Jack Thank you for posting this information. This is the first time in about 20 years that I have seem an wife mentioned for the Rev Thomas Boyd. However, your comment about giving up his parish concerns me. When I went to a Church service in the Presbyterian Church at Aghadowey proudly at the back was a list of the Ministers, with Rev Thomas Boyd listed as the Minister form 1660 to 1699. This does not seem to be consistant with your message. Or am I missing something? Secondly, the Church at Macosquin is on a little out side of Macosquin on the A29 Road, it would only be about 7 or 8 kms from the Church in Aghadowey. I do not know when this church founded but in 1660-1699 this area may have been part of Aghadowey with the Minister going to Macosquin regularly to perform services. Also if Rev Thomas graduated in 1655, can one assume that he was about 25 yeas old - ie born about 1630 or before. This would make him at least 59 years old at the time of the Siege. It is thought the Rev William was born in about 1685. While possible that the Rev Thomas COULD BE HIS FATHER, it is more likely that he had children in the 1650's and 1660's. It would be nice to be able to get some age reference for Thomas. Thank you Mike Boyd Brisbane ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jack Devitt" <7jj9800231@tttmaxnet.com> To: "Boyd Gray" <boydgray26@utvinternet.com>; <NIR-DERRY@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007 3:44 AM Subject: Re: [NIR-DERRY] Boyds of Aghadowey, Co Antrim > Boyd, > Had a look at the entries for the Revs. Wm. and Thomas. There are > several pages of dialogue on Thomas, as he was minister of the Aghadowey > Presbyterian Church 1660-1669, born in Scotland, and graduated M.A. at > Glasgow in 1655. When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, the > Episcopal Church was restored as the Established Church in Ireland. Sixty > four out of seventy four Presbyterian ministers refused to be re-ordained > by > Bishops and gave up their parishes, including Boyd, but he continued to > preach locally as he could, although it appears he get himself into > trouble > for "holding a Conventicle at Desertoel in the Co. of Derry contrary to > the > declaration of this House", etc. > He is mentioned as having also done duty at Macosquin, was in the seige > of Derry, and later settled at Aghadowey until his death in 1699. > Of interest to you may be the following: "He left a widow, and the > Rev. > William Boyd of Macosquin was probably a son", and goes on to wonder if > the > widow is the same Mrs. Boyd who in 1703 was blamed for "deserting our > assembly and conforming to the Established Church," etc. >> Jack in Thailand > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Boyd Gray" <boydgray26@utvinternet.com>