Henry Boland was the firstborn son of Patrick Boland and Eliza Kelly, born around 1849 (no records of his birth or baptism have been found). Henry was a family name and he was likely named after a brother of Patrick’s.

Born into the Irish slums of Manchester around Angel Meadow (his parents lived on Hanover Street in 1845 and Thompson Street in 1856), Henry’s health was clearly impacted by his surroundings.

He died aged 17 in Curraghboy in County Galway, close to Mountbellew. His death cert says he suffered from Ascites for 11 months before his death. His father is named as the witness.

He is buried in the Mullin family grave in Eskerstephens Graveyard, Moylough, though his name is not on the gravestone.

The year of his death, 1866, is of note as that was the original date of the Fenian Rising. His father, who was a pavior in Manchester, laid cobbles at the back of the Mullin family farm and neighbouring farms in Moylough and was known locally as a “Rising man”. It’s likely Patrick travelled to Galway with Henry for the Rising that didn’t happen in 1866.

What’s not clear is whether Patrick stayed in Ireland for the Rising to happen the following year. If so, he may still have been disappointed as very little happened in Galway.