George ARGUE and Mary WILSON
County Cavan, Ireland to Goulbourn Township
March 29, 2002:
Thanks to Robert Telford for alerting us to this fascinating letter!
From: thomas.moffatt@wanadoo.fr
Subject: [IRL-CAVAN-L] Letter 1821 Requesting Emigration
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 19:06:59 +0100
Names : Wiggins, Argue, Hays, Camp (Kemp), McDowl (McDowell), Kenady
(Kennedy), Shannon, Reed, Brownlee, Magee, Linden (Lyndon), Lucas
>From Co Cavan parishes of Castleterra and Annagelliff
The following letter, a grouped request for emigration to Canada has no
visble date, but was written probably close to the 1821 Census (May 28th),
but no later than early 1822.
The goal posts are: There are 11 members of "Wm McDowl"'s family on the
1821 Census, the 12th, Hannah was born in November 1821. Some of the
families on this list, including the "McDowl"s emigrated to Canada as early
in 1822. Provision for the twelfth would only be made if the mother knew
she was pregnant. (Baby Hannah finally only arrived about 5 years later,
still a mystery with whom she travelled and with whom she stayed until
then.)
The spelling is left as is.
-------------------------------
PAC reel 3-880
c.c.384/7 p. 18
To the right hon.: the Earl of Bathurst
commissioner for the Affairs of India &c &c &c
The humble memorial of George Argue himself and others.
Memorial begs leave to state that he has a number of friends in British
America through whom he has rec'd. information that his Majesty's
Government has been graciously pleased to make a provision for the
gratuitous conveyance of his Majesty's Subjects from Great Britain and
Ireland to his Majesty's Settlements in North America.
Memorialist further states that he has been directed to forward to
your Lordship a list of the name of heads of families together with the
number in each family who wish to avail themselves of the present
privilege held out to his Majesty's subjects and that your Lordship
would give directions for their conveyance to North America.
List of names and heads of families.
Names No.in each family
Seragh Wiggins 5
George Argue 8
Thos Hays 10
John Camp (Kemp) 10
Wm. McDowl 12
Thos. Kenady Kennedy 10
Henery Kenady 11
Rebecca Shannon 12
John Argue 12
William Reed 8
John Brownlee 10
Robert Magee 7
John Linden 7
William Lucas 7
James Slone 3
The above named families reside in the Parishes of Casletara and
Anagalph county of Cavan.
I am your Lordships most obt. and very humble servant.
George Argue
Cavan
-------------------------------
Some further information passed on:
William McDowl (McDowell) was a farmer and weaver.
The McDowell family came from Castletara Parish, Drumcaulfin (Drumcalpin)
Townland near the town of Ballyhaise, Cavan County. Their neighbours were the,
Kemp (Camp above), Gamble, Kennedy and Brownlee families all of whom were
Methodist and emigrated to Goulbourn Township, Ontario in 1822.
One of the Kennedy families emigrated in early 1830s (perhaps bringing
Hannah)
William and Margaret Lucas and family were on the same boat as Wm McDowell
and family (name of the boat yet unknown).
Hi Al,
I know your website and have visited it. I don't have
intellectual property on that letter. In fact, Dr. Bruce Elliott of Carleton
U. (you probably know him) is the original source of that letter in the
format I have. It was part of his personal research. The original is in the
Public Archives in Ottawa, so it is public domain information. However if
Bruce Elliott made a mistake in transcribing the information, I have
faithfully reproduced that error in what I posted (unless I mada a mistake
myself). If there is any permission to be given, I guess Bruce Elliott
would be the one to give it. I don't mind being cited if he doesn't want to
field any requests for info.
April 9, 2003: (change of E-mail address)If you want to cite an email address
for me, please use thomas.moffatt@wanadoo.fr which is my home email box.
The letter was used in 2 McDowell Scrapbooks put together in the 1990s
- one done by Avery McDowell (I believe now deceased). which was the
Descendants of William McDowell and Margaret Kennedy, and the other
composed by my mother June Moffatt called the McDowells - A Scrapbook.
Neither of these was for commercial purposes. I think if Mom used it, it
came from Avery's. I'm not sure if Avery had Bruce Elliott's permission to
use it.
When I offered it to Debbie Coxon, she said she already had it. The
memorialist George Argue was/is one of her interests.
I posted the information to the Cavan list some time ago as a possible
aid to others there. You'll have to excuse "demanding" in the title - I
meant requesting, but I've been living in France too long. "Demander" in
French means to ask. I didn't realize I had mixed languages until it was
too late.
Bye for now,
Tom
Dear Al,
Hello and hope all is well.
The details pertaining to my Argue book are as follows:
Although primarily a genealogical outline of over 5200 descendants of George & Mary
(nee Wilson) Argue, the book also includes a photograph of George and
Mary, some factual and historical information pertaining to the family, along with
numerous 'anecdotes' of data such as copies of old wills,
short bios, news items, announcements, etc. pertaining to family members.
The book is 526 pages, soft laminate cover, with spiral binding.
Contact information:
Debbie Prince
264 Alex Doner Drive
Newmarket, Ontario L3X 1H3
Canada
email: dap1956@eastlink.ca
Take care and all the best!
Debbie
April 4, 2002:
See also an Argue family page, which includes a wonderful picture of George and Mary,
which is in Debbie Coxon Prince's book.
(Thanks again, to Robert Telford for letting us know about this link!)
See also the Telford family page.
June 27, 2004:
I am Chris Taylor, descendant of George Argue, from County Cavan, Ireland. I am trying to
find out more information about the Irish side of the Argue and Wilson
families (George was married to Mary Wilson, also of County Cavan). Can
you help me?
Chris
PS - I live in Pasadena, California, USA, but my parents and most of the Argues live
in Pennsylvania and New York.
July 1, 2004:
Hello All:
I know some of you have not talked to me yet; my name is Linda
Magee-Nelson. It is nice to hear from you Christopher and thanks again
Al for your new information. I am not to sure who J Haughton is but I
do know of the Haughtons who are connected to the Magee family. I would
like to hear from you if you are connected to the family it would be
nice talking to you.
The information letter...I seemed to have missed that information
containing my Magee family. Robert Magee who is my Great Great Great
Uncle (he is William Magee's brother who is my "Great Great Great
Grandfather". It states in the letter that Robert Magee (Great Great
Great Uncle had a family of 7 I am confused a bit by this he must have
brought other people with him. He had a family of 3 children and his
wife and himself that would make him a family of 5 not 7. I do not know
the story of who came over with who in 1821 or beginning of 1822.
List of names and heads of families.
Names No.in each family
Seragh Wiggins 5
George Argue 8
Thos Hays 10
John Camp (Kemp) 10
Wm. McDowl 12
Thos. Kenady 10
Henery Kenady 11**************I do have these kennedys
Rebecca Shannon 12
John Argue 12
William Reed 8
John Brownlee 10
Robert Magee 7 **************This is my G,G,G,Uncle.
John Linden 7
William Lucas 7
James Slone 3
The above named families reside in the Parishes of Casletara and
Anagalph county of Cavan.
I was looking up with these records before but to no avail did I find
anything. I have contacted the Pritchards and another family and it
seems something was brought up about Redhills Co. Cavan. Has anyone
heard of this or found any more information about this? Is Redhills in
the Parish of Casletara or Anagalph? I don't seem to have a map of the
Parish information.
Chris as for your Argue family I cannot seem to find your family in any
of my books. I have seen it on the Bytown or Bust website but that is
all that I have seemed to have found for now. If I come across anything
else or if you do, feel free to email me.
I sure would like to find out more.
If you know of anyone else that wants to chat tell him or her to email
me. Take Care!
Linda
Canada
__________________________
Note: Debbie Coxon Prince has written a complete history of the pioneer family of
George Argue and Mary Wilson.
January 31, 2005:
New E-mail address for Debbie Coxon Prince: dap1956@eastlink.ca
March 11, 2006:
Hello all,
I am trying to assist a relation with an Armstrong query.
Elizabeth "Ann" Armstrong as outlined below, married Silas Argue. I am
trying to find the names of Elizabeth "Ann"'s parents. Wondering if anyone
might be able to assist?
Descendants of Elizabeth "Ann" Armstrong
1 Elizabeth "Ann" Armstrong b: 1852 in Clarendon Township, Pontiac
County, Quebec d: November 27, 1873 in Stittsville, Goulbourn Township,
Carleton County, Ontario Burial: Stittsville United Cemetery,
Stittsville, Ontario
. +Silas Argue b: August 16, 1843 in Goulbourn Township, Carleton County,
Ontario d: May 20, 1913 in Stittsville, Goulbourn Township, Carleton County,
Ontario m: November 22, 1872 in Clarendon, Pontiac County, Quebec Father:
Robert Argue Mother: Elizabeth Armstrong Burial: Stittsville United
Cemetery, Stittsville, Ontario
Many thanks,
Debbie Prince
April 21, 2008:
I am writing you because I am absolutely stumped to uncover who the
parents were of my gg grandmother Elizabeth Ann Armstrong, wife of George's
son Robert Argue of Goulbourn. It is surprising that their son Silas was
also married to an Elizabeth Ann Armstrong, daughter of Wm B Armstrong and
Ann Murphy of Clarendon. I think Wm B's father was John who originally
settled in Goulbourn/Huntley then moved to Clarendon, although one set of
info says Wm B Armstrong's father was George.
Do you happen to know of any Robert Argue descendants or researchers? I have
been in touch with Debbie Prince.
Here is the current information I have:
Robert Argue
Robert Argue, son of the original Goulbourn George, was born Feb 1810 in
County Cavan, Ire: died November 24, 1892 in Stittsville. He married Elizabeth
Armstrong January 15, 1834 in Stittsville, Ontario; she was born ab. 1814 in Goulbourn
Township or Ireland, Ontario, died December 10, 1894, buried in United
Cemetery, Stittsville, Ontario. (I cannot find a record of her death
registration and would dearly like to find it.)
In 1881 Robert and wife Elizabeth were living with their son Silas along
with the second wife of Silas, Mary Gavin, and family:
Marriage Record:
ARGUE, Robert, to Elizabeth Armstrong of Huntley, 15 Jan 1834, Huntley,
Rev. Williams, Witnesses: William Argue and Archibald McGee / Magee. (Marriage
Records of Upper Canada/Canada West Bathurst District 1831 - 1852 by Dan
Walker and Robert W. Calder, Volume 5, page 12.)
"Robert made his home on Lot 24, Concession 9.
"When Robert's two sons, Silas (1843-1913) and William grew up, he gave
Silas the homestead and William (1835-1913) occupied the lot to the east.
Silas Argue, son of Robert, born August 16, 1843 in Goulbourn Township,
Carleton County, Ontario and died May 20, 1913 in Stittsville. He first
married Elizabeth Ann Armstrong November 22, 1872 in Clarendon, Pontiac County,
Quebec.
+ Elizabeth "Ann" Armstrong born 1852 in Clarendon Township, Pontiac,
County, Quebec and died November 27, 1873 in Stittsville, Goulbourn
Township, Carleton County, Ontario shortly after having her first and only
child, Albert Benson Argue November 10 1873. She is buried in United
Cemetery Stittsville. Baptism records show Elizabeth Ann Armstrong
was daughter of Wm B Armstrong and his wife Ann Murphy of Clarendon Que.
E-mail Debbie Coxon Prince, Tom Moffatt, Robert Telford, Chris Taylor, Linda, Corinne and Al Lewis
Back to Bytown or Bust - History and Genealogy in the Ottawa area