Descendants of George Evans Sr. (1770 - 1826)

  1. Col. Delacey Evans, b. ca. 1725 in Ireland, m. Jane Wilson, ca. 1760 in Ireland, d. 1805 in Ireland, Buried in Ireland

    1. Alexander Evans , b. aft. 1760 in County Cavan, Ireland, d. Ireland

    2. Thomas Evans , b. aft. 1761 in Killashanda, Cavan County, Ireland, Emigrated ca. 1823 in to Troy, NY, USA

    3. George Evans, b. 1770 in County Cavan, Ireland (Laheen), d. 1826 in West half Lot 14, Con 10, West Gwillimbury, Ontario, Emigrated in Durham County, Ontario, Canada, Moved with family to West bef. 1826 in Simcoe County, Gwillimbury West, Ontario, Buried 1826 in Simcoe County, Ontario

      Place of residence: West Half, Lot 14, Con 10, West Gwillimbury, Ontario
      George Evans was born in 1770, near Killeshandra, County Cavan, Ireland about 65 miles north and east of Dublin. He married in about 1796, in Ireland, CATHERINE ARNOLD born about 1778. Catherine's father was Robert Arnold of Cullies, County Cavan, born about 1740. The Arnold family were originally French Huguenots, who lived in southern France and who fled to Ireland to escape religious persecution in the 1600's.

      In 1818, George and his family of nine children came to Upper Canada. They sailed from Belfast and spent thirteen weeks aboard ship. In his book "The History of the Evans/Cook Family", Clarence H. Evans speculates that George Evans must have been a person of some financial means, either from the sale of Irish Property or because he did well off of the war of 1812, as many Irish had. He was able to pay for eleven passages to Canada and buy land shortly after arriving. By 1814, the 1812 War was over and it was considered safe to travel the high seas. Immigration to the new world was inviting and perhaps George and Catherine were tired of living on the cramped and small holdings of Ireland and longed for the greater freedom and opportunities of Upper Canada.

      The family first settled in Dunany, Argenteuil, Quebec. George's brothers, William and Richard and his sister Rachel also settled and eventually remained in Dunany.  However, George and his family decided to move on and they spent three weeks sailing down the St. Lawrence on a Durham boat and on Lake Ontario until they reached Liitle York (Toronto). They then made their way to Cavan Township, Durham County, Ontario, where they settled for a few years.

      In his book, the History of Simcoe County, Andrew F. Hunter writes: "George Evans and family came to this neighborhood about the year 1826 from Durham County, Ontario, where they had settled upon coming from County Caven, Ireland a few years earlier. In this family there were seven sons: - John, William, Thomas, James, George, Samuel and Arnold; also two daughters: - Jane and Catharine. James remained on the original homestead, lot 14, con. 10. A son of the latter was George M. Evans, who was reeve of West Gwillimbury for some years, and Warden of the County in 1883.Zachariah Evans, who was clerk of the township for more than 21 years, and who died in 1906, was the third son of James Evans."

      Eventually, the two farms on the 10th line were farmed by grandsons of George, namely George and Zachariah, sons of George's second eldest son, James.

      George's last will dated was dated 1826 and is as follows:

      "In the Name of God, Amen, I, George Evins, of the Township of West Gwillimbury and thenth concession and fourteenth lot in the Province of Upper Canada, Farmer. Being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God. Calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that is is appointed for all Men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but a the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such wordly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

      First I give and bequeath to my Sons George and James Evins this said lot of land in the tenth concession, but the(y) are to support my wife Catherine Evins as long as she lives off this said farm of land, also they are to support my daughter Jain Evins off this said farm of land till she changes her situation in life; also my other two sons, Samuel and Arnold Evins, must be supported off this farm of land to such times as they are able to earn their own living. Also I give and bequeath to my son John Evins one English Shilling. Also I give and bequeath to my son William Evins one English Shilling. Also I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Evins one English Shilling. I, George Evins Senior, acknowledge this to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousnd eight hundred and twenty-six.

      Signed Sealed by the said George Evins
      as his last will and testatment in the his
      presence of us and in his presence and                                                          GEORGE X EVINS
      in the presence of each other have mark
      hereunto subscribed our names.

      Witnesses: M. M. Moriarty
                           John Doan

      Children: (Note: Clicking on the name of each of the children will take you to a page with their descendants)

      1. John Evans, b. 1797 in County Cavan, Ireland, d. 3 February 1860 in Essa Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, m. Margaret Greer, Buried 1860 in St. Paul's Anglican Cemetery, Coulson's Hill, Ontario ...

      2. James Evans, b. 1800 in County Cavan, Ireland, m. Ann Mitchell, 12 March 1829 in Emily Township, Ontario, d. 21 October 1882 in Bradford, Ontario, Census in 1881, Employment as farmer, Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford, Ontario, m. Ann Mitchell,, cause of death infirmation of old age ...

      3. Catherine Evans, b. 1802 in Laheen, Killeshandra Parish, County Cavan, Ireland, m. George Bowles (2) in Bradford, Ontario, Christened 31 October 1802 in Laheen, Killeshandra Parish, County Cavan, Ireland ...

      4. Thomas Evans, b. 1803 in County Cavan, Ireland, m. Jane Elizabeth Bowles, 1820 in Ireland, d. 1851 in Emily Township, Ontario, Military duty in Listed in militia nominal rolls for 1828-9 ...

      5. William Evans, b. 1806 in Ireland, d. 20 February 1856, Buried in St. Paul's Anglican Cemetery, Coulson's Hill, Ontario, m. Margaret Harrison ...

      6. George Evans (2), b. 1808 in County Cavan, Ireland, m. Elizabeth 'Bessie' Robinson, 8 March 1831, Employment as farmer, m. Elizabeth 'Bessie' Robinson, ...

      7. Jane Evans, b. 1810 in Laheen, County Cavan, Ireland, m. George Ferguson, 12 July 1839, d. 1897, Census in 1881, Christened 3 April 1810 in Laheen, County Cavan, Ireland ...

      8. Samuel Evans, b. 1810 in County Cavan, Ireland, m. Jane Fallis, 11 October 1832, d. 5 October 1848 in Cavan Township, Durham County, Ontario, Employment as farmer, Christened 3 April 1810 in Laheen, County Cavan, Ireland, cause of death consumption ...

      9. Arnold Evans, b. 6 April 1815 in County Cavan, Ireland, d. 6 October 1899 in Courtright, Ontario, Census in 1881, Employment as farmer, m. Ann Eliza 'Liza' Porter, Christened 16 April 1816 in Laheen, County Cavan, Ireland ...

    4. Rachel Evans, b. 1776 in County Cavan, Ireland, d. 1852 in Ontario, m. William Boyd, Emigrated ca. 1823 in to Dunany, Quebec, Buried 1852 in Ontario

    5. William Evans , b. 1794 in Ireland, d. 10 September 1867 in Lakefield, Argenteuil, Quebec, m. Elizabeth Patterson, Death of spouse Elizabeth 17 July 1856, Buried 1867 in Lakefield, Argenteuil, Quebec

      1. Thomas Evans , b. 1820, d. 1886, m. Sydney Charlotte Moore ...
      2. Isabella Evans , b. 1826, m. Robert Dawson ...
      3. Ann Evans, b. 1830, d. 1910, m. John Boyd ...
      4. William Jr. Evans, b. 1834, m. Mary Philps, m. Elizabeth Pierson ...
      5. Alexander Evans, b. 1838, d. 1909 ...
      6. Richard Evans , b. 1840, d. 1914, m. Sarah Ann Hamilton ...

    6. Richard Evans (3), b. 1796 in County Cavan, Ireland (Laheen), m. Jane Bailey in Ireland, m. Charlotte Pogue, aft. 1830 in Argenteuil, Quebec, d. 5 February 1861 in Quebec, Canada, Emigrated 1823 in Argenteuil, Quebec, Buried in Lachute, Quebec

      1. Phoebe Evans, b. 6 June 1818, d. 1915, m. Richard Henders ...
      2. William Evans , b. 1819, d. 1897, m. Margaret Lang ...
      3. Elizabeth Evans , b. 1824, d. 1901, m. John Coe ...
      4. Isabella Evans, b. 1826
      5. George Evans , b. 1827
      6. Margaret Evans , b. 1831
      7. Richard Jr. Evans, b. 1833, d. 1917, m. Mary Boyd ...
      8. John James Evans, b. 1835, d. 1915, m. Margaret Drysdale ...
      9. Robert William Evans, b. 1837, d. 1893, m. Mary Jane Vart ...
      10. Harriet Evans, b. 1839, d. 1882, m. Robert Hicks ...
      11. Samuel Evans , b. 1842, d. 1908, m. Elizabeth Dawson ...
      12. Thomas Ephraim Evans, b. 1846, d. 1884, m. Jane Pollock ...
      13. Isabella Evans, b. 1849


Descendant report created by Gene 4.3.4, Tue, Sep 24, 2002


Back to Paternal