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Facts and Events
William Gahan's origins have yet to be established, although the age quoted at his death suggests he was born around 1831. By the mid 1860s he was living in the city of New York and married to Ann Reid, an Irish cloak maker who had emigrated in the mid 1850s.
William wrote his will on 18th July 1866, leaving two bequests of $100 each to a Patrick Quest and John Carney, and the remainder of his estate to "my beloved wife Ann Gahan". One of the witnesses to the will was a Patrick Reid, who was probably Ann's younger brother. William probably knew he was dying when he wrote the will, as he died just five days later, on 23rd July 1866. He was said to be 35 years old. Ann was heavily pregnant when he died, and she gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, in the September of that year. Ann and Elizabeth appear in the 1870 census living with Ann's mother and sisters in New York.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 New York, New York City Municiapl Deaths, 1795-1949 (FamilySearch).
d. William Gahan, 23 Jul 1866, Manhattan, New York, New York, 35 [1830/1], married, buried Calvary Cemetery
- New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 (Ancestry)
Wills, Vol 0166-0167, 1865-1867.
Be it remembered that heretofore to wit on the 31st day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty six the widow named in the last will and testament of William Gahan late of the County of New York deceased appeared in open court before Gideon J. Tucker Surrogate of the County of New York and made application to have the said last will and testament which relates to both real and personal estate proved and on such application the Surrogate did ascertain by satisfactory evidence who were the widow only heirs and next of kin of said deceased and their respective residences and said Surrogate did thereupon issue a citation directed to said widow only heirs and next of kin of said deceased by their respective names stating their places of Residences requiring them to appear before said Surrogate at his office in the City of New York on the 17th day of August then next to attend the probate of said will and afterwards to wit on the said 17th day of August Satisfactory evidence by affidavit was adduced and presented to said Surrogate of the service of the said citation in the mode prescribed by land and none of them appearing to be minors and on that day no one appearing to oppose the probate of said will such proceedings where thereupon had afterwards that said Surrogate took the proofs of said will hereinafter set forth and upon this 4th day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and Sixty six he adjudged said will to be a valid will of Real and personal Estate and the proofs thereof to be sufficient which said last will and testament and proofs are as follows That is to say:
In the Name of God Amen I William Gahan of the City of New York do hereby make publish and declare this my last Will & Testament First I direct that all my Just debts be paid Second I give and bequeath to Patrick Quest the sum of one hundred Dollars Third I give and bequeath to John Carney the Sum of One hundred dollars Fourth I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Ann Gahan and to her heirs and assigns for ever all my Estate both real and personal of which I may be seized or possessed at the time of my decease and wheresoever the same may be situated and not hereinbefore bequeathed Lastly I hereby appoint my friend James Cuskley of the City of New York to be the executor of this my last will and Testament and I hereby revoke all other wills by me at any time made
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July A.D. 1866 William Gahan
Witnesses Patrick Reid - F. Smyth
We whose names are hereunto subscribed do certify that William Gahan the testator subscribed his name to this instrument in our presence & in the presence of each of us & at the same time declared in our presence and hearing that the same was his last will & testament and requested us & each of us to sign our names as witnesses to the execution thereof and which we have done accordingly in the presence of the testator and of each other the day of the date of said will
F. Smith 166 W. 47th St. Patrick Reid 10 Amity Place
(Statements from Fredrick Smyth and Patrick Reid follow confirming that they witnessed the will, knew William Gahan - Fredrick Smyth for upwards of 3 years and Patrick Reid for upwards of 2 years - and believed him to be of sound mind when he made the will.)
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