Maggie Whiteford (1840-1914)

Maggie Whiteford, daughter of Thomas Whiteford (1811-1875) and Janet Walker Whiteford (1812-1876), was born in 1840 in Country Antrim Ireland.

Maggie married Patrick Devarney on 5th January 1869 at the Church of Scotland in Renfrew aged 30 years old. Patrick was a 28 year old labourer born to Darbey Devarney and Cecilia Higgins Devarney who were deceased. Both Maggie and Patrick were illiterate, which was not uncommon at the time where only around 50% of 5 -`10 year olds were receiving education. It was not until 1872 that The Education (Scotland) Act laid an effective and legislative basis for the modern education system. A recurring theme arising from Maggie's lack of formal education would be the inconsistent spelling within official records of her surname through the remainder of her life.

Maggie and Patrick had a daughter Elizabeth Walker Devarney on the 30th May 1870 whilst living at 9 Glebe Street in Renfrew which was close to the Renfrew Old Parish Church Halls.

After this point, something in Maggie's life changes as in 1874, Maggie and Matthew McKelvie (1853-1930) were recorded as the parents of the illegitimate Mary Buntin McKelvie Kerr (1874-1940). Maggie was still living at 9 Glebe Street but now registered the birth in attendance with Matthew using her maiden name Maggie Whiteford. We know that Maggie and Matthew never married. Matthew was of course considerably younger than Maggie. Matthew in fact went on to marry Agnes Shannon and was still living in Renfrew when he passed away aged 76 years on the 2nd November 1930. His occupation was recorded as a shipyard labourer.

The notable and unusual age difference of 13 years between the far younger Matthew McKelvie and Maggie could possibly have been a factor in preventing marriage between them as presumably, could have been Maggie's husband Patrick and her daughter Elizabeth. Regardless, they must have met or seen each other from time to time in Renfrew through the remainder of their lives.

By the 1881 Census, an apparently 43 year old Maggie who was now formally recorded as Margaret Deveno, was living at 36 Fulbar Street in Renfrew with her 10 year old daughter Elizabeth Deveno and the 6 year old Mary McKelvie. An 18 year old female Annie Logan who was employed as a Dye Worker was also lodging with them.

At the 1891 Census, Maggie was again living as Maggie Whiteford in Renfrew with the now 16 year old Mary McKelvie at 19 Dunlop Street. Sadly Elizabeth had died aged just 17 on the 4th June 1884, recorded as Elizabeth Devanha. The cause of death was recorded as Phthisis which was also known as consumption as well as tuberculosis. Patrick was also noted as having passed way by this time. The Informant was a Janet Kilpatrick who was Elizabeth's Aunt. Maggie was this time recorded as the wife Margaret Devanha of the deceased Patrick.

At the 1901 Census, Maggie was again recorded as Maggie Whiteford and was living with her daughter Mary at 118 High Street in Renfrew. who had married a James Kerr (1874-1922). Their children are described separately in this site. Maggie's place of birth was also erroneously recorded as being Lanarkshire Glasgow.

By the time of the 1911 Census, Maggie who was still living with her daughter and son-in-law, this time the name used was Maggie Davanna - which was of course a further corruption of Devarney. On her death certificate 3 years later, when Maggie passed away at the age of 74, it was noted that Maggie was the widow of a Patrick Devarney.

Maggie died on 22nd November 1914 a few months after the United Kingdom had declared war on Germany, in the Combination Poorhouse which had opened in 1906 on a nine acre site at Rosshall. Maggie would however have been unaware of these events following a one year period of senility. She had previously been living at 5 Tennant Street Renfrew. Her surviving daughter Mary was the Informant.

	Renfrew Combination Poorhouse Map

     Family Tree Summary

Forename	Maiden Family Name(s)	Married Name(s)	Born	Died	Cause of Death
Margaret	Whiteford	Devarney	1840	22/11/1914, Paisley	Senile Dementia