Matthew McKelvie (1853-1930)

Matthew McKelvie, son of William McKelvie (1791-tbc) and Mary Buntin McKelvie (1810-1900), was born in 1853 in Ireland.

Matthew McKelvie and Maggie Whiteford Kerr (1840-1914) were recorded as the parents of Mary Buntin McKelvie Kerr (1874-1940). However, there is no evidence to suggest that they ever married and indeed in her later years, Maggie was noted on the 1901 Census records as Maggie Whiteford living with her daughter Mary and her husband James Kerr (1874-1922).

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. Initial thoughts that perhaps the 'wrong' Matthew McKelvie has been associated with Maggie is unlikely due to the obvious correlation between Matthew's mother who was Mary Buntin and Maggie's daughter who was named Mary 'Buntin' McKelvie. Only 16 Buntins were recorded across Renfrewshire at the 1901 Census - in contrast for example, to the 1328 Kerrs.

Matthew was a shipyard labourer according to both his death certificate and the 1901 Scottish Census which records Matthew as the husband of Agnes McKelvie. At this point Matthew and Agnes had a family consisting of 2 sons William and Robert as well as a 9 year old daughter Jessie living at 52 High Street in Renfrew. Maggie Whiteford would of course be aged 60 by this time.

The earlier 1881 Census notes that a 30 year old Matthew was already married to Agnes with a 7 year old son Matthew living at 22 Pinkerton Lane in Renfrew. It has not been possible to this point to confirm the date of Matthew's marriage to Agnes within Scottish records but we can assume that this was as a fairly young man and curiously close to the date of his daughter with Maggie Whiteford - Mary Buntin McKelvie Kerr on the 30th October 1874.

The final Census we have access to is the 1891 Census which confirms that Matthew, his wife Agnes and oldest son Matthew at 17 years were all born in Ireland. Sadly the Census does not specify where in Ireland. Given that the 15 year old Moses was born in Renfrewshire, we can conclude that the family moved from Ireland sometime around 1873-74. The Census also records that a relative from Ireland - a 12 year old Mary McKelvie was living with them at 48 High Street in Renfrew.

Matthew died on the 2nd November 1930 at 8 Lang Avenue in Renfrew. His wife Agnes was the Informant.

	Matthew McKelvie's Family Census Record in Renfrew 1891

     Family Tree Summary

Forename	Surname	Born	Died	Cause of Death
Matthew	McKelvie	1853	02/11/1930, Paisley	Enlarged Prostrate Gland