Hello "Cousin" Dana.

My Name is Shannon J. Rosier. I live in the Houston area, and am also a direct descendant of Robert P. Boyce. I have recently begun reading a copy of part of his autobiographical manuscript which is believed to have been written at about 1888. Recently meaning TODAY, July, 25, 2004. I have known about him for years and my mother has had a copy of this manuscript forever, however I only recently asked for it. There is much information about Cpt. Boyce.

He built the first two homes that General/President Sam Houston lived in in Houston, Texas, the first being a clapboard home, the second being a more formal residence. He also traveled in military with the Texas Army fighting against insurgence in Texas, and later in an attempt to overthrow Santa Anna in Mexico with a group called the Jordan Expedition.

He was born June 16, 1816 near Cincinnati, Ohio. Ran away from home at the age of eight, lived on riverboats for the next six years and then apprenticed to a carpenter in Cincinnati until his master moved to Detroit. Migrated to New Orleans where he eventually joined with Louisianna Grays to eventually become a part of Texas Independance. His reinforcement group was grounded on a sand bar for the two days of the battle of San Jacinto unable to get ungrounded, however after high tide allowed them to move forward assisted General Houston.

After the foray into Mexico with the Jordan Expedition we do not have record of his acheivements. However his manuscripts are located in the Houston Metropolitan Archives and Research Center in Houston, Texas. In 1975 their address was PO Box 1892 Houston Texas 77001 when my mother donated his writings to the archives. I believe he was the first Marshal of the city of Houston also.

Any further information you might have would be appreciated as well.

Mr. Shannon Rosier