Names and Neighbourhoods

So many stories of ancestors and relatives are mentioned in the newspapers of the past. During April 2020 for the A - Z blog challenge, I am listing the types of stories or information I have found in newspapers with examples for each letter of the alphabet. My clippings include a variety of articles about relatives of my children's ancestors.

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When searching for Names in newspapers it is important to use as many variations as possible to find all likely articles. Another method I've found useful once I have determined the Neighbourhood  where folks lived is to browse for local newspapers of the time and region to find what headings were used for their local neighbourhood articles. I have found a variety of titles for these type of articles: District Doings, About People, About Town, Out and About. 

My children's grandparents can be found listed by name as J D Galvin, John Galvin, John Dominic Galvin, Mrs J D Galvin,  Mrs Galvin, and Mr and Mrs John Galvin. John had been in the RAAF since the beginning of 1937 and after the trials of World War II was ready to take on a different lifestyle.  These articles track the various enterprises undertaken and the family's involvement in new communities.

1946

1946 'ABOUT TOWN',
The Picton Post (NSW : 1907 - 1954), 14 March, p. 3. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111263077

1954 Arrival in Kurrajong

1954 'DISTRICT DOINGS', Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961),
13 October, p. 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85805883

Community Involvement

1955 'DISTRICT DOINGS',
Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 13 April, p. 9. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85806116

Refreshing the Premises

1955 'DISTRICT DOINGS',
Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 31 August, p. 9. ,
 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85802035

By December in 1955 John had joined the Apex Club and become a member of the Board. (1)

1956 condolences

1956 'DISTRICT DOINGS',
Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 4 January, p. 6. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256350126

In July a mention is made that John had just returned from a car tour of the north coast and Queensland (2)

1957

In March we learn that the Galvins had acquired a television set, one of only three to have been installed in the district at that time.(3). Planning for a new hospital in the district had many people involved.

A further meeting of the Kurrajong and District Hospital Society was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Galvin on March 3. (4)

then in April the paper reported:

Mr. J. D. Galvin has set aside a post office window as a notice board for the many affairs of the Kurrajong and District War Memorial Maternity Hospital Society—a very appreciated gesture on his part. (5)

Later in the year John had been travelling again and shared his trip via a slideshow in October.

1957 'DISTRICT DOINGS',
Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 2 October, p. 8.
 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256366044

In August of 1957 John is mentioned as Honorary Secretary to the local Chamber of Commerce.

Phyll, John's wife must have been very busy supplying suppers for functions and looking after 3 small children as well as managing the post office in his travel absences. She was a superb cook so I have no doubt the supper at this 1958 evening would have been excellent.

1958 'DISTRICT DOINGS',
Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 18 June, p. 9.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256359709

I am thankful to the local papers of the day recording so many events in the neighbourhood that have created this snapshot of the lives of my parents-in-law in the 1950s.

In 1958 they purchased an apple orchard at Bilpin and the newspaper reported that John looked well after his outside labours. In 1959 there was mention of them staying at that property for a weekend. In the 1960s they were living in Bundaberg, Queensland where John had taken on managing Walkers Engineering Company and they remained there until 1967.

1. 1955 'Apex Club Has Election', Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 14 December, p. 3. , viewed 15 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85807640

2. 1956 'DISTRICT DOINGS', Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 18 July, p. 11. , viewed 15 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256354635

3. 1957 'DISTRICT DOINGS', Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 27 March, p. 7. , viewed 15 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256361213

4.  1957 'Progress On Hospital Plan At Kurrajong', Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 13 March, p. 2. , viewed 15 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256360946

5. 1957 'DISTRICT DOINGS', Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 10 April, p. 3. , viewed 15 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256361609

 This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

Engagements and Etiquette

So many stories of ancestors and relatives are mentioned in the newspapers of the past. During April 2020 for the A - Z blog challenge, I am listing the types of stories or information I have found in newspapers with examples for each letter of the alphabet. My clippings include a variety of articles about my children's ancestors and those ancestors relatives.

E for Engagements, Entertainments, Elections, Estate notices and Etiquette

All of these can be found in papers from the past. Here's a few engagement notices through 2 generations of Galvin families. In engagement notices the female's surname is usually the first named followed by the male's surname. If parents are mentioned, there may be details of their residence, marital status or whether deceased. Where a mother has re-married her new surname may appear in the notice too.

1917 Engagement of John Michael Galvin and Grace Walmsley Payne

In this notice we can determine that both of his parents were living. Grace's mother is referred to but by this time Grace's father Edward John William Payne had disappeared from their lives. This couple are great grandparents of my children.

1917 'ENGAGEMENT.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 14 April, p. 50. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87442918

1926 engagement of Francis William Galvin to Clarice Tonkin

Francis William was 3 years younger than John Michael mentioned above. He was 27 when engaged whereas John Michael had not turned 21 at the time of his engagement. Their mother Catherine had died in 1923 and is mentioned here as the "late Mrs Galvin."

1926 'Family Notices', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 30 January, p. 41. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89635995

The next generation

1939 engagement of John Dominic Galvin to Phyllis Yvonne Stirling

By 1939 John was a fully qualified pilot and was posted to 3 Sqn in Richmond, New South Wales. In October of that year the dashing young pilot announced his engagement. John was 21 years old and Phyll was 19. There is no mention of Phyll's mother in this notice.

1939 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 17 October, p. 8. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17644919

1954 engagement of Colin Francis Galvin to Marie Liebeknecht

In this announcement we see that Colin's parents Francis William and Clarice are now living at Tailem Bend, South Australia and Colin who had been working in Leigh Creek is engaged to a local girl.

1954 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 18 May, p. 32. ,
 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48122415

Etiquette

While searching through engagement notices in the New Zealand Papers Past I came across this gem offering girls advice on etiquette after engagement. Enjoy!

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 15 May 1912, Page 2 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ROTWKG19120515.2.8.3

Next up - F Functions and Final Farewells

 This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

An Aircraft Accident

So many stories of ancestors and relatives are mentioned in the newspapers of the past. During April 2020 for the A - Z blog challenge, I am listing the types of stories or information I have found in newspapers with examples for each letter of the alphabet. My clippings include a variety of articles about relatives of my children's ancestors.

An Aircraft Accident

This article refers to John Dominic Galvin, my beloved father-in-law. He had been selected for pilot training in 1936 at age 18 and graduated from Point Cook in Victoria in December of 1937. This incident occurred just 6 months later. John went on to have a distinguished flying career during World War II. My first flight in a light aircraft was piloted by him many years later in 1969.

1938 'AEROPLANE CRASHES',
The Picton Post (NSW : 1907 - 1954), 27 July, p. 2. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112772056 

AEROPLANE CRASHES
EXCITEMENT AT DOUGLAS PARK

Unusual excitement prevailed at Douglas Park last Wednesday after noon, when a R.A.A.F. Hawker Demon plane crashed in a paddock there. The machine was badly smashed, but the occupants, Pilot Officer J. D. Galvin and Aircraftsman Godden, escaped practically uninjured. After striking the
telephone wires running across the paddock the machine struck a tree and was held for a moment in mid-air. The tree gave way under its weight, how-ever, and the plane with its occupants crashed to the ground. The pilot and the aircraftsman scrambled out with braises and slight cuts.

This was a lucky escape as another article retelling the incident reported that "Since the beginning of last year, [ed.1937] Hawker Demons have crashed eight times, five men having been, killed and six injured."

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Advertisement for an Auction

An advertisement listing the household goods of my husband's paternal great grandmother Catherine Galvin appeared just a week after her sudden death in 1923. It is interesting that the goods are listed as belonging to her estate without mention of her husband.

Catherine Josephine O'Neill had arrived in Australia from Ireland in 1884 with her mother and sisters aboard the "Ashmore." She and John Patrick Galvin were 25 when they married at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Adelaide in November of 1892. Their household goods were dispersed in this auction.

1923 'Advertising', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 
23 March, p. 14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64185463 

THIS DAY (FRIDAY), at ELEVEN.
AT 11 DANBY STREET (near Public School),
off HENLEY BEACH ROAD, TORRENSVILLE.
ESTATE of MRS. C. GALVIN. deceased.
J. A. SANDO & SON
are instructed to sell —
SIDEBOARD. D.R. SUITE.. Hallstand. Carpet,
Tables, Chairs, DINING SUITE Extension
Table, Couch, Sewing Machine, BEDROOM
SUITE, BEDSTEADS, Stretchers, Bedding,
Duchess Pair, Toiletware, Chest of Drawers,
Linoleums, DRESSER, Kitchen Utensils,
Sagasco GAS STOVE, Copper, Tubs, Garden Tools, Ducks, Fowls, &c.
Hilton or Henley Car to Fisher terrace.

This advertisement gives me an idea of the contents of their house and suggests that her husband John Patrick then moved into alternative accomodation. Electoral rolls of the time confirm this move.

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Arrivals

Taking a step back further in time, the arrival in Sydney, NSW of the "Lady Milton" was noted in June 1862 with a list of passengers.

1862 'Advertising', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), 30 June, p. 6.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60477551 

The names of the immigrants and the person who had paid the deposit for that immigrant were listed below. Michael Galvin is listed with his sister Biddy (Bridget). The complete passenger list sourced at the NSW archives reveals that Michael was a baker from County Galway.


This Michael Galvin is my children's 3 x Great Grandfather. He married Bridget Crotty in April 1865 at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

Other matters to be found in newspapers for the letter A - Appointments to Government postitions, Agricultural details about a district.


Next post B - Building the Background
This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin