FAMILY OF HUGH GIRVAN AND AGNES MITCHEL
Jacob
Mitchelson's sister, Agnes, was married to Hugh Girvan. There
are references to "your Sister Girvan" in the
Dumfries letters from Jacob's mother. The information we have
on the Girvan family is sparse and is mainly derived from
census data.
Hugh Girvan was born circa 1808 at Maybole, Ayrshire. At the time of the 1851 census, the Girvan family were living at Burnfoot Cottage, Sanquhar, and Hugh's occupation was given as "Overseer Farm". The known Girvan children are:
John, born c1845, Dunscore
Hugh, born c1847, Dunscore
Mary, born 1850.01.30 Sanquhar
Helen, born 1852.07.30 Sanquhar
James Alexander, born 1855.04.24 Sanquhar
Agnes, born 1857.06.07, Sanquhar
Hugh Girvan died on 22nd December, 1859, and is buried at the Parish churchyard in Durisdeer. His death certificate shows that his parents were Hugh Girvan and Helen Cunningham.
At the time of the 1881 census, Agnes Girvan was shown as head of household. Son James Alexander, then aged 25, was a mason's labourer. In addition, there was a visiting grand-daughter from England, Mabel Marion Girvan, aged 5.
The only letter we have from this family, written by Ellen Girvan to her uncle and aunt (Jacob & Mary), is included below. Later, Ellen Girvan went through to England where she married John Mitchell Thorrat, whose letters to his adopted parents (the same Jacob & Mary) appear elsewhere on these pages. Information about the children of John Thorrat and Ellen Girvan is still being gathered, but we know that their eldest daughter, Agnes Girvan Thorrat, born at Newcastle in 1877, returned to live in Dumfries, Scotland, where she worked as a teacher. She died at Dumfries in 1949. Another daughter, Janet Thorrat, married Edward Francis Pennock at Gateshead, Durham, on 4th June, 1912. The Pennocks settled in Govan (Glasgow) and are known to have had at least one son who was the informant when his father died in 1951.
70 Loreburn Street, Dumfries. April 30, 1871. My Dear Uncle and Aunt. I have much pleasure in writing you a few lines. Hope this will find you all enjoying good health as it leaves me the same.
Dear Aunt, as you were anxious for me to ask my brother John for his card to which I did and he has kindly agreed to your request and he sent me (two) the other day for which I was to forward one to you. I will ask him for another for Cousin George, or mother will.
I had a letter from him the day after I saw you. I wrote him last Sunday. I had a letter from home on Friday morning and they are all well. I had a letter from John Findlay on Friday night. He has left Cheshire and has come to Edinburgh and he says he has got a very nice place there. I have never seen him yet for he cannot get to see any of his friends at present as he doesn't know the day he will have to enter into his new place. He called at Liverpool and saw my brother and Agnes Mitchelson.
How is Katy and her children coming on. Are they all better yet. I suppose you would get home all right. Dear Aunt, I have given up my place to leave it at the term. I am not yet fixed with another and I think I will have a chance of getting home at the term and if I should have a spare day I will try to come and see you all. I will do my best endeavour to come through. I come in the morning and went back at night as there will nothing give me more pleasure than in coming to see you all.
You will require to know what way I will have to come by the train and what station I will have to come out at. I hope to be able to get. I am not promising faithfully, it is only if I can get, and if I don't get I will be more disappointed than you. Be sure you write soon.
Give my kindest love to all my cousins and accept the same to yourself and Uncle. And believe me to be your ever loving and affectionate niece. Ellen Girvan.
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