The MacGoverns are better known in history as Magauran. Both forms are phonetic approximations of the Irish Mag Shamhradhain, since MH is pronounced V in some places and W in others. The G of Govern thus comes from the last letter of the prefix Mag, which is used before vowels and aspirates instead of the usual Mac. The eponymous ancestor was Samhradhan, who lived circa 1100 at the time surnames came into being. This man was descended from Eocgadh (fl. eighth century) whence the territory of the MacGoverns or Magaurans was called Teallach Eochaidh - now Tullyhaw - in north-west Cavan. There is a village called Ballymagauran in that area. The leading families of the sept were allied by marriage to the Maguires, O'Rourkes and other powerful families of that part of Ireland and are frequently mentioned in the Annals during the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries. Ballymagauran in Tullyhaw was burned by Maguire in 1481 for an allegedly dishonourable act by the Magauran of the day. "The Book of the Magaurans" is one of the famous old Gaelic manuscripts. Though the form Magauran is still used to some extent, MacGovern is much more numerous nowadays. It is chiefly found in its original habitat, north Cavan, and the adjacent counties of Leitrim and Fermanagh.

Early Pioneer Settlers

of the neighbouring Townships of King, York County and Tecumseth, Simcoe County, in and around the vicinity of Lloydtown, Ontario

and of Albion Township, Peel County, Ontario

Emigrated from Co. Cavan, Ireland

Before 1830

GGG Grandmother, Winnifred McGOVERN and an apparent four siblings discovered to date, Michael, Daniel, Hugh and John, were present in Ontario by 1830 when the earliest baptisms of Ontario born children are found recorded.
 
 

1. Winnifred McGOVERN [....-....] m James MARSHALL, Sr. [1801-1861] having eight known children:

i. Ann MARSHALL [1823-1883] m Thomas HUGHES, Sr. [1809-1879] having eight children:

a. Catherine HUGHES [c1841-....] m John O'LEARY [1835-....] s/o Patrick O'Leary & Hanora Carey

b. William HUGHES [1842-1904] m Mary Jean FINNERTY [1847-....] d/o Michael Finnerty & Elizabeth Rossney

c. Ann HUGHES [1844-....] m James McGOEY [c1847-....] s/o Patrick "Ned" McGoey & Margaret Carroll

d. Mary HUGHES [1846-1925] m Patrick "Paul" McCABE [1841-1923] s/o John McCabe & Jane Lowry

e. James HUGHES [1849-1907] m Ann CURRAN [1862-1939] d/o John Curran & Elizabeth Murphy

f. Margaret HUGHES [1852-1941]

g. Thomas HUGHES, Jr. [1857-....]

h. Monica HUGHES [1859-....] m William WALLACE [1852-....] s/o Edward Wallace & Frances Cromer
 
 

ii. John MARSHALL, Sr. [c1830-1857] m Mary WALLACE [1831-....] d/o Edward Wallace & Frances Cromer, having one known child:

a. John MARSHALL, Jr. [1858-1943] m Elizabeth FINNERTY [1851-1919] d/o John Finnerty & Anne Grogan
 
 

iii. William MARSHALL [1830-1896] m Mary MULLEN [c1840-1908] Having four known children:

a. John Francis MARSHALL [1872-1879]

b. William Francis MARSHALL [1873-1879]

c. Rose Mary MARSHALL [1875-1933] m Patrick Daniel KING [1870-1943]

d. Elizabeth Winnifred MARSHALL [1882-1918] m Michael "Ambrose" TRAINOR [1878-....] s/o Michael Trainor & Ellen Curtis
 
 

iv. Mary Jane MARSHALL [1832-1915] m Thomas PRIOR [1812-1904] having nine children:

a. Ann PRIOR [1857-1932] m George Christian KEOGH [1861-1905]

b. Patrick PRIOR [1858-1946]

c. Dennis PRIOR [1864-....] m Ann KEENAN [1864-....] d/o John Keenan & Mary Harkins

d. Mary Winnifred PRIOR [1864-1884]

e. Margaret Jane PRIOR [1866-....] m Timothy McCARTHY [....-....] s/o William McCarthy & Bridget Kean

f. Isabella PRIOR [1868-1949] m John O'LEARY [1855-1926] s/o Humphrey O'Leary & Abigail McCarty

g. Catherine PRIOR [1871-1950] m John FINNERTY [1866-1945] s/o Patrick Finnerty & Hannah Fitzpatrick

h. Bridget PRIOR [1873-....]

i. Thomas Peter PRIOR [1875-....] m Bridget MORRISSEY [....-....] d/o Thomas Morrissey & Rose McCarthy
 
 

v. Catherine MARSHALL [c1836-....] m Owen McGOVERN [c1825-....] s/o Michael McGovern & Ellen Golden (written as Gordon on some records), having two known children:

a. Mary Anne McGOVERN [1875-....]

b. Ellen McGOVERN [1877-....]

vi. James MARSHALL, Jr. [c1836-1899] m Elizabeth BRENNAN [1837-1882] d/o Martin Brennan & Catherine unknown, having thirteen children:

a. Alexandria MARSHALL [....-....]

b. William MARSHALL [....-....]

c. Catherine MARSHALL [1863-1894] m W. John HEARNE [....-....]

d. John James MARSHALL [1865-1950]

e. Michael Francis MARSHALL [1867-....]

f. Mary MARSHALL [1867-1932] m Michael COLEMAN [1860-1928] s/o Dennis Coleman & Katherine "Ann" Kenan

g. Elizabeth MARSHALL [1869-1953] m John Thomas McELROY [1870-1936] s/o Henry McElroy & Ann Burns

h. Margaret Anne MARSHALL [1870-1926] m Joseph COLEMAN [....-....] s/o Dennis Coleman & Katherine "Ann" Kenan

i. Agnes Cecilia MARSHALL [1874-1916] m John TRAINOR, Jr. [1870-1921] s/o John Trainor, Sr. & Helen O'Neill

j. M. F. MARSHALL [1875-1876]

k. Theresa MARSHALL [1877-1962] m John (Russell?) WALDRON [....-....]

l. Alice Josephine MARSHALL [1878-1917]

m. William Alexander MARSHALL [1881-1881]
 
 

vii. Sarah MARSHALL [1836-....]
 
 

viii. Winnifred MARSHALL [1844-....] m William (Thomas) HOGG [1845-....] s/o Samuel Hogg & Mary Maguire, having one known child:

a. Agnes HOGG [c1874-....] m James RYAN [c1868-....] s/o Thomas Ryan & Mary O'Leary
 
 

2. Michael McGOVERN, Sr. [1791-1856] m Ellen GOLDEN (written as Gordon on some records) [1801-1871] having eleven children:

i. James McGOVERN [....-....] m Margaret WALLACE [....-....] having one known child:

a. Mary E. McGOVERN [1878-1977] m Hugh LANGLEY [1863-1938]

ii. Owen McGOVERN [c1825-....] m Catherine MARSHALL [c1836-....] d/o James Marshall, Sr. & Winnifred McGovern, having two known children:

a. Mary Anne McGOVERN [1875-....]

b. Ellen McGOVERN [1877....]

iii. Sarah McGOVERN [....-....] m Robert John FOSTER [....-....]
 
 

iv. Margaret McGOVERN [....-....]
 
 

v. Eleanor (Ellen) McGOVERN [1832-....] m James O'HARA [....-....] s/o Patrick O'Hara & Margaret Cleary
 
 

vi. Anne McGOVERN [1833-1910] m Martin FLOOD [1833-1865]
 
 

vii. Rose McGOVERN [1835-....]
 
 

viii. Michael McGOVERN, Jr. [c1839-1920] m Catherine McNAMARA [1842-1890] d/o Michael McNamara & Catherine Murphy, having seven known children:

a. Josephine McGOVERN [1866-1901] m Francis "Frank" MORAN [....-....]

b. Thomas J. McGOVERN [1867-1867]

c. Eleanor (Ellen) McGOVERN 1869-1942] m Stephen "Ambrose" O'LEARY [1870-1936] s/o Humphrey O'Leary & Abigail McCarty

d. Mary C. "Minnie" McGOVERN [1872-1956]

e. Julia "Ann" McGOVERN [1877-....] m Francis "Frank" MORAN [1875-....] s/o Thomas Moran & Mary McAnnally

f. James McGOVERN [1878-....] m Isabella HANNIVAN [1876-....] d/o Patrick Hannivan & Mary Ann Spencer

g. Francis M. McGOVERN [1879-1952] m Rose Bridget HESLIN [1887-1965]
 
 
 
 

ix. Patrick McGOVERN [1839-1901] m Catherine McGOVERN [1841-1918] having nine children:

a. Michael Joseph McGOVERN [1866-1939] m Mary Bernadette "Ettie" DALEY [1877-1913] d/o John Daly & Margaret Heslin

b. Mary Ann McGOVERN [1867-1956] m James YOUNG [....-....]

c. Ellen McGOVERN [1870-1908] m Michael SKELTON, Jr. [1872-1949] s/o Michael Skelton, Sr. and Ann Doyle

d. Mary Jane McGOVERN [1873-....]

e. Hugh "Patrick" McGOVERN [1874-....] m Margaret E. MAHER [1888-1913] d/o James Maher & Sarah Dorothy "Dora" Doyle

f. James McGOVERN [1876-....] m Sarah Jane unknown [....-....]

g. Thomas McGOVERN [1878-1898]

h. Francis McGOVERN [1884-1911]

i. Augustine McGOVERN [1885-....]

x. John McGOVERN [1845-1866]
 
 

xi. Thomas McGOVERN [1847-1898]
 
 

3. Daniel McGOVERN, Sr. [1812-1888] m Mary DOYLE [....-1900] d/o Hugh Doyle & Ann Dignan, having seventeen children:

i. Edward McGOVERN [1838-1872] m Mary (Sarah) STUBBS [1839-....] d/o James Stubbs & Ann Bushel, having two children:

a. Unknown Daughter McGOVERN [....-....] m unknown McDONALD [....-....]

b. Unknown Daughter McGOVERN [....-....]

ii. John McGOVERN [1839-....] m Ann STUBBS [....-....] d/o James Stubbs & Ann Bushel having two known children:

a. William Benjamin McGOVERN [1880-....]

b. Daniel Albert Francis McGOVERN [1884-....]
 
 

iii. Mary Ann McGOVERN [c1842-1926] m John OSBORNE, Sr. [....-....] having nine children:

a. John OSBORNE, Jr. [....-....]

b. Sylvester "Vess" OSBORNE [....-....]

c. Edward OSBORNE [....-....]

d. Unknown Son OSBORNE [....-....]

e. Unknown Son OSBORNE [....-....]

f. Ann OSBORNE [....-....] m John BRENNAN [....-....]

g. Unknown Daughter OSBORNE [....-....]

h. Unknown Daughter OSBORNE [....-....]

i. Unknown Daughter OSBORNE [....-....]

iv. Eliza McGOVERN [1842-1924] m (1) John KELLY [....-aft.1867] having one child:

a. Mary Ann KELLY [1867-....] m Edward CLARKSON [....-1895]

& m (2) Patrick CONAHAN [....-....]
 
 

v. Jane McGOVERN [1845-1911] m Peter HEALEY [c1831-....] s/o Michael Healey & Rose Maguire, having four known children:

a. John HEALEY [....-....]

b. Rose HEALEY [....-....]

c. Mary HEALEY [....-....]

d. Ambrose HEALEY [....-....]
 
 

vi. Thomas McGOVERN [1847-1903] m unknown SHEEHAN [....-....] having three children:

a. Unknown Daughter McGOVERN [....-....]

b. Thurlow McGOVERN [....-....]

c. Lovinia McGOVERN [....-....]
 
 

vii. Hugh McGOVERN [1848-1910] m Mary BRENNAN [....-1925] having one child:

a. Unknown Daughter McGOVERN [....-....]
 
 

viii. Daniel McGOVERN, Jr. [1850-1874]
 
 

ix. Catherine McGOVERN [1851-1905] m Adam ARMSTRONG [....-....] having three children:

a. Unknown Daughter ARMSTRONG [....-....] (deceased in childhood)

b. Unknown Son ARMSTRONG [....-....] (deceased in childhood)

c. Unknown Son ARMSTRONG [....-....] (deceased in childhood)

x. Margaret McGOVERN [1852-....] m Patrick GALVIN [....-....] having two known children:

a. Mildred GALVIN [....-....] m Edward HANNON [....-....]

b. Mary GALVIN [....-....] m Thomas DOUGHERTY [....-....]

xi. Ellen McGOVERN [c1854-1923]
 
 

xii. Bernard McGOVERN [1858-....] (twin of James)
 
 

xiii. James McGOVERN [1858-....] (twin of Bernard)
 
 

xiv. Alice McGOVERN [1862-1938] m Finley DONNELLY [....-....] (there were no children)
 
 

xv. William J. McGOVERN [....-1926]
 
 

xvi. Unknown McGOVERN [....-....]
 
 

xvii. Albert Francis Sylvester Phillips McGOVERN [1868-1952] m Elizabeth Ann NOBLE [....-....] having six children:

a. Mary Ellen McGOVERN [1898-1899]

b. Albert Basil McGOVERN [1900-1900]

c. Kathleen Alberta Gertrude McGOVERN [1902-....] Rev. Sister

d. William Hugh McGOVERN [1904-....] m Hazel May HUMPHREY [....-....]

e. Francis Sylvester McGOVERN [1906-1906]

f. Elizabeth McGOVERN [1909-....] m George DINE [....-....]

4. Hugh McGOVERN [....-....] m Anne CULLEN [1791-1873] having one known child:

i. Margaret McGOVERN [1835-1910] m Dennis NOONAN [1841-1888] s/o Lawrence Noonan and Ellen Murphy, having ten children:

a. Catherine Ann NOONAN [1860-1937] m James GROGAN [1859-1944]

b. Ellen NOONAN [1861-1943] m John BERGIN [1855-....] s/o James Bergin & Mary O'Grady

c. Margaret NOONAN [1863-1943] m Michael CASSERLY [1860-1929] s/o Michael Casserly & Mary Doyle

d. Johanna NOONAN [1865-....]

e. Bridget Dealia NOONAN [1867-1941] m Bernard DOYLE [1869-....]

f. Lawrence NOONAN [1869-1930] m Anne DALEY [1874-1965]

g. Dennis NOONAN [1873-1942] m Mary O'HEARN [1875-....]

h. Mary Theresa NOONAN [1875-1957] m Francis "Frank" DEVINE [....-1954]

i. Ambrose NOONAN [1877-1935] m Catherine STAFFORD [1882-1945]

j. Camilla NOONAN [1879-1946] m Edward BARDEN [1879-1963]
 
 

5. John McGOVERN [....-....]
 
 
 
 

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