History of George Boyle

George Boyle was born 5 Sep 1804 in Duppal Kirkoswald, Ayre, Scotland. He was the son of Neil and Mary Boyle. When he was a young boy about 12 years, hes father apprenticed him out to learn the shoe making trade.

On March 8, 1829, George married Mary McDougall. She was born 21 Aug 1801 at Givan, Ayre, Scotland. Her parents wer Andrew and Jane Yerle McDougal.

The 1851 census of Kilmarnoch, Kirkoswald, Scotland gives George Boyle, head of family, married, 46 years old, occupation-shoe maker. Mary Boyle wife, age 43. Mary Boyle daughter, 16, trener wollen factory. Janet Boyle daughter, 13, scholar. Margaret Boyle daughter, 11, scholar. Elizabeth Boyle daughter, 8, scholar. George Boyle, 5, and Andrew Boyle, 2. (The oldest daughter Jean must have been married and moved from her father's home).

We find that on 20 December 1839, Mormon Elders, Samual Mulliner and Alexander Wright arrived in Glasgo, Scotland to expound to the people of that country the truths of the ever-lasting gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They labored among the honest in heart and baptized some 80 souls. In May 1840, Apostle Orson Pratt arrived in Scotland and organized a branch of the Church. From that time on, missionaries continued to labor in Scotland. George and Mary Boyle were among the honest in heart and had the blodd of Israel in their veings and when they heard of this new religion, they recognized the truths and were converted. George was baptized 21 April 1844 and Mary on 20 Oct 1845.

The missionaries from America were encouraging the newly converted saints to emigrate to Utah to strengthen the Church in the valleys of the mountains. However, it was early in 1864 when the Boyle famikly had enough money to emigrate.

A search of the Kilmarnock Branch records of the LDS Church give the information that George Boyle and family left the Branch in Scotland on May 19, 1864. Gleaning from the material at hand, your writer has come to the conclusion that the family spoken of was Margaret, Elizabeth and Andrew. I think that Jean, Mary and Janet remained in England and that George died in England.

On Sat, May 21, 1864, the ship "General McClellan" sailed from Liverpool England. George Boyle and his family were among the 802 saints on board, under the direction of Thomas R. Jeremy, with George Bull and George C. Bywater as his assistans. They were 32 days on the ocean and had a good voyage. This ship docked at New York harber on June 23, 1864, and the company arrived at Wyoming, Nebraska on July 4, about sundown. On July 15, they left Wyoming, Nebraska in the Joseph S. Rawlins Company of 400 souls, with 50 wagons. This company made very good progress. In a telegram sent to Brigham Young from the Sweetwater, under the date of Sep 1, 1864, it is learned that the train was in fine conditions, traveling alright and doing well. From another telegram sent from the Little Sandy, Sep 9, it was stated that the train was still in good condition, company well and cattle traveling well. The company arrived in Salt Laek City, Sep 20.

George wasn't called to go to settle out-lying areas as so many were, but was priveleged to remain in Salt Lake City and make his home. President Brigham Young was pleased to have another good shoemaker in the city, a trade that George worked at the remainder of his days, making shoes for Pres. Young's family and others.

However, George did not live too long after establishing his home there. He passed away Oct 1871. His good wife, Mary McDougall Boyle lived on, a widow for nearly 20 years, passing away March 5, 1891.

(History written by Edna McNeil Batty, Great-granddaughter)

HISTORY OF ANDREW MCDOUGAL BOYLE

Information furnished by a granddaughter, Edna Batty. Also excerpts taken from Carter's books. History arranged for Enda by Nora Lund- Historian.

My grandfather, Andrew Boyle, was born Jan 24, 1848, in Kilmarnoch, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents were George and Mary McDougall Boyle. He and his younger brother, George, were the only boys in the family. His older sisters were: Jean, Mary, Janet, Margaret and Elizabeth.

Grandfather was born into a mormon family; his father had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 21, 1844, and his mother on October 20, 1845. He was baptized on May 22, 1862.

We don't kow anything about his early life in Scotland but he did attend school because he had a good education. His father was a shoe maker by trade and made a good living for his family.

When grandpa was 16 years old he had the great adventure of crossing the Atlantic Ocean with his family on the big sailing ship the 'General McClelland'. There were between 800 and 900 passengers on board. Thomas E. Jeremy, a missionary to Wales who was returning home, was the leader in charge of this large group of Mormons. Elder Jeremy was assisted by Counselors, Elder Joseph Bull and George C. Bywater. This ship left Liverpool, England, on Saturday, May 21, 1864 and landed at New York on June 23. The saints were assisted by the Church Immigration agents in boarding the trains which took them to Wyoming and Nebraska. They arrived there July 3.

Wyoming, a village seven miles north of Nebraska City, Nebraska, had been selected as the outfitting place for the emigrants crossing the plains at that time. About 170 Church teams were sent from Utah to the Missouri River in 1864 to help the emigrants on to Utah.

Grandpa Andrew and his family were assigned to the Joseph S. Rawlins' train of 400 souls, with 50 wagons. They started on their journey on July 15 and arrived Tues, Sept 20, 1864, after a fairly good trip. While crossing, grandpa soon got the hang of handling the oxen and was a great help to the teamsters.

Being a shoe maker by trade, great grandfather soon set up shop and made and repaired shoes for the family of President Brigham Young as well as others. Grandfather worked as a stone mason, a trade he had been apprenticed to in Scotland. He also continued his education at the local schools until his father died in Oct. 1871. He helped to support his widowed mother, as his sisters had married and had homes of their own by this time.

When grandfather was 27 years old, on April 22, 1875, he married Margaret Young, who was 21 years of age. The family group sheet or family information says that they were married in Richfield. Grandma was born April 4, 1854 in Kirkintillock, Dunbarton, Scotland, to Archibald Miller Young and Mary Graham Young. The Young family emigrated to America in 1872 and went to Richfield to settle. Their marriage was later solomenized in the Salt Lake Endowment House. Grandfather had received his endowments on May 26, 1866, according to the group sheet.

Grandpa was a stonemason by trade and built many of the stone residences that were popular in the early days. He took an active part in the construction of the Salt Lake Temple, also the government buildings at Fort Douglas and other buildings around the city.

In his early years in Utah, he had employment on the Weber grade of the Union Pacific Railroad System. The shovel which he used was displayed for many years in the Deseret Museum on the Temple block.

Grandpa and grandma's first child, Mary McDougall Boyle, was born on Jan. 8, 1876, in Salt Lake City. (She later married Finallay John McNeil and they became my parents.)

From here on we will follow the life of grandma and grandpa by the birthplace and dates of their children.

In the fall of 1876 they went to Richfield, Sevier County, to live to be near her folks. Their 2nd child, Margaret, was born there in 1877, also Joseph and Jennette in 1879, Marion Mitchell in 1882 and Mable Taylor in 1884.

Grandpa farmed in Richfield and worked at his stonemason trade.

I don't know why they spent a couple of years or so at Niels Station in Millard County. I suppose he had employment there. It was at Niels Station that their next two children were born: George David in September 1886 and Annie Swenson in August 1888. By January 1890 they were back in Richfield where Andrew Robert was born.

Then we follow them to Provo where James Sterling was born February 14, 1892. They didn't stay long in Provo because we find them making their home in Salt Lake City in April of 1894 where Ruth was born and died the same day. How fortunate, out of their large family of eleven children, this child Ruth, was the only one who did not grow to maturity and marry. Theirr last child, Royden Archibald, was born in Salt Lake City July 18, 1898.

I remember grandpa as rather a small man of medium weight. I have heard that he had quite a bad temper which he didn't control very well. In fact, he suffered for many years because of this very thing. The story goes that one time when he was living at Richfield he was away from home working. The weather was so extremely cold that he got his hand frozen. He became so angry and I guess it hurt so badly, that he took his small ax or hatchet, and deliberately cut off his fingers. Then he was in serious trouble and could hardly get to town to a doctor soon enough to keep from bleeding to death. He suffered another afflication in his later life which caused him much discomfort. He had some kind of an operation which injured his spine causing him to be partially paralyzed from his waist down. He couldn't walk on his legs so he got around by crawling on his knees. In spite of all this, he was a jolly fellow and had a witty personality. He loved his grandchildren and had lots of patience with them.

He lived the gospel principles and attended church before he became crippled. Grandpa died on Jan 23, 1930 at his home on 464 Hazel Street in the 9th Ward. He was survived by his wife and 4 sons and 4 daughters and 45 grandchildren. He was 82 years old when he died. Grandma was 76 years old when he died but she lived on until July 12, 1952, when she died at the age of 97.

Mary Graham Young

Mary Graham is the mother of Margaret Graham Young, wife to Andrew McDougal Boyle
Mary Graham was born 4 April 1830 to James Graham and Jeanette Dickson in Gladskow, Lanark, Scotland. Both of her parent died while she was still young. When she was fourteen, her family had moved to Kirkintilloch, Scotland. Her mother had already passed away and her father was on his deathbed, when an Elder of the LDS church knocked on the door. He left behind a tract, and after reading it, James told Mary, “Mary, my girl, that is true. I believe that. I believe that young man has come with the true Gospel. I won't be able to remain long with you, but you look for the true Gospel described in this tract, and if ever you find it, you can safely embrace it."

When her father died, Mary became and orphan and began work as a servant for the Allen family. When they found out she was investigating the Mormon church, they became angry. Her association with the Mormons was affecting their business because people thought they were sympathetic to Mormons. They decided that something needed to be done, so they gave her an ultimatum. One dark and rainy night, Mr. Allen told her to either denounce Mormonism or leave.

This was a tough decision for Mary because she cared for the family and wanted to stay. She knew Mormonism was true and refused to denounce it. “I would be falsifying," she replied, "if I said it was not true. My father told me it was true when he was on his death bed. And I know it is true for myself." So out she went into the night with only one shilling in her pocket.
She took that one shilling and went to the owner of the Town Hall, who was a friend of her father. She asked to rent the hall as a place for the elders to preach. Although the shilling wasn’t enough to rent the hall, the man agreed because of his admiration for her father. When the elders discovered her situation, they gave her a blessing, promising she would never want.
Her courage left a lasting impression on the Allen family. They couldn’t believe she would sacrifice all she had for this religion. Mr. Allen said, "I cannot help but feel that there is something more to Mormonism than we understand; it cannot be just a man-made religion." He and his family investigated, joined the Church and immigrated to Utah.

When Mary was 21, she met a young man named Archibald M. Young. He had never joined any religion. She shared the gospel with him and he soon was baptized. Although he was of a higher class, they got married and eventually had 13 children, all born in Scotland.

While still in Scotland, Mary worked as a weaver of curtains and fine laces. They had a home on Union Street in Kirkintilloch, which was a street of weavers. The family lived on the first floor, and Mary weaved on the second.

In 1872, the family immigrated to Utah. When they arrived in Salt Lake City, they were greeted by the Allen family. This was her first contact with them after leaving their house. They took the Young’s into their home and fed them a wonderful banquet. Mary couldn’t help but compare their behavior to that the night she left their house. She marveled at their change in attitude.
The family soon moved from Salt Lake City to Ritchfield because of the United Order. Because her husband was so busy, she took it upon herself to build their house. The children helped make bricks and gather willows for the roof.

Mary was of a more serious nature than her husband, was very ambitious, and had a mind of her own. She often took on extra jobs to make money for the children’s clothes and for other supplies, often against the will of her husband.

When she heard that a Brother Hansen was looking for someone to drive a team to Salt Lake City, she took the job. Her husband was very much opposed, but she did it anyway. She stayed there for about six weeks to earn money for the children’s clothes.

When the Indian War had just ended, Mary received a call from some Indians in search for sugar, flour and meat. She gave them what she could spare, but they demanded more. She insisted she couldn’t because she had children to feed, but they didn’t care and reached for the sack. She took the homemade mop in her hand and laid it down on the Indians back. They hastily left.

One day her husband came home to tell her that the Brethren of the Church had been discussing polygamy with him. She said, “If you want to take another wife, you may take your wife and go.” She then replied, “You can have as many sealed to you as you like. I’m not so afraid of the dead ones.” That was the last of their talk of polygamy.

After Archibald died in 1895, their daughter Elizabeth and her husband moved in with Mary. Eventually they decided to move to Idaho and their house in Ritchfield was sold. She then moved in with her daughter Bell until her death.

Shortly before her death, she called her children together and told them of the blessing the Elders had given her as a young girl in Scotland. She told them, "You may never be asked to give all that you have for the Gospel's sake, but if you are, give it. I would like you to be as liberal with the Lord as he has been to you. I am eighty years of age and I have never wanted. That blessing has been fully realized. So I leave this with you children, that even if it takes the last cent you have for the Church, it is the finest thing you can ever do."

Her example and testimony left a lasting impression on her children and grandchildren. She died on 15 May 1911 of natural causes. She was 81 years old.

(This biography is a compilation of interviews with her children Robert D. Young and Isabell Young Oveson.)

Archibald Miller Young Jr.

Archibald Miller Young is the father of Margaret Graham Young, married to Andrew McDougal Boyle.

Archibald Miller Young was born on 10 August 1822 to Archibald Miller Young Sr. and Catherine McKillop in Kirkintilloch, Dumbartonshire, Scotland. He never knew his father, as he died before Archibald was born. The Young and McKillop families were well to do in Scotland. Being raised in a higher class, Archibald’s family was shocked to discover he planned to marry Mary Graham, a servant girl. Mary was responsible for bringing the gospel to Archibald and his family. They were married around 1851, according to some accounts. This doesn’t add up because they had a daughter, Ann, born 24 July 1847. They had thirteen children, all born in Scotland.

When in Scotland, Archibald kept a barbershop and possibly a store, as his sons remember making deliveries for him. Mary Graham was a weaver of curtains and fine laces.

All of their children except Ann immigrated to the United States in November 1873. When she was about 10 years old, Ann had been working for another family in Scotland, and that family loved her and wanted to keep her. When the Young’s refused to give her up, the family she was working for slipped away and took her with them. She was never heard from again.

After Archibald joined the church, some of his family was upset, and tried to convince him otherwise. He received a letter from his Aunt, offering him a large sum of money if he would give up the money. He refused and took his family to Utah. His sister, Mary, claimed the sum of money, reporting that he had died. She came to Salt Lake City with her husband, but soon left the church.

When Archibald and his family moved to Utah, they first lived in Salt Lake City on the block where the Governor’s Mansion and the Dayne’s estate was located. They left Salt Lake in August 1874 and moved to Richfield and joined the United Order. Archibald was away from home a lot because he cared for the sheep as part of the Order. Archibald said of the United Order, “It showed me how a man could love his neighbor as his self. I was glad for it.”
Archibald was a faithful member of the church. He was honest in his dealings, served as a Sunday School missionary, and paid his tithing. One day he came home to tell his wife “the brethren think I should go into polygamy.” His wife replied, “If you want to take another wife, you may take your wife and go.” She then said, “You can have as many sealed to you as you like. I’m not so afraid of the dead ones.” That was the last talk of polygamy.

Archibald was of a less serious nature, never out of patience, and positive in his decisions. He was not anxious for money, loved people (especially youth and children) and enjoyed a good joke.

One night a group of young people had gathered at his home. They began to sing and Archibald said he would give them $5 if they would sing until he told them to stop. They accepted the challenge and began to sing. Well past midnight, they were still singing and his wife ask him to tell them to stop so they could go to sleep. He said, “I’ve no got $5 to pay ‘em. “ She said, “Ah, ya big feel.” Archibald continued to encourage them. “You’re doin’ weel.” Finally, at three o’clock in the morning the boys realized he had no intentions of telling them to stop, so they left.

When Archibald’s son, Archibald Graham Young, left on a mission, Archibald told his daughters he had a strong impression that he would not be here when his son got home. A year later he caught pneumonia. He died 5 February 1896 at 73 years old. He is buried in the Ritchfield Cemetery, plot: A.08.14.01.

James Sterling and Ethel Shields Boyle

George Boyle

After spending the last couple of months researching family history, I have found numerous blogs and websites about the Hanks family, on my mom's side, but little information about the Boyle's. I decided to start this blog so that we can begin to gather information for the Boyle's.

George Boyle (1804-1871; pictured) immigrated from Scotland to Salt Lake City on 19 May 1864. He came across the plains in the Joseph S. Rawlins Co. in 1864 with his wife and at least four of his children. He was sa shoemaker in Scotland. Little is known about his father, Neil Boyle. Hopefully this blog will help other family members learn about their ancestry.