A note before you begin the journey By Maureen Francis Doyle
H
ave you ever wondered how writers of historical fiction choose their subjects? Or why they were inspired by a particular project? My father, Jim died in 1998. On his deathbed, he asked me to find his long-lost brother, John. I found him, but unfortunately, he had died one year prior. My father and his brother grew up in an orphanage in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1900s. We grew up knowing virtually nothing about his side of the family and he rarely shared his memories. Once I found my father’s brother, I became compelled to find the other family members. It took fifteen years of phone calls, writing letters and doing continual research, but one by one, they seemed to come forward just as if they wanted their memories preserved and their voices heard. The Ontario Genealogical Society, St. Anthony of Padua and Church of the Assumption were instrumental in providing cemetery records and other historical documents.
John Doyle, my great grandfather was born in 1821 in County Wicklow, Ireland. The Great Potato Famine drove John and family out of Ireland like so many in 1847. They survived the horrors of traveling steerage on a coffin ship and quarantine in Gross Ile, Quebec. But regardless of his setbacks and obstacles, he arrived safely in the Centreville area. John married Ann Elizabeth Latimer in the Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Centreville. They had four children before her untimely death in 1871. A short time after Eliza died, John married Catherine Garrett from Sheffield, and together they had nine children, the oldest boy my grandfather, James. John built a long cabin when he first arrived in Canada. Years later, he built a large farmhouse on the same foundation which still stands today on Dewey Road in Camden East. Patrick and Peter Murphy built a saloon and general store in Stoco in the late 1800s that was later sold to William Keilty. My grandfather, James was considered a prizefighter in Erinsville and surrounding areas. When the saloon was having problems with a gang of boys named the Sinclair’s from Tweed, Mr. Keilty hired my grandfather to safeguard the saloon from bar fights. “Big Jim” took care of the Sinclair’s
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The Keilty Saloon in Stoco. Tim Marlin contributed this picture from his great grandmother, Bridget (Whalen) Mulrooney. Pictured sitting left to right is Leo Mulrooney, Alex Mulrooney and James Doyle. Standing in the back row, Big John Finn (others unknown). single-handedly and peace and order were restored. James left for Windsor in the early 1900’s to work in the steel industry. He married Mary Francis Fox from Sheffield in 1923. Annie, John and Catherine’s only daughter lived at the farm on Dewey Road with her brother Michael until her death in 1975. She bequeathed her personal estate to St. Anthony’s of Padua. In the chancel of the church stands the altar and communion railing that was built in her honor.
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Maureen Doyle lives on Lake Oconee in Georgia with her husband, Ron. A Journey in Time: A Novel can be purchased online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. maureenfrancisdoyle@yahoo.com www.maureenfrancisdoyle.com
Mary Ellen Garrett, Catherine’s niece and Annie’s best friend, married Joseph Patrick Cavanaugh in 1913. They both attended Newburgh Academy and prior to her marriage, Mary Ellen was a teacher at the Academy. The Doyle’s were photographed many times by F. S. Richardson. I inquired about this photographer at Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives. Richardson was born in England and was an early pioneer in the field of photography. He opened an ambrotype gallery over Grange’s Drug Store at John and Dundas Streets in Napanee and died in 1913. I found the courage and determination of John Doyle and family to be extraordinary. Inspired by my newly discovered ancestors, I wrote about their experience from Ireland to Canada in my novel, A Journey in Time. I believe I have given a voice to their indwelling spirits to tell their story since my father never
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READING Carolyn Smart & Anne-Marie Turza
could. With a few exceptions, many of the characters are fictional and their actions are based on events that may or may not have happened. However, the major narrative arc is based in fact and historical truth. I hope this story of John Doyle will inspire and delight you.
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