Thomas Joy (~1610-1678)

Thomas Joy was born 1610(?); died Oct. 21, 1678; interred Hingham, Mass.

He married Joan Gallup, only daughter of John Gallup from England and owner of Gallup's Island in Boston harbor. Her father was renowned as an Indian fighter.

Joan was born in Mostern [sp.?], Dorset, England; died March 20, 1691; interred Hingham, Mass.

Thomas and Joan married 1637 in England
Their children:
1 Samuel 1639-1670
2 John 1641-
3 Thomas 1642-1648
4 Joseph 1645-1697
5 Ephriam 1646-1697
6 Sarah 1648-
7 Benjamin 1650-
8 Eliza 1652-
9 Elizabeth 1653-
10 Ruth 1658-1745

Thomas Joy, the first American ancestor, probably from Huet. [sp.? Kent?] Eng. emigrated in 1630 with John Winthrop [sp.?] the Governor of Mass. Bay Colony & a company of about 900 [or "90"] persons. Thomas Joy was a member of the "Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of Boston" & is described in the annals of that day as an "ardent lover of liberty". He was prominent in the civil and religious life of the colony; so much so that in 1646, on account of his connection with the circulation of a petition to Parliament for more religious liberty and a General Governor, he with others, was arrested & placed in irons. Soon thereafter, upon regaining his personal freedom he removed with his family from Boston to Hingham, Mass. where he "built and owned the town mill [sp.?]". He as well as his father-in-law John Gallup was the owner of much land in & about Boston as well as in Hingham, as appears from his wills and deeds recorded, and the memoirs of Winthrop [sp.?] & others.

Extract from "History of the Pilgrims and Puritans" by Joseph Dillaway Sawyer, William Elliot Griffis A.M., D.D. & L.H.D. Editor, Published by the Century History Co., Inc., No. 8 West 47th St., New York City:
Vol. 111, p. 172.

"As Charles Bulfinch in later times left his mark on the architecture of the State in the domed building on Beacon Hill, so Thomas Joy, that first American architect of note designed as early as 1681 the Hingham meeting house also in 1656 Boston's Ancient Town House, and the near by Aspinwall Mansion."

Also, above on the same page, "In the town of Hingham, built on broad lines in 1681 on a commanding site stands the oldest meeting house in Plymouth County, if not in New England, used continuously as a house of worship since days when the only heating plant was the footstove, etc. etc."

Thomas Joy built this Hingham Meeting House