August 16, 2010:

Hello Westportians:

I am tracking my elusive great grandfather, John C. Cavanaugh (obituary attached) born in Westport Canada in 1844.
He, his brother and his sister immigrated to Decatur, Illinois, USA, in 1860's: They were:

John C. Cavanaugh b. 1844
Michael Cavanaugh b. 1846
and Lida Cavanaugh (married a Beard) b. ?

On the 1880 Illinois census, it says their father was born in Canada, their mother was born in New York.

On the Canadian geneolgoy forum, Eileen Wilson responded to my query as follows:
Westport is in Crosby Township, Leeds & Grenville County. 

Could this be them in the 1851 census (actually taken in early 1852; ages given as of next birthday):
Cavanaugh, Edward, labourer, b. Canada, no religion, married, aged 38
Cavanaugh, Millissa, b. Canada, E. Methodist, married, aged 24
Cavanaugh, John, b. Canada, aged 8
Cavanaugh, Michael, b. Canada, aged 6
Cavanaugh, Mary, b. Canada, aged 4

If so, then I found the marriage of Edward & Melissa:
Edward Cavanaugh, North Crosby, Johnstown District, yeoman, and Malissa Hubbard, of the same place; 2 October 1841; 
witnesses: William McDonald of Newborough, Johnstown District, merchant, and James Steocus(?), of the same place, 
gentleman.  Johnstown District later became Leeds & Grenville Counties (around 1850)

EILEEN also sent this:
In the 1861 census, I can only find John & Michael, living with other families, working as labourers. 
This would suggest that the parents are deceased, along with Mary (Lida?).
The fact that Michael named his first son, Edward, is a good clue. 
Michael married Amanda Shields in Macon County on 20 April 1873. 
Getting a copy of the marriage record might give you the names of his parents:

MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS: Where online could I find burial records for Edward and Melissa Cavanaugh? Since Edward 
lists "No religion" and Melissa lists "Methodist" What Methodist church would have been in operation in the 
1860's in Westport? Who would I contact for burial info?

L.Brown
a Cavanaugh descendant.


Dear Al,

Yes, I think I did email you about a week ago. You have my permission to start a web page re: Our Cavanaugh family. I have 
a photo of John C. Cavanaugh. and one of his gravestone. I am still searching for other descendants of Michael and Lida. 
I am in contact with several branches of John C. Cavanaugh's descendants via Ancestry.com. However I have not been able to 
find the descendants of Michael and Lida, yet. (Cavanaugh is a common name in the states too.) I am in possession of the 
small trunk John C. brought with him from Westport when he immigrated to the USA. Our family was told that all he owned 
fit into this trunk when he came to Illinois.

Please send me the url so I can pass it on to others who would be interested.

Louann Brown
great, great granddaughter of John C. Cavanaugh