John Boyd Nicholson

John Boyd Nicholson, better known as Boyd, was born in the hometown of David Livingston, in the town of Blantyre, Scotland on July 14, 1922. He had one sister, Ella, who died as a child. His family moved early in his childhood to Glasgow, where Boyd attended the Shawlands Academy.

Boyd's grandfather, also named John Boyd Nicholson, died when Boyd was 17, and his final words were quoting Ps. 23:6, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever", which played a direct influence in Boyd placing his trust in Christ, as he knew he did not have eternal security.

During WWII, he qualified as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, training some in Canada, where he met Bernice Robertson who would become his wife in 1947. He spent two years on tours of duty in India and Burma, and although trained in bombers, he flew transport of supplies behind enemy lines. After the War, Boyd and his parents moved to Canada where his wedding took place in Toronto, and the following year, Cathie was born, followed by J.B. in 1951, and Bill in 1955. In their early years in Toronto, they were in fellowship with Queenston Street Gospel Hall, and were active in the Lord's service.

After working numerous jobs, he settled in printing and commercial art, which he pursued until 1960 when they attempted to relocate to Africa, but this was thwarted by the Simba Rebellion, and the War of Independence in the Belgian Congo. Instead, Boyd and Bernice were commended to the Lord's work in North America, travelling extensively in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America, and Boyd wrote and edited several Christian periodicals including Food for the Flock, Counsel and Uplook, and authored several books. For many years he was also a regular speaker on the Family Bible Hour radio broadcast. After a month-long illness, he passed into the Lord's presence on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2000.

Ancestry

Boyd's wife's father, Bill Robertson, was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1891, emigrating from Scotland in 1888, along with three other Brethren families, who all joined the St. Antoine Street Gospel Hall, presently known as Westend Bible Chapel. The Robertson family relocated to Toronto, Ontario in 1899, and Bill later operated a grocery store. In his later years, Bill, with the assistance of his grandson, J.B. Nicholson, Jr., compiled a history of early assembly work, entitled The Road Home, published by Clarion Press in 1983.

Sources

• Plymouthbrethren.org bio
• J.B. Nicholson, Jr. in Oct. 2021 on Bill's history