By David L. Cavanagh
The first of our Cavanagh family to arrive in New Zealand was William Cavanagh; he landed at Port Chalmers, Otago, on the ‘Gill Blas’ in 1856 and came from Melbourne, Australia. How he got to Melbourne and with who else I am yet to discover – I suspect he wouldn’t have travelled alone.
Although important to our family, William Cavanagh (1835-1873) is of greater importance to all of the Galway early settlers, as he was the first Irish Catholic to land in Otago, according to research carried out by Sean Brosnahan of the Otago Early Settlers Museum. Then, shortly after his arrival, he started an ‘immigrant chain’ that was to nominate many other Galway Catholics for passage to Otago and Southland.
William’s arrival paved the way for other immediate family members to follow: John Francis Cavanagh (1833-1910; my great grandfather) arrived in 1857 on the ‘George Canning’; a sister Annie (1827-1918) was listed to travel with John, but at the last minute she stayed in England and there married John Loftus – they arrived 1859 on the ‘Alpine’; in 1862, Mary (1835-1914) and Michael Cavanagh (1841-1915) arrived on the ‘Storm Cloud’ – another sister Cecilia (1843-1925) was also listed to travel, but was ‘short shipped’ (not enough space on the ship, and she was to travel on the next available vessel). However, Cecilia returned to Annaghdown and married in 1866 to John Walsh – they eventually resided on the Cavanagh farm. 1865 saw Margaret (1840-1918) arrive on the ‘St Vincent’ – this ship also had a Celia Cavanagh listed to travel. There is one other sibling, Thomas Cavanagh (1841-?), whom I had thought had also travelled out to New Zealand, but the Thomas I found there is part of a different Cavanagh line, also from Annaghdown.
The above are all children of Francis ‘Frank’ Cavanagh and Cecily Ford, who married in February 1826 in the Parish of Annaghdown.
Besides Thomas (1841- ?), there could be other siblings that I haven’t found as yet, and considering that when the immigrated they travelled in pairs or nominated to travel in pairs, there could be a sibling in Australia, either Thomas or another. Patrick is a name that features in offspring of each sibling, but I cannot find a Patrick born in Annaghdown that could belong to my line.
Having landed in Port Chalmers, William, and then John Francis, settled in Milton, South Otago before moving further south to Roslyn Bush just outside Invercargill, when land became available there. It is to Roslyn Bush that the rest of the family also went to when they arrived in New Zealand.
William married in 1862, Mary Collins (c. 1844 -1885), born in Drumgriffin, daughter of Michael Collins and Margaret Glen; she arrived at Port Chalmers on the ‘Melbourne’ on 17 March 1861 alongside 18 others from Annaghdown and Drumgriffin, all of them nominated as part of the ‘immigrant chain’.
John Francis (1833-1910) married Annie ‘Hannah’ Ford (chr. 5 Apr 1840-1884) in 1861. She was born in Annaghdown to John Ford and Eleanor Casey, and arrived at Port Chalmers on the ‘Melbourne’ on 17 March 1861 with her brother Patrick Ford (1834-1918).
Annie Cavanagh (c. 1827-1918) married before 1859 to John Loftus (c. 1830 – 1917) from Co. Mayo; their marriage is thought to have taken place in England. They arrived in Port Chalmers on the ‘Alpine’ on 11 September 1859, initially settling in Dunedin and later travelling south to Roslyn Bush.
Mary Cavanagh (c. 1835-1914) married John Ford (c. 1831-1904) in 1863. He was born in Drumgriffin, son of William Ford and Margaret Kane, and arrived in 1857 on the ‘George Canning’. They settled at Gropers Bush, Southland.
Margaret Cavanagh (1840-1918) married John Caufield or Caulfield (c. 1841-1915) in 1868. He was born in Galway to parents unknown; a cousin Daniel Caulfield (c. 1838-1904) came from Drumgriffin, and was nominated by William Cavanagh. John arrived in 1863 on the ‘Sir George Pollock’, and they settled at Roslyn Bush, Southland.
Michael (c. 1838-1915) did not marry.
For a long time I thought that my great-grandfather, John Francis Cavanagh. came out to New Zealand on his own, and there he married and raised a family, but gradually I found his siblings. Then when Sean Brosnhan told me about the importance of William Cavanagh to those other Galway families that settled in Southland, my research changed to include those families and their descendants. In 1994 Denise Beerkins of Woodlands in Southland produced a booklet on the 100th anniversary of St Patrick’s Catholic Church at Rakauhauka. In the booklet, she tried to list as many local families as she could find, but in the end had to say that ‘there were almost certainly other families but we have not one to tell us about them’.
They were all from Ireland but predominately Co. Galway: Thomas (Rostellan, Co. Cork) and Mary Hanning née Ross (Whitegate, Co. Cork), William Lyons, Mary Ann Lyons, Mary Condon, John Ross (Whitegate, Co. Cork), Thomas Kilkelly (Annaghdown), Mary Caulfield (Drumgriffin), Daniel Caulfield (Annaghdown), Mary Finnerty, George and Margaret Brown née Burke (both from Drumgriffin), Bartholomew Burke, Thomas and Mary Garvey née Flanagan (both Co. Galway), Mary Murphy, James and Bridget Forde, John (Co. Galway) and Margaret Caulfield née Cavanagh (Annaghdown), James (Co. Galway) and Bridget Murphy née Caulfield (Drumgriffin), William (Co. Galway) and Annie Scully née Finnerty (Co. Galway), Roger (Annaghdown) and Mary Leonard née Collins, Anthony Fahey, Honora Lee, Denis and James Tobin (Cloyne, Co. Cork) John and Nora Lee née Maloney, John and Elizabeth Hurley, Lawrence and Jane Finnerty.
David L. Cavanagh,
Adelaide, South Australia,
dchester[at]adam.com.au
This article first appeared in our Winter 2017 Newsletter.
Some of my Ford family members were among those to move from Annaghdown to NZ.
I thoroughly enjoy David Cavanagh and I am forever in his debt for filling in so many blanks about the Ford family.
My wife is a descendant of emigrants from Annaghdown, also called Cavanagh. They were not related, as far as we know, to the Cavanaghs discussed by David in his article. Bartholomew Cavanagh, son of William Cavanagh and Honor (Annie) Burke, and his wife Bridget O’Toole arrived in Invercargill in the Edward Thornhill in 1864. They were my wife’s second great grandparents. Bartholomew’s brother Thomas ( The one David mentioned above) also came to New Zealand, and he married Ellen Burke ( also from Annaghdown) in Invercargill.
Two nephews of Bartholomew also came to Southland. William Cavanagh, son of Bartholomew’s brother Patrick came to New Zealand in 1900. John Gardiner, son of Bartholomew’s sister Mary, also made the journey to Southland.
Hi John, although I have not established a connection between my family and that of Bartholomew Cavanagh I have compiled extensive research into his family line and more than willing to share what I know, if you are interested you can contact me at dchester@adam.com.au , cheers David Cavanagh
Have been nosing around your tree for a few years now! I now have several DNA matches both through Francis AND William who I now believe were brothers. I think their parents – John Cavanagh and Mary Walsh moved from Kilkenny to Annaghdown where they then also had Sabina and William (who later gets to NZ and marries Mary Collins).
Scrap the John Kavanagh and Mary Walsh parentage bit! These relationships need further research. I have DNA connections to Francis (1807) , Sabina (1805) and William (1802) Kavanaghs. Would love to hear from others who also link to this trio.
Thanks for that John Gardiner, is my great grandfather
My great great grandparents were John and Mary Ross I have worked on family tree
My line follows the hard-to-trace son of William Cavanagh (1835) and Mary Collins – a Michael Thomas Cavanagh (1872-1952) who became known in Australia as Victor Thomas Cavanagh and who settled in Gulargambone as the Postal Contractor. He marred Alice Lyons in 1897. I am still trying to trace how / when he got to Australia!
I would like to know if anyone has traced (1835) William’s Grandfather down – I trace to Francis Cavanagh (1806) and Cecily Ford – but there is a dead end. No birth cert’s…
Re: Thomas Cavanagh (1841-?). Could he be the Thomas Cavanagh who perhaps moved to Dublin area and married a Jane Sinclair there in 1863? I guess we would need someone whose DNA registers to this couple.
A number of Kavanaghs were transplanted from Co Carlow to Connacht as part of the Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland.
A number also managed to retain their holdings in Carlow, probably by becoming Protestant, and became part of the establishment. Arhur Mc Murrough Kavanagh (1831-1889) was a notable descendant of these and was a prominent MP. Look him up at:
kavanaghfamily.com/notable/Art/art.htm.
Two Kavanaghs were transplanted to Annaghdown in the 1650’s.
Murtagh Kavanagh of Castletown, Co Carlow was assigned 1000 acres in Annaghdown and Lackagh.
Dermot Kavanagh was Assigned 300 acres in Annaghdown and Claregalway.
Griffiths valuation (1847 to 1864).
7 Kavanagh families in the parish of Annaghdown.
128 landholdings under the Kavanagh name in County Galway. (many Kavanaghs had multiple landholdings)
5 Cavanagh families in Co Galway.
The Census of 1901 had Nine Kavanagh and One Cavanagh family in Annaghdown parish.
The Census of 1911 had Eight Kavanagh and Three Cavanagh families in Annaghdown parish.
John
I have recently discovered a least 5 Kavanagh dna matches to descendants of William Kavanagh (1802) and Honor Burke. My Kavanagh connection is with a James who came to London around 1820-1830. I notice with interest your point about two Kavanaghs being granted land in Annaghdown following the Cromwell exiles around 1650. Is there a web reference to this anywhere. I have seen an article by the Rev James Hughes on fall of the Kavanagh clan and an associated family tree – but have struggled to link this to any Kavanaghs who might have settled in Galway. One of my matches who confirmed to me that a few of his relatives still live in Annaghdown is convinced that the above William Kavanagh (1802) was definitely born in Galway – has anyone any proof of this I wonder ?
Is your James Cavanagh (abt 1792) the same one who is said to have married a Margaret Hamilton / Hilton in Manchester 1808 (not sure this is correct as they are far too young to be getting married in 1808)? I have a match with a BurkeYork who has this antecedent. My direct line is through Francis Cavanagh (1807) and Cecily Forde….
I also connect to MANY other DNA matches through William Kavanagh (1802) and Honor Burke, and Sabina Cavanagh 1805 and James Goaley. I presume they are all sibs.
Julianne
Hello
I am a decendant of John Ford and Mary Cavagagh. This has been a great help in developing my research for my family tree – thank you.
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca, I would be really interested in collaborating our common family connection, feel free to contact me at dchester@adam.com.au cheers David Cavanagh.
David
I am Rebecca’s 2nd cousin
Proudly from:
Mary Cavanagh (c. 1835-1914) married John Ford (c. 1831-1904) in 1863. He was born in Drumgriffin, son of William Ford and Margaret Kane, and arrived in 1857 on the ‘George Canning’. They settled at Gropers Bush, Southland.
I’ll email you sometime – have a few questions 🙂
So grateful for this information on our family. Every bit counts:)
Regards Monique Ford
It seems that my great great mother was Mary Cavannagh who married John Gardiner 1821-1908 both from Annaghdown .They had 12 children one of whom was John Gardiner who migrated to NZ in the 1870s. They arrived in Invercargill and headed inland to Otatutu and Tuatapere. John it seems was a “lad” left his wife, lived with a Maori woman and died in a hotel fire in 1921 His son William [my grandad served in Gallipoli and the Western Front. My dad William Gardiner served in Italy and was a POW.
Our family now live in Australia more migration
I am in touch with Braoin Gardiner but would love to know more as in might John have left Ireland because of the Potato Famine? And what is a surname like Gardiner doing in Galway? It is only recently that I found out that much of my DNA is Irish [thrilled I might add] so keen to know more. Especially about Mary mother of 12.
Cheers Fergus Gardiner
My great great grandfather Bartholomew Cavanagh was John Gardiner’s uncle. Bartholomew’s son, William was a witness at John’s marriage to Jessie Lawson. We have found an obituary for John Gardiner on Paperspast, in the Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle dated 19 July 1921. In this it says that John had been suffering from bronchitis and asthma for some time. Other complications set in and he was taken to the Invercargill Hospital where he died. The obituary identifies John as the person who married Jessie Lawson.
Patricia Farrell
Jessie died in 1951, she was reputedly the first white baby born in Invercargill. John’s son William Lawson Gardiner [my grandfather] was a fine horseman and athlete winning a number of trophies.He joined the Otago Light Horse, fought at Gallipoli where he retrained as a gunner. He spent years on the Western Front and was hospitalised 9 times in Normandy being sent back to the front every time. He hardly worked in the post war period due to the effects of mustard gas.
You may be interested in Sean Brosnahan’s documentary “Journey to New Edinburgh’. Attaching the link to Episode 7, The Greening of the South
https://youtu.be/23f_2WOFe74
Thanks Trish. Trying to find out how and why they headed in land to places like Tuatapere. My dad never told us that we were Irish, Scottish we were he said
The ptrotestants certainly ran the show in early colonial NZ!
Great read. My grandfather is Neal Cavanagh, my father was Anthony Cavanagh and I am Anthony Neal Leslie Cavanagh. Amazing to think that there were only two generations before my grandfather Neal.
Another Galway / NZ connection
Edward James Kavanagh married Katie Lardner 1920
Parents Bernard Kavanagh and Ellen Caulfield
parents Patrick Lardner and Margaret Browne my GG parents
Katie died in1926 There was one child born Margaret (peg) she Married ? Jones
and Edward Remarried Clara Isobel Thomson in 1928 .Edward was a great sportsman and played cricked and football for New Zealand . Check out Wikipeadia .
Hello from another Gardiner who immigrated to USA in 1989, fond memories as a young lad heading to Annaghdown with my Dad Paschal Gardiner, son of Thomas Gardiner to visit “cousins” there.
Alan Gardiner.
Hello from Fergus Gardiner, whose great grand father John migrated to Southland in NZ ; the 1880s saw a slew of people from Annaghdown ,including some of his Kavanagh relations .
We will be visiting distant cousin Joe Gardiner, at the farmhouse that is still in the family.
Can’t wait to meet Joe.