John Gilroy, for whom the Santa Clara County town was named, was the first foreign settler in California, arriving in 1814. He was married to Maria Clara Ortega, the aunt of my great grandmother, Encarnacion Ortega. He and Maria Clara lived on a portion of Rancho San Ysidro near Gilroy. In later years he fell on hard times and wrote to Larkin in 1855 and 1856 requesting help; there is nothing in the Larkin Papers to indicate any was forthcoming. 
Bill Roddy

Larkin Index

The Larkin Papers
Vol 10, pg 140

Letter to Larkin from John Gilroy 
misspelled words are as written by Gilroy 

Gilroy, 27 of March 1855  

T. O. Larking Esq. 
My Old Friend

        I take this opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am very poor at this time and am about seventy years of age, not fit to work, lame in the shoulders by the rheutimmassm pains and a large family to maintain. Mr. Larkin, you know me well and have traded for many years and know that I was a hard working man and the first settler that came to California. I came hear in the year A D 1814 on the 15 of January, which is forty-one years ago.
    Sir, I hear their is a meeting of the old pyneers of California. I wish you to let them know my condition if they would make a subscrision for me at the meeting as I am poor not abel to work for the mainaines of my famely, or younger childron. Sir you know when I was well off every body came to my house and it was a home for them but at present it is not a home for nobody not even for me. Likewise I have lost all my cettel [cattle] stoling from me and all my lands squated on. Mr. Larkin, do all you can for this poor old man and if you will God will pay it to you at another time.
    Let me know if worthy of your atencion and I remain yours truly.                                                                       John Gilroy 

Gilroy wrote to Larkin again on July 28, 1856, responding to a letter he had received from Larkin dated July 1856. Evidently Larkin had requesting in writing Gilroy's history in California.  More than one year had elapsed since Gilroy first wrote to him. In the second letter Gilroy again told Larkin he was short of money.
He wrote a third letter to Larkin stating he was going to petition the California Legislature. 

Third letter.

Note: Original documents misspelled were not corrected in the publication.

Larkin Index