Arthur Merric Boyd born at Opoho, New Zealand, 19th March, 1862.

He married 14th January, 1886, Emma Minnie (known as Minnie), daughter of the Hon. William Arthur Callendar a'Beckett of Penleigh House (the family home owned by his great-great-grandfather), Wiltshire, and the Grange, Berwick, Victoria, Australia.

There children were:

1. John Gilbert a'Beckett
2. William Merric (my grandfather)
3. Theodore Penleigh
4. Martin a'Beckett
5. Helen a'Beckett m. Nevin Read

Both Mr Boyd and his wife were artists of merit and pictures by them hang in the Melbourne National Gallery.

In 1891 they exhibited in the Royal Academy Exhibition (London).

They able to pursue their interests due to an allowance afforded to them by Minnie's mother Emma a'Beckett who had inherited a considerable fortune from her father John Mills.

Emma Minnie was born on November 23 1858 at Melbourne and studied painting under Louis Buvelot.

Both Arthur and Minnie studied at the National Gallery Art School where both were enrolled 1877.

They purchased a property at Yarra Glen about 30 miles out from Melbourne which they called 'Tralee' after Arthur's father, John Boyd's birthplace in Ireland which was in addition to their Sandringham property and 3 Edward Street by the beach (my father purchased this property in 1981 - my mother still lives there)

Emma died at Sandringham on September 10th, 1936.

Emma Minnie's Death Notice in the Argus:

The Argus 14 Sep 1936 p1:

"Boyd - On the 13th September, at Sandringham, Emma Minnie, beloved wife of Arthur Merric Boyd" "Boyd - The Friends of MR. ARTHUR MERRIC BOYD are respectfully informed that the funeral of his beloved wife, Emma Minnie, will leave his residence, no. 5 Edwards street, Sandringham, THIS DAY (Monday, September 14), at 2 p.m., for the Melbourne Crematorium, Fawkner. J. MONKHOUSE and SON, funeral directors, 44 Bay road, Sandringham. Tel XW2592."

Arthur Merric's Death Notice in the Argus:

The Argus 31 Jul 1940 p4:

"Boyd - On July 30, at 8 Wahroonga crescent, Murrumbeena, ARTHUR MERRIE [sic]" "Boyd - The funeral of the late MR. ARTHUR MERRIE [sic] BOYD, will leave No. 8 Wahroonga crescent, Murrumbeena, THIS DAY (Wednesday 31st July), at 10.30 a.m., for the New Melbourne Crematorium, Fawkner. J. MONKHOUSE and SON, Funeral Directors, 124 Carpenter Street, Brighton. Phone XA1162."

Cremated, their ashes are in the Fawkner Crematorium & Memorial Park, the details being:

BOYD, ARTHUR MERRIE
FCMP Reg No. 71498
Service Date 31 July 1940
Location GR1A*32***D
Area Garden Of Remembrance 1

Other Deceased in Grave
BOYD, EMMA MINNIE

Emma Minnie Boyd’s watercolours were included in the Bicentennial exhibition, The Great Australian Art Exhibition in 1988 and in Completing the Picture, Women Artists & the Heidelberg Era at the Museum of Modern Art at Heide in 1992.