Lawrence and Ellen are my 2nd great grandparents and it has been a recent find. I often wondered the origin of the name Lawrence in the Worrilow family, for before Lawrence Slevin there were none. My great grandmother, Mary Ellen Slevin, daughter of Lawrence and Ellen, married my great grandfather, William G Worrilow and they named their last-born son, Lawrence Leo Worrilow. I haven’t found the origin of his middle name but that name may have also come from an earlier ancestor on the Slevin side. I haven’t yet been able to connect Lawrence Slevin with his parents, and I just recently found his entry into the United States. If I find additional information, I will make updates to this record as appropriate. If anyone reading this knows of additional information I would welcome it.

Lawrence Slevin was born Dec 1833 in Ireland. However, his birth year has not yet been confirmed because each source lists a different birth year so he may have been born prior to 1833. The 1900 Federal Census lists his birth month as December and his occupation as a Grocer. Lawrence arrived in the United States at the Port of Philadelphia on 12 Apr 1846 aboard the ship named North Star, which departed from Liverpool, England. All Census records and the ship’s manifest show his birthplace as Ireland.

Ellen was born about 1835 in Ireland and the 1900 Federal Census also shows her arriving in 1846. Very little is known about Ellen but the 1860 Federal Census shows her occupation as Weaver.

The Slevins resided in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties and owned several homes and a small grocery store in Chester, Pennsylvania.

As of November 1876, Lawrence was employed by the Patterson mill in Chester. Both Lawrence and Ellen attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Chester. Lawrence died September 1910 and Ellen died 30 Apr 1912. They are both buried in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery in Linwood, Pennsylvania along with 3 of their 10 children.

Lawrence Slevin was not a stranger to controversy for on the night of Saturday, November 18, 1876 he had an altercation with someone he had other run ins with named, George McCouch. On this evening on his way home after shopping between the hours of 8 and 9 o’clock, Lawrence saw George McCouch following him and when both men reached the 3rd Street Bridge in Chester, George made a break for Lawrence. As soon as both men were face to face, “George pulled a small seven barreled revolver and discharged one of them at Lawrence with an aim which he intended should make a passage for the escapement of his life’s blood and a bleeding victim to the strong and uncontrollable jealous will of his would-be murderer.” Fortunately, after further struggle and a second discharge, Lawrence escaped his attacker unharmed. George was caught at Third and Edgmont by Officer Quinn and taken to jail. It seems that the feud between the two men had been long standing. George McCouch had accused Lawrence of having “improperly interfered with his family and breaking up his home, and thus making him miserable.” Lawrence, on the contrary said, “…he was never in his house but once, and then only a short time, several years ago.”

George McCouch was released on bail but didn’t show for his court appearance and was re-arrested and held without bail until his trial. His attorney said that George was insane and a doctor for the family also believed him to be insane. The jury in his case returned a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. No further information could be found on the fate of George McCouch.

Lawrence Slevin was active in the Citizen’s Building Association and caused somewhat of a ruckus at the annual stockholders meetings on 24 Mar 1878. He jumped up and yelled at the president, Mr. Jonathan Pennell, for nominating from the floor for different offices. He said, “This was a stockholders’ meeting” and accused Mr. Pennell of having things “cut and dried.” He wasn’t going to sit quietly by and see this “gag game” go on. His remarks were received with applause and such remarks as “hit him again, Larry,” “Give it to him,” and “Bravo, Larry.” He was also part of the South Ward Democrats and served as the club’s Secretary in 1880.

Lawrence Slevin applied for a building permit in August of 1883 for a two-story brick store and dwelling, 20 by 42 feet, situated on the northeast corner of Sixth and Butler streets. The address of the store and residences was 730 West Sixth Street, Chester, Pennsylvania.

Children of Lawrence and Ellen Slevin:

Margaret Ann Slevin was born 10 Nov 1852 in Nicetown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mary Ellen Slevin was born 9 Feb 1854 in Nicetown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She married William G Worrilow on 1 May 1879. Mary died 31 Dec 1899 and was buried 4 Jan 1900 in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, Linwood, Delaware, Pennsylvania.

Edward Slevin was born 29 Oct 1855 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Catherine “Kate” Minner. Edward died 22 Nov 1884 and was buried in Chester Rural Cemetery, Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania. Since Edward’s wife Kate was Protestant, Edward’s wishes were to be buried someplace where is wife could also be so he rejected the Catholic Cemetery.

James Slevin was born 2 Jan 1857 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Hannah Elizabeth Slevin was born 25 Feb 1859 in Pennsylvania. Hannah married Charles R Wingert of Bayonne, Hudson, New Jersey. Charles and Hannah had 6 children. Hannah died 29 Oct 1912.

Henrietta Agnes Slevin was born 4 Dec 1860 in Haddington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died 8 Apr 1863.

Rose C Slevin was born 6 Feb 1863 in Hestonville, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rose married James F Daley in the Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Chester, Pennsylvania on 19 Nov 1896. She died in 1898 and is buried in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, Linwood, Delaware, Pennsylvania.

Isabella Henrietta Slevin was born 8 Feb 1865 in Hestonville, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died 9 Jun 1865 in Pennsylvania.

Theresa Slevin was born 28 Jan 1867 in Pennsylvania. She and her brother Lawrence ran the family grocery store in Chester until her brother Lawrence died in 1945. Theresa never married and died 18 Oct 1949 and is buried in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, Linwood, Delaware, Pennsylvania.

Lawrence J Slevin was born 30 Apr 1870 in Pennsylvania. He and his sister Theresa ran the family grocery store. Lawrence never married and died 17 May 1945 and is buried in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, Linwood, Delaware, Pennsylvania.

Family Group Sheet PDF: Lawrence and Ellen Slevin