John Boyce
Encyclopedia
John Boyce was a novelist, lecturer, and Catholic priest, known under the assumed name of "Paul Peppergrass".
His father was the wealthy proprietor of the principal hotel in the town and a magistrate of the county. John entered the preparatory seminary
in Navan
, County Meath
, and graduated with the highest honours in rhetoric and philosophy. He completed his studies at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
and was ordained priest in 1837. For eight years he worked on the Irish mission, but in 1845 moved to America. From Eastport, Maine
, the scene of his first missionary work, he was transferred in 1847 to St. John's Catholic Church
, Worcester, where he remained until his death.
Besides these books he contributed to the editorial columns of the Boston Pilot, wrote many sketches and criticisms which appeared in print, and a lecture on "The Satisfying Influence of Catholicity on the Intellect and Senses", delivered before the Catholic Institute in New York in 1851.
His father was the wealthy proprietor of the principal hotel in the town and a magistrate of the county. John entered the preparatory seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and graduated with the highest honours in rhetoric and philosophy. He completed his studies at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
and was ordained priest in 1837. For eight years he worked on the Irish mission, but in 1845 moved to America. From Eastport, Maine
Eastport, Maine
Eastport is a small city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2000 census. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainland by causeway...
, the scene of his first missionary work, he was transferred in 1847 to St. John's Catholic Church
St. John's Catholic Church (Worcester, Massachusetts)
St. John's Catholic Church, established in 1834, is an historic Roman Catholic parish church in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is the oldest established Catholic religious institution in the city, and the oldest Catholic parish in New England outside of Boston...
, Worcester, where he remained until his death.
Published works
- Shanty Maguire, or Tricks upon Travellers (New York, 1848), which was dramatized by "J. Pilgrim";
- The Spaewife, or the Queen's Secret (Baltimore, 1853), a novel featuring the VölvaVölvaA vǫlva or völva is a shamanic seeress in Norse paganism, and a recurring motif in Norse mythology....
, a figure in Northern European pagan mythology; - Mary Lee or the Yankee in Ireland (1859), first published serially in the "Metropolitan Magazine" of BaltimoreBaltimoreBaltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
Besides these books he contributed to the editorial columns of the Boston Pilot, wrote many sketches and criticisms which appeared in print, and a lecture on "The Satisfying Influence of Catholicity on the Intellect and Senses", delivered before the Catholic Institute in New York in 1851.