Jim Doyle, or “Big Jim" as he was known locally, lived as a farmer in Mermaid and later a hotel keeper in Charlottetown. His picture shows a man with a neatly trimmed bard, balding head, somewhat bulbous nose and broad shoulders sated beside his standing wife in a local photographer’s studio. My mother, Isabelle Doyle remembers him walking around the farm about 1920. At that time he had a grey beard and walked with a walking stick. He would have been eighty years old.

Han'yWood remembers one time he andJim Doyle went to Charlottetown to the trial of ‘one of the Ings boys' . When the trialwas over HarryandJim went to a mum-ant for something to at. After they had eaten, the waitress asked Jim if he would like dessert.Jim replied " No, the hell with dessert, just bring me a piece of apple pie.’

Jim and Margret moved to town about 1914, having lived on the farm for thirtyeight years. Jim was seventy-six at that time. They lived at a variety of addresses, (200 Sydney St., and 200 Kent St., among them) where they managed morning houses or 'hotels' and at least one livery stable.

Jim died on February 26, 1922. He resided at 77 Prince Street immediately prior to his death. The following waohn Doyle, son of Jim, purchased the farm in Mermaid, on which he was living, from his mother, Margaret A. Doyle, for $600.

Margaret is remembered as being a rather stern person. My grandmother, (Mrs.John Doyle), one time attended an auction with her and, after a successful bid (15 cents) on a snail table, ‘Nanny' was about to pay for it when her mother-in-law grabbed the money and collected the item. The children remember that when their grandmother came to visit they had to 'mind their manners' to an extreme extent. Margaret was a schoolteacher at one time, possibly in Int 65. She may not have liked the business which might account for her stern demeanor with children. She died at the home of her daughter Gertrude, Mrs. J.B. Hughes, 154 Dorchester Street on June 18, 1943. The following obituary appeared in the Guardian June 24, 1943.

The death occurred on FridayJune 18th, at the home of her daughter Mrs.James Hughes with whom she raided forsome time, of Mrs. James Doyle after a lengthy illness.

The late Mrs. Doyle was born at South Shore, the daughter of the late Roderick and Mary Hoyn and removed to this city about thirty years ago. Possessed of a plasing and friendly disposition, the late Mrs. Doyle enjoyed alarge circle of friends who will lamwith regret of her passing

The late Mrs. Doyle was a member of the third order ofSt. Francis for . a number of years.

She leaves to moum her passing two daughters, Mrs. J.B. Hughes and Sister Mary Kathleen, Superior of St.Joseph's Hospital Victoria, B.C. and four sons Joseph on the old homestead, William, Village Green, John and Leo of this city. Also surviving are two brothers Richard and Thomas in the United States.

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