Timothy Galvan

Timothy Galvan was the fourth child of Richard and Catherine, born in Melbourne on 29th August 1860 as the family travelled to New Zealand from New York. 

Master Timothy passed away tragically at 12 years of age at the Manukau Heads in February 1874 on board the Flora MacDonald. The boat came into trouble about 3 miles outside the southern head in heavy squalls and high seas pounded her against the bar. All lives were lost.

The Cutter Rangatira picked up the mast of the Flora near Huia.

New Zealand Herald 4th December 1874
THE LOSS OF THE FLORA MACDONALD, CUTTERLATER PARTICULARS.

Little doubt remains that the cutter lost ou the Manukau Bar, on Monday morning, was the Flora Macdonald, Captain J. L. Kenny. Pieces of wreck have been picked up while floating about, which have been identified in Onehunga as belonging to this vessel. No hopes are entertained for the safety of either the crew or passengers, as all were swallowed up by the esa at the time of the sad catastrophe. Their names Bre: —J. L. Kenny (master), Alfred Powell (seaman), Robert Williamson (lad). Passengers: J. Graham, hotel keeper of Raglan ; P. Johnson, halfcaste; T. Galven lad, son of Mr. Galvan, blacksmith of Raglan ; —. Robertson, lately arrived from England ; and a little girl named Philips, daughter of Mr. J. Philips, of Raglan. Two other children were observed on board the cutter shortly before she left Onehunga, but it is at present uncertain whether they were passengers by her. We are informed that although Mr. Nazer had booked a paßsago by the vessel, he fortunately remained behind. Yesterday the cutter Rangatira brought in a piece of a mast described as the pillow of the croastrees, which was picked up on Monday evening off the Huia. This was identified by Mr. George Dean as having belonged to the Flora Macdonald. It was also shewn to Mr. Vause, the builder of the cutter Dawn, who at once stated that it aid not belong to the latter vessel, as it was painted, whereas that belonging to the Dawn was varnished. A ten-gallon water keg was also found floating off Poponga, by a man named Smith, who took it to Waikawai. The description of the keg answers to that belonging to the Flora Macdonald. No bodies have as yet been picked up. Captain "Wing left yesterday morning in his boat in tow of the "Wellington, to the scene of the disaster, in the hopes of being able to be of some service, but had not returned to Onehunga at the time of our reporter leaving for town. "With regard to the melancholy accident by which eight human beings found a watery grave, we may remark that although the bar was signalled as dangerous at the time of Capt. Kenny endeavouring to cross it, he in all probability bad no alternative but to run the gauntlet. His vessel was evidently jammed down, and it was impossible for him to have stood out to sea, the circumstances with a sailing vessel are so different from a steamer, and no blame should therefore be attached to the memory of the man as having recklessly exposed hi 3 vessel and the lives under his charge. In all probability the helmsman was washed from the tiller by one of the immense rollers, and before he could recover himself the cutter broached to, fell over on her beam-ends. It was the work of a few moments, and although observed by the signalman from, the heights above, no human aid was possible to save the lives of those on board. " The waters compassed them about, and the depths closed them round about."

The Flora McDonald at her Jetty in Raglan