A son of a farmer. A printer, papermaker and journalist. Family oral tradition is Francis' ancestor was Captain Thomas Joy who had accompanied Sir Arthur Chichester to Ireland. Chichester was the Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1605 to 1615 during the early Plantation Period. He was instrumental in the development of an existing settlement at Belfast into a town.
Francis came to Belfast in the early part of the 1700's and practiced law.
At the age of 24 he married Margaret Martin, a granddaughter of Robert Martin, a Belfast burgess.
Three known children:
Henry Joy (1720-1789)
Robert Joy (1722-1785)
Ann Joy (1730-1814)
At the age of 40, in 1737, he founded the Belfast News Letter and the newspaper was first printed "At the sign of the Peacock" in Bridge Street.
The Belfast News Letter is the world's oldest English language daily newspaper still in publication.
Francis purchased a paper mill in Ballymena in 1739-40 and in 1740-41 purchased two more paper mills at Randalstown to meet not only the paper requirements for his newspaper but also to meet the paper needs of all of Ulster Province.
Francis' sons Henry and Robert Joy died before him. As a result the Belfast News Letter was passed to Robert's son Henry. On 15 May 1795 Henry sold the paper to a Scotsman.
Grandfather of the United Irishman rebel Henry Joy McCracken (1767-1798).
He reportedly is buried where once was the graveyard of the Parish of Belfast. This would be the Parish Church of St. George's Cemetery. What became of his remains once this cemetery was razed in the early 1900's is unknown.
Francis came to Belfast in the early part of the 1700's and practiced law.
At the age of 24 he married Margaret Martin, a granddaughter of Robert Martin, a Belfast burgess.
Three known children:
Henry Joy (1720-1789)
Robert Joy (1722-1785)
Ann Joy (1730-1814)
At the age of 40, in 1737, he founded the Belfast News Letter and the newspaper was first printed "At the sign of the Peacock" in Bridge Street.
The Belfast News Letter is the world's oldest English language daily newspaper still in publication.
Francis purchased a paper mill in Ballymena in 1739-40 and in 1740-41 purchased two more paper mills at Randalstown to meet not only the paper requirements for his newspaper but also to meet the paper needs of all of Ulster Province.
Francis' sons Henry and Robert Joy died before him. As a result the Belfast News Letter was passed to Robert's son Henry. On 15 May 1795 Henry sold the paper to a Scotsman.
Grandfather of the United Irishman rebel Henry Joy McCracken (1767-1798).
He reportedly is buried where once was the graveyard of the Parish of Belfast. This would be the Parish Church of St. George's Cemetery. What became of his remains once this cemetery was razed in the early 1900's is unknown.
A son of a farmer. A printer, papermaker and journalist. Family oral tradition is Francis' ancestor was Captain Thomas Joy who had accompanied Sir Arthur Chichester to Ireland. Chichester was the Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1605 to 1615 during the early Plantation Period. He was instrumental in the development of an existing settlement at Belfast into a town.
Francis came to Belfast in the early part of the 1700's and practiced law.
At the age of 24 he married Margaret Martin, a granddaughter of Robert Martin, a Belfast burgess.
Three known children:
Henry Joy (1720-1789)
Robert Joy (1722-1785)
Ann Joy (1730-1814)
At the age of 40, in 1737, he founded the Belfast News Letter and the newspaper was first printed "At the sign of the Peacock" in Bridge Street.
The Belfast News Letter is the world's oldest English language daily newspaper still in publication.
Francis purchased a paper mill in Ballymena in 1739-40 and in 1740-41 purchased two more paper mills at Randalstown to meet not only the paper requirements for his newspaper but also to meet the paper needs of all of Ulster Province.
Francis' sons Henry and Robert Joy died before him. As a result the Belfast News Letter was passed to Robert's son Henry. On 15 May 1795 Henry sold the paper to a Scotsman.
Grandfather of the United Irishman rebel Henry Joy McCracken (1767-1798).
He reportedly is buried where once was the graveyard of the Parish of Belfast. This would be the Parish Church of St. George's Cemetery. What became of his remains once this cemetery was razed in the early 1900's is unknown.
Francis came to Belfast in the early part of the 1700's and practiced law.
At the age of 24 he married Margaret Martin, a granddaughter of Robert Martin, a Belfast burgess.
Three known children:
Henry Joy (1720-1789)
Robert Joy (1722-1785)
Ann Joy (1730-1814)
At the age of 40, in 1737, he founded the Belfast News Letter and the newspaper was first printed "At the sign of the Peacock" in Bridge Street.
The Belfast News Letter is the world's oldest English language daily newspaper still in publication.
Francis purchased a paper mill in Ballymena in 1739-40 and in 1740-41 purchased two more paper mills at Randalstown to meet not only the paper requirements for his newspaper but also to meet the paper needs of all of Ulster Province.
Francis' sons Henry and Robert Joy died before him. As a result the Belfast News Letter was passed to Robert's son Henry. On 15 May 1795 Henry sold the paper to a Scotsman.
Grandfather of the United Irishman rebel Henry Joy McCracken (1767-1798).
He reportedly is buried where once was the graveyard of the Parish of Belfast. This would be the Parish Church of St. George's Cemetery. What became of his remains once this cemetery was razed in the early 1900's is unknown.
Family Members
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