In 1837, Thomas Joyce mortgaged Shepherdsville lots 21 and 22 to Richard P. Simmons, and also placed a second mortgage on his tavern house lot (part of lots 39 and 40). After Joyce paid Simmons what he owed on lots 21 & 22, Simmons released them back to Joyce on 31 May 1839. Later, through court suits, Joyce lost the lots to Nicholas Simmons, as shown below.
Bullitt County Deed Book K, Pages 374-375
This indenture made and entered into this 22nd day of April 1845 between Henry C. Thomas, deputy for John Graham, sheriff of the county of Bullitt in the state of Kentucky of the one part and Nicholas Simmons of the county and state aforesaid of the other part.
Witnesseth that whereas the said Simmons sued out of the clerk's office of the Bullitt Circuit Court a writ of fiere facias against the estate of Thomas Joyce and Robert F. Samuels for the sum of $222.07 debt with interest thereon from the first day of September 1842 and $7.34 cost, bearing date the fifth day of February 1844 returnable to the April rules of said circuit court 1844; and whereas said Simmons sued out another writ of fieri facias against the estate of said Joyce and Samuels for the further sum of $222.07 debt with interest thereon from the 1st day of March 1842 and also $7.34 cost, bearing date the 5th day of February 1844 and returnable to the 6th of April 1844 rules of said court, which fieri facias was directed and delivered to the sheriff of said county, and the said deputy sheriff by virtue of said fieri facias aforesaid levied the same on two lots and appurtenances thereunto belonging in the town of Shepherdsville marked on the plat of said town No. 21 & 22 as the estate of said Joyce and the said deputy sheriff as aforesaid in pursuance of said writ and according to the laws of said state, having legally advertised and made known the same, did on the 18th day of March 1844 in the county aforesaid at the courthouse door expose to sale by public outcry the aforesaid lots of land with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, and all the estate, right, title and demand whatsoever of him said Thomas Joyce in and to and over the same, and whereas the said Nicholas Simmons did then and there bid the sum of $175, to-wit, $150 for lot No. 21 and $25 for lot No. 22, and no person bidding more, the said lots of land with the appurtenances was in due form openly struck off and sold to the said Nicholas Simmons for the said sum of $175, the said lots being valued at $1000.
And further, by virtue of fieri facias No. 1437 the said deputy sheriff levied on the equity of redemption of the said Joyce in and to the said lots of land and appurtenances and after advertising the same according to the laws of this state the deputy sheriff in the county of Bullitt at the courthouse door by public outcry sold the same, and said Nicholas Simmons bid the sum of $175.19, that is one cent for lot No. 22 and $175.19 for lot No. 21, and no person bidding more, the same was struck off and sold to him the said Simmons for the sum of $175.19 aforesaid.
Therefore to confirm the purchase to the said Simmons so made as aforesaid. This indenture witnesseth that the said Henry C. Thomas, Deputy for John Graham, late sheriff of the county aforesaid, for and in consideration of the said sum of $350.19 to him in hand paid by the said Nicholas Simmons, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledge, hath given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened and released and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell, convey and release and confirm unto him the said Nicholas Simmons, his heirs and assigns forever, all the two lots of land and appurtenances situate in the town of Shepherdsville aforesaid with all the estate, right, title and demand of the said Thomas Joyce in to and over the same or any part or parcel thereof.
To have and to hold all and singular the above granted and bargained premises and appurtenances to the said Nicholas Simmons, his heirs and assigns forever in as full a manner as I he said Henry C. Thomas by virtue of the authority vested in me might convey or ought to convey the same as deputy aforesaid without individual responsibility on said sheriff. Interlined before signed the day and day first above written. (signed) H. C. Thomas
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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 23 Oct 2025 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/joyce-nicksimmons21-22.html
