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William Girvan

1805-1853

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From the Research of John Thom McKinley Girvan ( 1920-?)

And Gloria Girvan Akin (1922-2003)

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• The First William was the youngest of the three Girvan brothers who were thought to have emigrated to Jamaica from Scotland early in the nineteenth century. (The narrative now suggests that William did not come with his 2 brothers but did come to Jamaica later and bought properties in the Parish of St. Thomas).
  
• No details exist of his wife, Margaret Parker.
• William and Margaret had 4 children, Margaret (1830-1916), Jeanie (1834-1897), Mary (1836-?), The (Second) Thomas (1838-1887).
• Margaret married Andrew Lawson McMurtrie, Jeanie remained single, Mary married Thomas Austen and Thomas married his first cousin Mary Ann Girvan.
• William’s brothers John and Thomas left Scotland for Jamaica in 1825 when William was 20 years old. Did William accompany his two older brothers?
• Did he come to Jamaica in 1825 and return later to Scotland to be married?
• Did he then return to Jamaica after the birth of his first child and buy the properties Oxford Pen and Ireland and settle in St. Thomas?
• Through documentation we know that William’s son, Thomas (1838-1887) had those properties, Oxford Pen and Ireland in Jamaica. Did Thomas purchase them or did he inherit them from the estate of William?
• At William’s death in 1853, Thomas would only have been 15 years old so it is unlikely that Thomas purchased the properties.
• More research is needed to get information on William and his wife Margaret Parker.

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Two Daughters of the First William Girvan

And Margaret Parker

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Mary Girvan, Daughter of William and Margaret Parker Girvan

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