Actually, we still don't know much about the origin of James Doyle. He is Irish according to the census records but some sources have said he came from County Cork and another said that he came from Limerick, Ireland.

"The story that she heard was that the three Doyle brothers came from Limerick County, Ireland and worked on the building of the train from Norfolk to Bristol. James Jackson Doyle worked for Preston in Seven Mile Ford as a gardner after he came to America about 1842". [interview with Dorothy Hitchings of Roanoke, VA in 1995, a relative of the Doyle & Grubb family]

Since this interview we have received information that says that they came from County Kerry, Ireland.  [George and Kelly Stevens  email 5/28/2008]

Although there are perhaps hundreds of Doyles, only so many of these fit the profile of our James Doyle because of his age. The James Doyle that we have identified as the closest fit came to the port of Philadelphia on the ship Saranak on 30 May, 1849. He may have come, possibly, from Limerick Co., Ireland with a possible brother or cousin Martin Doyle also on the same boat. [ship manifests of Phil., National Archives, WA, DC]

The ship Saranak was found on an earlier trip came from Liverpool. Cork would certainly be an easier port to make than Limerick but they could still have come from Limerick and gone overland to catch a boat from Cork. Historically the Doyles are centered in Leinster, Wexford, Wicklow and Carlow according to the [Clans and Families of Ireland]. [Clans and Families of Irelandp. 104]

James apparently had previously received the trade as a gardner while in Ireland and worked for a "Lady Massie".
"James William did not come directly to Smyth County. He peeled potatoes in New York. and very likely was in Washington County Virginia before coming to work for the Prestons of Seven Mile Ford.

This piece was written about the Prestons of Seven Mile Ford in Smyth County may give some clue about the relationship that they must have had. 

       "Rev. W. V. Wilson conducted services in an outbuilding on Capt. John M. Preston's place at Seven Mile Ford.  A church was built on land donated by Captain Preston and dedicated on July 4, 1880.  The first elders of the Seven Mile Ford Church were Capt. John M. Preston, Capt. C. H. C. Preston, and William Alexander.  The first deacons were Robert Humphrey and John A. Copenhaver.  Among the minsters who served as supply for the church are: D. E. Frierson, W. H. Groves, and F. E. Eversole.  Pastors have been I. O. Sullivan, F. T. McFaden, C. D. Waller, J. McD. A. Lacy, M. M. McFerren, J. M. Sedgewick, G. A. Wilson, Jr., and John H. Grey.

       Capt. John M. Preston, one of the first and for years the sole elder of the Seven Mile Church, was a lovable and beautiful character whose life was a benedition to his community.  Mrs. Preston's Christian service, especially in teaching the children of the community, is a far-reaching influence.  Captain Preston's funeral was conducted in the little church he loved and served so well, on Sept., 29, 1928, his body was laid to rest in the historic Preston graveyard in the ninetieth year of his age.  His son, John M. Preston, III, and Gilbert McCormack, grandson of John A. Copenhaver, of the first deacons, are now elders."   [Wilson pp. 126-127]

1850- We have not been able to find James Doyle in Virginia to this date.

James Doyle is said to have worked on the construction of a railroad from Norfork,Virginia to Bristol, Tennessee shortly after his arrival. Since the railroad ended in Bristol this is where they made their home. The railroad didn't get to Chilhowie, Virginia until 1853 which does not necessarily prove the story.

1855, Sep 19 - "James Dile" marries "Mary Ann Bishop". He is listed as 25 years old and she is listed as 25 years old. He gives his parents as "William and Mary" and her parents are listed as "Mary Ann Bishop" "father un-none". In a note on the back of the marriage license states

September 17, 1855
I authorize that James Dile to get a license between me and him
teste Elmiera Parline(her mark) Bishop
Andrew E. Love

1860- Smyth County, VA US Census has James Doyle listed

Doyle, James     35 m     Ditcher      Ireland
Caroline E.          27f                       Virginia
Margaret J.         8 f     "
James J.            3m    "
Sarah F.             4/12    "
(none of the children attended school within the last year, they have no real estate value or personal estate value)
[US census, 1860, Smyth County, VA p. 971]

Line 139- Sarah F. Dial, female born alive, South Fork, VA., father James Dial, mother Caroline

Line 15 - Eunice F. Doyle, female, born alive, South Fork, VA, father James Doyle (gardner), mother Caroline

James Doyle       50m        Gardener                         Ireland
Elmira                 37f          Keeping House              Virginia
Margaret J.         18f          at home                            Virginia
James J.               13 m            "                                   attended sch. / can read/ can't write
Sarah F.               10 f              "                                   attended sch. / can read/ can't write
Elmira C. V.         9 f              "
Mary E. S.            7 f              "
Andrew C.            4 m            "
Eunice M. F.        1 f              "
John                   ?m.      
[US Census, Smyth Co., Marion Twp. p. ?38/?36]

1880 - James Doyle is still living in Marion Township, Smyth County, Virginia. He seems to be living next door to a niece or his daughter with two children and his son James with a wife and daughter.

Doyle, James                   w m 60                Gardener                    Ireland      Ireland      Ireland
      "     Caroline              w f 45 wife          keeping house          Virginia    Virginia   Virginia
      "     Andy C.               w m 13 son                                             Virginia    Ireland     Virginia
      "     Eunice                  w f 11 dau                                              Virginia    Ireland     Virginia
      "     John                      m f 7 son                                                Virginia    Ireland     Virginia
       "     Clint(?Chas) N.  m f 4 son                                                Virginia    Ireland     Virginia

Doyle, Jane                      w  f   28                sewing                      Virginia Virginia Virginia
   "        Willis                   w m    6 son                                            Virginia Virginia Virginia
    "       Jessica                  w m   4 dau                                            Virginia Virginia Virginia

Doyle, James                    w  m  21              Farm Laborer                 Virginia Ireland Ireland
"           Clementine          w   f   23              wife keeping house      Virginia
Walton, Nancy                 w   f   65              mother keeping house Virginia

(The mother listed for James Doyle, Jr., is probably his wife's mother.)
[US Census,1880 #1390 Marion Twp. Smyth, Vol. 30, ED 82, sheet 8 .]

1880 - US Census, Marion Twp., Smyth Co., VA. page 32c (this is Elmiera C. V. Doyle, just married)

Peter Phipps	self m	mar	w	27	VA
Kate Phipps	wife	f	mar	w	17	VA

At some point in his career, according to a family story, James Doyle had planned a trip to Ireland. He asked Mr. Preston while planting pototoes, "Who will help you plant your potatoes next year when I've gone back to Ireland?"
Preston replied, "Jimmy, you're not going back to Ireland."
"Yes, I am, too."
"No, you're not. I'm not going to let you have the money to go... " and James Doyle never went back. [Records of Joy King, 5 Mar 2002]

1887- December, James Doyle Sr. dies in Smyth County, Virginia. James Doyle's Death Certificate gives the following information.

He was a white male who died December 1887 (age 62) of pneumonia. His parents were W. and Mary Doyle. James was born in Ireland and was a gardner. The information was given by his consort E. C. Doyle (widow). [records of Joy King]

1898, Nov. 26, - James Jackson marries for the second time.  This record seems misplaced.  He shows up as widowed in 1900 and with a wife Mollie in the 1910 census.

James J. Doyle (42) marries to Mollie Fortner (36),
his parents were Jas Doyle and her parents was John
married by J. A. Blassins [Smyth Co., VA marriage records, page 111, #2]

John C. Doyle (23) marries to Anna Burchall (22)
His parents were Jas and Caroline , her parents were John and Lydia Burchall
They were married by J. J. Schunas [Smyth Co., VA marriage records, page 99, #91]

Doyle, James 		head  	w m Mar 1858 	(42 years old widow)  Virginia   Ireland   Virginia
	Charles 	son 	w m Jan 1882   	18yrs                 Virginia   Virginai  Virginia
	Mittie S. 	dau  	w f Oct 1883   	17yrs                 Virginia   Virginai  Virginia
        Nannie 		dau 	w f Oct 1886	14yrs                 Virginia   Virginai  Virginia
        James B. 	son 	w m Jul 1887  	12yrs                 Virginia   Virginai  Virginia
        John C. 	son 	w m Jul 1890 	9yrs                  Virginia   Virginai  Virginia
        Floyd  		son 	w m Jun 1894  	5yrs                  Virginia   Virginai  Virginia
        Margaret J. 	dau 	w f May 1896  	4yrs                  Virginia   Virginai  Virginia

On this same estate working as a carpenter is William Nicols Grubb. A. C. Beatie, the mayor of Chilhowie, VA visited James Doyle and looked at the bible record in 1942. This document was needed to provide a birth certificate for Henry Cochran Grubb at age 53 "to qualify for a new defence job." It is a hand written note about 8.5 x 5.5" apparently completely by A. C. Beatie.

From the Office of the Mayor
Town of Chilhowie

I A. C. Beatie 77 years old, Mayor of town on Chilhowie VA Do certify on 1st day of April 1942, Went to the Home of John Doyle 7 Mile Ford VA & Examined the holy Bible printed by American Bible Society 1853. Found the Family Record of William Nichols Grubb and Dolly Freelove Doyle. The exact wording "H. C. Grubb was born Aug 26, 1889. I was well acquainted with this family. They lived on my father farm between 1890 & 1897. A. C. Beatey Chillhowie VA

I Notary Public of County of Smyth State of Virginia


Place $1.00 & self addressed stamped Letter by Richmond
I find this paper is not nescessary I make no charges
[affidavit of A. C. Beatie, 1942]

1910 - US census, [Seven Mile Ford Precinct, Smyth Co., VA p. 57]. Here is the Peter and Elmire Doyle Phipps, dau of James Doyle. He is living next door to John M. Preston, age 71 with his wife, Mary, age 69. Also in the household is her brother Andrew C. Doyle.

        (name)                                     (age)                                      (born)     (father b.)   (mother b.)
Phipps, Peter               head              m W 58  (married 31yrs)                Virg.        Virg.           Virg.
"           Elmira              wife               m W 45 (married 31yrs)                Virg.        Ireland        Virg.
"           Anna H.            dau.               f  W 13          single                         Virg.        Virg            Virg.
Doyle, Andrew C     brotherinlaw    mw43           single                         Virg.        Ireland        Virg.

ED dist, 82, Sheet 7, line 91 (James wife has had 6 children all living)
Doyle, James        head        m     w  55     mar #2 10yrs           Virginia       Ireland       Virginia             farm laborer/ working gard.
        Mollie           wife          f      w  45      mar #1 10yrs          N. Caro.       Virginia      N. Caro.
         James             son         m     w  20 s                                     Virginia      Virginia      N. Caro.
         Floyd             son         m      w 13 s                                    Virginia      Virginia      N. Caro.
         Margaret       dau          f       w 12 s                                    Virginia      Virginia         N. Caro.
         Elizabeth      dau          f       w 10s                                     Virginia      Virginia      N. Caro.
         Thomas          son         m      w  7 s                                     Virginia      Virginia      N. Caro.
         James             son          m     w  6 s                                     Virginia      Virginia     Virginias
         ?Olivia(Ellen)dau        m     w  4 s                                     Virginia      Virginia      N. Caro.
         Bessie              dau        f       w   3 s                                     Virginia      Virginia      N. Caro.

Doyle, John C.    Head owns   m   w 46 m                      VA      Ireland      VA (son of James)          farming     general farming
         Annie            wife         f   w 48 m                             NC      NC      NC                                  
         Charlie           son         m w 16 s                              VA      VA      NC
         Nonie             dau         f   w 15 s                              VA      VA      NC
         Blanche         dau         f   w 13 s                              VA      VA      NC
         John C. Jr       dau         f   w 11 s                             VA      VA      NC
         Ellen               dau         f   w 9 s                                VA      VA      NC
         Josh                 son         m w 8 s                                VA      VA      NC
         Garland          son          m w 6 s                               VA      VA      NC
         Okie                dau         f  w 3 ll/12 s                       VA      VA      NC
         Arthur              son        m w 1 1/12 s                       VA      VA      NC

"The community of 7 Mile Ford was shocked and grieved to hear that our friend and neighbor, James Jackson Doyle had passed away.
Mr. Doyle was the son of James Doyle of Ireland and Catherine Bishop Doyle of South Fork. The first James Doyle came to this country with the coming of the railroad an emigrant from the County Cork, trained in the famous horticultural gardens of "Lady Massie" and followed his profession here for thirty years, raised a large family and became a man honored and respected throughout the community.
Of this large family James Jackson was the oldest son, inheriting much of his father's ability and love for fruits and flowers.
In early life Mr. Doyle married Clementine Walton. To them were born nine children, of whom the oldest son, living is Capt. James B. of the N. & W., whose sone little Jimmie makes the fourth in line. The other children of this union are John L., Floyd, Mrs. Mittie King(wife of Lomie Hubert King), Mrs. Nannie Boothe (wife of Edwin Harrison Booth), Mrs. Margaret Morton (wife of Rupert Morton).

His second wife was Miss Mollie Fortner. Their children are: Elizabeth, "Bessie," Tom, and Edwin. This large family a numerous connnection and broad circle of friends mourn the passing of this neighborly man. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church of which he had been a member early youth, and the interment in the Phipps cemetery, where he lies beside those of his won who have preceded him to the Promised land.
Mr. Doyl wil be sadly missed in the community. His cherry greeting, his patience under the afflicting ravages of pain, his ability and his devotion to his people endeared him to all."
[Records of Joy King, 5 Mar 2002]

In this obituary is stated that James Doyle, the elder worked on the estate of "Lady Massie" in County Cork, Ireland.  So far we have not found a confirming record of the estate but have found various Massey family members in Cork considerably before James Doyle left for the states.   We are still trying to confirm that this in fact was the county of origin for James Doyle.  

Source:

Return to Cheryl's Family Index | Irish Potato Famine | email to Cheryl Grubb

---

All information and photos included within these pages are here for the express purpose of personal genealogical research and may not be included or used for any commercial purpose or included in any commercial site without the express permission of Cheryl and Elroy Christenson. Copyright Elroy Christenson 1998-2008.

web pages created by Elroy Christenson- echriste@sccd.ctc.edu - last updated 3/05/08