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

And Gloria Elise Girvan Akin (1922-2003)

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Jane Girvan

Born 1837

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• Jane, daughter of John Girvan who left Scotland in 1825 to go to Jamaica,  sister of John Thomas, Mary Ann and Robert.
• Jane was born at Tanarchy, Clarendon in March 1837.
  
• It is general knowledge in the extended family that she and her father, John had a very serious break in their relationship.
• Although she had tried to heal the breach by going to see him, he refused to see her and never did relent,
• Her father did not leave her anything in his will.
• Jane eventually left Jamaica with her daughter Otalee, emigrating to the U.S.A.
• For some years she kept in touch with the extended family. Mrs. Clarissa Evans reported that she married a Mr. Henry and had a son, Harold.
• It was generally felt that her father dealt very harshly with her.

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Jane Thom

1831-1872

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• Daughter of John Girvan, one of the 3 original brothers to leave Scotland for Jamaica in 1825
•  We do not have all the details, no birth nor death certificate, but we do have her marriage certificate to John Thomas Girvan and the birth dates of her children.
• Jane’s father was from Scotland, a man whose surname was Thom, who came to Jamaica and married a mixed blood Jamaican.
• Jane’s father and his family lived in or near the town of Girvan in Scotland.
• Jane and John Thomas had 6 children: Elizabeth Ann, Emily Ann, Mary Ann, Martha Ann, David Thom (Papa) and Ann (usually called Annie).
• The children were born in the following years: Elizabeth in 1859, Emily in 1860, Mary in 1861, Martha in 1862, David in 1868 and Ann in 1869
• Jane Thom was great grandmother to Inga Margaret Girvan Hunter of Australia.
• JaneThom was buried at North Hall, Clarendon, Jamaica.

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Children of Jane Thom and

John Thomas Girvan

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Margaret Girvan Hunter

1875-1917

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• Margaret Girvan was the only daughter of the Second Thomas Girvan and Mary Ann Girvan. She had 2 brothers, William and Thomas Henderson.
•  She and her brothers were born in Maybole, Scotland. She traveled to Jamaica with her brothers when they were very young.
• They lived in the Parish of St. Thomas at the Oxford Pen property.
• After her mother Mary Ann died in 1880, Margaret went to live with her aunt, Margaret McMurtrie in Scotland
  
• Just six years later in 1886, their father, Thomas died.

• Thomas, her father left her 3,000 pounds sterling to be invested for her and her children, should she marry
• Margaret and her brother William were not able to have their inheritance until their brother, Thomas Henderson came of age (see Thomas Henderson’s page).
• In the meantime they finished their schooling in Scotland and sometime after, Margaret returned to Jamaica.
• In 1901 she returned to Scotland. There in Ayrshire she met William Hunter from Prestwick. In April 1902 they were married.
• In 1903 her brother Thomas Henderson died in the Philippines.
• Margaret’s older brother William, executor of his aunt Margaret’s will gave most of Thomas Henderson’s inheritance, the 2 properties in Jamaica in the Parish of St. Thomas, Oxford Pen and Ireland,  to Margaret.
• Since she never returned to Jamaica, she arranged to have the properties sold through Wellesley Bourke of the firm Harvey and Bourke of 89 Harbour St. Kingston Jamaica.
• She was thus the recipient of the proceeds realized from the sale of the properties
• She was grandmother to Inga Margaret Girvan Hunter of Australia

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