Francis Boyle
From MouserAncestry
This page is built on the research of Jim Voltz, a descendant of Thomas Boyle & Jane Stoughton. See Contributors. 
Immigrant from Ireland ~1794
The surname Boyle (or Boyles) is of Scottish origin. The Boyle family's penchant for higher education may reflect this origin. Our records of them begin in Ireland before the immigration to America. Patriarch Alexander Boyle resided in County Down, in the Ballney Hinch area, where he was a farmer and a miller, and in religion a strict Seceder. He was the father of seven children, (including John, Thomas, Nancy, Elizabeth, & Francis). He is buried in the cemetery there at Ballney Hinch. His wife is thought to be Charity Armstrong, who was said to make religious pilgrimages to Germany. She survived her husband and accompanied her children to America.
Francis Boyle was born in Ballney Hinch, Ireland, grew up there and married Ann Scott. He received a good education, was a teacher and leader in sports. He and Ann had 6 children, all born in Ireland: three sons (John, David, Alexander) and three daughters (Nancy, and 2 names unknown). Francis' son Alexander (II) is said to have been born in Co. Londonderry; possibly Francis went there to receive his education and remained for a time. In 1794, while the children were small, Francis & family left Ireland for America. They settled eventually at Glade Mills, Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. PA. Francis' brothers and mother also immigrated, but it seems they were already in the Frankstown (Altoona area) of Bedford Co. (now Blair Co.)PA by 1790. Eventually it appears that all the sons of Alexander Boyle & Charity Armstrong, except for William who died young and Francis who remained in Butler Co. PA, settled in Ogle Co. Illinois, in the Rochelle area of Dement Twp. Charity Armstrong Boyles remained with her son Francis in Butler Co. until her death in 1827 at age 102 years.
This biographical sketch compiled from the sources below. E.W. W.
| Date | Location | Notes | Sources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | by 1766, calc. from 1810 census |
Ballney Hinch, Co. Down, Ireland | [1][2][10] | |
| Marriage | before 1794 immigration | Ireland | to Ann Scott, (b. by 1766, calc. from 1810 census) |
[2][6] |
| Death | Muddy Creek Twp., Butler Co. PA |
[6] |
Ancestry chart segment
Generation 6 Generation 7 "Generation 8" Generation 9"
+-- Alexander Boyle
|
+-- Francis Boyle ----+
| |
+-- John Boyle -----------------+ +-- Charity Armstrong
| (????-~1831) | (1725-1827)
| +-- Ann Scott
Nancy Boyle --+
(1807-1882) |
| +-- Robert Boyd
| |
+-- Martha Boyd- /speculative/ -+ +-- Joseph Thornton
(????-????) | |
+-- Martha Thornton --+
|
+-- Mary Unknown
Sources: [2][6] [9]
Children
(Children with Ann Scott, all born in Ireland; birth order unknown)
| Name | Gender | Date of Birth | Birthplace | Spouse | Notes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Boyle | M | 1770-1780, calc. from 1830 census |
Ireland | Jane unknown | [2][6][11][12] | |
| John Boyle | M | 1770-1780, calc. from 1830 census |
Ireland | Martha Boyd | [2] [6] [13] | |
| Alexander Boyle (II) | M | 1770-1780, calc. from 1830 census |
Ireland | Ruth Hopkins | [2] [6] [13] | |
| Nancy Boyle | F | before 1794 | Ireland | possibly John Crowe | [2] [6][13] | |
| daughter Boyle | F | before 1794 | Ireland | [2] | ||
| daughter Boyle | F | before 1794 | Ireland | [2] |
Photos
Sources
| Ref. Num. | Description | Image of original |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1810 U. S. Census Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. PA. page 1. Census is not dated * Family headed by F. Boyl: 1 male 16-25, 1 male over 44, 1 female 16-25, 1 female over 44. * Family headed by D. Boyl: 1 male 26-44, 1 female under 10, 1 female 16-25. ** John and Alexander are not found. ** There is also a family headed by a G. Boyd. Note: We presume these records of F. Boyl and D. Boyl to represent Francis Boyle and his son David Boyle. In Francis' household, Francis is age 45+, so born before 1765. The same is true of the older female age 45+ - either his wife, Ann Scott, or his mother Charity Armstrong. The female age 16-26 would be daughter Nancy. The male age 16-26 must be Alexander. Son David is living nearby. Son John would likely also have been married by 1810, as his oldest child is listed as age 10-16 in the 1820 census, thus born between 1804 & 1810. |
 |
| 2 | Genealogical and personal history of western Pennsylvania,, Vol. 3, pg. 1272. John W. Jordan, Ed.
See: Historic Pittsburgh Full-Text Collection, website from Univ. of Pittsburgh Library, at http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;q1=Ballyney%20Hinch;rgn=full%20text;idno=03aee8434m;didno=03aee8434m;view=image;seq=0246
| |
| 3 | Will of Francis Boyle of Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. PA, dated 14 May 1818, filed 31 Jan 1824; transcribed by Jim Voltz (see Contributors). Francis Boyle divides his land equally into four shares amongst his 3 sons and a daughter. To eldest son David one quarter, to son John one quarter, to son Alexander one quarter & the house, to daughter Nancy Boyle one quarter and all clothes & moveable property. Executors Henry Jack, David Boyle (above); witnesses John Dick, William ?? Dick, Henry Jack. |
See full text |
| 4 | Will of David Boyle, of Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. PA, dated 6 Apr 1854; filed 14 Feb 1856. Transcribed by Jim Voltz (See Contributors); per Voltz, David is a son of Francis Boyle. Names daughters Nancy and Margaret, and son John; suggests his wife (unnamed) live with the two daughters. Cash to be paid to Jane Cross and Mary Flick. Witness: William M. Hays. |
See full text |
| 5 | Obituary of David Boyle, Butler Citizen newspaper, 9 Feb 1917. "David Boyle died in Los Angeles, Cal. December 18, 1916. Mr. Boyle was about 70 years of age and was a son of the late John Boyle and was born in Worth Township, where he resided until 1850, when he removed to Rochelle and lived there for a number of years. He was married to Martha Boyle, a sister of James Boyle of Rochelle in 1869. Early in the Civil War he enlisted in Co. H, 92 Illinois regulars and served during the war. He was orderly under Col. Smith D. Atkins. Mr. Boyle also resided in Chicago before his removal to California. The funeral and interment was held in Los Angeles Dec 21st. He is survived by his widow. He was a relative of Dr. J. C. Boyle of this city." Notes from Jim Voltz (see Contributors): Dr. James C. Boyle is my great-grandfather, a descendant of John Boyle & Martha Boyd. David Boyle (this obit.) is the son of John Boyle, Jr., son of John Boyle Sr. & Martha Boyd Boyle. David Boyle (this obit) married Martha Boyle, daughter of Ross Boyle, son of Alexander Boyle. | |
| 6 | Jim Voltz, correspondence 2008 - ongoing, see Contributors; a direct-line descendant of Jane Stoughton & Thomas Boyle. His aunt, Diane Marie Voltz Giebel, compiled the "Archives of Butler County" manuscript, including family notes & records on the ancestry & descendants of John Boyle, as well as information on many unrelated families of Butler County PA. | |
| 7 | Death notice for W. R. Bole, Butler Citizen 11 Mar 1897, for W. R. Boyle at home in Illinois died 13 Feb 1897, formerly of Jacksville. | |
| 8 | "Archives of Butler County", pgs. 140 & 141, by Diane Marie Voltz Geibel. Contributed by nephew Jim Voltz; see Contributors;
|
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| 9 | The Tracy M'Cune Genealogical Record, by Myrtie C. Magrath (nee Robinson), August 1900; printed at The Democrat office, Camden, NJ. Available at Family History Library, Salt Lake City, and online at
http://contentdm.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2FFH8&CISOPTR=53326&REC=5&CISOBOX=Charity+Armstrong
| |
| 10 | Boyle and Berrier Genealogy, subsection "The Descendants of Alexander Boyle", website by Stephanie Boyle-Berrier at http://www.boyleberrier.com/ Alexander Boyle b. 1788 Co. Londonderry, Ireland; d. 1865/66 Ogle Co., IL, age 77. Educated Univ. of Edinburg, Scotland. Migrated 1820 to Allegheny City PA; to Ogle Co. Il in 1856/58; 80 acres in Dement Twp. Alexander m. Ruth Hopkins b. 1792 Co. Londonderry Ire.; d. Mar. 1874/75, age 82, Ogle Co. IL. Migrated Allegheny City PA 1820, Ogle Co. IL in 1856/58. Their children: Ross (1826-1911); Alexander H. II (1823-1906); James Sr. (1828-1907); William (1830-1841); David (1823-1915). William died young; other 4 went to Ogle Co. IL. Photos include 2 descendants of Alexander Boyle: James Alexander Boyle (1851-1930) (son of Ross Boyle & grandson of Alexander Boyle); and Clarence Arthur Boyle (1890-1976) (son of James Alexander Boyle & great grandson of Alexander Boyle). Note: The generation 1 Alexander Boyle of this website is Alexander (II) in our notation, son of Francis Boyle. For her sources re. "Descendants of Alexander Boyle" section, Ms. Berrier lists 9 marriage licenses in IL, and one website which no longer connects. There is a longer listing of sources for the entire Berrier-Boyle genealogy. They seem predominantly to be for locations other than PA or Ireland. (We did not find a system for linking sources to specific data or names; relevant sources may have been missed). |
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| 11 | 1820 United States Federal Census, Middlesex Twp, Butler Co, PA. Census is not dated.
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| 12 | 1830 United States Federal Census, Middlesex Twp, Butler Co. Census is not dated.
|
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| 13 | 1830 United States Federal Census, Muddy Creek Twp, Butler Co. Census is not dated. Ancestry.com pg. 13.
| |
| 14 | 1895 History of Butler County PA, Pg. 1129, biography of John Crowe. See rootsweb/ancestry.com, at: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pabutler/1895/95x73-1.htm#john%20crowe John Crowe, one of 7 children of Francis Crowe, came with parents from Ireland in "last century"; settled on the Susquehanna, eastern PA. About 1812 he located on the site of Petersville, Butler Co. PA; later moved to Breakneck, Forward Twp., and soon after settled on 200-acre tract "where John & David Crowe now live", for remainder of his life. First wife was Jane Pollock (5 children & spouses named); 2nd wife was Nancy Boyles, who bore him one son, David B. who resides upon a part of the homestead farm. Third wife was Elizabeth, Robb; no children. John Crowe was leading member of old Covenanter church. His father, Francis Crowe, also came to Butler Co. & resided with his son John until his death.
| |
| 15 | Naturalization Records, extracted, supplied by Jim Voltz.
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Descendants of Alexander Boyle - Outline
A Research of Jim Voltz :
- Alexander Boyle born Ireland;
wife Charity Armstrong d. Cherry Valley, Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. PA
7 Children: including John, Thomas, Nancy, Elizabeth, & Francis (per Jordan); possibly also Jacob & Peter (per Magrath) - Francis Boyle (son of Alexander Boyle) born Ireland; d. 1824 Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. PA.
wife Ann Scott;
Children (all born in Ireland): John, David, Alexander (II), Nancy, & 2 other daughters. - John Boyle (son of Francis Boyle); m. 1) Martha Boyd, 2) Sarah; d. 1831.
B) The Stephanie Boyle-Berrier website (begins with our Alexander (II), son of Francis Boyle):
- Alexander Boyle born Ireland;
wife Ruth Hopkins b.1792 in Co. Londonderry, Ireland; d. 1874/75 Ogle Co. IL
5 sons: - Ross (1826-1911)b. Allegheny Co. PA; 1859 to Ogle Co. IL
- Alexander H. II (1823-1906)b. Butler Co. PA ; 1864 to Dement Twp., later Rochelle, Ogle Co. IL
- James Sr. (1828-1907)b. Allegheny Co. PA; Butler Co. PA; 1856 to Ogle Co. IL
- William (1830-1841)died age 11.
- David (1832-1915)born Butler Co. PA; res. Ogle Co. IL.
Source Notes & Discussion
Boyle Family in Blair/Bedford Co. PA
- Per Voltz: The Boyles show up in Frankstown, Bedford Co. (now in Blair Co.)PA in 1790. Sons of Charity Boyles went from there westward to Ohio. Her son Francis (with whom she stayed in Butler Co. PA until her death) immigrated in 1794, but would have had to meet up with his brothers in this Blair Co. area before 1795-98 when they went to Ohio. The 1800 census for Francis Boyles has not been found, and is needed to clarify whether Francis lived in the Bedford/Blair Co. PA area before settling in Butler Co.
Boyle Family in Butler Co. PA
- Butler Co. has many Boyle families, apparently all of the Catholic religion except the descendants of Alexander Boyle, a staunch Seceder who died in Ireland. Many of these Boyle families have similar children's names, so research must proceed with caution. Per Voltz, the Boyles of Donegal Twp. were all Catholic.
- Per Jordan: Francis Boyle settled in Glade Mill(Middlesex Twp.), Butler Co. PA, and had 7 children - David, John, Alexander, Nancy & 2 more daughters.
- Per Voltz: Of Francis' children, -David Boyle married Jane unknown;
- John Boyle married Martha Boyd;
- Alexander Boyle married Ruth Hopkins.
-Nancy Boyle's husband is not listed in the 1818 will of her father, Francis Boyle; she was probably unmarried at that time. - Per the 1895 History of Butler Co. PA, Chap. 73 Biographical Sketches, pg. 1129: John Crowe, son of Francis Crowe, ... married 2nd to Nancy Boyles, & had a son, David B. Crowe.
This Nancy Boyles is the right age to be the daughter of Francis Boyle, & married after the 1818 will date of Francis Boyle. The son, David B., could be named for Nancy's brother, David Boyle. The "s" on her maiden name is seen also on that of the sons of Charity Armstrong (Boyles).
Per Voltz: John Crowe & Nancy Boyles lived miles from Francis Boyle's farm.
Linking Francis Boyle to his parents, Alexander Boyle & Charity Armstrong
- Per Genealogy of Western PA by Jordan : Francis Boyle's father was Alexander Boyle. Francis' mother's name was not listed.
- Per Voltz family tradition: Francis Boyle's mother was Charity Armstrong Boyles, who died at the Cherry Valley home of Francis Boyle.
- Per Magrath: The Cherry Valley connection described in the M'Cune Genealogical Record has errors, but generally reinforces the Voltz family data.
Ms. Magrath is uncertain about the death location of Charity Armstrong Boyles, knowing only "Cherry Valley". Per Jim Voltz, the location of the Francis Boyle homestead in Middlesex Twp., Butler Co., is still called Cherry Valley. Jim's school district included Cherry Valley, and Cherry Valley Road.
- Ms. Magrath speculates that Cherry Valley might be in Bedford County, as Bedford was the residence of the Boyles before going westward. She also mentions a Cherry Valley Massacre,(Bedford/Blair County), but we believe that this location is irrelevant to the Boyle family. From census data, the Boyles were actually in Frankstown, now in Blair County near Altoona. There is no Cherry Valley in that area.
When the family moved west, Charity had to stay behind in PA with someone. The Cherry Valley location of Francis Boyle is well documented. Jim Voltz' aunt who compiled the original family history, was adamant that Charity Boyles was the wife of Alexander, Sr. Admittedly, a relative that lives to be 102 will stick in family history. There is an older woman living with Alexander Jr., recorded in the 1820 census; this may be Charity. - Ms. Magrath says Charity Armstrong Boyles came from Germany. Per Jim Voltz, Charity was from Ireland, but often went on religious pilgrimages to mainland Europe, and some of her children were born in Germany. (As an aside, Mannheim, Germany, was a stronghold of protestant refugees from other European countries. We don't know where in Germany Charity Armstrong Boyle visited, but Mannheim might be one possibility).
- Ms. Magrath names the children of Charity Armstrong Boyles to be Jacob (born in Germany), Peter, David & Betsey. Per Jim Voltz, there is a possible brother of her husband, Simon Henry Boyle, who had children with similar names and born in the same time period. That Magrath is confused about the Cherry Valley issue, and didn't know when Charity died or with whom she lived, suggests that her focus is primarily on the McCune family, the Boyles who intermarried with McCunes, and the Boyles who moved west to Illinois. While two of the names she lists as children of Charity (David, Betsey) correspond with David & Elizabeth cited in other sources, it is possible that Jacob & Peter whom she names as Charity's children may actually be nephews. On the other hand, source John Jordan says Alexander (& therefore Charity) had 7 children but only 5 are named by Jordan; perhaps Jacob and Peter are the other two.
- Per Voltz: In the Magrath source, there is apparently a mistake with the record of Betsey, daughter of Charity Armstrong Boyles. First, the same wedding date and birth date is listed for both wives of Samuel McCune (pg. 13). Secondly, if Betsey is indeed a child of Charity's, Betsey would need to have been a good 15 years older than her husband Samuel. Betsey & Samuel's oldest child was born about 1791. Samuel, b. 1772, was age 19 in 1791. If Betsey were about the same age, and born around 1791 also, her mother Charity would seem to have been beyond childbearing years.. Charity died in 1827 at age 102, thus her birth date would be 1725. She would be 66 in 1791.
Westward Migration
- Magrath has it that Charity Armstrong Boyles' children David, Betsey, Jacob & Peter settled in Athens Co. Ohio. Per Voltz, the Boyles who went to Ohio did so around 1795-98.
- Per Voltz: the Boyle descendants who went west are quite famous in Ohio, being some of the first to settle near Athens, and are listed on the Athens website as such. But - names of the children of Charity Armstrong Boyles needs research/documentation to distinguish children from nephews.
- The Genealogy of Western PA (Jordan) says John Boyle Jr. died in Bennington KS. This is believed to be an error. His son James died in Kansas. John, Jr.'s widow, Jane Cratty, was still living in Prospect, Butler Co. PA in 1900.
Connecting the children of Francis Boyle: the Links to Ogle Co. IL.
- Per Stephanie Boyle-Berrier: Alexander Boyle & wife Ruth migrated to Ogle Co., IL, as did their sons Ross, Alexander H. (to Rochelle, Dement Twp.), James, and David. (Son William died young).
- Per Voltz: David Boyle, son of John Boyle, lived in Rochelle, & married there to Martha Boyle, sister of James Boyle.
- Dr. J. C. Boyle of Rochelle, a "relative" of David Boyle per his obit., is the great-grandfather of Jim Voltz, contributor to this web page.
- Mary Boyle, daughter of John Boyle, Jr. & wife Jane Cratty, was taken to Rochelle, Illinois for burial. She had been living in Worth Twp., Butler Co. with her sister Elizabeth.
Notes on the Relationship of Martha Boyle & spouse David Boyle (son of John Boyle & 2nd wife Sarah)
- Per the 1917 obituary of David Boyle, he married "Martha Boyle, a sister of James Boyle of Rochelle in 1869".
- Per the website of Stephanie Boyle-Berrier: siblings Martha Boyle and James Boyle were children of Ross Boyle (& thus grandchildren of Alexander Boyle (II)); Martha lived in Rochelle, and married "distant relative" David Boyle.
- Per Jim Voltz: the two Boyle's who married each other were second cousins. David (b. 1840) was the son of John Boyle Jr. (b. 1811) and Jane Cratty. (His mother's maiden name (Cratty)is provided in his brother's obituary.) John Jr. was the oldest son of John Boyle & Martha Boyd. (Line of descent: Alexander Boyle> Francis Boyle> John Boyle> John Boyle Jr.> David Boyle.) David Boyle's wife, Martha Boyle, was the daughter of Ross Boyle and Margaret Garvin. Her mother's maiden name (Garvin) came from Craig Rice's research & agrees with census data. Ross Boyle was the son of Alexander Boyle (II) and Ruth Hopkins. Ruth's maiden name (Hopkins) came from Craig Rice also; census data backs up her first name. (Line of descent: Alexander Boyle> Francis Boyle> Alexander Boyle> Ross Boyle> Martha Boyle.) Thus David and Martha were second cousins, the children of first cousins.
An Educated Family
- Per Jordan, Francis Boyle received a good education and was a teacher in Ireland before coming to America.
- John Boyle (son of Francis Boyle)was, per Jordan, the "best educated man in Butler County.
- The 1800 census lists a John Boyles as school teacher in Beaver Co. PA
- Stephanie Boyle-Berrier says that Alexander Boyle (son of Francis Boyle), born 1788, was educated at Univ. of Edenburg, Scotland. ( Perhaps he stayed behind to complete schooling before coming to America. He seems to be living with his father Francis in 1810, in Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. PA. He was naturalized in 1819, and per Boyle-Berrier, moved to Allegheny City in 1820.
Conjecture
- Jim Voltz (Contributors) has data that suggests the name of Martha Boyd's father was Robert Boyd, married to a Thornton. However, the name "Robert" is not seen again among the children of a family given heavily to name repetition. The name "Thomas", for example, is found in several generations down to present time. Martha Boyd's first son was John Boyle Jr., second son was Thomas Boyd Boyle. John Boyle Jr. had 5 sons, the first being Thomas Boyle. Nancy Boyle Stoughton's first son was Thomas Jefferson Stoughton.
Martha Boyle Atwell didn't have a son Thomas, but did name the 2nd son John Boyd Atwell. This leads to the thought that the father of Martha Boyd may possibly be a Thomas Boyd, or perhaps Thomas Jefferson Boyd (rather than Robert Boyd).
Research
- The family of a Robert Boyd is found in proximity to the Boyd/Boyle families of Worth & Slippery Rock Twps., Butler Co. PA One Joseph Thornton mentions Robert Boyd in his will, and a daughter Martha Boyd. The wording in transcription is unclear as to whether Thornton is referring to Martha as a daughter of Robert Boyd, or Martha as his own daughter. If the former, it would suggest that Robert Boyd were the father of the Martha Boyd, wife of John Boyle, this page.
- Thomas Boyd Boyle, born about 1813, is reported variously as being in Jacksville, Worth Twp., Butler Co. PA, or Middlesex Twp. Butler Co. PA, or Beaver Co. (a teacher). These census & etc. data are not confirmed to be regarding the same individual.
- Descendants of a Robert Boyd of Beaver Co. live near the Boyle family in later census.
- There is an 1800 federal census record for a Francis Boyle family in Augusta Twp, Northumberland Co, PA, page 2. Census page is not dated.
Family headed by Francis Boyle: 1 male 0-10, 2 males 16-25, 1 female 16-25.
(Ancestry.com indexes this entry as Frances Bowls. A stamped number over the line possibly confused the indexer.) This Francis Boyle (age 16-25) is not the correct age (about 40 yrs)to be Francis, father of John Boyle.
