Galway Town History
The First Settlers
The town was first settled in 1774
by seven Scottish families who came from Galloway in Scotland.
The first name of
the town was New Galloway. It later
came to be written Galway because of an error made in the county records.
The name of the first seven Sots
who settled here were:
John Major
James Major
John McClelland
William Kelly (or Kelsey)
Robert Kelly
Alexander Kelly
John McHarg
The first store was owned by John
McClelland.
The first
supervisor was John McClelland.
The first white
child born in the area was Elizabeth Kelly.
The first grist
mill was build by Daniel Campbell.
The first
religious society was the Baptist, formed by Rev Simeon Smith in 1779.
The town of Galway
was formed from Ballston, March 7, 1792.
Providence was taken off in 1796.
The Village of
Galway was incorporated April 18, 1838.
The area of the
Town of Galway is 28,209 acres.
The town lies on
the west border of Saratoga County, south of the center.
The northern part
of the town contains the Kayaderosseras Mountains.
The chief streams
are the Glowegee Creek, the Calderwook Creek, and the Mourning Kill.
In 1870, Galway
village contained 2 churches, an academy, 2 hotels, several stores and mechanic shops, and about 200 people.
West Galway contained a church an about 20 dwellings.
What is now East
Galway used to be called York’s Corners.
It was settled in 1778 by Rev. Simeon Smith, his parents, and 3 brothers-on-law;
Simeon Babcock, Reuben Mattison, and Joseph Brown.