Generation No. 1

1. THOMAS¹ BOYES was born in 1738, and died February 15, 1825 in Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York^1,2. He married TRYPHENA; I have found no record of her maiden name.  Tryphena was born in 1749, and died November 18, 1812 in Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York^3,4.  Both Thomas and Tryphena Boyes are buried in the North Hillsdale Methodist Cemetery, Columbia County, New York.

Some have proposed that our Thomas Boyes was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Boyes of Greene County.  I found an entry in the Baptismal Records of the Zion Lutheran Church of Loonenburg, Greene County, New York, which shows the christening of Thomas Boys on January 25, 1737 at the age of 1.  The father of this child was listed as Robbert Boys and his mother as Lisabeth.  Our Thomas has 1738 listed on his cemetery headstone as his birth date, which doesn't match the birth date found in the Zion Lutheran Church records.  The church records show only one other child christened for the same parents:  Sara Boys, christened on June 16, 1741, also at the age of 1.

A Thomas Boice was found in the 1790 U.S. Census in Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, but I do NOT believe that this is the correct Thomas. That Thomas Boice was born April 19, 1746 in Phillipsburg, Westchester County, New York and died June 7, 1826.  On the 1790 census his family included 3 males 16+, 2 males under 16, 2 females, 1 other free male, and 2 slaves.  Also in Greenburgh, Westchester County, in the same vicinity also appear a Jacob Boice, John Boice, and Caleb Barker.  In addition to these people, in 1790 an Aaron Boice, Abraham Boice, and William Boice appear in Mt. Pleasant, Westchester County, and a John Boice appears in Cortlandt, Westchester County.  It is doubtful that any of these people are related to our Thomas Boyes.

A search of the Revolutionary War Pension Files turned up one Thomas Boyce who claimed a pension based on Revolutionary War service (W 25,266). The pension file reported that Thomas Boyce of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, was commissioned as an ensign in Lt. Colonel James Hammond's Regiment of the Militia in the County of Westchester on the 16th day of June 1778. During the course of the war he was captured by British forces and held as a prisoner of war for 3 months. He was also wounded sometime during the war.

According to the file, Thomas Boyce died June 7, 1826 in Greenburgh. The death date for this Thomas does not match the death date for our Thomas.  The pension file reported that this Thomas Boyce had married Catherine See on August 28, 1815, in the town of Mount Pleasant, Westchester County, New York; this also fits with the 1812 death of Tryphena.  Abraham Boyce signed one form in the pension file along with Thomas, implying some relationship between the two (brothers?  20 years between them; could Abraham be the son of this Thomas?). Abraham's Revolutionary War pension file reports that he was born in October of 1758, but it does not report where.

The book Revolutionary War Veterans Buried in Columbia County, New York (Volume II, page 46) reports that Thomas Boyes was a Revolutionary War veteran:  "Boyes, Thomas, born 1738, died Feb. 15, 1825, Spouse Tryphena A. Cemetery North Hillsdale Methodist."  But again, I believe that there are two men named Thomas Boyes who lived in the same general area.  The Town of Greenburgh in Westchester County today includes the villages of Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings-on-Hudson, Tarrytown, Irvington, and the community of Hartsdale.

On March 8, 1999, I found the following entry on page 180 of the July 1969 issue of New York Genealogical and Biographical Record: "487 BOYES. Ancestry of Thomas Boyes and wife Tryphena, who lived in Hillsdale, Columbia County, N.Y. and had eleven children. Their second son, Isaac, born 1768, was my great-grandfather." Submitted by Cora B. Wells, 534 North 500 East, Provo, Utah 84601. On August 15, 2001, I found an abstract of the will of Thomas Boyes of Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York, which named 10 children, 6 sons and 4 daughters.  That same day I also learned that Thomas and Tryphena Boyce are buried in the North Hillsdale Methodist Cemetery in Columbia County, New York.

On December 1, 2002, I located the following Last Will and Testament of Thomas Boyes of the Town of Hillsdale and county of Columbia (deceased) was registered with Columbia County on 23rd day of February 1825 which clarifies many points:

In the name of God Amen I Thomas Boyes of the town of Hillsdale and County of Columbia do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form - following - First I resign my soul into the hands of the Almighty God hoping and believing in the remissing [sic] of my sins by the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ - and my body I commit to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named and my worldly estate I give and devise as follows.

I being of sound mind and memory at present through the blessing of Almighty God, first I give and bequeath to my oldest son Jacob two dollars he having had his portion...I give to my second son Isaac one hundred dollars also I give to my third son Robert one hundred dollars - also I give to my fourth son John one hundred dollars also I give and bequeath to Mark my fifth son one hundred dollars. Likewise I give to Eli my seventh son two dollars he having had his portion. Likewise I give to Robert my third son one iron kettle holding four pail full and half. Also I have appointed and therein my sixth son executor of all my estate and have given all my real estate to him my lands and house and barn and other buildings and he is to pay his brothers the heirs their portions as specified in the above written will which Ethan is to pay two years after my decease.

Also I give to Rachel my oldest daughter two dollars she having had her portion. Also I give to Elizabeth my second daughter an equal third part of all my personal estate except twenty-seven dollars. Also I give Tryphena my third daughter one equal third part of my personal estate. Also I give to Sarah my fourth daughter one equal third part of all my personal estate. These parts are meant to contain the whole of my personal estate - and Ethan being Executor of the estate is to assist his sisters in the division of said estate which is to be one year after my decease - this being my last will and testament revoking all former wills by me made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Thomas Boyes to be his last will and testament in presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.  [Signed by Henry Loop, Isaac White, and George Overhiser -- as well as Thomas Boyes]

State of New York County of Columbia: Be it remembered that on the twenty-third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five Henry Loop personally came before me Abraham A. Van Buren Surrogate of the county of Columbia and being duly sworn did depose and say that he saw Thomas Boyes execute the preceding instrument as and for his last Will and Testament - that at the time of the execution thereof he the said Thomas Boyes was of sound and deposing mind and memory according to the best of the knowledge of the said deponent and there he the said deponent, Isaac White and George Overhiser severally subscribed their names to the said will as witnesses in the presence of the testator and of each other.

Children of THOMAS BOYCE and TRYPHENA are:

Generation No. 2

2. ISAAC² BOYCE (THOMAS¹) was born December 16, 1768 in Columbia County, New York, and died sometime after 1840, probably in Chenango County, New York. He married BETSY BARKER February 05, 1795, most likely in Chenango County, New York⁵. She was born February 1, 1776, and died on April 8, 1805 soon after giving birth to Amanda.  Following Betsy's death Isaac married JERUSHA REEVES in 1806.

On the 1800 U.S. census, Isaac Boyce appears near his brother, Robert, as a resident of the Town of Oxford, Chenango County, New York. His family includes 2 males under 10, 1 male 26-45, 1 female less than 10, and 1 female 15-26.

On the 1810 U.S. census, Isaac Boyce is again enumerated next door to his brother, still residents of the Town of Oxford, Chenango County, New York. In 1810 his family includes 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45, 5 females less than 10, 1 female 10-16, and 1 female 26-45. I have no record of most of the females born between 1800 and 1810.

On the 1820 U.S. census, Isaac "Boyes" appears on page 264 of the Chenango County in Guilford.

On the 1840 U.S. census, Isaac appeared on page 182 of Guilford, Chenango County, New York. Their household enumeration includes one child (probably a son) and his family. The family had 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 30-40, 1 male 70-80, 1 female under 5, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 30-40, and 1 female 60-70.

Children of ISAAC BOYCE and BETSY BARKER are:

Children of ISAAC BOYCE and JERUSHA REEVES are:

3. ROBERT² BOYCE (THOMAS¹) was born January 25, 1771 in Columbia County, NY⁷, and died May 23, 1818 in Guilford, Chenango County, NY. He married NANCY BARKER February 19, 1793⁸. She was born December 02, 1773 in Chenango County NY⁹, and died February 12, 1826 in Guilford, Chenango County, NY.

The information on Robert Boyce (or Boyes), including name, birth date, birth location and parents, came initially from the IGI. It was later confirmed with the DAR unpublished Bible Records (Volume 33, page 27), which provided the birth and death dates for Robert and Nancy Boyes as well as the names and birth dates of each of their children.  His lineage was also confirmed by his father's will (see above).

In the 1800 U.S. Census, Robert Boyce was found in the town of Oxford, Chenango County, New York (page 766, M32, Roll 28). His family included:

    2 males under 10

    1 male 16-26 (Robert)

    1 female under 10

    1 female 16-26 (Nancy)

Robert's brother, Isaac, was found immediately after Robert's entry.

In the 1810 U.S. Census, Robert Boyce was again found in Oxford, Chenango County, New York. In 1810, his family included:

    4 males under 10 (Thomas, Lewis, Allan, Collins)

    1 male 10-16 (John)

    1 male 16-26 (Philander)

    1 male 26-45 (Robert)

    1 female under 10 (unknown)

    1 female 10-16 (Julia)

    1 female 26-45 (Nancy)

On the 1820 U.S. Census, Nancy Boyes appears on page 270 of Guilford, Chenango County, New York. It appears that Robert died between the 1810 census and the 1820 census; this assumption was confirmed August 15, 2001, when I found the DAR NYS Bible Records Vol. 33 entry which reported that Robert Boyes died May 23, 1818 at the age of 48. The same page reported that Nancy died February 12, 1826 at the age of 53.

Children of ROBERT BOYCE and NANCY BARKER are:

Generation No. 3

4. VARNEY³ BOYCE (ISAAC², THOMAS¹) was born February 22, 1797 in Oxford, Chenango County, New York. He married SALLY WORDEN¹⁰ on October 10, 1824.  Varney died December 31, 1860 in Westford, Otsego County, New York.  Sally Boyce was born May 23, 1806 and died January 2, 1870 in Westford, Otsego County, New York.

The information on the Varney Boyce family comes from Volume 26 (pages 290-291) of the NYS DAR series. These pages provide information on the membership of the Congregational Church in Guilford Center, New York.  In addition to the undated baptismal/membership records for Varney's children, there is an entry dated March 2, 1837 that reports that a letter was granted to Varney Boyce & Sarah, his wife, to ch. in Westford. This entry identifies Varney's wife as "Sarah" not "Sally" which may simply be a mistake in transcription or original entry. On the 1840 U. S. Census, a Varney Boyce is listed as a resident of Middlefield, Otsego County, which is just a few miles away from Westford (both towns are just a few miles from Cooperstown). Westford/Middlefield are about 33 miles from Guilford. The reason for the family's move in 1837 is unknown.

My guess is that Varney and his family moved back to Guilford at some point. There is a report of the death of Sally W. Boyce on August 27, 1874 in the Town of Guilford, which is slightly different than the death date found elsewhere.   Sally's age was 70 and her birthplace was given as 70. It is possible that this is Varney's wife, but Varney's brother, Russell, was also married to a Sally.  Varney's son, Augustus, appears in the 1850 census as a resident of Guilford.

On the 1840 U.S. Census, the Varney Boyce family is composed of 1 male under 5, 2 males 5-10, 3 males 10-15, 1 male 40-50, 2 females under 5, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 30-40.

A Sally W. Boyce died August 27, 1874, age 70, born in New York, according to the book Vital Records of Chenango County New York Before 1880: Marriages, Births, Deaths from Original Sources, by Ms. Edwin P. Smith (printed by Chenango County Board of Supervisors, Norwich, 1972). It is possible that that Sally Boyce is this Sally Boyce, but it is not possible to decide based on just this information.

Children of VARNEY BOYCE and SALLY WORDEN are:

5. RUSSELL³ BOYES (ROBERT², THOMAS¹) was born March 12, 1799 in Oxford, Chenango County, New York.  He married SALLY SECOR about 1826 in Guilford, Chenango County, New York. 

Children of Russell Boyes and Sally Secor are:

6. COLLINS³ BOYCE (ROBERT², THOMAS¹) was born April 25, 1807 in Norwich, Chenango Co., NY^11,12, and died October 10, 1872 in Slaterville Springs, NY. He married BETSY VANN DOTY December 31, 1846 in Slaterville Springs, NY^13,14, daughter of JOHN DOTY and POLLY JOINER. She was born August 04, 1822 in Caroline, Tompkins Co, NY, and died sometime after 1872 in New York.

The 1850 Census lists Collins (age 41) and Betsey (age 28) as residents of Caroline, Tompkins County, New York. His occupation is listed as "Shoemaker." The entire family is listed as born in New York. Enumerated with Collins and Betsey are John J. Boyce (age 3) and Daniel H. Boyce (age 1) [M-423, Roll 605, page 15B, dwelling 228, family 233].

The 1860 Census lists Collins (age 53) and Betsey (age 38) Boyce as still residing in Caroline (page 52, dwelling 1490, family 1483). Enumerated with them this time are John Boyce (age 13), Daniel Boyce (age 11) and Edward Boyce (age 4). Collins is again listed as a Shoemaker. His real estate is valued at $150; his personal property is also valued at $150. Again, all members of the family are listed as born in New York.

Collins and Betsey were found in the Town of Caroline in the 1870 Census, residing in Motts Corners (page 21B, dwelling 364, family 380). The family in 1870 included Collins (age 60), Betsey (age 48), Edward (age 12), and Daniel (age 18). Collins is still listed as a Shoemaker; his real estate is valued at $100; his birthplace is listed as New York.

No record was found for Betsey, Daniel or Edward in the 1880 census in the Town of Caroline (the entire township was read November 24, 1998. Donald Boyce reported that Collins and Betsey are buried in the Quick Cemetery in Brooktondale, New York (near Ithaca), but I was unable to locate headstones for them at that cemetery in July 1998.

In the 1840 census, a John Doty appears on line 5 of page 356 in Caroline, Tompkins County, New York. The John Doty family includes 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 2 males 20-30, 1 male 40-50, 2 females under 5, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 15-20, and 1 female 40-50. Betsy Doty would have been 17 at the time of the 1840 census, so this could have been her family. Another Doty, Ellis Doty, appears immediately below John Doty, but there is not a female of the appropriate age in his family.

In the Caroline Cemetery, a headstone was found for John Doty, who died [?] 28, 1841. Also: James R. Doty, son of John and Mary Doty, died July 22, 1844, aged 18 years; Julia Doty, daughter of Mary Doty, died February 28, 1858, aged 22 years; Mary, daughter of John and Mary Doty, died August 1825, aged 3 months; Maria, daughter of John and Mary Doty, died August 1836, aged 8 years and 11 months. Another headstone was found for Ellis Doty, died May 17, 1823, aged 53 years and 9 months, who could have been the father of the Ellis Doty found in the 1840 census.

According to the book The Doty-Doten Family, Betsey moved to North Harford, Cortland County after Collins died, but I have not found her in the 1880 census for that area.

Children of COLLINS BOYCE and BETSY DOTY are:

7. LYMAN³ BOYCE (ROBERT², THOMAS¹) was born May 31, 1813 in Norwich, Chenango County, NY. He married MARY. She was born about 1812 in Tioga County, New York.

Lyman Boyce, 42, born in Chenango County, appears on the 1855 New York State Census in the Town of Richford. Enumerated with him were Mary, his wife (43), and his sons George (16), and James E. (10). The final person in the family was Carlin Miller, 9, a servant. The family apparently moved around a bit because George was born in Steuben County and James E. was born in Pennsylvania. The family had only lived in the Town of Richford for 3 years.

Children of LYMAN BOYCE and MARY are:

Generation No. 4

8. JOHN J.⁴ BOYCE (COLLINS³, ROBERT², THOMAS¹) was born November 16, 1847 in Slaterville, Tompkins County, New York, and died November 18, 1931 in Slaterville, New York. He married (1) VINA WHITED November 11, 1868. She was born February 27, 1853¹⁶, and died April 27, 1878¹⁷. He married (2) SARAH 1878. She was born 1843 in New York¹⁷, and died April 20, 1919 in Caroline, New York.

The information on John Boyce and his family came from the Boyce Family Bible and from the 1880 Census and Soundex. In 1880, John and Sarah Boice were listed on page 22, dwelling 245, family 251 in the Tompkins County, Town of Caroline (Motts Corner Post Office).

John J. Boyce is buried in the Cooper Cemetery in Brooktondale along with Sarah D. Boyce, Vina Boyce, and Lilly M. Boyce, but the dates on his headstone are 1845-1929. John J. Boyce's 1931 death certificate lists his burial location as Cooper Cemetery, so this must be the same person. His death certificate reported that John was a resident of the Tompkins County Home (County Farm) for 3 months prior to his death.

John Boyce was 84 years and 2 days old when he died. He was buried November 10, 1931 in the Cooper Cemetery in Brooktondale, New York. His death certificate lists his cause of death as endocarditis and his occupation as shoemaker. John's two wives are also buried in the Cooper Cemetery. Vina was 28 years and 2 months of age when she died; Sarah was 76 years old when she died.

Children of JOHN BOYCE and VINA WHITED are:

Child of JOHN BOYCE and SARAH is:

9. EDWARD FRANCIS⁴ BOYCE (COLLINS³, ROBERT², THOMAS¹) was born June 19, 1856 in Motts Corners, Tompkins., NY¹⁸, and died December 17, 1931 in Owego, Tioga Co., NY¹⁹. He married ANN ELIZA MEACHAM on November 30, 1876²⁰, daughter of ORRIN MEACHAM and MARY POLLEY. She was born October 27, 1858 in Richford, Tioga Co., NY^21,22, and died October 28, 1931 in Babcock Hollow, Cortland Co., NY²³.

The Boyce Family Bible includes a hand-written note at the front: "Edward F. Boyce and Anneliza Meacham was married on the 30 of Nov 1876".

The 1892 census of the 2nd district of Caroline reports the following information on the family of Edward Boyce (all of them were born in the US and citizens): Edward F. Boyce a 36 year old male, Anna E. Boyce a 34 year old female, Grace Boyce 14 year old female, Mary Boyce a 10 year old female, Augustus Boyce a 7 year old male, George Boyce a 5 year old male, and Raymond Boyce a 3 year old male. This census was taken on February 16, 1892 (page 7).  The 1910 U.S. Census lists Anneliza as the mother of 10 children, 9 of whom were still living at that time.

Edward and Anneliza Boyce are buried in the Highland Cemetery in Richford, New York. To find their graves, pass through Richford on Route 79 heading toward Ithaca. Just outside of town the cemetery is on the right. Enter the long driveway, go uphill and turn right. The Boyce lot is the first lot of the right at the top of the hill.

According to his death certificate, Edward Boyce was a resident of the Tioga County Almshouse for approximately 15 days prior to his death. The informant for his death certificate is hard to read, but appears to be a Harry Tompkins, a name I don't recognize. A brief mention of Edward's death appears in the Richford column in the Tuesday, December 22, 1931 issue of the Owego Times newspaper:

Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church in this place, Sunday at 2 P.M., for Edward Boice, who died in Owego, Dec. 18. Burial was in Highland Cemetery, beside the body of his wife, who preceded him but a few weeks ago.

At his death, Edward was 75 years, 6 months and 1 day of age. He was buried December 20, 1931 in Highland Cemetery in Richford, New York.  The Boyce Family Bible reports that Anna Eliza Boyce died [date illegible] of October 1931, at the home of her daughter, Mary Maricle; it goes on to report that she was buried at Richford November 1st.

A brief death notice for Anneliza Boyce appeared in the November 5th, 1931, edition of the Tioga County Herald (page 8, column 2):

Funeral services were held at the church Sunday afternoon for Mrs. Edward Boice, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lewis Simmons at Hartford. Internment was at Highland Cemetery. She leaves her husband and another daughter, Mrs. Claude Royce of Richford.

A slightly more detailed announcement appeared in the Richford column of the November 5, 1931 Owego Gazette (page 8):

The funeral of Mrs. Edward Boyce was held at the church here Sunday. Mrs. Boyce was a life-long resident of East Richford, the daughter of the late Orin Meacham. She was a loving, kind mother and neighbor. She leaves her husband, three daughters, Mrs. Charles Mericle, of Harford; Mrs. Lewis Simmons, of Mills, and Mrs. Claude Royce, of this place; three sons, Harold, of Shinglehouse, Pa.; Augustus, of Harford, and Ray, of Cortland, and a host of friends to mourn her death.

Ann Eliza's death certificate reported that her cause of death was aortic insufficiency. Her age at death was 73 years, 1 day. She was buried October 31, 1931 in Richford.

Children of EDWARD BOYCE and ANN MEACHAM are: