William John Toole was born circa 1844 in Ireland. He was a son of Captain William O'Toole of 40th British Regiment and Isabella (UNKNOWN) O'Toole.
He "was descended from a family who had some wealth and held positions of regard in their professions and in their communities." He became, in his own regard, a land owner and land agent. He lived in a home in Wexford, Ireland called Curracloe House.
William married Magdalene Thompson, daughter of a surgeon named William Thompson, on May 24, 1870 in Wexford.[1] Madelene was born in 1845 in Madras, India where her father was practicing at the time.
William and Magedalene lived in Wexford until at least 1888 and had a large family including at least 13 known children. In that year, William lost his fortune in a bad investment deal in which beach land was being developed into farmland. The land was destroyed in a storm leaving the Tooles in financial stress. The family thereafter appear to have then moved to West Derby in England where they are recorded in 1891.
By 1901, William had regained some wealth and had re-invented himself as a cattle salesman, land owner and employer. At some point before 1911, at least some of the family moved back to Curracloe House in Wexford.
Some of his children moved to Canada where they worked in insurance and real estate. Four of his sons served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. His two youngest sons, Edward Thomas and David Frederick Jack, died in service.
William John Toole passed away between July and September 1925 in Wexford.[2]
Known Children
William Toole 1871-?
Isabella Pinella Toole 1872-1919
Catherine Margaret Toole 1873-?
George Archer Toole 1874-1957 Moved to Canada
Mary Eliza Toole 1876-?
Anne Letitia Toole 1877-?
Magdalen Toole 1878-1940
Lieut Laurence Henry Toole 1879-? Served in WWI
Henrietta Toole 1880-?
Victoria Jane Toole 1881-?
Capt. Archer John Toole 1883-1963 Served in WWI
Lieut. Edward Thomas Toole 1885-1916 Died in WWI
Capt. David Frederick Jack Toole 1886-1918 Died in WWI
Census Records
"England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7QNX-F3Z : 1 March 2021), William John Toole, West Derby, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Lancashire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
"England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9V3-DVL : 21 May 2019), William J Toole, West Derby, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing West Derby Western subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
Sources
↑ "Ireland Civil Registration, 1845-1913," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2R-M6W8 : 30 January 2020), William J Toole and Magdalene Thompson, Marriage 24 May 1870, Wexford, Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland; citing General Register Office, Dublin; FHL microfilm .
↑ "Ireland Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FTJ7-46G : 10 March 2018), DEATHS entry for William John Toole; citing Wexford, Jul - Sep 1925, vol. 4, p. 421, General Registry, Custom House, Dublin; FHL microfilm 101,736.
Griffiths, George, "Chronicles of County Wexford, being a Record of Memorable Incidents, Disasters, Social Occurrences and Crimes, Also, Biographies of Eminent Persons, &c, &c brought down to the Year 1877" p. 219
Is William your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.