I am trying to locate surname CAVAN, with an a, and not with a whole lot
of luck. I have been told that my immigrant ancestor came from Ireland
during the 1840's and sojourned a while in Canada then came to the
United States, settling in Missouri. I was also told that the family
came originally from the town of Virginia (which is in the County Cavan
and dates from the times of Protestant settlements in Ulster---and,
indeed, the family was always Protestant as far as I know). I don't
seem to be having much luck with Canadian sites and will be grateful for
any suggestions. Ship passenger books at the library do list several
CAVANs arriving during the famine years but none to a Canadian port.
As for the American end of this, the first name I know for certain is
Carl or Karl A. CAVAN b 1881 somewhere near St. Joseph MO. Married
Martha GIPSON; had children Jack, Maurice, and Vera; removed to Chicago
in the early 1920's. So it sounds as if I am missing a couple of
generations between the immigrant CAVAN and Carl or Karl CAVAN. If you
have tips re Canadian research or know of connections please contact
direct. Thanks, Nora Tocus