Shevelan or Shovelan

[Pontop]

I am looking for any info in Monaghan on Owen Shevelan (or Shovelan) who married a Catherine McKeogh (or McGurk) born in Louth.  All I know of Felix's age that he was a lad about 5 years old on the night of the big wind.

They had a daughter Mary in 1846 who is shown on the 1851 Census of Conside-cum-Knitsley (Berry Edge) now known as Consett as being born in Monaghan. 

Felix left Monaghan for Consett in County Durham about 1947/48 and Catherine and the children left later for Liverpool and walked to Consett where she arrived in 1849/50.

Edited to correct name from Felix to Owen.  Got GGranfathers names mixed up.

[aghadowey]

The Big Wind was in 1839 making Felix born c1834 in that case couldn't have a daughter Mary in 1846. Could the 5 year old Felix have been a brother of Mary's?

Unfortunately it looks like all the family left Ireland before the start of civil registration.
To find Irish ancestors for such an early period you need to see if church records exist.
Have a look at Introduction to Irish Records and My Ancestor came from Ireland - where do I start?.

[Pontop]

Thank you aghadowey for letting me know the date for the night of "the Big Wind".  It was my mother who told me the story 30 years ago before I started searching.  I may have misheard her and he was 15 which would fit better.  Felix's age varies on every Census from 1851.   I know Mary's birth date is correct and my ancestor Rose was born in Consett in March 1851.

[Mr J T Arthur]

If he marriage took place in Ireland and Catherine was from Louth, the Shovelins (many variant forms) where likely to be from one of the adjacent Monaghan parishes and indeed two Catholic parishes Inniskeen and Killanny span both counties where Shevelins dwelt and it was from these parishes that a large amount of families emigrated to Consett to work in the newly established ironworks so I would concentrate your research in that district.

The Night of the Big Wind, 6th January 1839, was exactly 70 years earlier than the introduction of the Old Age Pension for over 70 year olds, 1st January 1909 and those elderly Irish who weren't sure of their age could determine it by whether they were born before or after the The Night of the Big Wind, but because they could not prove it with a birth certificate, as registration did not commence  until 1864 and many baptismal records were lost during the Famine they could apply for a search of the 1841 and 1851 census returns to prove their age. Some of these census records have survived and are a wonderful source if you are one of the lucky ones whose records have survived.

Good luck
J.T.A.

[Pontop]

I am lucky in knowing some information passed down by word of mouth and then backed up by census info and Church records in Consett area.  However I have no real idea where they came from such as a town or parish.  Thank you for the clues.  Owen and Catherine were my GGGrandparents.

Owen
1851 Census shows age 28 (Born 1823) 79 Berry Edge
1861 Census shows age 41 (Born 1820) 79 Consett
1871 Census shows age 56 (Born 1815) 79 Iron Works Cottages Consett
1881 Census shows age 64 (Born 1817) 39 Princes Street Consett
1891 Census not Shown, Presumed died but not yet found the records

Oral Story states that Owen left Ireland escorting horses to Siloth.  They they been told to get out or be burnt out.
He then continued across to Consett where he obtained work at the newly developed Consett Iron Works.  He did not know his exact age and used to say he was a boy about 15 years old the night of the big wind.  The night of "The Big Wind"

First trace in N.W. Durham as Godfather to Mary Campbell Born 5 April 1849 Daughter of Michael Campbell and Alice Rourke.  Baptized in St. Cuthberts Chapel, The Brooms on 25 May 1849

Catherine
1851 Census shows age 27 (Born 1824) 79 Berry Edge
1861 Census shows age 38 (Born 1823) 79 Consett
1871 Census shows age 50 (Born 1821) 79 Iron Works Cottages Consett
Place of birth is shown as Ireland Louth
1881 Census shows age 57 (Born 1824) 39 Princes Street Consett

Holy picture has name Katie Shevlan written on it

They lived in the same house just it kept getting the address changed.

Their daughter Mary was born in 1843 in Monaghan  She Married John McGeoghan 22 June 1866 in Blackhill near Consett and lived 2 streets away from her parents.

Catherine walked from Liverpool to Consett.  She was reported to be carrying a child which died on the road and was burries somewhere on route.  I don't know if she was pregnant or the child was an infant.

Rose my GGrandmother was the first child born in England in March 1851

[Mr J T Arthur]

All the early Shevlins who settled Consett as far as I know came from the parish of Killanny.

Are you sure your ancestor landed Dublin as that was a long way round; quickest way to get to Consett by foot and boat was to sail from Dundalk to one of the Cumberland ports. Liverpool would be miles out of the way.

Good luck
J.T.A.

[Pontop]

Thanks for the reply JT Arthur.

The story told me by my mother was that Owen took the route by Cumberland, but that Catherine went to Liverpool.  There are other Shevelan's in Liverpool and she and her daughter (Mary born 1843) then walked to Consett to join him.  I presume there must have been others with her.

The Shevelan's in Liverpool later dropped the second "e" and are now Shevlan  I spoke to a descendant a few years ago and got that info.  Other members of my Shevelan branch are in Manchester and Settle in Yorkshire or are still in or within a few miles of Consett.

The other bit is that my mother told me (from a conversation with my Grandfather) was the the family had French connections and that they came to Ireland from France because of the revolution.  She thought is was to escape the French revolution but I now wonder if it was in connection with the Irish Revolution in 1798.  She thought the name was originally Chevelan.  Interestingly the Liverpool Shevelan is first recorded as Pierre Shevelan.

[Pontop]

If he marriage took place in Ireland and Catherine was from Louth, the Shovelins (many variant forms) where likely to be from one of the adjacent Monaghan parishes and indeed two Catholic parishes Inniskeen and Killanny span both counties where Shevelins dwelt and it was from these parishes that a large amount of families emigrated to Consett to work in the newly established ironworks so I would concentrate your research in that district.

The Night of the Big Wind, 6th January 1839, was exactly 70 years earlier than the introduction of the Old Age Pension for over 70 year olds, 1st January 1909 and those elderly Irish who weren't sure of their age could determine it by whether they were born before or after the The Night of the Big Wind, but because they could not prove it with a birth certificate, as registration did not commence  until 1864 and many baptismal records were lost during the Famine they could apply for a search of the 1841 and 1851 census returns to prove their age. Some of these census records have survived and are a wonderful source if you are one of the lucky ones whose records have survived.

Good luck
J.T.A.

Thanks for the tip I will have to have a look at the 1941 Census.

[aghadowey]

Extracts of 1841 and 1851 census appear in Pension Claims. The actual census records don't survive.