Cape Breton's Magazine

Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries • Diaries D.R. Boyle of West Arichat • from a Richmond County Diary, 1887 Several years worth of D.R. Boyle's diaries are housed at the Beaton institute, University College of Cape Breton. For some reason, on the night of January 26,1885, Boyle decided to write out a brief account of his life • mostly the struggle for an education and then for a teaching position. This account of his life serves as a good introduction to his diary. It takes us up to 1875, the year Boyle settled in West Arichat and took over the Acadiaville school. D.R. Boyle's Account of His Life, to 1875: My father, Angus Boyle, was born in Fort William, Invernessshire, Scotland, and immigrated to Mabou, C. B., in the year 1821. His fa? ther, Duncan, had two other sons, John and Angus, the latter of whom enlisted in the army; married a Miss Black and afterwards set? tled at St. Andrews, Antigonish, N. S. The said Angus Boyle took passage for America in the Schr. Earl of Dalhousie, landed in Cheticamp and tramped ali the way from there to Mabou. My maternal grandmother, who excelled on the violin, was Isabeile Campbell, Aunt of the late Donald Campbell of St. Peter's, in this County. She had different other children, of whom Archibald McDo? nald was first cousin to the late Rev. Alex McDonald of Mabou. The wife of John McDonald Customs, Antigonish, was an Aunt's daughter by one Dougald Stewart • So much for genealogy • meagre as my Information on this subject happens to be. My mother, Isabella McDonell, was also born in Fort William, Scot? land, and immigrated to Mabou, about the same time my father did. They were married young and had seven sons and five daughters • one of whom died at birth. Father was a tailor by trade, but granted lands and settled there • shortly after his arrival. 1847. The author of these lines was born on the tenth of September, 1847, and was the youngest of the family, with the exception of one. My memory extends back to the time when I was but two and a half years old • distinctly remembering when we had the measles • when the elder brother got married and when Duncan McDonald taught his dancing school. I also distinctly recollect when the "little store" got burnt and also carrying Alex's dinner thereto with my late sister Ann. My late sister Margaret was about this time staying at Ar? chibald McDonald-Crocheil • when she contracted a pleurisy, of which she died, when but twelve years old. I recollect well the mak? ings of a couple of shirts she brought me though scarcely four years at the time. I also recollect distinctly when I was confirmed, which was probably anterior to any of the above circumstances. Before going to school I was able to read and attended Ronald McLellan's school at Cross Roads, Black River, for about a month and a half, in the summer of 1858. The following summer I attended John Gillis' school, at the same place, for about three months. The scholars in attendance are now rather scattered and none of them ever came to be even school teachers. I next attended Colin Gillis's school at Campbell's Mills, which was about a mile from home • the other school house being over four miles distant. Here a good number of scholars used to gather, j In 1861 I attended the same school, under Angus Kenne? dy's tutorship where I got a little smattering of Arithmetic. The school books used were i the Irish National Series and Gray's Arithmetic. Next to take charge of the same school was Alex McDonald, I where I mastered all of | Gray's Arithmetic. Next to j take charge was Matthew Reville, from whom I got first i insight into "Position." Some time previous to this Sister Ann was married to John Beaton and brother Sandy had left for the States in '57. '...''''~ ' A rare photo of Dougald Robert Doyle with his eldest son, Joseph Stephen E., circa 1897 (courtesy Beaton Institute) While attending school I had principal charge of the barn and had to keep the fuel chopped and hauled, while the elder brothers chopped down the trees. In the Fall of 1863 I attended John Y. Gunn's school at Broad Cove where I studied Practical Mathematics and Navigation. In the Fall of 1864 I attended the first examination of teachers at Port Hood and obtained a Permissive Third, and immediately afterwards opened school at the Cross Roads, charging each pupil 250 a month. I got $20.00 from Gov. the following Spring and about three dollars all told from those who attended the balance is still due • During the follow? ing Summer I attended G.W. Copeland school at the South East Ma? bou. Here a large school was held but the most of my studies were done privately • particularly in figures. Featuring... REAL QUALITY ICE CREAM! Variety of HOT FOODS Prepared dn the Spot Clams • Haddock Fillets French Fries • Egg Rolls • Hamburgers • Pizza Burgers • • TASTY TREAT • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: 10 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT 3 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU: Grand Lake Road • Keltic Drive • Howie Centre