The 1871 census shows Francis with 5 children, all born in Douglas. The first three were born prior to the marriage of Francis and Ellen. Ellen, the fifth child was four months old at the time of the census and Francis, the fourth was two. A birth record might show the mother's maiden name. Possibly Boyde was Ellen's married name or not the name she was christened under (e.g. unmarried mother's name was Boyde).

In the 1861 census RG9/4417 Francis shows up as an unmarried boatman aged 22, at 9 Society Lane in Douglas as the son of Daniel and Mary McAlarney. However there is no sign of his son, Edward, who would have been about two, nor of Ellen.