James Galbally, Kilcullen, County Kildare

According to a Boston Pilot newspaper article dated 11 Jan 1851, Mrs Catherine Murphy of Keene, New Hampshire, USA was looking for her son-in-law, James Galbally, his wife, Catherine Murphy, and his sisters-in-law, Eliza and Margaret Murphy.  Natives of Kilkullen, County Kildare and last heard from in Buffalo, New York, USA.  [ I don't know why Catherine Murphy was in New Hampshire or if she ever connected with her daughters]

James and Catherine Murphy Galbally are my great-great grandparents on my father's side.  According to census records James was born ~1812 and Catherine ~1814 in Ireland.  At some point before July 1838 they arrived in Buffalo, Erie County, NY.  Their eldest son, Peter, was born in Buffalo, NY in July of 1838. They also had: Bridget (1842), Mary (1844), Richard (1845) all born in Buffalo.  The family moved to Lockport, Niagara County, NY in 1847 where Eliza (1847), James (1849/1849) and James (1851) were born.

James was a stone mason both in Buffalo and Lockport.  Catherine died in 1862 and James five years later in 1867 at the age of 55. (Apparently a long life span for a mason).  In the 1855 NY State census, James and Catherine had a ~3 year old nephew, William Moony, living with them.  He may have been a child of one of Catherine's sisters, but there is no record of him in any subsequent census records and I have not found any records for Eliza or Margaret Murphy.

In 1864 Peter married Maria Eagan (Agan/Agen) born in Ireland ~1843 (or maybe ~1837).  Maria is the daughter of James Eagan and Margaret Madden according to the marriage record.  The 1870 federal census has 3 boarders living with Peter and Maria: Edward, James and Maggie Agen, probably Maria's siblings.  I don't know where in Ireland the Eagans originate.

Peter and Maria had five children: Catherine (1865 - no further record), James E (1866 -1933), Edward (1873/1873), Margaret J (1876-1944) and Mary E (1880-1957).  Of the 3 surviving children only Margaret, my grandmother, married.

Margaret married J John Krinke (German descent) in 1905.  They had 2 daughters, Katherine and Margaret, and my father, John E Krinke. Katherine married, but died young with no children, Margaret married William Frombgen and had a daughter and son, neither have children as far as I know. I haven't been able to locate them since Margaret's death in 2002.

My sister and I will be in the Dublin area in December of this year.  We plan to visit Kilcullen and are wondering if there are Galbally descendants still living in the area.  According to a phonebook database subscribed to by the Buffalo Irish Genealogy Society, there is a Galbally woolen's shop (I believe it was) in Kilcullen.  I've also searched some of the Tithe records and Church records available on line.  I haven't found anything for James Galbally or Catherine Murphy.  There are several for both a Richard Galbally and Bridget Galbally in the late 1700's and early 1800's records.

I would be interested to know: what prompted the emigration of James, Catherine and her sisters; when they left Ireland; and when and why they chose Buffalo as a destination.  I may never know, but asking may provide answers.

Thank you for any information you may be able to share,

Kathy