Michael Doyle, Artist
(see paintings below)

Michael Doyle Michael Augustine "Paddy" Doyle was born about 1838-39 in Dublin, Ireland  (maybe Cork County, Ireland on the southern coast of Ireland).
     The Doyle clan there descended from a Viking raider and was primarily located in the southeast Ireland Leinster counties of Wicklow, Wexford and Carlow (see map). This area is still has many Doyles living there (see Doyle history).
     The great Irish potato famine started in the fall of 1845 when 90% of the population was in some way dependent on it. Between 1845 and 1850 25% of the population died of stavation or disease related to malnutrition and 12% of the people (1.5 million) left the country. Although this was a agricultural disaster, it was made worse by wealthy landowners exporting much-needed food to make money and letting the poor go without.
     I don't know Michael's parents names nor why or when he left Ireland, but he was in London by 1857. Michael married Amelia ?  who was born in Shoreditch, Middlesex Co, England (her family may have been from Spain). They probably met and married in Shoreditch about 1857. They had 3 sons and 4 (or 5) daughters. I know absolutely nothing about the boys.

1861 England Census: Hallsbury St., Christchurch, Hoxton Old Town, Shoreditch St. Leonard, Middlesex County
Doyle, Michael (head) - 22, b Dublin, Ireland
. . . . . Amelia (wife) - age 23, b abt 1838, Shoreditch, Middlesex Co, Eng.
. . . . . Mary (daug) - 3, b abt 1858, Shoreditch, Middlesex Co, Eng.

The Parish of Shoreditch was known for its poverty. Standing north of the Bishopsgate on the Roman Road from the Thames to Cambridge, it looked south to the City of London. Hackney, to the east was more affluent.

Michael lived for some time in Finchley (Middlesex Co), north of London where he ran the Post office. [from great-grandson Robert Freeman in Canada.]
1871 England Census: 13 Warburton St., All Angels and St. Michael, South Hackney, Middlesex Co (NE London)
Doyle, Michael (head) - 32, b abt 1839, Ireland - occ: post office
. . . . . Amelia - 33, b abt 1838, Hackney, Middlesex Co, Eng.
. . . . . Mary - 10
. . . . . Charles - 7
. . . . . John - 5
. . . . . Alfred - 4
. . . . . Edward - 6 mos

1881 England Census, 39 Broke Rd, St. Paul's, Haggerston, Shoreditch, Middlesex Co (NE London)
Doyle, Michael (head) - 43, b Ireland - occupation: civil service post office
. . . . . Amelia (wife) - 44, b Hackney, Middlesex Co - occ: shirt maker
. . . . . John (son) - 15, b Hoxton, Middlesex Co. - occ: printer's boy
. . . . . Alfred (son) - 14, b Hoxton, Middlesex Co, - occ: chair maker
. . . . . Edward (son) - 10, b Hackney, Middlesex Co - in school
. . . . . Amelia (daug) - 8, b Hackney - in school
. . . . . Alice (daug) - 6, b Hackney - in school
. . . . . Elizabeth (daug) - 2, b Shoreditch, Middlesex Co.

His daughter Mary, married Edward H. Freeman about 1880

1881 England Census, 31 Penn St., Shoreditch, Hackney, London, England:
Freeman, Edward H. - 25, b Mile End - occ: clothiers cutter/tailor
. . . . . . Mary  - 20, b Hoxton, Middlesex, England

He also was living in West Hampton (Essex Co), England (SW of London) in 1889 and 1907.
His wife Amelia died sometime before the 1891 census. But he died in Ireland.

1891 England Census: ??? St, St. Margaret, Leydon, West Ham, Essex Co
Doyle, Michael - 53, b Ireland 1838
. . . . . Amelia S. - 18
. . . . . Alice - 16
Edward Freeman & Mary Doyle
Children:
At right, Edward & Mary Freeman
1. Mary Doyle, born about 1858 in Holton, London; married Edward Henry Freeman. Their son Edward "Ted" moved to Canada in 1909, daughters Florence & Matilda? moved to Australia, daughter Ethel stayed in England.
2, Charles Doyle, b abt 1864, d bef 1881
2. John Doyle, b abt 1866, Hoxton, London
3. Alfred Doyle, b 1867, Hoxton, London
4. Edward Doyle, b 1871, Hackney, London
5. Amelia S. Doyle, b 1873, Hackney, London. In 1891 she and sister Alice were living with their widowed father.
6. Alice "Lall" Doyle, b 1875, Hackney; married 1907 to Arthur Augustus Millington, had daughter, Doris.
7. Elizabeth Doyle, b abt 1880 in Haggerston, Shoreditch, London. In 1891 she was living with her older married sister, Mary. She married Jack Gunn, had twin daughters Floss & Gladys. These twins also married twins: Leonard & ?.  Both couples each had one child
?. Millicent "Mill" Doyle - haven't been able to locate any information about her. This name comes from family stories, but she is not on any census record. Perhaps this was a second name of one of the daughters. Actually the nickname "Mill" could also be a nickname for Amelia, but since the 1891 census shows her middle initial as "S" maybe there was no Millicent at all.
Doyle cousins


At right are Doyle cousins (about 1918):
Doris Millington, Floss & Gladys Gunn, Ethel Freeman
(Doris & Ethel lived together in their later years)








Michael Doyle Art Gallery

Michael Doyle was an artist.  He had an art show once but was unhappy about the critical reviews, so he decided instead of trying to sell his art he would give it to his children and grandchildren.  His paintings are all over the world, because his descendants are in Canada, UK, USA, and Australia. Mary's 4 children each received several paintings (Ted Freeman, Ethel Mustart, Florence Watson, and Matilda? Davis).  Elizabeth's daughters, Floss and Gladys also received some pieces.  I don't know about the other children. So far, I have located his paintings in Canada, the US, and Australia. I know there are several in England, but haven't been able to get pictures yet.

Below are several of Michael Doyle's paintings. (Thanks to Mark Freeman for fixing these photos!) If you know of other paintings of Michael Doyle, please let me know (Mary Jo Freeman). I am also looking for pictures of Michael Doyle's children or grandchildren.


The first two are owned by his gg-grandson and gg-granddaughter, Dr. Michael & Sharon Freeman in Toronto, Canada.

               Doyle painting 17


             



The next four paintings are owned by Mrs. Bea Freeman (wife of Edward V. Freeman) of Windsor, Canada.

             

Below is an Oil on Glass 6" x 8" of Richmond Bridge, painted in 1899.
             

                     


                     

These two paintings are owned by Michael's ggg-grandson, Mark Freeman, in California.  Both Oil on Glass 6" x 8" (Mark is a grandson or Edward V. Freeman)

       



The paintings below are owned by gg-granddaughter, Suzanne Magassy in Australia.  Her grandmother, Florence Freeman Watson (granddaughter of Michael Doyle) thought that these pictures were painted in Ireland or Wales.

     


             


                  


These 2 pictures below were sent to his great-grandson, Arthur Watson, when he was 4 years old. 
One was sent to him on the boat to Australia and the second was sent to his Sydney address. 
Notice the sign painted in the pictures with the address on it. ("Mr. A. Watson, post S.S. Balloret, c/o West? & Wells? Co., Adelaide St., Australia").
These pictures now are owned by Arthur's daughter, Suzanne Magassy in Australia.

       

        

  These two pictures below are also owned by Suzanne Magassy in Australia.
   
               


The 2 paintings below Michael Doyle sent to his other great-grandson in Australia, Charlie Davis. 
After Charlie's death, they passed into the hands of his cousin, Arthur Watson's daughter, Suzanne Magassy.

         




          












In searching for the parents of Michael Doyle, these are some interesting links that might shed some light in the future.

William Francis Doyle, b 1794 London, m in Shorditch, had a son named Augustus b in 1836.
William's son, William Doyle, b 1826 London, had son Rev. Albert Theodore Augustine (or Augustus), b 1867 Liverpool. Albert was a printer and an artist.