Gallivan, Michael
SACRED /
To the Memory /
Of /
MICHAEL GALLIVAN /
A native of Ireland /
County of Kilkenny /
Parish of Moncoin /
Who Departed this /
Life January the 23rd /
Aged 61 years /
May his soul rest in /
Peace. Amen. /
A.D. 1842 /
Written above:
#64 /
Michael Galivan /
Tailor, paid 10£ 1843 /
In the late 18th and early 19th century many Irish immigrants landed on the shores of Newfoundland and Michael Gallivan was among those settlers. Living in St John’s, he marries Mary Carrol June 1st, 1813 formerly of Parish [Kilimiyg], Ireland.
Children baptized at St. John’s included John 16th March 1814, Patrick 28 August 1816 (sponsors Simon Wall and Eleanor Galavan), Catherine 21 March 1817 (sponsors James Gallavin and Elizabeth Burk), and Mary 26 Sep 1821 (sponsors Richard and Mary Morris).[3]
Birth of Son John – 1814:
Baptism of Son Patrick – 1816:
Baptism of Daughter Catherine – 1817:
Baptism of Daughter Mary – 1817:
The earliest evidence we have of Michael Gallivan in Antigonish appears in a land transaction dated June 14th, 1826. The online text is quite difficult to read, but he is clearly identified as a Tailor. He purchases a piece of land from Thomas and Sarah Dickson on the road from the Village of Dorchester towards Town Point.[4] One son, Patrick Gallovin (sic), age 11 son of Michael Gallovin is documented attending the ‘Old Schoolhouse, Antigonish’ November 30th, 1829.[5] Gallivan’s household of seven individuals is enumerated on the 1838 census. It Michael Galavin nd his wife, three male children and two female children. He maintains a 12-acre farm on the outskirts of town; consisting of eight head of cattle, one horse, 14 sheep, and five pigs.[6]
The transcribed will below identifies Catherine, Mary, Patrick, John and Garrett as the offspring of Michael and Mary Gallevan. Catherine appears to be the only member of the Gallivan family who remains in the Antigonish district. She marries Patrick Kenna, coal dealer raises a family, and dies here in 1890.
In the name of God, Amen. I Michael Gallevan, Tailor of Antigonish in the County and Province of Nova Scotia being weak of body but of sound memory and understanding do make this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all or any will or codical (sic.) heretofore made by me in any manner. First I bequeath my soul to God and when it should be his holy will to deprive me of life I declare my body to be decently interred, and that all expences (sic.) attending my funeral be immediately paid and also one pound to be paid for Masses for my soul and that my just and lawful debts be paid by my executrix hereafter named, Secondly, I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Gallevan otherwise Mary Carroll, all my lands, houses, Stock, debts, finiture (sic.), and all other property I am in possession of subject to the following bequests and conditions. Thirdly, I bequeath unto my daughter Catherine Gallevan one milch cow to be delivered her at her marriage. Fourthly, I will and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Gallevan Twenty-Five pounds to be paid her in three or four years. I further will and bequeath unto my son John Gallevan, one dollar, also to my son Patrick Gallevan, one dollar and to my son Garret Gallevan my watch, and the makings of a coat which is now in my house.
Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Mary Gallevan otherwise Mary Carroll my sole executrix to this my last will and testament. In testimony of all before written herein. I hereunto affix my hand and seal this eighteenth day of January the year of our Lord one thousand eighteen hundred and forty three.
His
signed / Michael / X / Gallivan
Mark
Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Michael McKeagney
Rodrick McNair
Donald McNair
Spelling of names can cause difficulty in locating individuals on records—Gallivan, Galavan, Galvin and other variations have appeared. Garrett Galvan (sic.) we have been able to trace by locating an application for Naturalization to the US November 4, 1853. Boston for many was the destination of choice for many leaving Antigonish and we locate Garrett Galvan living in a boarding house there in 1855.[7] Later that year Garrett Galvin (sic.) age 29, son of Michael Galvin marries Mary A. Taylor on September 11th.[8] By 1870 we locate Mary and Garret Galvin living in San Fransisco, 808 Howard Street and the family has grown to include Louisa, Harry, Eddie, Frederick and Willie. Garret’s father Michael was a Tailor and had bequeathed his son the ‘makings of a coat’. In San Fransisco we find Garret working as a Clothing Cutter.[9] He dies at age 75.
[1] 1841 Plot Plan St Ninian Pioneer Cemetery
[2] St. John’s, Newfoundland Church Records 1793-1890; Marriage
[3] St. John’s, Newfoundland Church Records 1793-1890; Baptismal
[4] Nova Scotia Property On Line Book 6, Page 121
[5] PANS RG 14, Vol.3, No.86
[6] 1838 Census Sydney County; Dorchester Township
[7] Census Boston, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts 1855 Household #2461
[8] Sacramental Records – Archdiocese of Boston; Roman Catholic Records 1789-1920
[9] 1870 US Census San Francisco
[10] The Casket Obituary Feb 14th, 1898
[11] The Casket Obituary April 17th, 1890