The Galvan Family of Raglan

Richard Ernst Galvan and Catherine Galvan (Sheahan), settlers to Raglan in 1863

This page is dedicated to my great great grandparents Richard and Catherine. Content within it explores their journey to New Zealand, their lives and those of their offspring. I am fifth generation from their blood line beginning with Richard and Catherine Galvan, then their son Michael Galvan and Pare (Polly) Tamati, then their son Constant and Anne Galvan, then their son Michael Galvan and my mother Noelene Owens, and now me. Additionally, now there is two generations beneath me so we are currently sitting at 6 generations from Richard and Catherine living in NZ, Australia and Canada.

Richard and Catherine 

Are my great great grandparents and were originally from County Cork in Ireland.  They built the homestead above in the 1860's and it had a forge attached to it. The homestead was passed to Richards son Richard Junior and then to his son Eddie. Eddie's daughter Grace Fry (nee Galvan) resides on a home on the property where the forge once was, present day. Grace has advised me herself that the forge was in operation until around 1935. The homestead and land remained in the family until the 1940's when it was sold and the house divided into flats as we see above.

This painting of Richard Galvan's forge is in the care of Grace Fry (nee Galvan).

Richard was born on the 22nd September 1832 and Catherine was also born in 1832 in Mallow, County Cork. They married in New York City in 1852 at the Basilica of St Patrick's Old Cathedral on Mulberry Street. This was the original St Patrick's church. They had 3 children in the USA before embarking on their journey to New Zealand via Australia where they had another 2 children and eventually settled in Raglan where their last 4 children were born. Catherine passed away on 26th July 1873 aged just 39 after childbirth. 

Richard and Catherine would have sailed from New York to Australia around 1859 and 1860. They lived in Melbourne for 2-3 years. Grace Fry had mentioned to me that Catherine was a hat maker (Milliner). 

St Patrick's Old Cathedral - New York City

St Patrick's Old Church current time, the new St Patrick's did not open until 1878.

Their long Journey to New Zealand

I believe Richard Galvan came to New Zealand from Melbourne Victoria arriving in 1862/1863 to serve as a Blacksmith for the troops during the Waikato land wars.  

I can not see any evidence of Richard travelling with his family.  Further, ships lists show a 6 year old Richard Galvin, Mrs Galvin and 8 year old John Galvin arriving on the Urara ll into Sydney from Melbourne Victoria in January 1863. This was most likely Catherine as their birth-dates match. There is no listing of the three infants travelling with her - Mary would have been 4 and Timothy 3 with baby Joseph 1. It is worth noting that Catherine's parents had already settled in Auckland at this time.

In March 1863, Catherine and the children finally arrived into Auckland aboard the Kate a 341 ton Sherlock from Sydney. 2nd April 1863 Maritime & Military records prove that. The record indicates four children (John, Richard, Mary Allen and Timothy), but again, she would have most definately had baby Joseph with her. 

There is further record of Mrs Galvin and 4 children travelling from Auckland to Raglan on the Emma Eliza on 27th March 1963.  Richard and Catherine were the only Galvan's to settle Raglan, so it makes sense this is them. We know they were in Raglan from 1863 due to newspaper documents.

Ship records below document Catherine's journey from Melbourne to Sydney, to Auckland and to Raglan.

Passenger list from the Urara II from Melbourne into Sydney in January 1863, with Catherine listed with two of her eldest children. John and Richard Junior. 

Richard Junior is listed here as travelling from Melbourne into Sydney on the Urara II in January 1863, as above.

The Kate arrives into NZ in March 1863, mentions Mrs Galvin and 3 children. The Galvan name was often mis-spelt as Galvin. In addition, Grace Fry had informed me that the family arrived on the ship the Kate when I met her in March 2019.

In March 1863 Mrs Galvin is listed as sailing on the Emma Eliza from Auckland to Kawhia via Raglan with her four children. This would make sense that is was Catherine and four of her children and fit with the timing of their arrival into Sydney in January that same year, and travelling on to New Zealand arriving in March .

A large catholic family

Richard and Catherine were both around 32 years of age when they arrived in New Zealand. Richard was a blacksmith. He came to Raglan attached to the troops. He should have gone to Port Waikato however another blacksmith ended up there. This was fortunate as two weeks in, that poor chap was killed by the Maori's.  Richard and Catherine arrived into New Zealand around the time of the Waikato Land Wars. Eventually the Galvan's were all good Maori linguists and could speak the language fluently having grown up with the Maoris and a mutual trust had grown between them as they learnt the Maori ways and language. 

The nine children were John (b.1855), Richard,(b.1857), Mary Ellen (b.1959) - born in New York, Timothy (b.1860), Joseph (b.1862) - born in Emerald Hill Melbourne and Michael (b.1864), Esther (b.1868) and David and Harry (b. 1870) - born in Raglan.  Esther was only 5 when her mother died, and she was apparently cared for by Mrs Moon. 

Waikato Land Wars

In July 1863 the family had to flee Raglan due to the Waikato Land Wars. Proof of that is in the below article whereby Richard appears to be claiming for his losses. This article was published on 31 October 1866. It appears that Catherine and the Children were removed from the area until sometime the following year, with Richard returning to Raglan in February 1864. It is documented that many in Raglan went to Auckland to escape the danger.

The Waikato Wars clearly caused disruption to Richard and Catherine's settlement in Raglan. From July 1863 Catherine and the Children were away, Richard was then away between October 1863 and February 1864.

Sadly in 1873 Catherine passed away. We do not yet know where Catherine rests. I hope to find her one day.

Irish Relief Fund

On 19th March 1880, Richard Galvan was awarded 10 shillings
and his son John was awarded 2 shillings 6d from the Irish relief fund.

Richard Galvan's Obituary, 1st July 1881

Sudden death of an old settler

Richard passed away suddenly on 29th June 1881. The above Obituary provides some insights into his death. He was a highly respected man, a man of "prowess", a hard worker who built a successful business, built a large home and raised 9 children with his wife until her untimely death. 

Richard is buried in an unmarked grave in the Raglan Lawn Cemetery near his daughter Esther Brown. We are unable to confirm where Catherine is buried. 

The site marked is where Richard is buried at the Raglan Lawn Cemetery. It is currently unmarked. Richard is in plot 119 and according to graveyard records his son Joseph Galvan is buried with him.  Pictured below is my two cousins Ngariki and Michael, my aunty June, my cousin David, my uncle David, my sister Kelly and cousin Chvon - we visited the grave in November 2019 and planted a pot with a red metal rose and laminated plaque. We hope to one day soon have a plaque on this very important elder's resting place.

Catherine's Parents

Catherine Sheahan was born to Michael Sheahan and Ellen O'Brien. Michael was born on 29th September 1804 in Mallow Cork and passed away aged 88 on 29th June 1893 in Auckland. Ellen was born in 1811 in Cork and passed away aged 84 on 24th June 1895 in Auckland. Michael and Ellen were married in Doneraile Cork on 2nd March 1829. They were my paternal great great great grandparents.

Michael and Ellen with members of their family and niece Bridget Mary Dowling immigrated to New Zealand in 1861 on the ship Bosworth. Michael was a shoemaker. He spent several years around 1867  living with his daughter Catherine and her family in Raglan helping Richard build the Galvan Homestead.  He lived the rest of his life in Auckland. He died at his son's residence in Haydn Street, Freemans Bay and is buried with his wife Ellen in Devonport cemetery.

There is a page dedicated to the Sheahan's within this blog.

Michael and Ellen Marriage Certificate - 2nd March 1829, Doneraile Cork

Richard's Parents

I do not currently have any information verified of Richard's parents in Ireland.

Raglan Township

Raglan is a coastal town around 50km west of Hamilton. Immigration into the area really amped up from the 1850's and troops were based there during the Waikato Land Wars. Mt Karioi, the Whaingaroa Harbour, Te Mata, Te Akau, Waingaro, Aotea Harbour and Bridal Veil Falls are important land marks and place names within the area. Raglan is ancestral home of the Ngati Mahanga iwi. 

Te Mata Catholic Church and Cemetery - May 2019.

It was an amazing day to meet Johnny and Tim Brown in May 2019. I thank them for their generosity and kindness and in helping me begin to put the pieces of my families past together. 

To my Great Grandfather Mick, my grandfather Con, my own father Michael Galvan and his siblings, this is for you all.

Information Sources

Throughout this blog site I have quoted text from the following books, and some of the information is quoted from relatives, letters and referrals received.

Te Mata Te Hutewai The Early Days by RT Vernon published 1972
Te Mata Aotea by RT Vernon published 1973
Raglan by RT Vernon publish date unknown
Around Raglan by RT Vernon publish date unknown

It was May 2019 when I first made contact with Sue and Tim Brown and this genealogy project began. As the weeks went by I became more and more intrigued at our unique history to the region. I would greatly appreciate any new information, images or corrections to anything portrayed on these pages. The pages within are works in progress and will be updated as I find more to add to them.

Karen Galvan-Schade at enquiries@spaw.org.nz or call +64 +27 5273642 in New Zealand.

Te Mata Store and Post Office above in 1911 and below 1899