Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I've recently found out that one of my Manx ancestors was a private in the Manx Fencibles (who in this early incarnation recruited from 1779-1783) his name was James Galvin or Gallivan and he was probably Irish-born. I can't find any mention of him online although I've found a lot of information about the Manx Fencibles. Just to double check can anyone find any mention of him on any military records? Here is a discussion about this subject from another site:-

http://www.isle-of-man.com/genealogy/me ... /id/554481


Blue

I'm not the best at searching military records and I haven't been very successful,so perhaps somebody will have more luck than me.

I did try to check some of the online trees, again didn't find one that could connect but it would seem that the majority of Gallivans were Irish. Galvin at about that date was very much more scarce, the only one I was finding, apparently the same person in many trees, was also Irish.

Thanks for looking Mary. This incarnation of the Manx Fencibles was founded in 1779. A few years previous British troops had left the island and there was concern that the island was undefended. The Manx Fencibles 1779-1783 were an Isle of Man defence force but came under the British Army and were paid for by the Crown. They would have consisted of Manx, English, Scots, Irish, Welsh and maybe a few foreign born soldiers. The officers would likely be all Manx.


Blue

info on the fencibles
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook ... m4p162.htm

there is also a will in IOM for a james Galvin wife Elizabeth in 1791

I've had a good search on FMP at the library and there's definitely no army record for him on there. Hopefully Frances on the IOM site will find some mention of James on the muster rolls in the New Year. In the meantime going on the assumption that James said his surname was or pronounced it as Gallavin or Gallivan and he was probably middle aged, given his death in 1791 and leaving only one daughter, this could be his baptism:-

http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 6360214314


Blue

Well I'd claim them just for the names although I suspect Christ is Christopher and Deggy should be Peggy.

The original image is available for that baptism and it does look like Peggy. At some point I'll get the Will for James but as the Will summary on Manx Notebook (MNB) does not mention anything about his origins I doubt that will tell me anything about James' background.


Blue

Maybe not, but I bet it will be interesting all the same, although at that date the writing might well be a little difficult, if you need help you can always shout on here and we'll all try to give a hand.

if you request a copy from the Manx Museum then you can ask for a typed transcript of it. as well as a copy of the original. it will cost a little more but not much. you will be surprised at what is on it. where his property went, interred, debtors, creditors etc

northmeols wrote:if you request a copy from the Manx Museum then you can ask for a typed transcript of it. as well as a copy of the original. it will cost a little more but not much. you will be surprised at what is on it. where his property went, interred, debtors, creditors etc

Thanks I've ordered before but didn't know they had a transcription service. The older wills can be difficult to read but I've got a feeling there won't be much on this will. The number of pages quoted in the estimate when I ask the Manx Museum about it will tell me how much is on there. They're pretty good they'll e-mail it to you, it saves time and I don't have to digitise it myself for my records.

Cheers,

Blue

ask for Ruth B to transcribe it at the museum. shes my aunt.

Good connection to have

I'm pretty good at Old English and Latin but my Gaelic is terrible. Ruth always translates them for me. She's been my aunt out of courtesy since I was 11. her husband is like a brother, I've known him since I was born. they are actually no blood relation to me but they named their first child after me, that's how close we are.

That's lovely N.M
It's not always true that blood is thicker than water!