| Notes |
- THE IMMIGRANT - JAMES GALBRAITH SR. 1666-1744, By Lelia Booth
This article appeared in THE RED TOWER VoL 1/7, No. 3 - Spring 1985.
James Galbreath, 52 years old, arrived in Pennsylvania in October 1718 on the ship "Wm. Galley", Capt. Saml' Haines (MacDaid Memorial Library, FL Passenger Search and Attestation). The account books of Penn's agents show that by September 6, 1719 James Galbraith "late of Ireland" is charged in 1720 for 100 acres out near the Susquehanna R. (Keith, Chronicles of Penn 1688-1748, Vol. 111, p. 596)
A letter written in 1720 by James Logan, agent for the Penn family, refers to the Donegal grants to the Scotch/Irish: "if kindly used, will I believe be orderly as they have hitherto been, and easily dealt with, they will also, I expect, be a leading example to others." However, they didn't turn out to be all that "easily dealt with" as we see in later letters between Logan and the Penns. In a letter written in February 1733/4 Logan refers to the setters of Donegal that he had encouraged to settle there in 1719-20 "they had some losses by some of the 5 Nations Indians, in so much that the Assembly made good some of the losses". He mentions that some of the Tracts were very poor and worth very little and that some of the area was full of Barrens (land that had been used by the Indians and burned over), and that he had "vast deal of trouble with them without one single farthing advantage". Penn wrote more than one letter regarding "Terms for Ye Donnegallions" payments for their land. The settlers refused to pay for their land and it took about fifteen years for the matter to be settled.
We have no record of James's marriage but consensus seems to be that it was to Rebecca Chambers daughter of Arthur Chambers. This is possible for there were several Chambers families in Ireland and also there were Chambers among the early Donegal and Derry settlers.
It seems that most of James's family came with him. His three sons were John, Andrew and James Jr., who was about fifteen years of age. John, about twentyeight years old, married with one or two children, and Andrew, also probably married, soon set up their own households. Daughters Eleanor and Isobel also came for we find records of their marriages at First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia in 1734 and 1735. His daughter Rebecca is said by Egle and in "Torrance and Allied Families" - to have married in Ireland to Alexander Stewart of Fort Stewart and Carnomanga, County Donegal. Alexander died 1743 and his oldest son, Alexander, fell heir to the estate. About 1745, Mrs. Rebecca Stewart with her other five children came to Pennsylvania. She died 1748/9.
James and his sons were immediately active in helping to organize a Presbyterian church in the new settlement. That first building was a small log cabin with "look-outs" at the corners where men of the congregation kept watch. This log building, which was used for about twelve years, was built by the Big Spring. Since people came from long distances and there were several services during the day it was necessary to be near a spring for water to supply man and beast.
James is on the Pa. Tax List'.
James Galbraith 1/6 W. Connestoga 1722
" 1/8 Donegal 1724
(W.Connestoga changed to Donegal 1722
James Galbraith 1/6 Donegal 1725
" 1/6 " 1726
James Sr. and James Jr. both acquired land in Derry Township about ten miles to the north. Derry Township grew up where two Indian paths - the Allegheny running close to US 422 and the Conewago running south from Manada Gap to Conewago Creek - intersected near Derry Spring and the James Galbraith Plantation. The area was designated 'Galbraith' on early maps.
We do not know when James Sr. went to live in Derry nor do we know what happened to his wife, Rebecca. James was probably living with his son James Jr. when he died on the 23rd of August 1744 aged 78. He is buried in the old cemetery in the Derry Presbyterian Churchyard, Hershey, Pennsylvania. James Sr. and James Jr. are on the Honor Rofl of those buried there - Frontiersmen: James Galbraith Sr. and James Galbraith Jr.
In the southwest comer of the churchyard are two flat slabs of white marble. On one:
Here lieth the remains of the/ Rev. William Bertram, first/ pastor of this congregation/ who departed this life/ 2nd May, 1746/ Aged 72 years/ As also/ Elizabeth, his daughter) wife of James Galbraith, Esqr./ who departed this life, 2nd Feb./ A.D. 1799, Aged 85 years.
On the other slab: Here Heth the remains of / James Galbraith/ who departed this life/ ye 23rd August, 1744/ Aged 78 years/ Also/ James Galbraith, Esqr./ The younger/ on ye I I th June, 1786/ Aged 83 years/ Who dwelt beloved by all) In rational piety, modest hope,/ and cheerful resignation/
Elizabeth....... (probably wife of Rev. Bertram).
But - Who was our James? Where did he come from in Ireland? And why did he come? In 1714-1719 there was severe drought in Ireland and crops were ruined with a great loss of the flax crop and of sheep. Industries suffered, the economy was bad. On top of the economic problems there were severe restrictions on and discrimination against the Presbyterians.
It seemed we had the answer to the puzzle when the following information came to hand - reference: "Galbraiths of Donegal" by Joel Munsell. (So far I have been unable to find this book in our libraries - Is it perhaps a part of another book?) [Editors note: This article is part of the book Pennsylvania Genealogies by Wm. Henry Egle]
John Galbraith, Roscavy
John Galbraith, 1620-1668: bom Blessingburn, Ireland, died Clogher Parish, Roscavy, County Tyrone, Ireland. Will probated 1669. James Galdstane, Exec. Issue: Arthur, second son - inherited estate of Baflyvaden (one mile east of Five-MileTown). He married Mary Gladstane who paid off some debt - probably on the estate.
John
James, bom 1666
(The names Arthur, John and James continued for generations in the Galbraith family in America.)
To check out the above information we delved into some geography, atlases and topographical dictionaries of Ireland. Pat D'Arcy and her husband contacted the Deputy Keeper at the Pubfic Records Office of Ireland for the Will of John (1668).
All of the above mentioned places are within five to ten miles of 'Roscavy' which is near Six-Mile-Cross in County Tyrone. A "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" by Samuel Lewis, p. 344, gives some information: The parish of Clogher is of great extent, and comprehends the manors of Augher, in which is the town of that name; Clogher (granted by Charles I to the bishop) in which is the town of Clogher; Blessingburne, in which is the town of Five-Mile-Town-Mount Stewart; and part of the manor of Killfaddy, granted to Sir Wm. Cope ... Besides the Episcopal palace, the parish contains several fine residences. The deanery or glebe-house, which is about a quarter of a mile west of the cathedral is a handsome house in a fertfle and well planted grebe. Not far distant from it is Augher Castle, the splendid residence of Sir J. M. Richardson Bunbury, Bart.; Cecil, the seat of the Rev. Francis Gervais; Corick, of the Rev. Dr. Story; Killyfaddy of R. W. Maxwell, Esq.; Blessingbume Cottage, of Col. Montgomery; Daisy-Hill of A. Miller, Esq. Fardross, the ancient seat of A. Upton Gladstanes, Esq.; There are two chapels of ease in the parish, one at Five-Mile-Town or Blessingbune and one at NewtonSaville.
In the book "Maps of Ireland" by Taylor and Skinner (1778-1783) - Map 9257 Shows Gladstanes Esq. property called Lisbourie and across the road is Fardross called the ancient seat of the Gladstanes. This is near Clogher. The Stewarts were there by 1619 and where there were Stewarts there were generally Galbraiths to be found - so the 1620 date for a birth there is possible. There were both Galbraiths and Gladstanes in the area. The Lowry land was also near Roscavy and in Donegal, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Lowrys and the Galbraiths were neighbors. There is record of a Lowry Galbraith, of a Galbraith daughter marrying a Lowry, and it is said that the Lowry's still name the eldest son in the family Galbraith Lowry. So there must be some close connection between the Lowry and Galbraith families.
So - we have all the right names and dates and a likely place - But--
The Deputy Keeper at the Public Record Office of Ireland says they have no record of the Will of John Galbraith, Roscavy 1668/9. They do have the Will of John Galbraith of that address dated 1752. I have a copy of this Will through the kindness of Pat D'Arcy and her husband.
Abstract of the Will of John Galbraith dated 1752:
(1)Speaks of a marriage property agreement with wife Catherine Perry in 1729. (Catherine died before 1752.)
(2)Eldest son James-second son George; eldest daughter Catherine; daughter Anne Marie; Brother Arthur and wife Rebecca; sister Tracy; sons John Forbes, Samuel and Lowry; daughter Mary.
(3)Galbraith Lowry and Thomas Gaidstane - Overseers of Will and Guardians of his children.
(4)Brother-in-Law George Perry and brother Arthur - Executors.
Mr. D'Arcy also found a record of some Galbraith burials in the graveyard at the church of Cloghemy which is near the junction of Fintonia Road with Omagh/Six Mile Cross Road - not too far from Roscavy.
To the east of the church there is a walled enclosure, the burial place of a family called Galbraith. There is built into the south wall of this enclosure a large freestone slab bearing the following inscription in capital letters:
THIS BURYING GROUND/ ERECTED By JAMES GALBRAITH OF ROSCAVY/ AND SAMUEL GALBRAITH OF / OMAGH ESQ THE 3RD GNERATION AT ROSCAVY FROM/ JOHN THE FIRST/ JOHN GALBRAITH OF ROSCAVY GENTLEMAN DIED/ 28 OF MAY 1668 AGED 48/ CAPTAIN JAMES GALBRATH HIS SON DIED IOTH OF MARCH/ 1706 AGED 38 CAPTAIN/ JOHN GALBRAITH HIS SON/ DIED 26 OF JAN 1742 AGED/ 72 THE THREE BURRYED (sic) IN CLOGHER JOHN GALBRARM ESQ DIED FEB 1732 AGED/ 40 YEARS AS DID CATHERINE/ GALBRAITH OR PERRY HIS WiFE 7TH DEC 1749 AGED 36/ AND BOTH BURRYED IN THE/ CHANCEL IN CLOGEERNY/.
James and Samuel would seem to be two of the sons of John Galbraith (d. 1752) mentioned in his Will. The date for John Galbraith Esq. died Feb. 1732 has to be 1752 for it is obviously the John married to Catherine Perry who wrote his Will 1752. It seems to me there must also be confusion in the reading of the dates for the age and/or the dates for John Galbraith died 1742 age 72. Were the generations:
John of Roscavy died 1668, Capt. James died 1706 - Ist. generation John died 1742 - lst generation John died 1752 - 2nd generation James and Samuel who erected the Memorial - the 3rd generation from John the First.
Or does one follow Burke's "Landed Gentry of Ireland" (1904) which also give us trouble with dates:
(1)John died 1668.
(2)Capt. James (1668-1706).
(3)John died 1742 (72 years of age)
(4)John in Catherine died 1751, 40 yrs.
(5)James m 1764 died 1768 left issue of 2 sons and 5 daughters!!
The above cemetery record does indicate that John Galbraith 1620-1668 did live at Roscavy but that his sons James and John remained in Ireland. So although we have the right names it does appear that they remained at Roscavy for some generations. I have also tried to find some information on a "John Galbraith of Newton-Cunningham: with no success whatsoever. After all this I end up in a state of confusion - still wondering who our James was and where was his home in Ireland. Since those settlers to Pennsylvania named their new home Donegal one would think it possible that County Donegal was where they had left their hearts. In any case, our pioneer, James Galbraith Sr., seems to have been at age 52 a tough, independent, energetic leader and a staunch Presbyterian."
The following Information was furnished by Mary H. Cole. "I'm not sure James Galbraith was the son of John Galbraith. So the story goes - James named his son (I believe his oldest son) John. It was speculated that because James' father was John. At some point they dropped the speculation without proof. The hearth tax shows the name of James and others but no John."
A record of arrival in Philadelphia shows "James Galbraith 52, wife Rebecca, eldest son John 28, wife Janet 25, son Robert 3, son Andrew 26".
"James, John and Andrew Galbraith are listed as some of the Pioneer Settlers of East Donegal Township in 1718. (Source - History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Ellis and Evans 974.815 EL 59h - page 759)
East Donegal Township was organized in the year 1722 and embraced all of the territory contained in West Conestoga Township, which was taken from Conestoga Township in the year 1721. (Source - History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Ellis and Evans 974.815 EL 59h - page 757.)
"No report on early Galbraiths can close without a few words on this verified immigrant, from whom at least thirty-two of our members spring. James is documented with land in 1719, so likely came a bit before, as many genealogies so state. Extensive searches by several members (most recently and extensively by Dave Colwell) have failed to show that he arrived in Philadelphia on the vessel William Galley or that he was son of 'John of Ireland'. Nor has it been shown that he had or came with brothers John and Robert. No document to the so-called John of Philadelphia has ever surfaced although there are indications that someone of that ilk was the father of the York County Galbraiths, beginning by 1750. 'Robert of Paxtang' lived a few miles from James, and may well have been his brother but given the birth dates of the children of the two families, it fits better if Robert were a cousin or nephew. Note that we do have at least ten members who descend from (perhaps brother) Robert. I have twice use ' at least' in this section as we have many members, myself included, who have not been able to trace their roots back to those early times in Pennsylvania and some of us surely come from these prolific arrivers." (Source - THE RED TOWER, Winter 2005)
The following article was taken from The Red Tower, Clan Glabraith Association, Volume XXVI, No 2, Winter 2004
Galbraith Genealogy Gleanings
By William Gilbreath
"I have said in several articles that if we have Galbraiths living near each other, we would expect that they are related. This seems obvious, at least in early colonial days or on the frontier, as one would journey there with friends or relatives and settle near them. And, once you had a Galbraith settled (usually with children and often with siblings and in-laws), the descendants built. up a population of relatives in a relatively small area until a son found a better opportunity on the frontier as new lands opened. The process was then repeated a generation or two later, usually with the new family again settling close together. This guideline has been helpful to many of us in placing our Galbraith in a given line, but be wary of pitfalls. Let us consider a few examples.
Within our Association the descendants of James Galbraith of Ireland who settled in then Chester County, PA, by 1719 are the most numerous. James, with sons John and Andrew, lived within a few miles of each other. There was a Robert Galbraith, also with many member descendants who settled about 15 miles to the North of this group. Unfortunately, diligent searches by Dave Colwell,. Gayle Galbraith, Laurel Anderson and quite a few others, myself included, have failed to substantiate the reported passenger list coupling these two possible brothers and family members. Have we been led astray on their relationship because of a perhaps non-existing list? Did they even arrive at the same time? We do not know when Robert actually arrived-it could have been a few years later. The absence of early records for him was 'explained' as Robert settling in the hinterlands and the taxman missing him. I do believe the chances are fair that Robert and James were indeed brothers (or perhaps James was Uncle to Robert) simply because of the rarity of Galbraiths in the new world at that time. One could have chosen to settle virtually any place on more than 1000 miles of the eastern seaboard plus the British Caribbean lands, so 15 miles is relatively close. On the other hand, would not relatives have elected to be near enough to assist each other on a daily basis? A DNA test of a Galbraith male of Robert s line would certainly help to resolve this mystery.
We can show (see Spring, 2004, RT, Earliest American Galbraiths) that a Samuel Galbraith settled about 25 miles south of James of our first example in East Nottingham Twp., Chester County, PA. Samuel and James both appeared in their respective township 1721 tax records. On the big scale, Samuel and James are certainly close and James' entourage probably journeyed through East Nottingham on the way to their lands. Why not consider them as brothers? Perhaps it is because Samuel is virtually unknown and genealogists have never. given him much consideration. He is on early tax-lists but Samuel does not. appear in histories or accounts of the region or in church records as do the Galbraiths somewhat to the north. Our Association has but one known Samuel descendant-member Phyllis Miller's husband Gerald. For me, the strongest evidence of familial relation for James and Robert occurred with Robert's estate in 1738. John Galbraith and James Mitchel of Donegal, Lancaster Co., are the sureties (i.e. bonded to assure a legal distribution of the estate) to Robert's estate in Paxtang. We think that John, the son to James Galbraith, is the nephew to Robert. In contrast nothing has surfaced showing any connection between the families of Samuel and James.
The next example is Joseph Galbraith of 1780 Mecklenburg Co. (Charlotte), North Carolina. I thought (and with me are four other members) for many years he was assuredly related to a Joseph Galbraith (#2) who lived only 5 miles from him. Because there is evidence that Joseph #2 came from Pennsylvania in 1768, I believed this was also the origin of my Joseph, and directed my research to that area. I was, however, always troubled by the fact that these two Josephs never appeared jointly on any document-we expect to see one as a witness for the other or perhaps a land transaction between the two if they were related. When my DNA results came back I found I was not related to the early Pennsylvania lines of the Scotch-Irish Galbraiths but rather connected to other members whose ancestors came directly from Scotland to America. A bit more diligence turned up a Joseph Galbreth who landed in Charleston, South Carolina, settled about 35 miles due south of Charlotte in 1768 and moved from that land before 1780. So now I had either the almost impossible coincidence of three Joseph Galbraiths in close proximity and time or, more reasonably, that there were but two, and one, mine, had moved between two nearby locales on the Catawba River. I had certainly been lead astray for a number of years by the 'nearness' doctrine, with no other supporting evidence.
The third case are the York County Galbraiths, of or near Mount Pleasant Township, who are still a mystery and we do not yet know how much truth will come from the nearness and relationship rule. The 19th Century genealogists report (without evidence) that a brother John had arrived with the James and Robert of our first example. They said that John tarried a bit in Philadelphia and then he or his children went west to York County, giving rise to the Mount Pleasant Galbraiths. Briefly, for these Galbraiths: Andrew Galbraith appeared in 1751 Mount Pleasant. A 1754 deed shows a John Galbraith living a few miles from Andrew. A James Galbraith lived about 5 miles north of them and a daughter of John married a son of James. Robert, attorney of Philadelphia, bought that 1754 land from John in 1765, and moved to about 4 miles west of John's family. Another Robert, son to John. resided one farm separated from Andrew. In the other direction, the granddaughter from a family adjoining Andrew married William Galbraith of Baltimore (of Betsy DeCarolis' line). Another John lived 8 miles north of John beginning in the 176Os. You might think these Galbraiths were all related and they may have been. In past Red Towers, I discussed them and certain documents that perhaps link Galbraiths of these names. But no document has been unearthed that says something clear-cut as "my uncle John of Philadelphia".
Our imagination can take over if we blindly apply the nearness rule, especially in the York County case. I imagine that Andrew was likely the one mentioned in our first example, so if there really were that brother John (to James and Robert) in Philadelphia, then John and Andrew of Mount Pleasant would be cousins. John and James might also have been cousins and their children then married second cousins. If we have Andrew placed correctly, then William of Baltimore was his grandnephew. Attorney Robert might be brother to James and thus linked to still another John who died in 1766 Philadelphia with brothers of those names. Please note my many uses of 'might', "would", and 'if'.
On balance, neighboring Galbraiths are more often related than not but one should surely keep looking for documentation and consider other options. It is a useful rule but use caution since a document clearly linking the two is worth much more. DNA is the proof-in-the pudding but we cannot tell how close the relationship is and those Galbraith neighbors could be very distant cousins."
"The family tree of Lord Strathclyde in Burke's "Peerage and Barontage" indicates that there were at least three Galbraiths from that family who emigrated to Ireland at the time of the King James Plantation. They were Robert, 17th Chief, and James and John, who were sons of a Humphrey Galbraith and wife Isobel Cunningham.
In the introduction of "The Scottish Migration to Ulster in the Reign of James I by Prof. Percival Maxwell, the author states that the sources available for studying the Plantation in Ulster are inadequate, as no parish registers have survived - if they were ever kept. Lists of tenants are rare and only one list providing statistics on women and children has survived. Since the Galbraith Clan held lands in Stirlingshire and possibly in Dunbartonshire, the logical thing to do is to find which of the undertakers came from that area. The book mentioned above indicates only two of the undertakers came from Stirlingshire, Ludovic Stewart, Duke of Lennox, and Esme' Stewart, Lord Aubigney. Cousins of the King, they indicated their willingness to take up land in Ireland in March, 1609. By 1610, Lord Aubigney passed all his responsibilities to Sir James Hamilton.
The Duke of Lennox was one of the chief undertakers and was assigned the favorable location in the precinct of Portlough. This is in county Donegal, previously called Tirconnefl. "The Plantation of Uster" by Rev. George Hill, indicates that a Humphrey and a Robert Galbraith were in possession of the manor of Corkagh (later Corgagh), consisting of 1,000 acres. This Robert may have been a son or relative of the Laird of Culcreuch who died in Ireland in 1642. Robert may also have been a close relative of Humphrey Galbraith. In 1664, Humphrey and Robert sold Corgagh.
In 1666 William Penn was Aide-deCamp to the Earl of Arran, who was a relative of Humphrey Galbraith's wife, so there is a likelihood that John Galbraith of Blessingbun, County Tyrone, Ireland, lived at Corgagh before going to America with Wm. Penn. Blessingboune was north of Five-Mile Town in County Tyrone. The "Index of Clogher Will to 1888" at Public Records in N. Ireland has the John Galbraith of Blessingbum Probate 1669. It appears that James Galbraith bom 1666, was a descendant of these Galbraiths. He had a son bom in 1692 who accompanied him to America. Since relatives were often using the same first names, names such as James, John, Robert and Humphrey, it is difficult to separate the Irish Galbraiths at this time.
When Robert Galbraith, 17th Galbraith Chief, came to Ireland, it is likely he was able to obtain land there because of his connections with the Duke of Lennox. Robert emigrated to Ireland after 1624 and died about 1642. The Earl of Lennox was promoted to Duke of Lennox in the reign of King James I. The D'Arcys called on Bertie (Albert) Galbraith, farmer of Lower Craigiedoes in County Donegal where many Galbraiths of the Lowlands settled. Many Galbraiths are buried in an old Church of Ireland cemetery at nearby Taughboyne, a cemetery used by all denominations for several generations. Bertie said his ancestors farmed in the area for many generations, that they were Presbyterians, and were buried at Taughboyne cemetery.
The D'Arcys also interviewed a James Galbraith who was farming near Omagh, County Tyrone. His ancestors had first settled in Craigiedoes, having sailed up Lough Swilly to get there. Turning to the Cunningham settlement: Sir James Cunningham, his uncle, brother and another Cunningham, were allocated land in the precinct of Portlough. Sir James arrived by the port of Londonderry. Since some Galbraiths were connected with the Cunninghams in Scotland, there may have been Galbraiths in the Cunningham settlement.
In an old burial ground near the ruins of Templeplasteragh Church, County Antfini, there is a gravestone inscribed: "Flora MacDonnell burying place / Here lieth the body of her husband, Dundan Galbraith of Islay who departed this Life Sept. 1795, age 55 years". There appears to have been many Galbraiths in Islay in the early 19th century. Islay is the most southerly island of the Hebrides.
Apparently there were Galbraiths who migrated from Scotland to Kilkeel and around Downpatrick, both in County Down. There were strict Presbyterians among them, some of whom moved to the parish of Creggan near Freeduff Presbyterian Church. This was in the extreme southern portion of County Armagh before 1800. Unclaimed land, this area consisted of moor, bog and hills, but the hard-working Presbyterians improved the land and later native Irish began moving in and buying it. The Presbyterians emigrated to America in large numbers, though some remained, generally moving northward to Newtonhamilton parish in County - Armagh and Mullyash Mountain and Muckno townland of County Monoghan. By 1840 there were many Galbraiths living in this area, today there seems to be only two in Newtonhamilton parish." (Source-Section III, More on the Galbraiths From the Redtower, The Clan Galbraith Association of North America, Extracted 1992 by Glenn Smith)
I do not believe the above John Galbraith is the father of James Galbraith, born about 1666 in Ireland. See Notes Section on James Galbraith, born about 1666, for additional details. I have retained this information, however, pending a final determination as to forebears of James Galbraith. (Note to File-J. P. Rhein)
GALBRAITH FAMILY OF RAPHOE PARISH, DONEGAL IRELAND (1665-1720) Possible Ancestors of James Galbraith, born 1666, Immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1718
By Ross McDonough, The Red Tower, Clan Galbraith Association, Vol. XXXV, No. 4, ISSN 1059-4264, August 2014.
For some time I have been attempting to determine the Ulster ancestors of my immigrant ancestor James Galbraith b.1666, who came to Pennsylvania in 1718, along with his son, James, Jr., also my ancestor, and others. My work has included much correspondence with Bill Gilbreath, Clan Galbraith genealogist, Simon Parker Galbreath, keeper of the Clan Galbraith wills, as well as a lot of work on the internet. (Surprising what can be found there.)
Also, Nancy (who as always is a much better genealogist than I am) and I attended a week long genealogy class in Belfast last summer put on by the Ulster Historical Society and Ulster University. I found much of the information on this family there. (This is an annual event and I would highly recommend it.) The Foundation Executive Head and Research Director will put on a USA cross country day session trip in mid-March 2015 that I think would be worthwhile if one of the sessions turns out to be near where one lives.
Before the course in Belfast, we spent several days in Raphoe Parish in Donegal, which contains beautiful, fertile farmland. It made me wish my Dad could have seen it, since it is so different from the rough farm land he worked on in central Arkansas.
Like others, I have not been able to find proof as to the ancestry of James (1666), but have found info on a family in Raphoe parish that perhaps could be those ancestors. It includes Thomas, a head of household there in 1665, which would make him the right age to be the father of James (1666). Also, there are many first names in this family which are the same as those of the children of James (1666) and James, Jr., including the somewhat unusual name of Isabell, various spellings (see info below).
When James (1666) came to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1718, he was a part of the settlers that renamed their township Donegal, with a part of that township later being renamed Raphoe. County Donegal has various baronies, including North Raphoe and South Raphoe. In North Raphoe Barony, there is Raphoe Parish which includes the town of Raphoe (all of this family's locations that I am writing about were in Raphoe Parish, Donegal, only a few miles from the town of Raphoe.) It is generally assumed that the 1718 immigrants came from Donegal and that seems to me to be a reasonable assumption.
There were three Galbraiths in a Raphoe barony in the 1630 muster roll, but it appears that while they were in the Barony of Raphoe, it is not likely they were in Raphoe Parish, and therefore perhaps were unlikely to be ancestors of this Raphoe Parish family. They were Andrew, John, and Alexander and since Andrew had the most weapons, I might guess he was the father, if they were not all brothers. I wonder if they lived through the Irish uprising that followed.
Thomas Galbraith appears in the 1665 Hearth Tax roll in Raphoe Parish, and again, since he is the right age to be the father of James (1666), I think he must be seriously considered as a possible father of James (1666), particularly since all of the research that I have seen has not turned up a specific known person likely to be his father.
In 1720, there is a will for Thomas Galbraith in Upper Cooladerry, Raphoe Parish, only a partial abstract available, which lists three brothers, James, Andrew, and Hugh, and an apparent sister, Isabella Clarke. Thomas would have to have been in his seventies in 1720 to be the father of James (1666). He must be a man of some substance since he leaves land in the will. He names his brother James as executor and since James (1666) was already in America in 1718, it seems unlikely they would be the same person.
In 1702 there was a Raphoe Parish reforestation document that generally lists one person as responsible for planting trees in various townlands. Included in the list is William Galbraith of Cooladerry. Also, Andrew Galbraith is listed for Beltany, which has the very interesting stone circle. There probably were other Galbraiths included in the "and partners" for some of the townlands.
Andrew Galbraith was appointed overseer of the Raphoe Parish roads in the early 1700's. And Andrew and William were "sidemen" at St. Eunan's Cathedral in Raphoe in the late 1600's.
Compare the first names above with James (1666) who had a son Andrew and a daughter Isabell. (Isabell does not seem to be a common name at this time, but was more common in the 1500's Galbraith era.) James, Jr. had sons William, Andrew and Thomas. He lived in Ireland until he was 15 and might he have named a son for his grandfather?
There is a persistent belief that the father of James (1666) was a John. It is interesting to note that a John Galbraith was paid in 1720 for work done on the bell in St. Eunan's. No idea who he was or even whether he lived in Raphoe Parish. To have been the father of James (1666) he would have had to have been in his 70's when paid for his bell work.
Was this Raphoe family from Scotland? Almost certainly so. Much of the land in Raphoe Parish appears to have belonged to the Church and Bishop Andrew Knox made a trip to Scotland in the early 1630's to find settlers for those lands. Knox had been a Bishop in Scotland before becoming Bishop of Raphoe.
Is it likely that they are descendants of the Culcreuch Galbraiths. I think so. I understand that DNA indicates the Pennsylvania Galbraiths were of the Balgair line, but I think I understand that the DNA results could indicate they are of the Balgair line, but of a different line down from their ancestors. A possibility of that DNA connection is Humphrey of Glin dying 1554, probably father of James of Glin, dying 1587 with children Thomas and Jonet. Absolutely no proof of any connection to Thomas in 1665 Raphoe Parish Hearth Tax, but indicative of the possibility that the DNA of my ancestors could come from the ancestors of the Balgair line.
As an interesting (to me) aside there is a 1617 will of an Isobell Galbraith, widow of Thomas Mitchell and sister to Margaret Galbraith, who died just north of Stirling in 1616. In the list of Raphoe Parish 1665 Hearth taxes there are four Mitchells listed, as is Thomas Galbraith. Was it likely Bishop Knox recruited Mitchells and Galbraiths from the same area to settle on Raphoe Parish land? Finally in a list of 33 family names of "main" Scotch-Irish settlers in 1718 Chester County, PA in addition to the James Galbraiths there is Mitchell, with one of the two Mitchells named Thomas. Likely these Mitchells went to PA with James (1666) and if so were they the Mitchells of Raphoe Parish?
I hope that somebody who reads this might know something more about this Raphoe family or will do further research as to whether these Raphoe Parish Galbraiths might be ancestors of the James Galbraith (1666) Pennsylvania line.
(See Histories Section, Number 15 for Article on The 1718 Galbraiths by Dave Colwell that appeared in an earlier edition of The Red Tower. I have elected to enter on this website the forebears of James Galbraith (1666) as reported in Dave Colwell's well documented work. This takes us back to James Galbraith of Culreuch the 10th Galbraith Chief. Hopefully, additional DNA testing by male Galbraith descendants and DNA from one of those early forebears will confirm this lineage. Note to File - JP Rhein)
- CLAN GALBRAITH DNA TESTING
At the present time over 100 members have been DNA tested with about a half dozen being descendants of James Galbraith of 1666, Ireland.
The Hapologroup is R-L47 - with a descendant of James listed as kit number 285535. DNA Group 1 (R1b-M269-U106-Z159)
Unfortunately, at this time there is no known DNA available for the early Galbraiths (Galbraith Clan Chiefs, etc.) so there is no way to review or test the many written heritages that have been published.
(Note to File - JP Rhein. August 30, 2014)
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1666 - 1744 (78 years)
