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Birth:          29 Dec 1699 Salem, Essex Co., Mass.

Notes
www.newenglandancestors.org/research/database/beekman
. JOSEPH4 BOYCE, (Joseph3-2-1), was born 1699 in
Salem, MA and m. Content dau. of Eleazer Lindsey. He
came to Dover in the Beekman Patent about 1745 and his
primary occupation seemed to be counterfeiting Rhode
Island money. The Essex Antiquarian, 10:2:58, states
that he came to Beekman ca. 1755 and had been variously
employed as a tanner and sadler 1727-31, mariner 1739,
and innholder 1741.

The Livingston rent book 'A' contains several referen-
ces to Joseph Boyce: "Joseph Boyce in Great Lot Number
10 surveyed to him by George Soule, contains 100 acres,
settled 1746/7 and is to pay 1 May 1750. See fol. 100."
"Joseph Boyce in Beekman Precinct in Lott No. 10 on the
west of the Great Swamp River as per the survey for 105
acres, and also 100 acres (for a total of 205 acres). 3
Lives Beginning 1 May [when] settled, 1 May 1750 first
rents due." The Credit side of the book reads: "1753 he
promised would pay (as often had don before) But now
this winter in good wheat. July 1754 (Sent by Scot a
horse 5 years old[;] as such I should have him) as
appraised by 2 persons, suppose maybe worth £18. 1755
His wife promised Schultz [he] would pay all without
fail (not true) this winter and that her father would
come all fals [fails]." "April 1757 I rec'd a letter
from Jeremiah French of Stratford that he had bought 100
acres. I writ him at once approving such."

Beekman leased 100 acres to French and probably the
balance to Peter Shaprong. By 1760 Hugh Mosher was also
on a part of this farm. [ELP Box 129:A:92, 100].

There are many references to Joseph Boyce Sr. and Jr.
in early efforts to stem false bills from circulating in
New England. Joseph Boyce had been arrested as early as
Nov. 1738 in Salem for making £5 bills of Rhode Island.
He was again arrested in Sept. 1739 for the same
offence. On 4 April 1745 Governor Clinton of New York
commented to his council that a gang of counterfeiters
were operating out of the Oblong in Dutchess County. On
27 April Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts wrote
to Clinton:

"Having by means of one Robert Clarke the Bearer got
Intelligence that John Scious, Joseph Boyce, and one
Bosworth conceal themselves at or near a place called
the Oblong in New York Government & sometimes in your
government that borders thereupon occasions my present
Writing to your Honour." (John Scious was probably the
son of John Scious Sr., a Huguenot of Wells, ME who m.
Ann, said to be a dau. of William Pittman. [HT B-1179 4
March 1950]. A Nathaniel Bosworth of Bristol m.
Elizabeth Lindsay 18 Aug. 1727; (IGI; could they be
brothers-in-law?- FJD; Nathaniel Bosworth was a customer
at the Merritt store from 1767 through 1775). [DCSB
II:A:16, B:10, C:9, D:133, E:58].)

"They are men that have been Guilty of enormous
Crimes in this Government having been two of them tried
and convicted at Salem for forging & Emitting Coun-
terfeit Bills of Credit & upon Praying the same had the
benefit of their clergy allowed them since which upon
perpetrating fresh Crimes of the like Nature they were
taken & Committed to Salem Goal from whence they escaped
& have for the most part with their Associates & others
that joined, ever since continued the like Practices so
as to be a Pest to this & the Adjoining Government...."
[Counterfeiting in Colonial New York, Kenneth Scott, The
American Numismatic Society 1953, 59].

Justice Swartwout of Poughkeepsie informed Governor
Clinton in May 1745 that Joseph Boyce and John Scious,
counterfeiters living in the Oblong were to be arrested
and tried. Joseph Boyce Jr., the son of Joseph and
Content (Lindsey) Boyce, probably carried on the
counterfeiting well after his father but the father was
noted in a letter of 19 June 1745 from Governor Law of
Connecticut. Law said "... Decoys Boyce & one Hurlburt a
partner into ye edge of this Govmt Seizeth them & they
are in N. Haven Goal. Hurlburt Confesseth himself Guilty
and accuseth 22 persons as Confederate with them Boyces
father & Scious were transported through this government
to you some time Since." [Ibid 66].

Joseph Boyce was in Dover by 1745 as noted above but
was first officially recorded on a lease from Catherine
Pawling on 25 Sept. 1752. The leased land was described
as follows: "Beginning at the South East Corner bound of
Edward Hunt's farm at a White Oak Tree Standing in the
line between the 10th and llth Lott Running East on the
Old Line 39 Chains and 2 rods to a black oak tree With
Stones about it then North 29 chains and 3 Rods to a
stake and stones about it then West 13 Degrees North 40
Chains to a heap of stones then South 5 Degrees and 30
Minutes West 38 Chains to the place where it began
containing 135 acres and 136 Rods." The lease was to
Joseph Boyce Junior and his wife and his son Joseph. The
rent was 13 bushels of wheat and two couple of live fat
Hens. [RECORD 1986:147].

On 29 December 1755 Catherine Pawling gave another
lease to Joseph Boyce and his partners John Hamblin and
Jacob Herrington which was described as follows:
"Beginning on the Line Between the llth and 12th Lott on
the West side of the River then South along the River 60
Rods to the Saprong Lease then West on the Saprong Lease
to the Road that Leads to the Sawmill then along the
said road to the line between the llth and 12th Lott
Containing twenty acres.

Be it also Remembered that I gave Liberty to Bild and
Repair to the Persons above Named the Iron Works and
Sawmill formerly Leased to Hubbel and Davenport & the
Liberty of the Stream During the Term of Twenty Years to
Pay Yearly & Every year Eight Pounds York Money for the
use of the same and Be it also remembered John Palmer is
to have of the priviledges of the stream for the use of
the to as they agree". All four men signed and
sealed the lease which was witnessed by Petrus Ten
Broeck and Lewis Hunt.

Joseph Boyce was actually involved in the iron works
as early as 1748 because we find that on 7 November 1748
he promised to pay to Henry Stephens "Twenty pounds
Current money of New York on or before the Seventh day
of December then Next ensuing in part for one quarter

part of Ironworks he the said Henry had before that time
sold unto him the said Joseph ..." [AD 2578]. Later, on
17 October 1750, he and John Hamblin contracted with
Nathaniel Berry to deliver "a tun of Good Merchantible
iron at the place called the works of them the said
Joseph and John in Dover on or before the thirtieth day
of November then next ensuing." [AD 2529]. The iron
business was probably helpful in casting the plates
needed to counterfeit the New England currencies.

Joseph Boyce Sr. and Jr. were both involved in
numerous legal actions in Dutchess County, some of which
follow: Nicholas DeLaverge sued Boyce for £16/6 which he
had borrowed on 27 June 1749 and had failed to repay.
[AD]. Daniel Soule sued Joseph Boyce (prob Sr.) in
October Court 1751 for non payment of a debt of £29/7
which Boyce had borrowed on 17 Feb. 1749. [AD 2544].
Roger Stevens sued Joseph Boyce, Chileab Bemis and John
Rice in the October Court of 1751 for five pounds ten
shillings in "Merchantable Wheat." The suit noted that
the wheat at the time was worth four shillings and six
pence per bushel. [AD 383].

In the October Court of 1753 Clear Everitt sued
Joseph Boyce for £45/14 which Boyce had borrowed on 4
June 1752 and not repaid, lAD 2827]. Joseph Boyce must
have been upset with Everitt because Everitt again sued
him in the May Court of 1758. The complaint reads as
follows: "Clear Everitt Esq. complains against Joseph
Boyce in custady of the Coroner of Dutchess County for
this that he the said Joseph on the thirteenth day of
October in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven
hundred and fifty Six With force and arms entered the
Close and Possession of him the said Clear in Beekmans
Precinct in the County aforesaid and Within the
Jurisdiction of this Court did Break and Enter and a
great parcell of fence and fencing of him the said Clear
then and there Standing Did prostreat And Throw Down,
Break, Destroy and Burn as also a Great Parcell of
Boards and planks then and there On the Said premises
did also consume and Burn up and destroy Against the
peace of our Lord the King That now is to the Damage of
the Said Clear One Hundred and Fifty Pounds and thereof
Brings this suit." The court clerk noted that the
defendant was in custody. [AD 694].

On 1 October 1752 Joseph Boyce purchased from George
Cooper, [another early settler in the Oblong area], for
the "...sum of £28/5/10 Current Money of New York for
Divers Goods Wares Merchandise Moneys and Liquors and
one Mare by him the said George to the said Joseph..."
Cooper sued in the October Court of 1752 when Boyce
failed to pay.
On 7 October 1752 Joseph Boyce and John Hamblin bound
themselves unto John Alsop of New York City for the sum
of £6/1 which was to be paid "with interest on 25
December next" or they had to pay the penal sum of
£12/2. They evidently did not pay. [AD 2678].

Joseph Boyce and his wife were involved in a land
transaction in Salem, MA in February 1755. Joseph and
Content, of Beekman, sold to Joseph Southwick Junr land
that came to him from the estate of his uncle Jonathan
Trask. Content entered into the agreement in that she
relinquished her right of thirds. Anna Fuller and
Joshua Millard of Beekman were witnesses to the deed.
We have no death records for Joseph or Content Boyce.

Children:
4. i.   Joseph, b. ca. 1722; m. Thankful Bosworth.
   ii.  Benjamin; m. (1) Sarah Atwater, (2) Marian
        Husted.
   iii. Son [prob] who m. Hannah, b. 27 Sept. 1731,
        the dau. of Robert Millard of Pawling.

email from Kristin C. Hall (Lindsey Web site)

Parents
BOYCE Joseph ()
TRASK Rebecca ()

Siblings
BOYCE Samuel Joseph (29 Dec 1699 - )

Marriage To LINDSEY Content (1707 - )
    m. ABT 1729 Salem, Essex Co., Mass.

Notes

Parents
LINDSEY Eleazer (19 Jul 1671 - 1716)
MAULE Elizabeth (11 Sep 1673 - AFT 1727)

Children by LINDSEY Content 1707 - 
BOYCE Joseph (4 Jan 1725 - 31 Aug 1804)
BOYCE Benjamin (Jun 1733 - 1790)

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