Terence Boyle P3 | Corglass

Terence Boyle (cont.)

The 1850 Census records Terence2’s wife as ‘Ellen’, but his is almost certainly a recording error, as her name was Mary, and all the other details fit. It also shows a Matthew Ryan, aged 18, at the same address. It seems likely that this was Bridget2 Boyle’s husband - although there is a large disparity in their ages - she would have been about 30 at the time. However, there is no mention of Bridget2 in the Census record, which seems strange, as her daughter Mary3 was born (as far as we know) in the very month the census was taken (August 1850).

In his later years, Terence2 and Mary moved to 567 Broome St, Greenwich Village. His name appears on lists of donors to local charitable activities, and in his will he made bequests (after his wife’s death) of $500 to the Catholic Orphans’ Asylum and $250 each to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph’s Church, and St James’ Church. St Joseph’s Church, in Greenwich Village is still in use and is where his funeral service took place. Terence2 died in 1864; aged 55 and was interred in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY on April 11[1].

The executor of his estate was Dr. Bryan Duggan who died on January 29, 1871. When Terence’s wife Mary died on April 24, 1886, it was at the residence of Mrs. Dr. B. Duggan, 193½ Franklin av. Brooklyn. Clearly the Boyles and Duggans were close friends – perhaps Mary Keagan Boyle and Margaret Duggan were sisters? However, the mention of a Peter J. Murtha as a brother-in-law of Bryan’s suggests that Margaret may have been a Murtha, not a Keagan.

[1] Source: Interment Record; Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY; Section 2, Range 2, Plot O, Graves 12/14 ["Boyle/McSweeney Plot", No Headstone; Purchased by Terrance Boyle]

The value of Terence Boyle’s estate.

When Terence2 died in 1864, his estate was valued at $18,000. What was this worth in today’s values? A calculation based on movements in the Consumer Price Index gives a current (2024) value of $353,600 (CPI Statistics for Historical Statistics of the United States,). That is, it would take over $353,600 to buy in 2024 what could have been bought for $18,000 in 1864.

However, such comparisons are difficult due to fluctuations in wage rates and inflation rates. For most of the 19th century, except for the Civil War period, the US economy was deflationary - a dollar would buy considerably more in 1914 than it would have done 50 years before.

Another way for estimating the value of Terence’s estate is to compare it with average wages. Using Gross Domestic Product per capita gives a value in the region of $4.9 million in today’s money (http://www.measuringworth.com/usgdp/). Whatever the true value, these figures suggest that Terence was comfortably off - not super rich, but he had done well for himself.

Terence’s wife, Mary Keagan died on April 24, 1886 and his niece Maria McSweeney petitioned to become Administrix of the estate. Her petition gives invaluable details of the families of Terence2’s brother and sisters, who had themselves all died by this time.

I am indebted to Tom Rice and John Borst, descendants of Ellen Boyle Brady, for information on Terence2 Boyle’s estate and details of his sisters’ families.

1886 ADMINISTRATION OF THE ESTATE OF

TERENCE BOYLE

Filed: August 13, 1886

Estate Valued at $18,000

[Paraphrased]

Will annexed, in the matter of the unadministered estate of Terence Boyle

Petition of Maria McSweeney, residing at 351 West 25th Street, city of NY; daughter of Ellen Brady named in the will of Terence Boyle ... Will Administrix, the widow of Terence, Mary Boyle died 24 April 1886 leaving certain parts of estate unadministered. Testator died possessed of estate of $18,000 ... residual value as of now $11,750.

SURVIVORS at time of death of decedent (April 11, 1864):

BOYLE, Mary Widow;

BRADY, Ellen, Sister;

RYAN, Bridget, Sister;

BOYLE, John, Brother;

All of whom have now died.

PETITIONERS, Following named persons:

Ann DOUGHERTY, Catherine TALLEY, Hugh BRADY, Bridget STACOM, Ellen SHEERAN -- children of Ellen BRADY deceased.

Mary RYAN only child of Bridget RYAN deceased;

Patrick BOYLE, Peter BOYLE, and John BOYLE children of John BOYLE deceased;

Bridget STACOM daughter of Ellen BRADY deceased, died on or about January 1879, and left surviving three children, Mary, William and Eugene, all adults whose last known residence was Marysville, California;

Ellen SHEERAN died city of NY, on or about 1 November 1881, and left

surviving five children:

John SHEERAN, about 22 years,

Catharine SHEERAN, about 18 years,

Ellen SHEERAN, about 16 years,

James SHEERAN, about 12 years,

Anna SHEERAN, about 10 years.

Foregoing are only next of kin of deceased. Maria McSweeney asks to be made Administrix.

Surrogate Court, in the matter: Maria McSweeney states ...

Ann DOUGHERTY, Catherine TALLEY and Hugh BRADY are her sisters and brother; Catherine TALLEY resides in City of NY; Ann DOUGHERTY and Hugh BRADY reside in the state of California, and have so resided for several years;

Patrick BOYLE, Peter BOYLE and John BOYLE reside at Curraglass, Moyne, Arva, County Cavan, Ireland;

Mary RYAN, is a cousin and resides in San Francisco, California;

John SHEERAN, Catherine SHEERAN, Ellen SHEERAN, James SHEERAN and Anna SHEERAN reside in City of NY.

[Source: Administration; Surrogate Court, NY Co.; 1886, File # TA9;2 (Libre 9; Page 2)]