Maughan Direct Line
10 generations of Maughans with links to additional families. Information about the origin of the surname Maughan can be found here.
William Maughan 1707 - ?
William Maughan we believe was the father of John Maughan below. William was from 'Steelrigg' or Steel Rigg, a land holding (farm) on the north side of Hadrian's Wall 3 miles northeast of Haltwhistle. He was born circa 1707. According to the Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum by John Kersey (1708) steel refers to the body of an arrow and a rig is (a) a horse that has had a stone cut but was able to sire a colt, (b) ramping, or (c) a wanton girl. One could presume that the meaning then is a ramp against Hadrian's Wall from which to shoot arrows...
During this period in the history of Northumberland, England and Scotland were joined by the Acts of Union in 1707 (technically two acts: Union with Scotland Act of 1706 and the Union with England Act of 1707). This meant that the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland - which at the time were separate states with separate legislatures, but with the same monarch - were, in the words of the Treaty, 'united into one Kingdom by the name of Great Britain'. the Scottish Parliament and the English Parliament united to form the Parliament of Great Britain, based in the Palace of Westminster in London, the home of the English Parliament.
The appearance of John Maughan and his children in parish registers in Edinburgh, Scotalnd suggests a migration north of some 75 miles as the crow flies somewhere between 1735 and 1760. William married Mary ? who was born circa 1711. Their children:
John Maughan 1735 - ?
John Maughan was born circa 1735. We believe he is the son of William and Mary Maughan and was christened 7-Jun-1736 at Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England. Noteable about this location is it is 2 miles from Hadrian's Wall and only 25 miles from the current border between England and Scotland. The first certain reference to John in our line is in marriage records of his children from the register of marriages for the parish of Edinburgh. John's wife is unknown. John is listed as a 'surveyor (or supervisor) of window lights'. John's children:
Robert Maughan 1769 - 1844
Robert Maughan was born in 1769 near Edinburgh Scotland based on his marriage recorded in Edinburgh Parish. At the time of his marriage he was a clerk in the Excise Office, which was located at Dundas House, 36 St. Andrew Square in Edinburgh. Dundas House was completed in 1774 as a private town house for Sir Lawrence Dundas. Lord Dundas died in 1781 and his son Sir Thomas Dundas inherited the house, but since he had no desire to live there (then the site was located in the midst of a huge building site known as the 'New Town' construction) he sold the house to the government in 1794 who converted it to the Excise House, which opened in 1795. At this stage it gained the royal coat of arms of the British Customs and Excise in its pediment. Robert died in 1844. He married Mary Bagnall 3-Nov-1786 who was from the College Kirk parish. Their children:
John Maughan 1800 - 1881
John Maughan born 1800 in Edinburgh Scotland, died 6-Oct-1881 in Toronto, Ontario of 'old age' and is buried at the Necropolis Cemetery. In 1827 John and his family came to Canada, making the trans-Atlantic trip on a sailing vessel, which was stranded in Newfoundland. From there they landed at Montreal, before soon after settling in Toronto, he worked for the commissariat department of the British Army, in which capacity he continued for many years. In 1842 he compiled 'A Table of Computations' in book form for the use of the army to convert sterling money into other currencies and vice versa, and was the first ever published. The book also contained a great deal of prectical currency information. After the commissariat department, John worked forthe Bank of Upper Canada before retiring from active business.
He married Euphemia Janet Stein 09-Dec-1822 at St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. Euphemia was born in Dublin, Ireland circa 1806 and died 26-Nov-1861 in Toronto, Ontario. They had five children:
John Arthur Maughan 1835 -1918
John Arthur Maughan born 19-Jun-1835 in the Township of Markham, Ontario. Died 27-Nov-1918 in Toronto. He is buried at Toronto Necropolis Cemetery section M-76. Married Margaret Eliza Parks on 18-Jun-1863.
John Maughan was born in Markham Village, County of York, Ont., Oct. 19, 1835. His parents removed to Toronto in 1836, and he was educated in private acadamies and the Toronto Academy, a branch of Knox College. In 1851 he studied law one year with Messrs. Mowat & Helliwell, in 1852 taking a clerkship in the Western Assurance Company, and since that time has continued in his chosen line, having for many years acted as agent for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. Aside from his business Mr. Maughan served the city as a member of the council from St. George's Ward for a period of nine years, a member of the board of education for two years, and has been connected with the militia since 1853, when he was commissioned ensign. In 1865 he was advanced to the rank of Captain and Adjutant.
John and Margaret's children:
Harry Maughan 1874 - ?
Harry Maughan born 1874 in Toronto, Ontario. Married Eleanor Harriet Predam. Their children:
Alan Edward Lawrence Maughan 1896 - 1986
Alan Edward Lawrence Maughan born 10-Aug-1896 in Toronto, Ontario, died died 26-Nov-1986 in Oakville, Ontario. Married Greta Fay McDougall on 21-Oct-1922 in Chatham, ON, CA.
Michael Maughan 1933 - 2023
Michael Maughan born 21-May-1933 in Toronto, Ontario, died 04-Oct-2023 in Oakville, Ontario. Married Judith Ann Tomsett on 23-Nov-1963.
Robert Maughan 1967 -
Robert Maughan was born in 1967 in Mississauga, Ontario.
Nicholas Maughan 1998 -
Nicholas Maughan was born in 1998 in Oakville, Ontario.