The John Boyle and Mary Clifford Family of South Bend, St Joseph County, Indiana: An Analysis of Their Ancestral Roots in Canada and Ireland and Their Family's Journey to South Bend, Indiana and Beyond
John Boyle and Mary Clifford appear to have been married at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana on May 2, 1867. They were documented in the 1870 and 1880 South Bend, St Joseph County Census and the 1880 St Joseph Church of South Bend Census. Johanna found wife Mary Boyle (Boyl) living with her daughter Leula and husband J W Major) in the South Bend 1900 Census. There is an entry for a John (employed at Singers) and Mary Boyle family living on 119 N St Peter Street, South Bend, Mishawaka, Indiana in the 1916 South Bend, Indiana Census. As the obit obtained by Johanna indicates that Mary Clifford Boyle was brought from Detroit to South Bend in 1916 for burial, I believe this entry is likely John Francis Boyle who was born in Colgate Oklahoma and is of no relation. According to his WWI draft card from South Bend, Indiana, he was married, worked at Singers and lived at 128 N Francis Street in 1917. John (1868) Jeremy Boyle (1876) and Mariam (1880) were baptized in St Joseph Church, and son William died in 1880 (St Joseph Church Burial record). Daughter Margaret Boyle who was born Februray 2, 1871, appears to have married John Holley (both were residents of Detroit, Michigan) in Windsor, Ontario on May 9, 1896. They were residents of Wayne, Detroit, Michigan on 269 Hastings Street when the 1900 US Census was conducted with children Mary and Erland; residents of Detroit, Wayne, Michigan Ward 13 in 1920 with children Helen, John and her nephews Harry, John and Dennis Major. Margaret (Maggie) appears to have died on August 3, 1922 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Her husband, John Holley, a widow is living with daughter Helen and son in law Frank O'Hara in Wayne, Detroit, Michigan, District 176 in 1930.
Other Research Observations: There was a Michael Boyle/Helena Terrel? family that attended St Joseph Church as well. Could this be a brother of John Boyle or some relation. The following is a brief synopsis of the Boyle/Clifford children and their families that we have thus far been able to put together:
- Daniel or Samuel Boyle and Suzie Fleck. Both Johanna and I feel that Daniel and Samuel are one in the same person. There are some discrepancies though such as where was he in the 1870 US census that only showed son John age 2, Dennis 8 months and Sarah Clifford? He should have been 5 at the time. In the 1880 US census he is referred to as 15 yr old Daniel but the same year in the St Joseph Church Census as 15 yr old Samuel. A Samuel Boyle appears to marry a Susan Fleck on July 11, 1910 per the Indiana Marriage Collection. Samuel was said to have been born October 26, 1864. Fleck may be her name from a previous marriage as the family of Samuel E Boyle, Suzie Boyle and Esther Fleck, stepdaughter is living with them in the 1920 Census in Jackson, Michigan. A Michigan Death Certificate from 1921-1952 indicates that a married Samuel E Boyle died June 13, 1921 in Jackson, Jackson, Michigan at the age of 57. He was listed as being born October 26, 1863 in South Bend, Indiana to Jerry Boyle and Mary Clifford (this was a transcription).
- William Boyle born about 1863,1864 died and was buried on January 27, 1881 in South Bend, Indiana
- Margaret Boyle and John Holly. Margaret (aka Maggie) born February 2, 1871 married John Holly on May 9, 1896 in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of John Holly and Sarah McLeod. When the 1900 US Census was conducted, they lived in Detroit Michigan on 269 Hastings Street with their two children Mary and Erland (who were both born in Michigan). In 1910 they were still in Detroit in Ward 5, District 64 with their two children Helen (12) and John (10). In 1920, they were in Detroit, Wayne Michigan in Ward 13 living on Jefferson Avenue with children Helen (21) and John (19) and grandchildren Harry(14), John (12) and Dennis (6) Major (children of John Major and Lulu Boyles). Margaret Boyle Holly died on August 3, 1922 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Their daughter Helen Holly went on to marry Frank O Hara on January 3, 1922. Their other son John Orlan Holley was divorced at the time of his death on March 16, 1930 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.
- Lulu Boyle and John Major. Lulu (Louisa) married John Major in Laporte County, Indiana on April 23, 1898. In 1900 John Major (born September 1877 in Michigan), wife Lulu (born April 1877 in Indiana) were living with daughter Mary born October 1899 and widowed mother Mary "Boyl" at 716 Jefferson Street in Portage Township, South Bend, Indiana. Son's Wiliam Henry (1904) and John Patrick (1905) were baptized in St Joseph Church in South Bend. In 1910 they were living on Sherman Avenue in South Bend with children Marguerite, Harry and John.
Special Kudos to Johanna, an East Coast descendent of this line for sharing some of her extensive detailed research on Mary Clifford's family from Ireland. It would have been a herculean task linking the families without her assistance! According to Johanna, Mary arrived in New York with her parents Denis Clifford and Johanna Diggens from Liverpool on the Andrew Foster on October 22, 1856. Brother Jerry and infant Kate traveled with them, and her father was a Shoemaker. The 1895 obituary she obtained for William Dennis Clifford (Mary's Father) from the South Bend Times yielded big results acknowledging that he was born in County Kerry, Ireland in 1825, first arrived in South Bend in 1857. It further described his employment at Studebaker Manufacturing Company and that he was survived by son Patrick Clifford and daughters Hannah and Mrs Mary Boyle.
The objective of this compilation is to try to establish the earliest possible evidence of this family in the United States through all available resources.
This will most definitely be a work in progress and all findings I speculate on would have to be proven for accuracy with Ireland and U.S. marriage records, church baptismal records and death records among other genealogical resources. Please use this information with that caveat in mind so that nothing is assumed and no stones are left unturned to assure it's your family and the connection is accurate. Please contact me if you feel that you are descended from this family or another South Bend, Indiana Irish Family so that we can share information, see if there were common migration trails followed and delve further back into their origins in Ireland!
| Census, Church or other Record | Date Born, Baptized, Married | Father/ Husband | Mother/ Wife | Child; Other | Occupation; Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana Marriage Record | May 2, 1867 | Boyle, Joannem of South Bend | Clifford, Mariam of South Bend | A. Granger CSC; Pat and Birgitta Quinlan witnesses | |
| IN Marriages 1811-1959 ST Joseph County, IN 1861-1868; Volume 5 | May 2, 1867 Marriage; Certificate Filed on May 3, 1867 | Boyle, John | Clifford, Mary | Alexis Granger Catholic Priest; Family Search.org | |
| Indiana Marriage Collection St Joseph County, IN | May 21, 1867 | Boyle, John | Clifford, Mary | Michael Boyle and Helena Farrel Witnesses | |
| St Joseph Church, South Bend, Indiana Baptismal Record | Born February 7, 1868, Baptized March 1, 1868 | Boyle, Joannis (non Catholic) | Clifford, Maria | Joannem Edwardum | Sponsors Jeremiah? Clifford and Cath Quinn; Letourneau CSC |
| 1870 US Census for the City of South Bend, Portage Township, St Joseph County, Indiana | Census conducted on June 11, 1870 | Boyle, John 28 yr old born in Canada | Boyle, Mary, 23 yr old born in Ireland | Boyle, John 2 born in Indiana | John was a Laborer; Mary- kept house |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Dennis 8/12 born September 1870 in Indiana | |
| " | " | " | " | Clifford, Sarah, 5 born in Indiana | |
| St Joseph Church, South Bend IN baptismal record | August 15, 1876 Birth and August 26, 1876 Baptism | Boyle, Joannes | Clifford, Mary | Boyle, Jeremia | Demers, CSC; Katy Luther and John Luther Sponsors |
| 1880 US Census for Ward 4, South Bend, St Joseph County, IN District 162; St Louis Street | Census Conducted on June 5, 1880 | Boyle, John 40 yr old born in Canada; dad born in Ireland, mom in Scotland | Boyle, Mary 34 yr old wife born in Ireland; parents born in Ireland | Boyle, Daniel, 15 yr old son born in Indiana; dad in Canada, mom in Ireland | John was a Teamster; Daniel worked in a Paper Mill |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Margaret, 9 yr old daughter born in Indiana; dad in Canada, mom in Ireland | Home |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Joseph 8 yr old son born in IN, dad in Canada, mom in Ireland | Home |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, William 7 born in IN, dad in Canada, mom in Ireland | Home |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Lula 5 yr old daughter born in IN, dad in Canada, mom in IR | Home |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Jerry, 3 yr old son born in IN, dad in Canada, mom in IR | Home |
| 1880 St Joseph Church Census, South Bend, IN | 1880 | Boyle, John 39, Prot. | Clifford, Mary 34 | Boyle, Samuel 16 | |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Maggie 9 | |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Joseph 8 | |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, William 6 | |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Hanna 5 | |
| " | " | " | " | Boyle, Jeremia 4 | |
| St Joseph Church, South Bend, IN baptismal record | born September 2, 1880; Baptism October 3, 1880 | Boyle, Joanne, Prot | Clifford, Maria | Boyle, Mariam | Fallize, CSC; Martino? Boyle? and Joannus Talbot Sp |
| St Joseph Church, South Bend, IN burial record | January 27, 1881 Burial | Boyle, Joannis (Prot) | Clifford, Mariae | Boyel, Wilhelmum | born 7 yrs prior |
| Ontario Marriages 1869-1927 for Margaret Boyle | May 9, 1896 Marriage took place at Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada | Holly, John 31 born abt 1865 | Boyle, Margaret age 26 born abt 1870 (probable dtr of John Boyle/Mary Clifford of South Bend | Margaret is the daughter of John Boyle and Mary Clifford; Familysearch.org website; GS Film number 1870711 | |
| Ontario Canada Marriages 1801-1928 | May 9, 1896 Windsor | Holly, John 31 of Detroit, born to John Holly and Sarah McLeod | Boyle, Margaret 26 of Detroit, born in Indiana to John Boyle, Mary Clifford | Witnesses Conrad Raddatz and Elizabeth Smith of Detroit; John Holly - Church of England; Mary R. Catholic; DH Hind married them | |
| Indiana Marriage Collection 1800-1911 | April 23, 1898 Laporte County, Indiana | Major, John | Boyle, Lulu (John Boyle/ Mary Clifford's dtr Lulu) | ||
| 1900 US Census for the City of South Bend, St Joseph County, IN, Portage Twp, District 0126; Address 714 Jefferson Street | Census conducted on June 6, 1900 | Major, JW, Head 22 yr old born September 1877 Michigan, dad born in Canada, mom in PA | Major, Leula, 22 yr old wife born April 1877 IN, dad born in Canada, mom in Ireland; (this is the daughter of John Boyle/Mary Clifford) | Major, Mary, 7/12 yr old daughter born October 1899 in IN, dad born in MI, dad in IN | J W was a Meterman? |
| " | " | " | " | Boyl, Mary, 52 yr old widowed mother born December 1847 in Ireland, dad born in Canada, mom in Ireland | |
| 1900 US Census Wayne, Detroit, Michigan 269 Hastings Street (likely John Holley/Maggie Boyle Family) | Census Conducted June 9, 1900 | Holley, John H 31 born September 1868 in New York, parents born in Germany | Holley, Maggie, 27 born February 1873 in Indiana; parents in Ireland | Holley, Mary 3 born May 1897 in Michigan, dad in New York, mom in IN | John was a Driver |
| " | " | " | " | Holley, Erland (male), 2/12 born March 1900 in Michigan, dad in NY, mom in IN | |
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record for Louisa Major, dtr of John Major and Louis Boyles | February 16, 1904 Birth; Baptism March 6, 1904 | Major, Joanne W | Boyles, Louisa (I believe this is Lulu- dtr of John Boyle/Mary Clifford) | Major, Gulielmum Henricum | Sponsors Patritius Brady and his spouse; P Lauth CSC |
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record for John Patrick, son of John Major and Lulu Boyles | November 27, 1905 Birth and December 24, 1905 Baptism | Major, Joannes Gulielmum | Boyles, Lulu (dtr of John Boyle/Mary Clifford) | Major, Joannem Patricium | Patricium Braunsdorf and his spouse were sponsors; P Lauth CSC |
| Indiana Marriage Collection Ancestry.com | July 11, 1910 Marriage | Boyle, Samuel E (possible Daniel son of John Boyle and Mary Clifford referred to in 1880 US census and Samuel in 1880 St Joseph Church census) | Fleck, Susan (this may be her married name as a step dtr Ester Fleck lives with them in the 1920 Jackson, MI census) | Samuel was born October 26, 1864; | |
| 1910 US Census Wayne, Detroit, Michigan Ward 5, District 64 | Census conducted on April 25, 1910 | Holly, John 42 born in New York as were his parents | Holly, Maggie, 35 yr old born in IN as were parents? | Holly, Helen, 12 yr old born in Michigan, dad in NY, mom in IN | John was a Caretaker at a Private House; they were married 14 yrs; 2 kids, 2 living; Maggie was a Domestic in a Private House; they lived with the Hubbard Family |
| " | " | ' | ' | Holly, John, 10 yr old born in IN, dad in NY, mom in IN | |
| 1910 US Census for South Bend, St Joseph County, IN, Ward 1; residence on 912 Sherman Avenue | Census conducted April 16, 1910 | Major, John, Head 35 born in Michigan, dad in England, mom in Canada | Major, Lulu, 33 yr old wife born in IN, dad born in Canada, mom in Ireland (I believe this is the dtr of John Boyle and Mary Clifford) | Major, Marguerite, 10 yr old daughter born in IN, dad born in IN, mom in MI | John was a Superintendent for the Railway; They were married 12 yrs with 5 children, 3 living |
| " | " | " | " | Major, Harry, 8 yr old son born in IN, dad in MI, mom in IN | |
| " | " | " | " | Major, John 6/12 yr old son born in IN, dad born in MI, mom in IN | |
| 1920 US Census Jackson, Michigan, Ward 2; residence at 130 Center Street | 1920 | Boyle, Samuel E, Head age 54 born in IN, parents born in Ireland (probable son Daniel, aka Samuel E of John Boyle/ Mary Clifford) | Boyle, Suzie, 50 yr old born in Ohio, parents born in Germany | Fleck, Esther, Step Daughter born i nOhio, dad born in Germany, mom in OH | Samuel has his own business- Automobile P--tts? |
| Michigan Death Certificates 1921-1952 for Samuel E Boyle | June 13, 1921 Death in Jackson, Jackson, Michigan | Boyle, Samuel E (probable son of John Boyle and Mary Clifford) | Samuel E was married at the time of his death; he born on October 26, 1863 in South Bend, IN to Jerry Boyle and Mary Clifford (this is from a transcription on Familysearch.org) | ||
| 1920 Us Census for Detroit, Ward 13, Wayne, MI 1061 at 1063? Jefferson Avenue | Census Conducted January 7,8, 1920 | Holley, John, husband 62 born in New York, parents born in US | Holley, Maggie, Head 45 born in IN, dad in Canada, mom in Ireland | Holley, Helen, 21 yr old single daughter born in MI,dad in NY, mom in IN | John was a Chauffeur for a Private Family and Maggie was the Keeper of a Rooming House; Helen was a Helper at the Rooming House |
| " | " | ' | ' | Holley, John 19 yr old single son bor nin MI, dad in NY, mom in IN | John was a Chaffeur for a Private Family; |
| " | " | Major, Harry, 14 yr old nephew born in IN, dad born in MI, mom in IN | |||
| " | " | Major, John 12 yr old nephew born in IN, dad born in MI, mom in IN | |||
| " | " | Major, Dennis, 6 yr old born in MI, dad born in MI, mom in IN | |||
| Michigan Death Certificates 1921-1952 for Margaret Holley | August 3, 1922 Death | Holley, Margaret died at age 51 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan | Margaret was married at the time of her death; she was born February 2, 1871 to John Boyle and Mary Clifford (familysearch.org website) | ||
| Michigan Marriages 1868-1925 for Frank D O'Hara and Helen M Holley (dtr of Margaret Boyle/John Holley) | January 3, 1922 Marriage | O'Hara, Frank D age 29 born in Pennsylvania to John O'Hara and Mary Noghton | Holley, Helen M 24 born in Michigan to John Holley and Marg Boyle | ||
| Michigan Death Certificates 1921-1952 for John? Orlan or Jack Holley (this is a familysearch.org transcription) | March 16, 1930 Death in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan (this may be the son of John Holley and Margaret Boyle, Margaret being the daughter of John Boyle and Mary Clifford) | Holley, John Orlan or Jack?? died at age 29; born abt 1901 in Detroit Michigan | His parents were John Holley and Margaret Boyle. He was divorced at the time of his death. | ||
| 1930 US Census for Wayne, Detroit, Michigan District 176 | 1930 | Holley, John 63 yr old widowed father in law born in New York as were his parents (wife of Deceased Margaret Boyle Holley) | John was living with his son in law Frank D O'Hara and dtr Helen M, their children Dennis and Margaret and Frank's father John O'Hara | ||
| 1930 US Census for Jackson, Michigan, District 17 | 1930 | Boyle, Suzie,61 yr old widow born in OH, parents born in Germany (Probable widow of Samuel E Boyle) | Fleck, Esther, 36 yr old single daughter born in OH, dad born in Germany, mom in OH | Esther works as a Saleslady in a Dry Goods Store |