smith… Secondly I give devise and bequeath to my Sister Janet [6], [1881 Census; Ant. Div.c; #121] wife of William McKinnon…To my Father and Mother John Boyd [7] [1871 census; Upper South River; #156; pg53] and Janet [8] [1871 census; Upper South River; #156 pg 54] his wife Sixty Dollars… to my Sister Flora [9] [1881 census; Upper South River; #81] one Hundred Dollars… to my Sister Catherine one hundred Dollars… to my Sister Sarah one Hundred Dollars… to my Brother Donald [10] [1881 census; Upper South River; #73] Forty Dollars… to my Sister Mary Twenty Dollars…Other beneficiaries and legacies of Margaret Boyd’s will can be found in the full document:
The Last Will And Testament of Mary Boyd
[1] The Casket 1852-1992 From Gutenberg to Internet: The Story of a Small Town Weekly by R A MacLean, pg.32
[2] Ibid. Page 14
[3] NS Property online Antigonish County Book 20 Page 411
[4] Census 1881 – Recensement, Household #23, pages 5-6 Item (2944×3536) (bac-lac.gc.ca)
[5] Nova Scotia Archives – Nova Scotia Births, Marriages, and Deaths Nova Scotia Archives – Nova Scotia Births, Marriages, and Deaths
[6] 1868 Marriage of Sister Marcella to Charles Smith Item (2944×3536) (bac-lac.gc.ca)
[7] Census of 1871 – Father and Mother John Boyd, #154, page 53 Item (3000×3843) (bac-lac.gc.ca)
[8] Census of 1871 – Janet, #156 on page 54 Item (3000×3876) (bac-lac.gc.ca)
[9] Census 1881 Recensesment – Sister Flora, #81 Item (2944×3536) (bac-lac.gc.ca)
[10] Census 1881 Recensesment – Brother Donald, #73 Item (2944×3536) (bac-lac.gc.ca)