Matthew and Agnes Given(s)/Goven

1860-61 Map of Merrickville, Wolford Twp, Grenville Co. Ontario
Matthew Govin lived somewhere on the yellow section on Concession I Lot 13. Click on map to enlarge. For a current map showing the proximity to Lanark County, click on the above title.

We know that our first Gavin ancestors in Canada were Robert Govan/Given(s)/Gavin and Sarah Miller and that each one of their sons and daughters faithfully followed the traditional pattern in naming their children:
1st son of a Gavin son was named Robert
2nd daughter of a Gavin son was named Sarah
2nd son of a Gavin daughter was named Robert
1st daughter of a Gavin daughter was named Sarah

If their children followed this tradition, perhaps Robert and Sarah did the same. If this were true, Robert's father would be Matthew and his mother would be Agnes.

Recently, I found this marriage on the Ancestry website:

Vol 24 Pg 55 - Matthew GIVENS, 60, widower, farmer, Donegal Co. Ireland, Wolford, s/o Matthew GIVENS & Agnes DEWEY, married Elizabeth BALLANCE, 36, widow, Wicklow Co.Ireland, Marlborough, d/o William BALLANCE & Jane BALLANCE. Witn Lydia & Richard BALLANCE, both of Marlborough. May 12, 1872 Merrickville. (Source: Ontario Marriages)

Wolford Township, the home of Matthew Givens, is in Grenville County which is just south of Lanark County in Ontario.

I have serached for this man because he might be the brother of our Robert Goven/Gavin. Four facts connect them:

- they were both born in Ireland

- they were in Lanarkshire, Scotland in the 1841 census

- they were both weavers by occupation

- they lived in Eastern Ontario not too far from each other

If they were brothers then our Robert was born in Donegal, Ireland and his parents were Matthew Givens /Goven and Agness Dewey.

Here are the records I found:

Scotland - 1841
Place: Barony -Lanarkshire (Glasgow)
Address: Ann Street
GOVEN, Matthew, M, 30, Cotton Hand Loom Weaver, b. Ireland
GOVEN, Hellen, F, 30, b. Ireland

(I cannot find this couple in the subsequent census records for 1851, 61, 71, 81, 91. It is possible that they emigrated. The IGI has a marriage extracted from the parish registers of Barony, (Glasgow), Lanark) which could be the same couple, although the date of marriage would make them very young. Matthew Govan = Helen McGowan, 3 April 1825, Barony, Lanarkshire, Scotland)

1852 Canada West - Grenville Co., Wolford Township

Given, Matthu, Weaver, b. Ireland, Church of England, 47, M
Given, Ellen, b. Ireland, Roman Catholic, 45, F

Dwelling - shanty. Age is 'next birthday'

1861 Agricultural Census - Wolford Township

Con I-Lot 13

Goven, Matthew, 53, b. Ireland, Weaver, C of E

Goven, Ellen, 53, b. Ireland,

1871 Census Ontario -Leeds Grenville North - Wolford Twp

Givan, Matthew, 63, b. Ireland, C of E, Weaver

Givan, Ellen, 63, b. Ireland, R.C.

Death of Ellen - date unknown

Marriage of Matthew Givens to Elizabeth Ballance - May 12 1872

1881 Census Ontario - Leeds Grenville North - Wolford Twp
Mathew GOOIN, Irish, 73 , b. Ireland, Farmer , C of E

Elezebth GOOIN, M, Irish, 46, b. Ireland, C of E

*William GOOIN, Irish, 24, b. Ont, Farmer, C of E
*Rebecca GOOIN, Irish, 22, b. Ont, C of E
*John B. GOOIN, Irish, 20, b. Ont, C of E
*Mary E. GOOIN, Irish, 18, b. Ont, C of E
Agness GOOIN, Irish , 8, b. Ont, C of E (daug of Matthew & Eliz)

(This is the spelling from the IGI, however, if you look at the census, it is clear that it is a 'v' in the middle of the surname. *These people do not appear to be the children of Matthew and Ellen because they do not appear in the 1861/71 census records.)

1886 -1887 Voters' List for Wolford Township
Goven, Matthew, Lot 11 & 13, Concession 1 - Freeholder

Matthew Goven died January 9, 1891 and is buried at the Merrickville Union Protestant Cemetery. I don't know if there is a headstone.

1891 Census Ontario - Wolford Twp

Goven, Elizabeth, 55, b. Ireland, b. 1836.01.01 (?), Widow, Weaver, Woollen goods

Goven, Agnes, 18, b. Ontario

6857-1893 (Grenville Co) Thomas Edward BAKER, 26, Farmer, Wolford Tp., same, s/o Thomas & Hannah BAKER, married Agnes GOVAN, 19, Wolford Tp., same, d/o Mathew & Elizabeth GOVAN, witn; Mabel WHITMARSH, Charles A. ROBERTS, both of Merrickville. Jan 9 1893 the Rectory, Merrickville

1901 Census - Wolford Twp
Baker, Thomas, Head, M, Dec 25, 1865, 35
Baker, Agnes, F, Wife, M, Apr 10, 1872, 28

Baker, Eva, F, Dau, S, Oct 31, 1893, 7, 2
Baker, Thomas, M, Son, S, Jan 4, 1895, 6, 3
Baker, William, M, Son, S, May 15, 1900, 10 months

(next dwelling from Baker's)
Givan, Elizabeth, F, Head, W, Sep 16, 1835, 65

Matthew, Elizabeth and Daughter Agnes Baker are buried at Merrickville Union Protestant Cemetery. I have not found a burial for Matthew's first wife, Ellen. Perhaps she is buried in a Roman Catholic cemetery in the area.