Mr. Francis Hyde

Francis Hyde represents another MBS mystery founder. There was a Francis Hyde born Aug. 12, 1774 in Roxbury who became a soap and candle manufacturer in Charlestown. He married Mehitable Raymond and they were members of First Parish in Charlestown. Sounds well and good until the church records show that Mr. Hyde and his wife were transferred from that church to a church in Baltimore in 1804. Indeed the Mr. Hyde who manufactured soap and candles in Charlestown was established with a shop in Baltimore by the 1820’s. He died on April 24, 1855.

With family still in Charlestown, perhaps he frequented the Boston area enough, especially in the early years, to lend his support to the Massachusetts Bible Society, especially as there were other Charlestown residents among our founders. Or perhaps there is another Francis Hyde whose records are not apparent.