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Thank you Heywood,

I live in Donegal. If there are Tougher graves in Mayo, I might drive down and take a look.

Barry.

Hello.

Does anyone have any information about Edward Boyle, born around 1833 in Mayo, and Bridget Toughar, born around 1834 in Mayo? They married each other in 1861. Edward's father, Edward Boyle, was a labourer who had died sometime before 1861. Bridget's father, Martin Toughar, was a labourer.

Edward and Bridget were my great-great-great-grandparents.

Here is the information I have so far:

Prior to their wedding, they moved to England. They were married in Alnwick, Northumberland (St Mary's Catholic Chapel) on the 16th November 1861.

In the census earlier that year (1861), a Bridget Toughar (Anglicized: Tucker) was visiting Edward and Bridget Craig in Northumberland. That census says she was from Mayo, and that the Craigs were from Ireland. In that same census, an Edward Boyle was living with his brother, John Boyle who was married to Catherine. It said that Edward, John and Catherine were all born in Ireland.

In the 1871 census, Edward and Bridget Boyle were listed, as being born in Mayo. He was 37, she was 36. They had three children, Patrick (7), Catherine (5) (my great-great-grandmother), and Edward (2).

The following year, Bridget gave birth to triplets (Bridget, Hannah, and Mary). She died the next day and the triplets died three days later.

I can't find any record of them in the 1851 census, so I assume they moved from Mayo to Northumberland between 1851 and 1861. As Bridget was a visitor in the 1861 census prior to her marriage, she may have left Ireland that year (1861). And because Edward was living with his brother, he may have left Ireland that year too.

I've got most of their details after moving to England, but I would love to find out any information from when they were living in Mayo.

Thank you,

Barry.

Hi Bernie45, Heywood, and JJen,

Yes, there were two marriages in Alnwick in 1861 between an Edward Boyle and a Bridget. I have bought both marriage certificates. I can confirm that the Bridget who died giving birth to triplets was not Bridget Cain, but Bridget Tucker (or Toughar).

It seems that “Tucker” is an Anglicized version of the Irish “Toughar”, according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_(surname)) (also, see http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Togher).

Here are the details on the marriage certificates:

Edward Boyle and Bridget Cain

Date:       8th July 1861
Groom:      Edward Boyle
Age:              22 years old
Condition:           Bachelor
Occupation:   Labourer
Residence:    Alnwick
Father:       Peter Boyle, Labourer
Bride:      Bridget Cain
Age:              23 years old
Condition:           Spinster
Residence:    Alnwick
Father:       Roger Cain, Labourer
Where:      St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Chapel, Alnwick.
Priest:       Joseph Gibson
Dep Registrar:    George Watson (I think that’s what it says)
Witnesses:    Francis McKane & Mary Gurran (I think those names are correct)

Edward Boyle and Bridget Toughar

Date:       16th November 1861
Groom:      Edward Boyle
Age:              28 years old
Condition:           Bachelor
Occupation:    Labourer
Residence:    Abberwick
Father:       Edward Boyle (deceased), Labourer
Bride:      Bridget Toughar   
Age:              27 years old
Condition:           Spinster
Residence:    Abberwick
Father:       Martin Toughar, Labourer
Where:       St Mary’s Roman Catholic Chapel, Alnwick
Priest:       Joseph Gibson
Registrar:      John Hushwick
Witnesses:    Darby Conway and Bridget Craigs

(In the 1861 census, Bridget Tucker was staying with the Craig family. The mother and one of the daughters were called Bridget Craig. It’s possible that the daughter, who was 18 in 1861, was the witness at the wedding.)

Bridget Boyle (nee Tucker) gave birth to the triplets Bridget, Hannah, and Mary on 29th February.  She died the next day, March 1st, and the triplets died on March 4th. On Hannah’s birth certificate, it says her mother’s name was “Bridget Boyle formerly Tucker”.

Bridget Boyle’s Death Certificate:

Died:       1st March 1872 at 28 Grosvenor Street
Name:       Bridget Boyle
Age:               38 years
Occupation:    Wife of Edward Boyle, a Jobbing Labourer
Cause of Death:   Erysipelas of Leg. Puerperal Convulsions Certified.
Informant:    Edward Boyle in attendance, 28 Grosvenor Street, Gateshead
Registered:    2nd March 1872
Registrar:            John Pattison

Regarding her cause of death, I found this at http://householdphysician.com/chapter11.php?page=32

Puerperal Convulsions. Eclampsia.

DURING the latter part of pregnancy, and even during the lying in period a pregnant woman may be suddenly seized with a convulsion from which she may never recover consciousness. These fits generally last a few minutes, and complete consciousness follows with a terrific headache; from one to a hundred more attacks may ensue. The urine usually is found heavily loaded with albumen, and contains all the evidences of serious kidney disease.

Causes. These disorders are supposed to be due to the pressure on the kidneys and its vessels by the increasing growth of the child. Some cases, however, remain still unsatisfactorily explained.
To avoid any such sudden surprises women should have their urine examined every week or two in the latter part of pregnancy.

Barry