1800-1881
John Maughan born c. 1800. Commissioner of the Department of the Army. Sailed from Edinburgh (Cumbria)
Scotland in 1827 and initially stationed in Montreal, then Toronto. Died in 1881
at the age of 81. Married Euphemia (aka Janet) Stein 09-Dec-1822 at St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Janet Stein Maughan christened 15-Mar-1824 at St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Robert Maughan christened 15-Oct-1825 at St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Euphemia Russell Stein Maughan
John Maughan
Unknown
general information
See research of land records for John Maughan (1800).
See Scottish Old Parish Records search results.
The 1837 Toronto & Home District Directory has been referred to as the 1837 census of Toronto. The 'Home District' refers to the areas covered by the original counties of York, most of Simcoe, Peel and Ontario (now Durham). The results returned from a query of the database revealed that John Maughan owned land in Lot 12, Concession 7 in the township of Markham. This information validates the reference in "A History of Ontario" to the birthplace of John Maughan (son of the above) as the town of Markham in 1835, as well as fitting in with John Maughan's departure from Edinburgh in 1827. The unfortunate thing about that reference is that it does not go into further detail regarding other offspring of John & Euphemia Maughan (nee Stein).
Whilst living in Markham, John Maughan was a witness in the trial of a number of men accused of various unsavoury deeds. The transcript of the trial was forwarded to me by Cameron Knight, the local history librarian at the Richmond Hill Library. Read the trial transcript »
A search of the Old Scottish Parish Records database (this is not free, but certainly not expensive for a cursory investigation) revealed that John Maughan married Euphemia Stein 9 December 1822 at St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. There is a disconnect here with "A History of Ontario" as it cites John's wife as Janet. However the Scottish records also show that Janet Stein Maughan, daughter of John & Euphemia Maughan, was christened at St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh 15 March 1824. This would make Janet a sister to John Maughan (my great-great grandfather).
There is another sibling recorded in Scottish records - Robert Maughan, son of John & Euphemia Maughan, who was also christened at St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh 15 October 1825. From that point forward in the Scottish record there is no further mention of these Maughans. This correlates very well indeed with their departure for Canada in 1827. There are no records of either Euphemia or John's births, however the suspicion is that they were transferred with the army to Edinburgh, as was the case with their arrival in Canada, and may have been born in England.
The 1871 Ontario census lists a John Maughan Sr. living in St. George's Ward, Toronto West with his origin as Scottish and age as 65. This would mean he would have been born circa 1806, a 6 year difference with the reference in "A History of Ontario", where he is said to have died in 1881 at the age of 81.
John's will is registered as GC14427 in the Toronto registry office and was executed on 08-May-1879. John bequeaths all of his estate to his daughters Janet Stein Maughan and Euphemia Russell Stein Maughan. I have not been able to determine the 'Russell' connection.