John Galvan and Martha Jane Miller and Offspring

John Galvan was the eldest son of Richard and Catherine Galvan of Raglan. He was my grandfather Con's uncle, my great grandfather Michael's older brother. 

He was born on 29th April 1855 in New York and passed away 12th June 1934 in Te Mata. He journeyed with his parents Richard and Catherine Galvan from New York, to Melbourne, to Sydney and eventually to Auckland and onto Raglan all before he was eight years of age. He came with his mother Catherine and siblings Mary, Richard, Timothy and baby Joseph who was just one.

Martha Jane Miller his wife was born in Glendermont Londonderry on 5th September 1870. She passed away on 14th July 1962, 28 years after her husband aged 92.

John Galvan is buried with Martha his wife in Ngaruawahia cemetery. He is pictured here with his Bullocks circa 1890. The photo of John and his Bullocks is framed and hung in the Raglan Museum.

John married Martha Jane Miller on 7th December 1883, she was 23 and he was 38. Martha's parents were Samuel Miller and Mary Ann Mason. John was 15 years older than his wife.  

John was very well known and there is alot of newspaper articles on him and his bullocks and stock yards, trading and the like. 

John was the first carrier in the district. He brought Mr Barretts farm at Te Mata. In his early days, Johns much younger sister Esther lived with him and cared for him before she married Robert Brown. He had a team of bullocks that became well known throughout the Raglan district. He used the team for all types of carting in the early days; timber groceries, furniture, machinery, horses and wagons. The bullocks were used mainly for hauling logs to the mill or for firewood or just to clear a paddock as a bulldozer does today. The slow but sure pull of the team of bullocks is very different to the faster but more erratic team of horses. 

John Galvan was a successful business man running the Te Mata salesyards.

John was a colorful character with his team of bullocks, his big whip, his long white beard and very loud voice, which could be heard for miles telling the bullocks what to do. As the oldest citizen of Te Mata John had the privilege of turning the key in the new Te Mata Post Office when the Rt Hon J G Coates opened it in 1927.

There is record of John securing funds from the Irish relief fund of 2s 6d as did his father Richard Galvan.

Having been born in New York, John was eventually naturalised as a New Zealand citizen on the 19th March 1925. File ref: 20/1/203 Certificate No 73.

Ngaruawahia Cemetery - the resting place of John and Martha.

John and Martha's children

Between 1894 and 1912 John and Martha had nine children - Joseph, Margaret, Mary, Anne, Dora, Martha, John, Violet and Harry.  

Joseph Galvan was born in October 1894 and passed away in 1895. The coroners report dated 5th January 1895 states he was accidentally poisoned. Must have been tragic for his parents.

Margaret Alice Galvan was born on 6th August 1895 in Te Mata and passed away on 11th May 1975 in Hamilton. She married Charles Vincent Garmonsway in 1917. They had two boys Galvan Gordon Garmonsway (1922-2017) and Mervyn Charles Garmonsway (1925-2019).

Mary Ann Edith Galvan was born on 20th November 1896 in Te Mata and passed away in 1984 in Auckland. She married George Alexander Baillie in 1917. In 1919 they lived in Hamilton. They had five children.

Mary Ann Edith Galvan

Dora Selina Galvan was born on 2nd July 1898 and passed away on 25 July 1989. She married William Henry Jones in 1927. Dora is buried in the Hamilton Park Cemetery.

Martha Jane Galvan was born on 2nd October 1899 and passed away on 12th October 1995. She married Francis Curry in 1924. Martha is buried in the Hamilton Park Cemetery.

John Galvan was born on 31st October 1903 and passed away in 1934. He married Kathleen Martha Ann Little in 1926. Kathleen is buried at the Hamilton Park Cemetery.

Violet Ivy Galvan was born in 1908. She married Godfrey Raymond Copley in 1931.

Harry Samuel Robert Galvan was born on 30th March 1912 and passed away on 26 June 1994 aged 83. He married Helena (lena) Miller. His last address was 63 Mardon Road Hamilton. Helena Miller passed away aged 81 on 8th June 1981. They are both buried at the Hamilton Park Cemetery.

I would greatly appreciate any further information on the offspring of John and Martha to extend the knowledge of this line in my families tree.