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Gavin Ancestors

Hi,

I am looking for further information on my Gavin ancestors who are from the Clifden area. My research so far goes back to Stephen Gavin and Bridget Coyne, probably born in late 1700's or early 1800's. Their son, Mark Gavin was my third Great Grandfather and he was a convict that was transported to Australia during the famine in 1849. He killed some cattle in 1848 for which there is a short record listed for his crime. He was married to an Anne Conroy in Ireland around 1845 and they had one son in Ireland - Stephen (my second Great Grandfather) around the same time 1845. They then had several other children in Australia before Anne died in 1869.

Stephen came out to Australia in 1858, with I believe his Uncles family, Thomas and Frances Gavin and their child, Ann. I also believe he had another uncle, also Stephen Gavin, who came out to Australia in 1862 with his wife Honora/Honor (nee Mulkern) and children Michael, Mary and Bridget. 

I've had a search through rootsireland and I come up with very few records of any events for this family. The only ones I have found are for the baptism of Stephen and Honor's children, Michael in 1860 and Bridget in 1857. Both listed as Roman Catholic and both listed as Parish/District of Clifden. 

From what I understand of their history in Australia and the shipping records, they were generally labourers and farmers and were not literate. I assume this, together with the famine had a lot to do with the absence of records.

Where can I further direct my research? Would there be more detailed records of Mark's crime?

How can I confirm that the Gavin family originated from Clifden? How could I narrow down to the Townland that they are from? My research on the town is that it is a relatively new settlement and may have attracted a number of families from afar to establish the town. How can I find out if my Gavin family was from another part of Ireland originally? 

I would appreciate any help that anyone can provide. Thanks!

Leonard

 

l.knight87@gmail.com

6 replies

Lenny:

The civil parish for the town of Clifden is Omey.

I checked the Tithe listings from the 1820s and there were no Gavin/Gavan records in Omey and likewise there were no Gavin/Gavan records in Omey parish for the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing. If your Gavins were strictly labourers or very small farmers, they would not be listed in these records.

I did see a Stephen Gavan listed in the 1855 Griffiths listing for Magheramore townland in Kilcummin civil parish which is to the east of Omey parish. Possibly this record is for the older Stephen Gavan but no way to know for sure.

Records for the Catholic parish of Clifden start in 1838 and are included on the subscription site Roots Ireland. As you already discovered, there is no record for the marriage of Mark Gavin to Anne Conroy or the 1845 baptism of  Stephen Gavin which indicates to me they were living in another parish which does not have records back to that period.

I did not find a Petty Sessions record for Mark Gavin around 1848. I did locate a record for a Poverty Relief Loan in 1844 for a Mark Gavan in Oughterard which is now a town in Kilcummin civil parish. Whether this record is for your Mark Gavin is unknown

 

First name(s)MarkLast nameGavanRoleBorrowerEntry year1844PlaceOuterardPlace-name (alternative)OughterardParishOldtownCountyGalwayCountryIrelandBorrower's first name(s)MarkBorrower's last nameGavanGuarantor or witnessJames GavanGuarantor or witness 2Patt GavanNumber1515

 

Let me know what questions you have but my view is that your family was not origninally from the Clifden area.

 

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Roger,

Thank you so much for your prompt and thorough reply! 

I suspect the property records may not show anything. Their life in Australia that followed for the brothers was one of hard labouring and farming. There is a record of admission to a community care facility where it listed no property and no bank, so likely that their fortunes were similar in Ireland.

The record of Mark's crime that I have is Record 9167 of the Ireland-Australia Transportation database. Trialed in County Galway on 26/06/1848, document ref1 TR8, p 74. Is there a way to access the original record and might it tell me anything more than that in any case? 

The poverty relief loan is interesting, but I can't associate James or Patt Gavan yet. I'll keep that in mind. 

I'll try to look for other siblings to the three brothers. Other avenues I thought of were to look at the sponsors for some birth records. Are they likely to be reliable ie close friends or other family members? 

Thanks again for your assistance. 

Leonard

 

l.knight87@gmail.com

Hi Leonard,

www.findmypast.ie has a record of a Mark Gavan transported to Australia on September 23rd 1848.

Ref 49/1022   ANZ_MIGR_H010_55 0_ 0245

He is amongst 7 men from Galway who were transported 1847/48.

You may have this already!

According to Dr. Edward MacLysaght - Surnames of Ireland - Gavin/Gavan is a County Mayo name, although Griffith's valuation records many in North County Galway.

Regards,

McCoy

McCoy:

Thanks for finding the record!

Roger

 

Leonard:

Sponsors were ususally family members or friends.

Roger

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Roger and McCoy, appreciate your responses. 

I looked up that record for Mark on findmypast.ie. I didn't have the original records of the conviction so thank you so much for that. It shows Mark had three children. I was only aware of Stephen born in Ireland. 

I'll continue browsing records on this site, it seems to turn up a few new things. Something that piqued my interest though for Mark Gavin and Anne Conroy:

Mark Gavin's parents were Stephen Gavin and Bridget Coyne. Anne Conroy's parents were Peter Conroy and Mary Kinnealy. 

A random reference to a "Michl Gavin" in Roman Catholic Parich Baptisms Tuam, Omey in 1838 - page 15 of the records. I believe it is 1st November there is a reference to a Peter and Mary Conroy with a reference to a David and Margaret Gavin below it. Then on the opposite page I believe it is 8th - Stephen Gavin and Bridget Ky??. I'm a bit rusty with interpretting the writing. But I might need to sift through these records from the time. Lots of references to the various names. 

I'm becoming more confident that the Gavin's were from this part of Ireland, also lines up with DNA test information for the Connacht area. 

Thanks again! 

 

 

 

l.knight87@gmail.com

Leonard:

There is no connection between Peter and Mary Conroy and David and Margaret Gavin

The first record shows Nov. 1  Illegible townland followed by Anne of Bartholomew Conroy and Honor Conroy sp (sponsors) Peter Conroy Mary Conroy

The next record is  Nov 2 Derryeighter townland  Michael of David Gavin and Margaret Conroy sp Francis O'Doud and Honor McDonagh

On the opposite page:

December 8 townland not clear but could be Currywongaun  Thomas of Patrick surname not clear maybe Duffyy and Mary Gavan sp Stephen Gavan Bridget Kyrie?

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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