For over 100 years, our Gartlan family in Ontario believed that our James Gartlan (1821 – 1883) was the son of James Gartlan (1754 – 1837) of Monalty, Carrickmacross. After many years of research and with much help, I now believe he came from Lisdoonan, a townland near Carrickmacross, and is most likely related to James of Monalty at a higher level. See: James’ Origins.
Recently Added Pages… Gartlans to Anconda, Montana
I have recently discovered several hints about Gartlans from Monaghan, especially from Lisdoonan, immigrating to the copper mines in Anaconda, Montana in the 1890s. With the immense help from Anita Roberts in Reno Las Vegas and the ever helpful Kevin Gartlan at the Carrickmacross Workhouse, we’ve managed to piece together some of their stories. See: Gartlans to Anaconda, Montana.
Recently Added: The San Francisco Gartlan
I recently added the stories of George Henry Gartlan (1809 – 1893) of Cabra House, Co. Down, and of one of his sons, James Joseph Gartlan (1849 – 1937), “the San Francisco Gartlan” who immigrated there in 1881 and practiced law there for 40 years.
…and again, Another Mystery Solved! James Gartlan of Monalty’s Death
For many years now, we believed James Gartlan of Monalty died “Aug Ye 1834 Age 93” as recorded in several publications . Last week, Joe Callan, who works at the Carrickmacross Workhouse discovered James’ obituary in the Newry Examiner. He died in Gresham’s Hotel in Dublin August 7, 1837. In addition, Joe went back to the Old Donagmoyne Cemetery and re-examined James grave stone. While terribly eroded and encrusted, he believes James’ age at death was 83, not 93 as previously reported. So for now, I’m going with his birth year as 1754 and his age at death as 83. Thus, he would have been about 45-46 when he married Alice McEvoy – a much more plausible age. See: Gartlan, James – Monaty – Obit
…and Yet Another Mystery Solved!
For several years now, ever since I found a mysterious entry in the 1861 Canada Census listing one of James Gartlan and Matilda Mill’s children (transcribed) as “Authries?”, I’ve wondered who this mysterious “Authries?” was. We have no record of such a child.
…and then there was the puzzling mention of an Ambrose in one of James’ letters to Michael during the Civil war:
“Give my love to Anny and let [me] know
how James is Ambrose and Tommy.” [JG – 2]
Well, today I found the record of Ambrose’s baptism[1] Unfortunately, it doesn’t give a birth date, but since he (i.e. “Authries” ) was recorded as being 6 in the 1861 Canada Census, he was born ~1855 (the same year as Anne – twins or Irish twins?).
Since there is no further mention of him in any of our existing documents (such as his brother’s obituaries), he may have died in childhood.
So Michael had four brothers – John Andrew, James, Thomas and Ambrose!
P.S. On closer look at the original 1861 Census record, it could possibly read “Ambrose”
[1] In the baptismal records of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Barrie, Ontario) Baptisms 1858-1875 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-24494-16007-81?cc=1927566&wc=13976027
Another Mystery Solved! Finally
For more than 100 years now, our branch of the family (from Michael Gartlan, who hoarded letters, photos and newspaper clippings), had no knowledge of what happened to James Gartlan Sr. after his last letter to Michael from the oil fields in Western Pennsylvania in 1868!
There were various rumours – he started another family in the US (maybe?), disappeared in one or another gold rush, et cetera. Now, thanks to Dwayne Pittman[1] we know for sure.
Dwayne found this brief obit in the Oct. 8, 1883 edition of the Dunkirk (NY) Observer!
So, it would appear that James spent his last fifteen years working with his sons in the oil fields of Western Pennsylvania and died tragically in the oil business, much like his son, James, would do 18 years later.
Mystery solved! Tragically!
[1] A descendant of Dr. John Andrew Gartlan
Found a New Gartlan Branch in the US
I’ve just connected with a previously unknown branch of the US-based Ontario Gartlans.
Dwayne Pittman in Indianapolis is the great grandson of Dr John Andrew Gartlan the eldest son of James Gartlan, Jr. and Sarah McAllister. I connected with him on MyHeritage.
We knew that Dr John had a surviving daughter, Helen (Floe?) Gartlan, but had no record of any descendants. Now thanks to Dwayne, we have the continuing line (of which he is part) plus the promise of many photos that he and his relatives are putting together as a DVD project.
Major Discovery & Breakthrough!
For more than twenty years now, I’d been trying to find our more about my great, great grandmother Matilda (Mills) Gartlan.
All we knew about her was a brief accounting in great aunt Elizabeth “Bess” (Gartlan) Kirkland’s, BA (U of Toronto, 1912) memoirs: that she died in childbirth in the early 1860s and, after her husband James left to fight in the Civil War [See James Gartlan in the Civil War], Michael looked after his four[1] brothers and the little girl. The infant survived but, I guess, because of the added responsibilities (and lack of funds) was sent to Provident House Orphanage in Toronto where later he/she died.
As Bess writes:
“When farming did not go well, he went off to join adventure in the Civil War, leaving his wife and little family, my father being the oldest child. And then when another baby came in his absence, my grandmother died, and the saddest day in my father’s life was that when he drove back in the old buckboard from laying his mother to rest in the old Fourth Line Cemetery no longer in use. There he was with four brothers and a sister to care for. He and his mother had by this time moved to a place at the Batteaux (River?) where they could keep a cow and have little expense, and where he could get work. The kindly people of those days came forward to offer homes to the children, but father tried to pay a little for the maintenance of each and sent the young babe to board at the House of Providence in Toronto, where it soon died.” Bess’ Account of the Gartlans.doc [C-4d]
According to Bess, Matilda came from Dundalk, Co. Louth with her parents – presumably Mr. & Mrs Mills – but she gave no other information, not even their names.
Two years ago, I tried to locate records in the various Catholic Churches in Burlington, Ontario, where the children were born and in Nottawasaga Twp (Collingwood and Stayner) to no avail
This week I contacted the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto’s Archives, and yesterday I visited where an extremely helpful archivist[2] suggested I look not only in the records of St. Mary’s in Collingwood, but also in St. Mary’s in Barrie.
In the latter after scrolling through several rolls of microfilm and trying to decypher various and often illegible forms of handwriting , I discovered Matilda’s death record (Note: the Gartland spelling)! The date was a year earlier than I expected and it contained her parent’s names!
| No 17 Matilda Gartland
Nottawasaga |
On the 31st day of May, 1862 in theNottawasaga Cemetery, Matilda Gartlandwife of James Gartland and daughter of Robt. Mills and Jane Rice who died on the 29th last Aged 35 years [b. 1827]Witnesses: John Coffey and Cornelius Kehoe
|
This record also confirms that Matilda was buried in the old Fourth Line Cemetery. Sadly, her tombstone no longer exists[3].
Bess, however, got the timing wrong. Matilda died a year and a half before James left and joined the U.S. Army.
So, a major breakthrough! Next, the pursuit of the Mills family.
[2] Many thanks to Gillian Hearns and the staff at Archdiocese of Toronto’s Archives who pointed me in the right (hidden) direction.
[3] Many thanks to Shirley Ann Cook confirmed its absence and who has taken photos of the surviving tombstones in the old and now abandoned Nottawasaga Cemetery. See: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~clifford/Simcoe.htm#Nottawasaga%20twp.
Added: John Andrew Gartlan (1848 – 1921)
I have been able to piece together a good part of John A. “Andy’s” life from two major sources: first, Bess’ typed recollections, saved letters and newspaper clippings; and then, the fabulous resources available on the web.
Bess saved J.A.’s 1921 newspaper obit, which quoted a brief profile from Derrick’s Handbook of Petroleum, from 1898.
On the Web, I found, in addition to the Census data on Ancestry, FamilySearch, etc, large collections of microfilmed newpapaer archives.
I discovered several articles reporting on oil discoveries in Western Pennsylvania in the 1880s in the archives of the NYTimes, but most surprisingly, a 1921 newspaper photo of “Uncle Andy” in the Morning Tulsa Daily World. This, I located on the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
July 2010 Additions
Peter McEvoy Gartlan (1808 – 1868), the 3rd son of James Gartlan of Monalty
Gartlan Families from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, Ireland 