John Varty Calvert of 31 Glaslough Street, Monaghan

Baptised February 6, 1842, in Holy Trinity Church, Idle, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, son of John and Mary (Varty) Calvert. He had an older sister, Jane.

After their parents demise, he and Jane were raised by their father's sister, Mary (Calvert) Jowett, and her husband, Samuel Jowett.

He was a career soldier in the British Army, serving in England, Canada and Ireland, and attaining the rank of sergeant. He enlisted 21st Nov. 1857 in the 17th Regiment of Foot at Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, giving his age as 17, although he was probably only 15 or 16. He was discharged on pension from the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 9th Dec. 1879. He then joined the Militia and spent 12 years between Armagh and Monaghan. After serving a total of 34 years, he was finally discharged and settled down in Monaghan.

Ironically he was upset when his youngest son, George, just over 16, gave his age as 17 in order to enlist in the British Army on 15th June 1905 in Belfast.

Married first to Ellen McDowell. They had three children, all of whom are linked below, as follows:
1. Sarah Jane Calvert, b. 20 Feb 1870, married Samuel Campbell, Belfast, issue: 2 boys and 2 girls;
2. John Nicholas Calvert,
3. Samuel George Calvert.

Married second to Mary Moore on 2 March 1876 at Great Victoria Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast. They had 9 children, all of whom are linked below.

He died shortly after eating Christmas dinner with his family. The funeral was Wednesday afternoon, December 27, 1905, at St. Patrick's Church of Ireland, the Monaghan Parish Church, followed by a military cortege to Ballyalbany burying-ground, where he was buried.

***

Name: John Varley [Varty] Calvert
Age: 9; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842
Relation: Son
Father's name: John Calvert
Mother's name: Mary Calvert
Gender: M (Male)
Where born: Idle, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish: Bradford: Town: Bradford
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street Address: 25 One Street
Occupation: Scholar (student)
Registration district: Bradford
Sub-registration district: Bradford West End
ED, institution, or vessel: 21
Household schedule number: 91
Piece: 2308; Folio: 423; Page Number: 23
Household Members: Name Age
John Calvert 43
Mary Calvert 43
Jane Calvert 11
John Varley [Varty] Calvert 9 ***

~~~

On a visit to Monaghan in the 1980s, his grandson Stephen B. Calvert, attended Sunday services at Ballyalbay Presbyterian Church and talked to Miss Olive Calvert, now deceased. She was quite adamant in denying any relationship to John Varty Calvert.

~~

Masonic record of John Varty Calvert
Entered Apprentice Degree – 10th August 1869
Fellow Craft Degree – 17th August 1869
Master Mason Degree – 18th August 1869
Lodge 351, Monaghan.

"Visited Ballyalbany Church by arrangement in Sept 2018 and gained access to church records. Entry for John Varty Calvert on 25th Dec 1905 states he was buried in Plot 67 and was 'interred in McDowells ground by permission'. Plot 67 is a double plot owned by Nicholas McDowell, father of John's first wife Ellen McDowell.

Contributor: Anonymous (49763635)