Mossom Boyd (7 December 1814 – 24 July 1883) was an Anglo-Irish entrepreneur who developed and operated a large lumber business on the Trent river system in Ontario, Canada.
Boyd, encouraged by his friend John Darcus, decided to join the many others emigrating to Britain's North American colonies, and left for Canada.
[5] Upon arrival, Boyd began clearing the land, and soon befriended some of the ‘gentleman' farmers, including members of the Need, Langton, and Dunsford families.
Anne Langton described him as a ‘most resolute home-stayer and a very industrious settler,’ who ‘has chopped all his own land himself.’[7] She declared ‘he is a favourite of mine; he is not brilliant or animated, but has much goodness and kindness, and simplicity of character, and is an example to all our young men for industry, attention to business, and study of economy.’[8] In 1844 Boyd solidified his connections with John Langton and the Dunsford family by marrying Caroline Dunsford.
Unable to maintain his business while caring for the children, Boyd contacted Letitia Magee Cust, a childhood friend from Derry, proposing marriage.
[10] He warned her that she ‘may not find me at all what you imagine or be able to conceive what effects such a rough life may have had on me, both in appearance and in all other respects.’[10] Letitia agreed to undertake the long journey alone to Bobcaygeon.
When after a few years Boyd found farming to be less profitable than expected, he hired himself out to mind Thomas Need's sawmill and store, on the site which is now Bobcaygeon, while Need returned to England for business.
On March 15, 1843 Need began leasing ‘part of lot 15 in Concession X, Verulam, the mill reserve, with "gristmill, sawmill and tenement thereon", for a term of seven years,’ costing £40 per annum to Boyd.
When a raft is once started almost everything must yield to dispatch, and a restless being who can keep himself and everything that comes in contact with him in a state of excitement for two or three months at a time is just the man to drive a river.
[17] There was a large demand for Canadian white pine, oak, and elm, both in European and America, with the result that lumber prices were high.
[19] The following year, Boyd formed a partnership with John Langton and James Dunsford, but both lacked enthusiasm for the Quebec trade and soon removed themselves from the business.
[23] The length of time these rights would remain available to Boyd was not guaranteed, so he was reluctant to expand further without gaining a contract that would survive a minimum of ten years.