Author Topic: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?  (Read 7383 times)

Offline lunasidhe

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Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« on: Wednesday 23 March 05 16:59 GMT (UK) »
In researching my mothers side of the family, we have found there seems to be a connection between the Sherval and the Gordon names, but are not sure where or what it is.  Any help would be appreciated in where to start looking.

thanks  ;D
a newbie at this
Grant/Watling/Sherval

Offline Bohumil

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Re: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 05 May 05 21:37 BST (UK) »
Hi
Im interested in the Sherval family too through my fathers side.  My folks have done most of the research so Im not familiar with all the names but I dont recognise Gordon (or a Scottish connection) so am very interested.  Our Shervals appear to come from the Reading area, but there are spelling issues the further you go back.  What year are you looking at?
regards
Also a newbie!
Sherval
Luke
Phillips

Offline Scorpius

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Re: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 13 September 05 03:22 BST (UK) »
Where are you from?
I know 3 Sherval brothers, Ernest, William and Arthur, all from Reading, born in the late 19th century.

Ernest died in WWI. William moved to Western Canada but the family lost track of him. As for Arthur, he moved to Kapuskasing, Ontario.

I'm not sure but there may have been other siblings as well.

Oh and we also have the same problems with the spelling of the name the further you go back.

Im pretty sure the name dates back to Huguenot weavers.

Send me a PM if any of this is familiar.

Offline Scorpius

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Re: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 13 September 05 04:28 BST (UK) »
Found another brother!

Frank Sherval, oh and they all lived on Kings Road in Reading.

EDIT: He like the other three brothers fought in WWI. From what I know Ernest was in the Roayl Berkshire Brigade and Frank was in Yomenry.

'Nother EDIT: I probably should add, I'm Ernest's great grandson.


Offline Bohumil

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Re: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 14 September 05 13:25 BST (UK) »
Hello Scorpius
We should probably move this conversation to the Berkshire area!  I never got a reply to the Scottish connection.  I will ask my folks about the four brothers - I suspect I am related through William (I think he is buried in Canada).
Anyway, very interested to hear from you.
Sherval
Luke
Phillips

Offline lunasidhe

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Re: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« Reply #5 on: Monday 10 October 05 17:52 BST (UK) »
Arthur Sherval died in Kapuskasing in 1961 at the age of 80.  His wife was Mabel Helen Higgs and she was born in Reading, England in 26 November 1883, and died in Kapuskasing in 1962 at the age of 78.  My grandmother, Helen Laura Watling  (Sherval) was Arthur Sherval's daughter.  They moved to St Lambert, Quebec from Reading, then to Pembroke, and then North Bay, and finally moved and lived in Kapuskasing.   She married Cedric Stanely Gordon Watling in 1930 or 1931 in Kapuskasing where she lived until her death in April or may of 1996 at the age of 84.   My mother, Jean Mabel Watling, one of two twins born in 1934,  married Robert Donald Grant, and they have three children, brother Michael Gordon Ross Grant born 1953, myself Deborah Jean (Micallef-divorced) Grant 1955, and Katherine Ann Grant 1957.

Arthur also had a son, Donald Sherval, and another daughter Hazel.  Donald died when I very young, leaving behind two children, both of whom live in Kapuskasing still.  Hazel Mary Sherval married John Robinson, lived for many years in Kingston, before they moved back to Kapuskasing, where she died childless in 1995, He had died a few years previous to her death.

Would be interested in any information which you have on the Shervals.  I do know of relatives who used to live in Toronto, not sure where they are at present though, my third cousin Barbara Sherval who married Ivo Uhlir (spelling?) who immegrated from Cheksovakia.  Her fathers name was Alec Sherval, and he lived in england, and served in the Royal Air Force during the war.  His wifes name was Silvia.  Both are deceased for some years now.

Ohh, according to my mom, the Sherval and Gordon names are not related thru Scotland as far as she knows.  She said my great grandfather always said that the Shervals did possibly come from France, and they came over with the Normans when they invaded England.
Grant/Watling/Sherval

Offline Bohumil

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More Sherval Information
« Reply #6 on: Monday 31 October 05 23:55 GMT (UK) »
Further information on the Shervals
The four brothers mentione previously are from this group of siblings.  I dont have Ernest as a first name but it may be Henry using a second name perhaps or one we didnt know about.

Frank b 1874 (His son George worked out of Papua New Guinea for a long while and his two sons Peter and John now live in Australia)
Sarah b 1876
William b 10 Oct 1877 (My great Grandfather, d. 4 Apr 1954 Edmonton Alberta)
Henry b 1879
Arthur b. 1881
Laura b 1883

Their father was William Francis Shervell/Sherval b. 8 Nov 1845 d. 1909
(it is Sherval on the wedding certificate, Shervell is on the birth certificate and may be best guess of registrar's).  His occupation was 'coffee house keeper' of "The British Workman" coffee house, Kings Road, Reading
He was married twice.  We think first wife was Mary Ann died 1872 aged 26.  He then married Laura Willats on 2 June 1873 (she was born 1852 an d Sept 1922)

Now his father was William Sherval/Shervill/Shervell.  On his Marriage certificate (2nd August 1838) he signs it X, ie he cant write, so its Shervill.  He is a Gardener (He is also a gardener on his son's birth certificate but the spelling has changed to Shervell).  He resides at 35 Hosier Street and his father is John Shervill Carpenter.

Things get tantalising with John Shervill, Carpenter.  We have found a John Shurvil or Shorvil, Carpenter of Hurley in the parish register and two marriages.  It appears he marries Elizabeth Goodchild of Medmenham in 1788 then marries Elizabeth House 16 Feb 1801.  X was his mark so spelling again is very variable.  There are a number of London Shervals (see Census of 1901 for a chunk of them living in Camberwell/Bermondsey) and this seems to be where they spring from.  Whether we are connected has been difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt.  One bit of circumstantial evidence is the names William Francis and John reappear very regularly.  Hope this helps.
Regards

Sherval
Luke
Phillips

Offline apanderson

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Re: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 02 November 05 13:43 GMT (UK) »
According to the British Vital Records, there were a few Shivill/Shivell/Sheivill/Shervill families living in Jedburgh in Roxburghshire between 1656 and 1691. (1691 being the last entered birth)

Anne

Offline Bohumil

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Re: Gordon/Sherval what is the connection?
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 02 November 05 23:34 GMT (UK) »
Hi apanderson
Thanks for the post.  Very kind.
Interesting point you raise by finding these Roxburghshire spellings.  I have no idea what the surname means or refers to.  It seems very variable.  I would imagine it would be unusual for there to be a connection between the Reading area and Jedburgh in the 17th cnetury but is there a common root for the surname - an occupation, a village name or even a corruption of another name.  I just do not know.  I came across a  type of soil in Oregon called Sherval but it turned out to be a corruption of Sherman Valley!  The similarity to the French word for horse (Cheval) seems very tenuous as a root.  Norman stable lads anyone?  And as far as I can tell from other sites there is no Hugenot surname thta comes close.
By the by, how do you access the British Vital Record (Indeed, what is the British Vital Record?!?)
Regards
Sherval
Luke
Phillips