James Doyle

     James Doyle was born in April 1837 at Co Wexford, Ireland.^1,3,4,2 He was the son of James Doyle and Ellen Burn.² He appeared on the 1861 Census of South Crosby Twp, Leeds County, Ontario, in the household of Michael Doyle and Elizabeth Mary Dunn.¹ He was a guard at the Kingston Penitentiary at Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, between 8 August 1868 and 1 January 1891. In 1885 his salary was $500/year.^5,6 He appeared on the 1871 Census of Portsmouth, Frontenac County, Ontario.⁷ He married Margaret Fitzgerald on 11 September 1871 at Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario.² He and Margaret Fitzgerald appeared on the 1881 Census of Portsmouth, Frontenac County, Ontario.⁸ On 15 Oct 1890, James was on duty as a guard in the Kingston Penitentiary hospital when two prisoners who had been working as hospital orderlies escaped. Shortly thereafter, James was recommended for retirement due to poor health which had left him "so feeble in the discharge of his duty as to render him unfit for his duty here". He retired, with a gratuity of $895, on 1 Jan 1891. He and Margaret Fitzgerald appeared on the 1891 Census of Portsmouth, Frontenac County, Ontario.⁶ He immigrated in 1892 to Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio.³ He appeared on the 1900 Census of Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio.³ He probably died between 1900 and 1910 at Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio; he does not appear on the 1910 census.

Research Note: James' birth date is not proven. Records (census, employment, death, etc) give many different birth years (1835-1845); two specify April as the month; the Civil Service List of 1885 says 10 Apr 1839. The most likely years are 1837 or 1839 as they appear in two records, other dates appear in only one.^1,7,2,6,3,5