Tracey
I think this is the only Samuel that I have come across in the Woods family. So I am guessing that the name may come from Susan Boyle's family.
Now for some speculation! Robert Woods & Susan Boyle's first son was named Thomas, while Samuel was the second son. Going by tradition, the first son would be named after the husband's father. In this case, that would have been Charles Woods, rather than Thomas. But, interestingly, Robert Woods' brother George Woods also named his first son Thomas. I believe that Charles Woods died young, and perhaps his sons both named their first sons after some pseudo-father figure named Thomas. (A later son of Robert Woods was given the name Charles.) Thereafter, the second son would traditionally be named after the wife's father which, in the case of Robert Woods & Susan Boyle, would have been after Thomas Boyle. But the name Thomas had already been given for Woods reasons to the first son. So perhaps Samuel was the next favoured Boyle name and was, therefore, given to the second son. Again following tradition, the name Samuel may have come from Susan Boyle's eldest brother named Samuel Boyle. But this is all speculation.
At the time of his marriage to Susan Boyle, Robert Woods was resident at Pottle with other members of the Woods family. Their first son, Thomas Woods, was born on 9 August 1865 at Galboly, with Robert Woods recorded as a labourer resident at Galboly (which, of course, was where Thomas Boyle was a farmer). For births of later children, Robert Woods & Susan Boyle were at:
- Drutomy, Bailieborough, co Cavan;
- Crocknahatinn, Bailieborough, co Cavan;
- Killinghter, Cootehill;
- Ardee, co Louth.
I have not traced death certificates yet for Robert Woods or Susan Boyle. But I cannot find them on the 1901 census, so I am guessing that they might be dead by then. Instead, I have 6 of their children on the 1901 census (but not Samuel) living at Drogheda Street, Collon, co Louth, with the family headed by the eldest brother: Thomas Woods, Episcopalian, 35 years old, Farmer, not married, born co Cavan.
Samuel Woods (son of Robert Woods & Susan Boyle) was born on 12 September 1867 at Drutomy, Bailieborough. His father was quoted as a farmer resident at Drutomy. I believe that this is the same Samuel Woods as on the 1911 census at Scarva co Down:
- Samuel Woods, head, Church of Ireland, 42 years, Shopkeeper, married for 5 years, born co Cavan
- Anna Louisa Woods, wife, Church of Ireland, 32 years, married, born co Sligo
- Robert Cecil Woods, son, 4 years, born co Down
- Frances Kathleen Woods, daughter, 10 months, born co Down
- Sarah Bailey, boarder, 30 years, School Teacher, single, born co Sligo
- Alice Crawford, boarder, 20 years, School Teacher, single, born co Fermanagh
The Ulster Towns Directory for 1910 lists Samuel Woods, Grocer, Scarva.
Unfortunately, I cannot help you more specifically with the Boyle side. I am afraid that my interest follows the Woods!
Regards
David
