Owen Doyle and Emma McCormick marry 1873

OWEN E. DOYLE

MARRIES

EMMA MCCORMICK

CHAPTER  9

names of grandparents will be typed in green

Thanks to the research and personal trip to Ireland of Joan Edenharder, descendant of Charles Doyle, we have a name for the place that Owen and Charles were born. So far we do not have the names of their Father or Mother. This research is actively on going at the time of this writing.

This is what we have so far: Owen and Charles Doyle were brothers who emigrated to Tyendinaga Township of Hasting County, Ontario, Cananda from Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny, Ireland. They did not travel together, perhaps because of their age difference and/or money available. 

Owen was born in 1807 in Ireland and died 1863 in Lonsdale, Ontario, Canada from Holy Name of Mary's Church that he helped build. 

He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Marysburg, Ontario, Canada.  It was recently noticed by cousin Margie Frazer who is my partner in researching this material that the picture of Owen's grave stone indicates his wife is buried there in the same plot.  The name on the tombstone is Mary Shaughnessy.  The problem is the Census indicates that Owen was married to Margaret Shaughnessy. Charles. who was born in 1818, died June 19,1879 and is buried in Marysville, Canada from Holy Name of Mary's Church was married to Mary Shaughnessy. 

The question is: How is it after 147 years that no one noticed this error on the headstone.  Here is the picture:

                            

Owen was an early settler of Tyendinaga (Indian Territory) Township and one of the original signers of the petition to get land for the Roman Catholic Church at Marysville, Ontario.  He probably came to this area around 1830 or before.

There is a recorded marriage at St. Michael's Church in Belleville on January 23, 1834 stating that Owen Doyle age 26,  married Margaret Shaughnessy, age 21 (sister of Mary Shaughnessy,19 who married Owen's brother Charles Doyle, age 19 on September 12, 1837).  They are the daughters of William Shaughnessy and his wife Catherine (Guiden).Since the date of arrival to this area is just about 4 years to date of marriage, we surmise that the Doyle Boys knew the Shaughnessy Sisters in Ireland. It is possible that they came from a family of means. They were able to purchase land, get married and begin their families within 4 years of arrival.  The lands that they purchased were adjacent to their father in law, William Shaughnessy's land where Owen and Charles began farming.

In 1837 Owen bought land in Lonsdale and built a Tavern, located down a country lane, over a small bridge and situated on the hill..  Taverns in those days also had rooms available for layovers.  When Owen died in 1863 at age 63, he left the Tavern/Hotel to his son Patrick known as Big Paddy Doyle. 

   THE DOYLE HOTEL,LONSDALE,CANADA prior to renovations.

DOYLE HOTEL renovated, picture taken by cousin Ginger Purvis in 2010.

 We assume that Owen's son Arthur, b. 1839, baptised October 1839 at age 5 weeks, at St. Michael's in Belleville, inherited the farm land. At this time we have no documentation to verify this.

Owen and Margaret  had 9 children as follows:

1. Mary;   2. Catherine;  3. Arthur;   4. Frances;   5. Margaret;

6. Owen Eugene, b. 22 Apr. 1846;  7. Ellen;  8. Hanorah;  9. Patrick

know as Big Paddy.

Charles and Mary had 11 children.  The relationship between the children of Owen and Charles genetically speaking would be closer than that of regular cousins. 

Why Owen E. Doyle, Jr. came to Canandaigua is unknown.  How he met Emma McCormick is unknown.  However, it is our guess that there were relatives already in the town because of several Doyles who show up on the census sheets.  Also, we can assume Emma and her siblings helped Nancy at the Daisey Tea Room....a logical place to meet one's future husband. Owen, being Irish, loved fishing as would his grandsons i.e. Jack, Arlie, Ken, Leo and Bob who were avid fishermen. And where would he go to rent a boat?  To Nancy McCormick the piermistress and renter of the only boats on that part of Canandaigua Lake.

The witnesses to the marriage of Owen and Emma were Jacob Briscoe and William Doyle. Very unusual to have two male witnesses which makes you wonder why Emma did not have one of her sisters in attendance.  The marriage was in St. Mary's Parish Church in Canandaigua. All the children were baptized in St. Mary's Catholic Church so there are records to be studied.  We do not have a picture of Owen which is a shame.  We do have one of Emma.

    Emma in 1930 at John and Mary Doyle's Wedding (my parents)

It would appear that they were very close and maintained a quiet, simple life at 22 Clark Street. We can just imagine that when the Doyle children were born Nancy McCormick was right there, involved in their care. Owen and Emma instilled the work ethic in their children as observed in their future success in the business world.  As their first born Frank grew, being the oldest, he probably was involved in the ice business. He did go to school also. He moved to Rochester before 1900 because in the 1900 census he is there with his wife Minnie (Clark) and two of their four children. Minnie's mother, Bridgit Clark was also living with them. Frank was a fireman and teamster.  Here is his picture along with his brother John Albert who joined the Rochester Police Department at 24.  John A. looks like his father and Frank looks like his mother which gives a near resemblance of Owen and Emma in their younger years.

John Albert, Rochester Policeman and brother Frank Eugene, Rochester Fireman 1909

      

 Nancy and her Mother, Nancy McAdam, realized the importance of schooling.  The census indicates Aunt Annie and Aunt Margery attended school also.  Aunt Annie was a successful business woman with great artistic talent. She made beautiful hats and during her lifetime woman would not go out without a fashionable head covering.  I feel fortunate that we spent a lot of time with her.  She had a wonderful sense of humor and kept us laughing for hours. She never married but she did have a constant companion Jeffery Leiser.  We do not know too much about Aunt Margery except that she married Paul Berger. Aunt Nellie died in her first year. No one ever mentioned her as we were growing up. When John Albert was born in 1884 he was accompanied by a twin who was named James.  The twin was always mentioned in family conversations involving John A.  According to records at the Town Clerk's Office, James lived for 6 months. Over the years the family said that Frank and John were twins but of course we know now that they were born ten years apart. We do know that John went to school but it is said he did not go beyond 8th Grade and it is questionable if he actually graduated. The Canandaigua Messenger printed his name along with others who received a "perfect school attendance certificate".   He went to work as soon as he could. His various jobs were at the Canandaigua Hotel, the Meath Meat Market which was owned by the husband of his Aunt Sarah McCormick Meath, Canandaigua newspaper delivery, and several more including helping his grandmother with the ice business.  It appears he left home before the 1900 Census.  It is recorded that he bought a piece of property next to his sister Margery.   He was 16 years old in 1900 and spent part of 1899 in Rochester, New York probably with his brother Frank's family.      

Owen and Emma lived at 22 Clark Street in Canandaigua, New York.

Owen worked as a cooper in one of the many barrel factories. He also states on the census of 1880 he was a carpenter. Emma states on the census that she was a nurse and worked as needed.  They had six children with four living to adulthood.  Their names are:

1.  Frank Eugene b. 1874 ... m. Minnie Clark b. 1871... Frank d. 1932 from Car Accident that also killed his daughter Anna.

                           

2.  Nellie b. 1880, lived three months

3.  Margery b. 1880...m. Paul Berger... d. 

4.  Anne  b. 1882  remained single, had her own Millinery, Arts and Crafts Shop... d.

5.  John  b. 1884 m. Florence Bates October 22, 1901, d. October 1939 from a stroke suffered on the way home from a Yankee's Baseball game with his good friend, J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI.  He and Florence had 13 children.  9 lived to adulthood. 

6.  James b. 1884 twin to John, died six months later.

For some reason Owen had to go to Canada in 1919.  Cousin Gary Waldron (son of Crabill and Honey Doyle Waldron) told us that he was told there were problems with his naturalization papers and so he returned to the land of his birth, Lonsdale, Ontario, Canada.  It was there he died.  John A.and John G. (my father at age 12) traveled to Canada to bring Owen back.  He was given a funeral at St. Mary's Parish and was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetary in Rochester, New York at the John A. Doyle burial plot along with William and Dorothy Doyle (children of John A and Florence). 

Emma, stayed in Canandaigua for several years and was mentioned in the Canandaigua Messenger on many occasions. Here are a couple of examples:

Canandaigua Messenger July 16,1923 

 

Canandaigua Messenger (1920 something)

My brother J. Gregory Doyle in front of Holy Name of Mary Church built by the Doyles and Shaughnessys and others in Canada

                        

The Irish who emigrated to Canada and America in the early 1800's came with hope and a deep, holy faith.  Many were uneducated but they instinctively knew the fundamentals of their spiritual roots and lived them to the fullest.  The Doyles and the Shaughnessys were Catholic and lived their Faith with great fervor passing this rich,

active spiritual life on to their children and grandchildren. This is shown clearly by the involvement of the Doyles and Shaughnessys to build a Catholic Church as soon as possible.  Their names are etched in the history of the Holy Name of Mary's parish Church.  You can be sure a percentage of their income went into the building fund. The life of the Irish revolved around the Church and this is evident today with their descendants.  Faith is a gift of Almighty God.  With it comes a deep desire to know, love and serve Him in this life and in the next.  If you have Faith, you know this and what is expected of you. Owen, Sr. and Mary knew, as did Charles and Margaret and they imparted this Faith to their children, who in turn gave it to their children and so on to the next generation. Nancy McCormick and Frank practiced their Faith and passed it on to their offspring.

Emma and Owen practiced their Faith and passed it on to their children.  I have personal knowledge of the Faith of John A. and Florence through their holiness and example as seen with my Father and Mother. 

Aunt Annie's Gift Shop advertisement:

Aunt Annie inherits money from her close friend and companion.

Canandaigua Messenger 12/21/1923

OBITUARIES

Canandaigua Messenger
March 16, 1971
Miss Anna Doyle

Miss Anna Doyle 80, died yesterday.
She resided at 137 Hubbell Street.
She formerly owned and operated a
hat shop and retired 30 years ago.
She leaves four nieces,Marge
Miller, Honey Waldron, Rosemary
Dowling, Marion Frazer and one nephew
Robert.
The funeral services will be
tomorrow at 8:30 am in the MCElwee
Funeral Home and a 9 a.m. Funeral
Mass in St. Mary's Church. Burial
will be in Calvary Cemetery.

The following is information on the burials of Owen and Emma if you would like to visit Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York.

                               

          

 Doyle Owen Eugene

Cemetery Section: SEC 19 East
Cemetery Lot/Tier: 321
Grave Number: 1W-N1
Burial Date: August 23, 1919
Age: 69

         
          
 Doyle Emma F.  
Cemetery Section: SEC 19 East
Cemetery Lot/Tier: 321
Grave Number: 3W-N
Burial Date: March 07, 1944
Age: 88

In 1939 our Grandfather, John A. died from a stroke.  We were able to go to his bedside and he was alert enough to recognize us.  We told him we loved him and within days he died.  Amid the sadness and flurry of activity of funeral preparations, my mother told me I would be going to St. Ann's home for the aged to spend the time of the funeral with my great grandmother Emma (John's mother) who was in residence there. I knew her to be a wonderful, soft spoken, very kind person who always took an interest in me.  We visited her many times at the home.  Being six years old it never occured to me that she had lost her ability to remember.  There were others in the room but I do not remember who they were.  Her sisters maybe.  I went to the window that faced Lake Avenue and the funeral procession came into view.  Emma came and stood by me and soon said, "that must be a very important person to have so many cars going to the Cemetery". She took my hand, squeezed it and we stood together watching until the last car had passed. Her calmness, dignity and genteelness is what I remember most about her.  She lived five more years and my Father made sure we visited her often.  St. Ann's is no longer there on that piece of land except in my memory.  There was something very holy about that place.