Pierre Chevin and His Descendants

Family Histories

Note:  This document is a draft, which incorporates the work of several researchers.  The early life of Pierre Chevin is still a mystery.  More research is required.  The major problem is still: “What is the correct French spelling?”.  Gevin is the Crawford County variant.  Any and all additions and corrections will be greatly appreciated.  Bob Todd, 8850 Yoder St, Manassas, VA   20110

6 March 2002

 PIERRE (VALENTINE[i]) CHEVIN[ii] AND HIS DESCENDANTS

 1.  Pierre Valentine? Chevin[iii] was apparently born before 1755.  Currently there is no concrete biography of his life prior to his marriage to Catherine Dom in 1785.  Printed and oral family traditions basically agree that he was born into an aristocratic wealthy French family and came to colonies with Marquis de Lafayette to participate in the American Revolution.  Stated on family notes[iv]: (1.) Pierre was one of the 12 body guards of Lafayette, (2.) He was a Grand Master Mason, and (3.) He was educated for the priesthood.  Engle=s Notes and Queries states: AHe was severely wounded by a sword thrust.@.  Otherwise, the nature of Pierre=s services in the Revolution are unknown.  See insert after paragraph 1.3.

My Grand-Aunt, Anna Shontz told and retold the family tradition of the family melting down Pierre=s silver sword and making it into spoons.  This epic has been reconfirmed and retold by various distant cousin who have been isolated from the family for generations.  In addition, in the family there five buttons, which appear to be made of copper crystals set in glass, purported to have come from Pierre=s dress coat.

On 3 May 1785[v], he married Catherine Dom (Thum, Dum) in ASt Paul=s Mission@ of Goshenhoppen, today the AMost Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church@ situated in Bally, Washington Twp, Berks Co, PA.  Catherine, born 11/7/1762 and baptized 11/21/1762[vi], was the daughter of Casper and Mary Eva Dom (See section _?_.).  Pierre and Catherine had a total of nine children[vii]:   Jacob, Rosina, Catherine (7/13/1791-before 1800), Mary Elizabeth (9/19/1793-before 1803), Peter Valentine, Magdalen (Madelin), Catherine, Elizabeth ABetsy@, and a son (c1805-_?_)[viii] Dom. 

Seven of their eight children born in Berks Co were baptisted in ASt Paul=s Mission@.  I have yet to find  the baptismal record of Jacob, the eldest son.  It may there under another spelling of AJavin@ (See the first footnote.).  Also, there is no evidence the youngest son, apparently born in Crawford Co, listed in the 1810 US census survived childhood.

Betsy was baptisted on 5/22/1803 in Goshenhoppen, Berks Co, PA.  On 10/26/1803, Peter Javin purchased 150 acres in Sadsbury Twp (now Vernon Twp),Crawford Co, PA[ix].  This means that in less than 5 months, Pierre with a wife and seven children ranging from 16 years old to an infant traveled from Berks Co to Crawford Co, covering 250 miles as the crow flies across the Allegheny Mountains.  How they traveled and what route they took is unknown.

Pierre died instate prior to 3/4/1821[x] and was buried in the Miller Farm Cemetery.  The location of this cemetery which was situated east of the intersection of North Watson Run and Middle Roads and north of US 322 in Vernon Twp, Crawford Co, PA is currently lost.  Catherine died in the 1830s at the home of her son Jacob in Summerhill Twp, Crawford Co, PA and was buried beside Pierre.  Local traditions relate that their tombstones which were inscribed in French disappeared about 1900.

 1.1.  Jacob Gevin was born c1787 in Berks Co, PA.  He married Mary Ann McDowell (c1795-c1850) on 2/20/1817.  Jacob and Mary Ann had 9 children: James A, Margaret (b c1831), Sarah (b c1833), Julia Ann, and Eli (b c1840) Gevin and four unidentified daughters.  Jacob married second, Sarah Foreman (b c1798 PA) the widow of Peter Foreman (d c1844).  Sarah was the mother of Sarah Ellen Foreman who married Jacob=s nephew, Peter Valentine Gevin, Jr (See 1.3.1 below.).  Jacob died 9/1869 in Summerhill Twp, Crawford Co, PA.  (Eugene Troop was unable to locate wills, estate records or tombstones for Jacob and his two wives.)

1.1.1.  James A Gevin (1825-1900) lived all his life in Summerhill Township.  He married Margaret Elizabeth _?_ (1841-1913).  James and Margaret had four children:  Viola A, son (2/16/1859-2/16/1859), Alfred (b c1860) and Leonard Lee (b c1868) Gevin.  James, Margaret and the son are buried in the McDowell Cemetery.  After James death, Margaret married _?_ Hyde.

1.1.1.1.  Viola A Gevin (1858-1931) married Arthur Gibson (1868-1933) and they are buried in the McDowell Cemetery.

1.1.1.3.  Alfred Gevin (b c1860) never married, died 7/12/1942 at the Crawford County Home and is buried in the McDowell Cemetery,

1.1.1.4.  Leonard Lee Gevin (1868-1920) was born in Summerhill Twp and died in Erie, PA.  His wife, Jennie M _?_ was born 1872 and died after 1920.  They are both buried in the McDowell Cemetery.

1.1.8.  Julia Ann Gevin was born c1835 and on 9/7/1852, she married Robert H Wait the son of Horace and Polly (_?_) Wait.

1.2.  Rosina Gevin was born 6/7/1789 in Berks Co, PA.  Baptized 7/5/1789 in St Paul=s Mission, the RC Church at Goshenhoppen, today Bally, Washington Twp, Berks Co, PA.  She married John Quigley c 1805 in Vernon Twp, Crawford Co, PA.  John and Rosina had _?_ children who are listed with John in Section _?_.  Rosina died 2/27/1827[xi] and is buried with John in the Quigley Cemetery in Vernon Twp, Crawford Co, PA.

1.3.  Peter Valentine Gevin was born 1/30/1796 in Berks Co, PA.  Baptized 4/17/1796 in St Paul=s Mission, the RC Church at Goshenhoppen, today Bally, Washington Twp, Berks Co, PA.  On 8/22/1825, Peter married Susannah ASusan@ Myers (1805-1877) and they lived in Summerhill Township.  Peter and Susan raised six children: Peter Valentine Jr, Elizabeth, Catherine, Matilda (b c1842), W A (b c1846) and Sebastian Gavin.  Peter and Susan are buried in the McDowell Cemetery in Summerhill Township.

The following was found on the Conneaut Valley Area Historical Society Website, http://www.toolcity.net?~cvahs/ under Summerhill Twp, cited as being from the A1872/73 GAZETTEER & BUSINESS DIRECTORYA[xii]. -  ANORRISVILLE, is situated a little north of the center of the township.  Settlement was commenced as early as 1803 (Note: Using Susan age as a guide Valentine would of moved to Summerhill Twp after 1820.) by Valentine P. Gwin of French descent, who is still living in the township at the age of seventy-seven years.  His father accompanied Lafayette to this country and served under him in the Federal army 'til the close of the Revolutionary War.  He then settled in Berks County and worked at his trade, that of a blacksmith, until 1803.  He died in 1821.@  (See paragraph 1.)

1.3.1.  Peter Valentine Gevin, Jr was born c1829 in Summerhill Twp.  He married Sarah Ellen Foreman, the daughter of Peter and Sarah _?_ Foreman, who was born c1834/5 in Hayfield Twp.  (After the death of Peter Foreman, Sarah married Peter Valentin=s uncle Jacob Gevin.  See paragraph 1.1 above.)  Peter and Sarah Ellen had six children:  Gilbert L, Matilda ATillie@ (b 1856), William Eddie (1859-1942), Alice A (b 1860), Emma, and Fred Gevin.   Peter died of a heart attach at home on 12/6/1869 upon return from a day trip to Meadville.  Peter=s cousin, James A Gevin was appointed guardian of the children.   Sarah Ellen married A J Cole before the 1870 US Census.  A J Cole born c 1845 in Kentucky was a farmer living in Summerhill Township.

1.3.1.1.  Gilbert L Gevin (1854-1925) married Bina _?_ (1856-1925) and they are buried in the McDowell Cemetery.

1.3.1.6.  Fred D Gevin (1868-1952) married Lucy J _?_ (1874-1949) and they had the following children:  Glen, Walter J (1898-1957) Fenton (12/12/1896-5/1/1897), Lyle Lafayette, Bernice I (12/1923-6-1928) and Betty J (5/1929-5/1929)Gevin.  Fred, Lucy, Walter, Bernice and Betty are buried in the McDowell cemetery.

[1]

1.3.1.6.1.  Glen Gevin (b 1896) married Berdina D _?_ (b 1907).  They had a daughter, Dorothy M Gevin (b 1931).  Berdina and Dorothy are buried in the McDowell cemetery.

1.3.1.6.3.  Lyle Lafayette Gevin (1910-before 1973) married Edna Barbara _?_ (1913-1959).  Lyle and Barbara had two sons; Carl (1937-1957) and Dale.  Lyle and Edna are buried in the McDowell Cemetery.

1.3.1.6.3.2.  Dale Gevin married Deborah Mitchell and was living at RD#2, Conneautville, PA.  Dale and Deborah had a daughter born 4/24/1973 at City Hospital, Meadville, PA.

1.3.2.  Elizabeth Gevin[xiii] (b c1834) married, a farmer, Robert M Brown who was born c1823 in PA.  Robert and Elizabeth raised four children:  Almida (b c1854), Matilda (b c 1857), Emma (b c1863) and Frank (b c1865) Brown on a farm in Summerhill Township.

1.3.3.  Catherine Gevin[xiv] (b c1837) married, a farmer, Frank Wheeler, who was born c1834 in NY, where his parents were also born.  Frank and Catherine raised five children:  Elmer, Clyde J, Azie (b c1870), Frank O (b c1873) and Ada (B c1875) Wheeler on a farm in Summerhill Township.  

1.3.3.1.  Elmer Wheeler (b c1860), married and lived on a farm in Cussawago Twp.  Elmer was living on a farm in Hayfield Twp in 1926.

1.3.3.2.  Clyde J Wheeler (1869-1917) married Addie A _?_ (1875-1937).  Clyde and Addie are buried in the Dicksonburg Cemetery.

1.3.3.4.  Frank O Wheeler (c1873-10/2/1926) never married and died at his brother Elmer=s in Hayfield Township.

1.3.6.  Sebastian Gavin (b c1844-2/27/1918) never married and died at his nephew Elmer=s in Hayfield Township.

1.4.  Magdalen (Madelin) Gevin was born 4/5/1798 in Berks Co, PA.  Baptized 7/30/1798 in St Paul=s Mission, the RC Church at Goshenhoppen, today Bally, Washington Twp, Berks Co, PA.  About 1820, Magdalen married Peter Mount, the  son of James and Katherien (_?_) Mount[xv].  Peter and Magdalen were living in Muskingum Co, OH in the 1830[xvi].  

1.5.  Catherine Gavin was born 4/10/11800 in Berks Co, PA.  Baptized 11/30/1800 in St Paul=s Mission, the RC Church at Goshenhoppen, today Bally, Washington Twp, Berks Co, PA.  On 6/22/1820, Catherine married John McGuire and they lived in Summit Twp, Crawford Co, PA.

1.6.  Elizabeth ABetsy@ Gavin was born 2/26/1803 in Berks Co, PA.  Baptized 5/22/1803 in St Paul=s Mission, the RC Church at Goshenhoppen, today Bally, Washington Twp, Berks Co, PA.  On 4/14/1824 she married Darius Joslin.  After the death of Darius, Betsy married _?_ Harris

[i].    Pierre=s middle name may of been Valentine, not proven.

[ii].    The spelling of this surname is quite controversial.  The original French spelling appears to be Chevin.  Javin and Gavin are apparently the anglicized versions of the original french spelling.  Gevin, Gavin & Javan the English variants from the Berks County, PA tax lists.  Gevan, Scheven, Givin, Shevein and Chevain from the English translations of the records of GOSHENHOPPEN.  In Crawford County this surname became AGevin@.

[iii].   NOTES and QUERIES, HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL and GENEALOGICAL, Relating Chiefly to INTERIOR PENNSYLVANIA, Edited by WILLIAM HENRY EGLE, MD, MA;  Annual Volume, 1897, Harrisburg Publishing Co, Harrisburg, PA, 1898, PP 40/41.

[iv].    Ms Lois M Clemons, 901 16th St, Hermosa Beach, CA, donated three pages of hand written Harper family traditions concerning Peter Gevin to the Crawford County Historical Society.  These notes were probably written by Charlotte Wells, a Great-Granddaughter of Pierre Javin.

[v].    THE GOSHENHOPPEN REGISTERS ~ 1741-1819, Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths of Saint Paul=s Roman Catholic Mission at Goshenhoppen (Today Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament at Bally, Washington Twp, Berks County, PA) reprinted from Records of American Catholic historical Society of Philadelphia; Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc; Baltimore, 1984.  Also available in an alphabetized version as: GOSHENHOPPEN [RECORDS], BAPTISMS, 1741-1818; MARRIAGES, 1741-1819; DEATHS 1755-1818; CONVERSIONS, 1781-1785; Barbara Brady O=Keefe, 2120 SW 127 AVE, Miami, FL, 33175.  These  available on the web at: http://freepages.genealogy. rootsweb.com/~reinsel/okeefe.htm.

[vi].    ST. JOSEPH=S BAPTISMS. ST JOSEPH=S, PHILADELPHIA, PA, BAPTISM 1758-1775,  Barbara Brady O=Keefe, 2120 SW 127 AVE, Miami, FL, 33175.

[vii].   See GOSHENHOPPEN and Engle above.  Also, the descendants of Pierre and Catherine detailed herein were researched by Eugene Troop and delineated in The Gevin Family Tree (on file in Crawford Historical Society) and a letter, Eugene Troop to the author, dtd 2/6/1983, copies of both in the possession of the author. 

[viii].   The youngest son appears only in the 1810 US Census.  He either died in childhood or there is an error in the census.

[ix].    Crawford County (PA) Deed Book AB=, David and Jennet Meade to Peter Javen 150 acres purchased by David Meade from James and Hannah Quigley.

[x].    The Rough Docket of the Crawford County Recorder of Wills and Deeds, Crawford County Court House, Meadville, PA.

[xi].    Obit

[xii].   The front page of this publication is missing, title and date are the best guess

[xiii].   The 1860, 1870 and 1880 US census.

[xiv].   The 1860, 1870 and 1880 US census.

[xv].    James Mount, Zanesville, Ohio

[xvi].   Deed, Peter Mount to Daniel Williams, Crawford County (PA) Deed Book, AT-1", P 153.