27 June 2009

John Boyse of Halifax, Yorkshire, England - Ancestor of Mary Prudden, wife of Reverend Zechariah Walker of Boston

I left some loose ends in my New England ancestors because I was exhausting the resources I had available. Every once in a while I do a Google Book search to check if any new books had been added to Google Books containing information I'm seeking. I found some great information about Rev. John Boyse and his father, also named John Boyse. I found that John Boyse, the elder, was the son of a William Boyse. All three, son, father and grandson, were well-educated men.

Before I found this information, all I knew was that the younger Reverend John Boyse had a daughter, who married Reverend Peter Prudden, and their daughter, Mary Prudden married my great grandmother, Cecilia Walker's, ancestor, Zechariah Walker. I will try to update my genealogy pages sometime this summer, but until then, I wanted to add my new information here.


John Boyse, or Boys, whose share in the translation of the Bible and Sir Henry Saville's noble edition of Chrysoston, will always make his name remembered, was the grandson of a clothier at halifax, in Yorkshire. His father, William Boyse, was born at Halifax, educated at St. John's, Cambridge, and ultimately took up his residence in Nettleshead, in Suffolk, where his son, John Boyse, was born in 1560. He was sent in due time, like his father, to St. John's, where he became of the most learned scholars of his day, and was chief Greek Lecturer in the College ten years together. His eminence in learning caused him to be selected not merely as one of the translators of the Bible, but also of the committee of six who had to revise the whole translation. He was sone of the principal assistants of Sir Henry Saville in his edition of Chrysostom, printed at Eton College and published in 1613 in 8 volumes, folio.

Boyse became, afterward, Rector of Boxworth and Prebendary of Ely, and, continuing an indefatigable student to the last, died at a good old age in 1643. After his death, his "Veteris Interpretis cum Bez collatio" was published at London in 2655, and is a sufficient evidence of his erudition and critical skill. A biography of Boyse has been written by Dr. Anthony Walker, published for the first time in the Peck's Desiderat Lib. 8, folio ed., pp. 36-58.

Boyse married a wife of the name of Holt, but, "he minding nothing but his book, his wife, through want of age and experience not being able sufficiently to manage other things aright, he was, ere he was aware, fallen into debt; the weight whereof when he began to feel, he forthwith parted with his darling (I mean his library). This caused some discontent betwixt him and his wife; insomuch that I have heard that he did once intent to travel beyond the seas. But religion and conscience soon gave those thoughts the check, and made it be with him and his wife, as chirugeons say it is with a broken bone, if once well set the stronger for a fracture." He seems afterwards to have lived very happily with her. The worthy biographer's summing up on the occasion is admirable: "His own name and his wife's (before she married) were both by interpretation, one; Bois in French, and Holt in Dutch, signifying wood. And as he was here a pillar in God's house, a great plank in the ark, so I trust they are both now timber for the building of that house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

~ The Diary and Correspondence of Dr. John Worthington, pp. 96-97, footnote (2)



Halifax Parish Church

From Chapters on the Early Registers of Halifax Parish Church, p. 102:

1620 April 30 John Boies minister of Hallifax Church who gave by will beard date 14 Jul 1619, eight pounds to be lent to ye poore of Hallifax at ye discretion of his overseers who were Dr. Favou Will Boyse, his brother. John Boyse of Halifax, Humphrey Drake, Sam Lister, John Whitley and Will: Whitaker.

John Boyses' Will from p. 103:

His will was made 14 Jul 1619 and proved 8 Feb 1620/21, he being styled John Boyse of Halifax, preacher of God's word.

"I give the some of viijii, to be lent to the poore of Hallifax, at the discresation of my overseers, hereafter named, or the greater part of them : and I request that the be p'vision that may be, be made for the contynuance thereof. from tyme to tyme for ever. Item. I give to the poor of Elston where my land lyeth, ffortie shillinges."

He bequeathed the residue to his five daughters, equally. One third of all lands in Welburne and Edston, to descend to his elder son Samuel; and also another third, after the decease of his wife Johan. Out of the remaining third, £6 13s. 4d. a year for ten years, was to be paid to his five daughters, and the remained to his younger son John Boyse. He bequeathed £5, to his brother William Boyse, and 40s. to :-

"John Stawe of Biddingden, my wive's brother, if and when he shall come to Hallifax, to the comforting of my said wife."

From pages 103-104:

Jane Boyes of Halifax, widow, made her will 21 Jun 1630, which was proved 28 Apr 1631. She appointed the wardship of her son John; to her son-in-law Mr. Robert Symondes of Sowerby, her brother-in-law William Boyes, to thomas Bynnes and Humphrey Drake of Halifax, and to John Mitchell of Boothes towne. She bequeathed to her son-in-law Symonds, £80 which she promised him in marriage with her daughter, to be paid him in £20 a year, at every Christ tyde, during four yeares next comynge; to her daughters Sylence, Anna, and Joane, as much money as will make up their portions, left by their father, to £200 each; and the residue to her four daughter. She directed her:-
"son John to be brought up at learninge, yf that by and at the discretion of my said ffyve ffreindes before named, he shalbe found capable and fitt therunto, to whose wisdome and religious care, I refer the same.”

Halifax Parish Church -
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