Change in Galboly 1860s to 1900s

Griffith’s Valuation circa 1860 listed eight occupied houses in Galbally (Galboly) Upper, six of which were located within the clachan and the other two on the lane leading to the clachan from the coast road. Reference to census information shows that by 1901 this number had fallen to six (only four were occupied within the cluster). The clachan was dominated by Murphys and Blacks. At the time of the valuation, circa 1860, there were two families of Blacks, three families of Murphys, as well as single families of McAllisters, McCarts and Gillens [spelt Gillians]. The Griffith’s Valuation indicates that each of these families held a share in ‘the mountain’ along with Henry Murphy who did not live in the townland. A glance at the Griffith’s Valuation shows that the land associated with this clachan was divided in a manner consistent with that produced by the ‘Rundale’ system. The land was part of the Antrim Estate, the owner of the estate in 1860 was Frances Anne Marchioness of Londonderry.

The Blacks
There were two families of Blacks listed in the original Griffith’s Valuation circa 1860 for the clachan, those of Bryan Black and John Black. Bryan lived outside the cluster of houses on the lane leading up to the clachan from the coast road (no. 1a in Griffith’s Valuation) and John in house no. 6 on the sketch map within the cluster. We do not know whether these two families were related at that time.

A revision made in 1883 indicates that Bryan Black was succeeded by a Daniel Black – most probably Bryan’s son. Daniel continued to hold this lease well into the twentieth century. The census records Daniel as 59 years old in 1901, unmarried, and living with his sister Margaret aged 72. Neither Daniel or Margaret ever married so this family died out in the twentieth century.
The house (no. 6 on the sketch map) and the land occupied by John Black underwent a much more frequent transfer of ownership in these years. A revision of 1868 shows that John Black was succeeded by a Dan McCart, who was in turn succeeded by an Alex McCart around 1876 who was subsequently succeeded by a John Murphy around 1878. Some time later John Murphy was replaced by an Alex Murphy. The 1901 census records that an Alex Murphy aged 74 occupied this house with his wife Margaret. We are not entirely sure of the relationship between John and Alex Murphy. Shortly after 1901 this property was occupied by a John McGavock.
The Murphys
When the Griffith’s Valuation was compiled for Galboly Upper, circa 1860, there were three families of Murphys holding property in the clachan. These were the families of Patrick, Rose and Alexander Murphy.
A revision made in 1865 records that Patrick Murphy’s property (house no. 2 on the sketch map) was inherited by his representatives. This means that Patrick had died by this time. Shortly after this the property was inherited by another Patrick Murphy, presumably his son. This Patrick Murphy held the property until the 1920s. The census records his age in 1901 as 71 and indicates that he lived with his wife Anne.
Rose Murphy, a householder listed in the valuation circa 1860 (house no. 3 on the sketch map), was succeeded by John Murphy in 1872. A revision made in 1876 shows that John was himself succeeded by Neal Murphy. We do not know the exact relationship between Rose, John and Neal. Rose was probably the mother and John and Neal may have been sons. Neal continued to occupy the property during the time of the 1901 census, and was succeeded by his wife Jane Murphy in 1912. The 1901 census records that Neal Murphy was 72 in 1901 and lived in the house with wife Jane and his four daughters Rose, Annie, Mary and Jane, all unmarried in 1901.
The final Murphy family listed in the 1860 Griffith’s valuation was that of Alex Murphy (house no. 1 on the sketch map). Around 1878 Alex was succeeded by Hugh White. Around 1891 Hugh was succeeded by Anne White. She continued to hold the lease until 1918. In 1901 Annie White’s age was reported as thirty and she appears to be unmarried.
The McAllisters
Alex McAllister held property in Galbally (Galboly) (no. 1b in the Griffith’s Valuation) continuously from the time of the Griffith’s valuation, circa 1860, until 1897 when it came into the possession of a Kelly and in the following year passed to an Arthur Robinson. By 1901 the property was in the possession of a Charles O’Boyle whose family is listed in the 1901 Census Returns along with Arthur Robinson, a widower, aged 60. Arthur Robinson was Charles O’Boyle’s father-in-law.

The McCarts
John McCart held a house and land in the clachan at the time of the Griffith’s Valuation, circa 1860 (no. 4 on the sketch map) and was succeeded in 1886 by a Dennis Black, who was succeeded in 1888 by another Dennis Black. He, in turn, was succeeded by a John Black in 1891 and around 1895/96 the property came into the possession of a Patrick O’Boyle. This Patrick O’Boyle was not recorded in the 1901 Census. He may never have lived in the townland or had moved out of the clachan by this time.

We noted above that a Dan McCart occupied John Black’s property (house no. 6 on the sketch map) in 1868 followed by an Alex McCart in 1876. These McCarts appear to have gone by 1878, and all McCarts by 1886.

The Gillens
Patrick Gillen is listed in the Griffith’s Valuation circa 1860 (no. 5 on the sketch map) and this property was held under this name until 1925. At some point the land was probably transferred to Patrick Charles Gillen born in 1892. Church records indicate that young Patrick’s parents, Patrick Gillen of Galbally and Catherine McAuley were married in 1890. However, there is no mention of the Gillen family in the 1901 Census Returns. Later in the twentieth century one of the family married a Mick Kinney and came back to live in house no. 6 on the sketch map. In 1929 they built a new house, no. 9 on the sketch map. Click here to see a photograph of Mick Kinney.
Church Records
The following marriages and births for people of Galboly are registered in church records for the parish. Given the popularity of these names, it is difficult to definitively link these couples to the families above.
Marriages

Births