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M George L. Evans

Heiraten und Kinder

Notizen

Hinweis zur Person

County Marriage Registers of Ontario, Canada 1858-1869 Volume 35 Essex County, Elizabeth Hancocks, 1998, Generation Press, Agincourt, ON:
Evans George, 25, Mersea, England, s/o James & Sarah, married 29 Oct 1861 Mary Ann Jeffrey, 20, Gosfield, Gosfield, d/o Matthew & Margaret.

Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1905, p. 300-301:
George L. Evans, a well known farmer and stock raiser of Mersea township, was born March 15, 1836, in the parish of Croxton, Staffordshire, England, a son of James and Sarah (Develle) Evans.
     James Evans was born Dec. 15, 1810, in Staffordshire, where he was reared, and was a maltster and publichouse keeper for many years. In 1836, with his family, he set sail for America, arriving safely at New York after a voyage of seven weeks. His objective point was the County of Wellington, Ont., which point was reached via Buffalo. Mr. Evans purchased a farm of 100 acres, and this he farmed until 1893, when he retired, going to Guelph, where he died in 1891, followed in May, 1903, by his widow, whose death took place in Toronto; she was born in Staffordshire May 4, 1814. Both were buried in Kirkland cemetery, in the county of Wellington. They were consistent members of the Methodist Church, and he was a stanch Liberal in politics. They had fourteen children (of whom but five are living): George L.; Joseph, who died in 1888 in Mersea township; Smith, the farmer on the homestead; James, engaged in a grocery business at Leamington; Elizabeth, deceased, who married Jeremiah Woodhouse; Sarah, who married William Broughton; Ann J., wife of J. C. McLain, of Toronto; the others all died in infancy.
     George L. Evans was three months old when his parents emigrated from England. Settling as they did in a veritable wilderness, the children of the family had almost no educational opportunities. He remained assisting his father until of age, and then went to the County of Oxford and made his home with his uncle, Samuel Evans, whom he assisted for three and a half years, receiving $150 a year in wages. As he was enabled to save $100 a year during this time, an idea may be formed of the economy which he practiced. With this capital he came in 1860 to the County of Essex, and found employment with Charles Wigle, of Gosfield township, with whom he remained a year, and then bought a tract of land of fify acres in Mersea township, which is now the homestead. Twenty acres of this land had been cleared, and here he built a log house and made improvements, clearing up the remainder of the land and later adding fifty acres. Mr. Evans has now one of the best cultivated farms in Mersea township. Much of it had to be drained, at an enormous cost, but in spite of this he has prospered wonderfully. For forty-two years he has lived here, and the result of his hard work and provident saving must be very gratifying for him. In 18?1 he built his fine brick residence, which is of handsome and substantial appearance.
     On Oct. 29, 1861, in Gosfield, Mr. Evans married Mary Ann Jeffery, who was born in that township, Jan. 25, 1841, daughter of Matthew and Margaret (Thornton) Jeffery, highly respected citizens of Gosfield township, who were born in Nova Scotia and Manchester, England, respectively. Mr. Jeffery died on the Gosfield homestead, and his widow still resides there. Mrs. Evans is a most estimable lady, and has been of the greatest assistance to her husband. Four children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy, the survivor being Ruby Sarah, now the wife of S. G. Morse, a leading business man of Leamington. In politics Mr. Evans is a Liberal, and he has served as school trustee and roadmaster. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Church.
     The Jeffery family is of Scottish extraction and was founded in America by John Jeffery, prior to the American Revolution. At the time the Colonies rebelled against the Mother Country he was determined in his loyalty, and about 1775 removed to Nova Scotia. Here he became a soldier in the army of Lord Cornwallis. After the close of the war he settled in Ontario, working at his trade of ship blacksmith and iron worker, later settling on a farm in the County of York, where he died.
     Mathew Jeffery, son of John, was born Oct. 10, 1810, while the family resided in Nova Scotia, and accompanied his parents to the County of York. Like his father he showed his loyalty by serving in the army during the rebellion of 1837-38. Later he removed to the County of Essex and settled in Gosfield township, where he acquired a farm of 500 acres. This was valuable land, heavily timbered, and his whole life was spent in clearing and cultivating the property. He was a stanch Reformer and always worked for the success of his party and was deeply interested in the advancement of education and reform. In religious connection he was a member of the Baptist Church. His death occurred in December, 1895.
     Mathew Jeffery married Margaret Thornton, a resident of Oakville, County of York, but a native of Manchester, England, born Aug. 6, 1813. She still survives, at the age of ninety-one years, making her home with her son, James P. She is one of the most venerable ladies in the vicinity, and, with remarkably clear mind, recalls the early days of this section. A consistent member of the Baptist Church for more than half a century, she has reared her children in the same faith. She is the mother of fourteen children, named as follows: Henry died young; Mary is deceased; George is a farmer and stock raiser of Mersea township; Edgar is deceased; Mary Ann, born Jan. 25, 1841, is the wife of George L. Evans, a farmer near Leamington; Henry Perry is a well known farmer of Blytheswood, Mersea township; Edgar is a resident of Mersea township; Josephine is the wife of Peter Hutchinson of Mersea township; John is a farmer of Mersea township; Katherine is the wife of Alexander Lang, of Detroit, Michigan; James P. is on the homestead; Damaris and two others died in infancy.