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Archiver > GALLAHER > 1999-07 > 0932501939


From: "Mike Conners" <>
Subject: Patrick Gallaher
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 13:18:59 -0700


My names is Mike Conners and I am a newbee to this list, however I belong to
several others. I am researching a Patrick Gallaher who was born on St.
Patty's Day, March of 1825 in Dublin Ireland.(not proven yet) He shows up
in Rock Island Illinois in 1844. He is marrying Elizabeth Murray on August
8, 1844. His father has to sign for him, for he is under age. His fathers
name is John Gallaher from Warsaw, Hancock Co. IL. I have no idea what
Patrick's mothers name is other then to give the names of his children. I
do know the name of his new brides mother and it is Miranda Murray for she
had to sign for her because she was but 16 years of age. This is the
family:

Patrick Gallaher b. March 1825
Elizabeth (Murray) Gallaher b. 1828
James b. 1845
Elizabeth Caroline b. November, 1847 (my GGgrandmother)
William b. 1853
Michael b. 1855
Clara Anne b. 1857
I have a letter I am attaching that might shed some light on this family and
we have not proven the attached letter is our Gallaher's but placing them in
Warsaw, Hancock Co. in 1844 it is very likely that it is them.

Here is the Letter:
I am researching Hancock County, IL during the 1840s and have some
information which might relate to your line.

[1] According to a muster roll of the "Warsaw Rifle Company" of the Warsaw
Independent Batallion attached to the 59th Regiment of the Illinois Militia,
dated 24 December 1844, the following GALLAHERs served during the period
17-27 June 1844:

Charles GALLAHER
William GALLAHER
Patrick GALLAHER

Each man was to be paid $2.87 for their service.

The Warsaw Rifle Company (under Captain J.C. Davis) was present at the
murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mormon Prophet and Patriarch, on 27 June
1844 in Carthage, IL.

The original document is in the Mormon Collection of the Chicago Historical
Society.

[2] Accounts of the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Mormon leaders,
at Carthage, IL on 27 June 1844, include mention of a ---- GALLAHER who was
wounded by Joseph Smith "in the cheek, as if a ball had taken the skin
off'. This GALLAHER also shot Joseph Smith as the latter headed to the
window of the jail to escape; due to his injury, GALLAHER was later among
those indicted for the murders. It has not been conclusively established
which GALLAHER was involved in the altercation at the jail. Most sources
conclude it was WILLIAM.

See: Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin Hill, The Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of
the Accused Assasins of Joseph Smith (Chicago: University of Illinois
Press, 1975).

I hope this is helpful. If you have any family stories about the 1840s I
would appreciate hearing from you.

Robert S. Wicks, PH.D.
Professor of Art History
202 Art Building
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056


Does anyone have any knowledge of this family? or would they like to claim
or not claim. I have lots of information to share from Elizabeth Caroline
Gallaher better known as Granny Lane in Hannibal MO. She died in 1925.

Mike Conners

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