Joseph Payson

(September 1741 – August 10, 1801) 

Joseph Payson was a housewright who lived and operated on Foster’s Wharf and Bennet Street in Boston, Massachusetts, at the time of the Boston Tea Party. 

Payson lived his entire life in Boston, working to repair and construct buildings. Payson is mentioned by historian Francis S. Drake in his 1884 book Tea Leaves as having participated in the Boston Tea Party at Griffin’s Wharf on December 16, 1773. 

After the Revolutionary War, Joseph Payson was commissioned by the Boston town Selectmen to salvage material from an old schoolhouse that had burned down, stating he was, “to have the benefit of such materials belonging to the late school as was saved out of the fire & can be used in the new building.” His son, Samuel Payson, co-founded the long-existing firm of Gould & Payson tailors.  

Joseph Payson died in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 10, 1801.