Boyle Family Grave
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Four Lives. One Plot - A Family Story from Violet Town Cemetery in Australia
In 1857, Patrick Boyle left his home in Inver, County Donegal, Ireland, and sailed for a new life in Australia. Alongside him on the Pomona, which departed Liverpool on 26 February 1857, were his wife Margaret (m.n. McClintock), their young daughters Ellen, Anne, and Margaret, and his mother Ann Gallagher, the widow of Daniel Boyle.
Soon after arriving in Victoria, Patrick settled near Violet Town, establishing a farm along Honeysuckle Creek. He quickly became known as a hardworking and successful farmer, respected within the small farming community.
A Growing Family, and an Early Loss
In 1860, Patrick and Margaret welcomed their fourth daughter, Mary Jane. But just two years later, Margaret, died at the young age of 35, leaving Patrick a widower with four children, aged two to nine.
In 1866, Patrick remarried. His second wife, Maria Chute, gave birth to seven children between 1867 and 1879.
In 1871, Patrick’s eldest daughter, Ellen, was murdered by her husband, Richard Chute. Richard was Maria’s older brother. Ellen was just 18 years old. She had two young sons, John, who was almost two, and a newborn baby just two weeks old. At the time of her death, she was holding her as yet unnamed baby in her arms.
The Cemetery Visit That Changed Everything
Many of my ancestors were buried in Violet Town Cemetery, not far from Shepparton, where I lived for over 50 years. Years ago, as a beginner in family history research, I made the short drive to Violet Town in the hope of finding clues on family headstones.
I was surprised to discover that almost none of my ancestors from the 19th century had headstones, except for one large family plot that stood out in the cemetery. It belonged to the Boyle family.
That headstone marked the grave of four people in my family history:
1862 – Margaret Boyle, Patrick’s first wife
1871 – Ellen Chute (m.n.Boyle), Patrick’s daughter
1891 – Patrick Boyle
1913 – Maria Boyle (m.n. Chute), Patrick’s second wife
I was surprised to see that both Patrick’s first and second wives were buried in the same plot. Even more curious to me was that his daughter Ellen was buried there, with her father, rather than with her husband. I hadn’t at that time, done research on this family.
At the time, I knew little more than the fact that Ellen had been married to Richard Chute. Something didn’t sit right, and I felt there must be more to the story.
Uncovering the Truth
Back home, I began digging into Ellen’s story, and that’s when I came across her inquest file, held at the Public Record Office Victoria. I made the two-hour drive to Melbourne just days later.
Reading through the inquest document was heartbreaking. Ellen had been murdered by her husband, Richard. The file revealed that Richard was declared insane and sentenced to life in Ararat Asylum.
Further research revealed another twist - Patrick had married Maria Chute before Ellen’s death. Maria was Richard’s younger sister. In other words, father and daughter had both married siblings from the Chute family.
When Ellen and Richard married, she was only 16 years old and Richard was 41.
From Donegal and Kerry to Victoria
Everyone buried in that Violet Town plot was born in Ireland. Patrick and his family came from Inver, in County Donegal. Maria Boyle was born in Tralee, County Kerry.
Beyond these few details, I know very little about their lives before they arrived in Australia. However this burial plot and the stories it led me to, changed the way I approached family history.
What began as a quiet visit to a country cemetery turned into a passionate pursuit to learn about the lives and deaths of those who came before me. It’s a reminder that every name on a headstone has a story.
This is the final resting place of Patrick Boyle. The headstone was erected by his wife, Maria Boyle (m.n. Chute), whose name appears last on the monument. Maria lived for another 23 years after Patrick's death, passing away on 10 October 1914 at the age of 85.
Erected by
Maria Boyle
In memory of her beloved husband
Patrick Boyle
Who died 19th Feb 1891
Aged 70 years
Also of her son
Michael Boyle
Who died 19th Aug 1874
Aged 22 years
Also of her daughter
Ellen Charlotte
Who died 1st Jan 1880 aged 20 years
Also
Maria Boyle
Died 10th Oct 1914
Aged 85 years
Link to information about the murder of Ellen Boyle:
The Murder in our Family Part 1
The Murder in our Family Part 2
The Murder in our Family Part 3
The Murder in our Family Part 4
Day 17/50 Family History Blogging Challenge
