James Joseph Doyle

ID# 1030, (1858-1918)
Pedigree
Charts
Descendants of Michael Doyle (c1823-1878)
Descendants of Martin Dunn (died c 1847)
Descendants of John Hamilton (1797-1871)
Descendants of Michael Jordan (c 1801-bt 1863-1869)
Relationships
Son of Michael Doyle
Nephew of James Doyle
Great-grandfather of Faye Louise Doyle
James Joseph Doyle
      James Joseph Doyle was born on 7 March 1858 in South Crosby Twp, Leeds & Grenville County, Ontario.1 He was the son of Michael Doyle and Elizabeth Mary Dunn.1 He was baptized on 23 April 1858 in St Philip Neri Church, Toledo, Leeds & Grenville County, OntarioG.1 His death certificate erroneously states that he was born on 8 March 1859.2 His employment record at the BC Pen erroneously states that he was born on 8 March 1862.3,4 He was confirmed by the Archibishop of Toronto on 20 October 1874 in Philipsville Catholic Church, Philipsville, Leeds & Grenville County, OntarioG.5

James was hired as a guard in BC Penitentiary, New Westminster, British ColumbiaG, on 1 October 1886. He may have chosen this career because his uncle James Doyle was a guard at the Kingston Penitentiary. His initial salary was $600/year.3,6

The first CPR train to run between Montreal, QC & Port Moody, BC left on June 28, 1886. It arrived on July 4, 1886. The arrival is portrayed in this photo. The tracks were extended to New Westminster in December 1886. If James went to BC by train, which seems likely, he would have been among the early passengers as he was working there in October 1886. On 27 Sept 1886, the Daily Columbian reported that the train trip from Montreal to Vancouver took 136 hours. James probably boarded at Ottawa.

After working in British Columbia for three years, James returned to Ontario where he married Mary Ann Hamilton, daughter of Charles Hamilton and Mary Jordan, on 4 November 1889 in St Philip Neri Church, Toledo, Leeds & Grenville County, OntarioG.7,8 After their marriage, the couple returned to BC. James and Mary Ann lived in 37 Columbia St E, New Westminster, British ColumbiaG, in the married quarters near the prison on what was known as "Pen Row", these consisted of six duplex houses 2 1/2 storeys high; they paid $5.00 a month rent. These houses were sold and moved away about 1970.9,10,3

On 1 Feb 1902, James was promoted to the position of Industrial Guard, Brickmaker at a salary of $1000/year.3 Brickmaking for the expansion of the penitentiary began on 1 Jun 1902. In this role, James had overall responsibility for supervision of the brickyard. He trained the convicts to temper the clay, mould the bricks, air dry them, and then burn them in the kiln to harden them. James was on duty when Bill Miner (The Grey Fox) escaped in 1907 by tunneling under the fence in the brick yard. James spent over a week searching the lower Mainland for the escapees. This is detailed in his report to the Acting Warden; in Four Walls in the West by Jack David Scott; in Interred With Their Bones: Bill Miner in Canada by Peter Grauer; in The Grey Fox: The True Story of Bill Miner, Last of the Old-Time Bandits by Mark Dugan; and in several articles published in The Daily Columbian newspaper between 9 Aug and 12 Aug 1907. In 1982, Bill Miner's story was made into a movie titled The Grey Fox starring Richard Farnsworth: the movie does not mention James Doyle.

He lived in 512 Kelly Street, Sapperton, (New Westminster), British ColumbiaG, on 5 December 1917.11 He left a will on 17 January 1918.12 He died on 22 February 1918 of heart disease in St Mary's Hospital, New Westminster, British Columbia, at age 59.2 He was buried on 25 February 1918 in St Peter's Cemetery, New Westminster, British ColumbiaG, (formerly Columbia Cemetery.)2

Here is a photo of James' and Mary Ann's children. Move the cursor over each face to identify the person.

Census Records

YearPlaceHead of Household
1861South Crosby Twp, Leeds County, Canada WestMichael Doyle13
1871South Crosby Twp, Leeds County, OntarioMichael Doyle14
1881Crosby South, Leeds South, OntarioElizabeth Mary Dunn15
1891New Westminster, British ColumbiaJames Joseph Doyle16
1901New Westminster, British ColumbiaJames Joseph Doyle17
1911New Westminster, British ColumbiaJames Joseph Doyle10
Last Edited=27 Apr 2021

Children of James Joseph Doyle and Mary Ann Hamilton

Citations

  1. [S1423] Baptisms, marriages, burials 1856-1884: baptism of James Doyle; np, St Philip Neri Church, Toledo, Leeds & Grenville County, Ontario. Viewed 2012-2018, at familysearch.org, database: Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923, img 8.
  2. [S208] James Joseph Doyle, Death Registration 18-09-097966 (26 Feb 1918), BC Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria, British Columbia.
  3. [S213] Letter from J Clawson (White Rock, BC) to Faye West, 23 Nov 1979; privately held by Faye West (Edmonton, Alberta). File: Doyle correspondence #48.
  4. [S803] Dept of Secretary of State, Civil Service List of Canada 1885 (Ottawa: Maclean, Roger & Company, 1886); digital image. Google, Google Books (books.google.ca: accessed 29 Apr 2010).
  5. [S1423] Baptisms, marriages, burials 1856-1884: Confirmations; np, St Philip Neri Church, Toledo, Leeds & Grenville County, Ontario. Viewed 2012-2018, at familysearch.org, database: Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923, image 100.
  6. [S804] Dept of Secretary of State, Civil Service List of Canada 1888 (Ottawa: Maclean, Roger & Company, 1889); digital image. Google, Google Books (books.google.ca: accessed 29 Apr 2010).
  7. [S805] James Joseph Doyle & Mary Ann Hamilton, Marriage Registration 006627 (25 Nov 1891), Ancestry, http://www.ancestry.ca
  8. [S1424] Baptisms, marriages, burials 1883-1910: marriage of James Doyle & Mary Ann Hamilton, pg 286, St Philip Neri Church, Toledo, Leeds & Grenville County, Ontario. Viewed 2012-2019, at familysearch.org, database: Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923, img 90.
  9. [S88] Dominic Augustine Doyle, Birth Certificate 02-09-522969 (8 Apr 1926), BC Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria, British Columbia.
  10. [S468] 1911 Census (New Westminster, British Columbia), Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, James Doyle household.
  11. [S261] "Doyle, Charles; Military Records", RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2649 - 7, Reg no: 2557371; Library & Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario.
  12. [S211] James Joseph Doyle will (17 Jan 1918), Central Will Registry 1861-1939 vol 11, folio 415: 2131, British Columbia Supreme Court, Law Courts, Victoria, British Columbia. Viewed at www.familysearch.org, database: British Columbia, Wills, 1861-1981, image(s) 1135-1137.
  13. [S6] 1861 Census (Crosby South, Leeds, Canada West), Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario C-1044.
  14. [S72] 1871 Census (Crosby South, Leeds, Ontario), Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario C-10001.
  15. [S73] 1881 Census (South Crosby, Leeds, Ontario), Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario C-13232.
  16. [S309] James Doyle, 1891 Census (New Westminster, British Columbia), Pg 5, Lines 1-2, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario T-6290.
  17. [S310] James Doyle, 1901 Census (New Westminster, British Columbia), Pg 15, Lines 28-35, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario T-6429.
  18. [S253] Interview with James & Bernard Doyle (in Lethbridge, AB), by Faye West, April 22, 2000.
  19. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of Charles Michael Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  20. [S200] Charles Michael Doyle, Death Registration 68-09-012980 (1968), BC Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria, British Columbia.
  21. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of James Hamilton Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  22. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of John Mary Fitzsimmons Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  23. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of Joseph Gordon Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  24. [S85] Parish Register Entry, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  25. [S318] Francis Joseph Doyle, Birth Registration 98-09-522968 (8 April 1926), BC Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria, British Columbia.
  26. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of Dominic Augustine Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  27. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of Bernard Cyril Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  28. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of Thomas Patrick Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.
  29. [S85] Parish Register Entry, Baptism of Philip Augustine Doyle, St Peter's Church, New Westminster, British Columbia.