Tracing Family Branches

On Monday my husband and I went on a genealogy road trip!  First I want to say how much I appreciate that I have a husband who not only loves and supports me but also supports my genealogy passion!  He is very limited physically these days due to injuries accumulated during his former long military career so him coming with me is rare, highly appreciated and leaves him in extreme pain and most often bed bound for days afterwards.  The main goal of the trip was to visit Wagragobilly cemetery to pay my respects to my family members there and to photograph the family graves; which I am very happy to say we achieved.  We would not have achieved it without the assistance of two very lovely local gentleman, who’s help on the day was and still is very greatly appreciated!  The cemetery is behind the former Catholic Church which is now a private home; that has been lovingly converted and looks amazing!  We were not sure how to get to the cemetery and drove past thi...

Today's obituary is for Mary Pierse nee Quirk who is my 3rd Great Grandmother.  Born c.1840 in County Tipperary, Ireland she was left behind with her Grandmother in Ireland when her parents Michael Quirk and his wife Honorah nee Costello immigrated to Australia in 1841.  In 1858, Mary along with her Grandmother Ann Costello, Uncle John Costello and Aunt Ann Costello, arrived in Australia on board the ship Peter Maxwell .  On the 25th May 1863 at the Tumut Catholic Church Mary married John Pierse, an Irishman from County Kerry, Ireland and together they had fourteen children.  John died in 1921 and Mary on 24th December 1924, she was buried at Wagragobilly Cemetery on Christmas Day 1924. Source: OBITUARY. (1925, January 2). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved September 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121768348 Transcript: OBITUARY. Mrs. Mary Pierse, Sen....

Honorah Quirk (nee Costello) is my 4th Great Grandmother and is the subject of today's Obituary posting.  Born in Tipperary, Ireland the daughter of Michael Costello and Ann Hogan she came to Australia in 1841 on board the ship Gilbert Henderson with her husband Michael Quirk. Michael died on the 26th of October 1886 and Honorah on the 3rd of January 1897, both are buried at Wagragobilly cemetery. Source: DEATH OF MRS. MICHAEL QUIRK. (1897, January 22). The Burrowa News (NSW : 1874 - 1951), p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104853019 Transcript: DEATH OF MRS. MICHAEL QUIRK. IT is with regret we (Gundagai Times) record the death of Mrs. Michael Quirk, at the advanced age of 87 years.  She had been a victim to paralysis for some months and succumbed to a change for the worse at noon on Sunday last, surrounded by her dearest friends and relatives.  The funeral, which took place on Monday, was one of the largest and mos...