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...

I may of just found the baptism record for Mary Quirk who is my 3rd Great Grandmother see here . Mary was the daughter of Michael Quirk and Honorah Costello, she was left behind in Ireland when her parents came to Australia in 1841. In 1858 she arrived in Australia with her maternal Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle on board the ship Peter Maxwell and was reunited with her parents. On the 25th May 1863 at the Tumut Catholic Church she married John Pierse, an Irishman from County Kerry. Together they had fourteen known children, one of whom was Ellen Mary Pierse. Ellen married Edward Battye, her son Leo Francis Battye married Stella Jane Christina Worldon and their daughter Glennie 'Marie' Battye was my grandmother. John Pierse died in 1921 while Mary died on 24th December 1924, she was buried at Wagragobilly Cemetery on Christmas Day 1924.  More of my blog posts concerning Mary can be found here , here , here , here  and  here .

When I was going through some Irish records recently I found this which may record the marriage of my 4th Great Grandparents Michael Quirk and Honorah Costello.  It is recorded as Michael Quirk & Haner Costolo in the transcription with their marriage dated 6th February 1836 in the parish of Lorrha and Dorrha, Tipperary, Ireland.  More research is needed but I am extremely hopeful that this might be their record.  My 4th Great Grandparents came to Australia in 1841 on the Gilbert Henderson leaving behind their infant daughter Mary with family. They were not reunited with Mary until 1858 when she arrived here on the Peter Maxwell along with her maternal Grandmother Ann Costello (nee Hogan), Aunt Ann Costello and Uncle John Costello.  More of my blog posts concerning them can be found here and here .

Today's obituary is for Michael Quirk, who is my 4th Great Grandparent.  From Tipperary in Ireland he and his wife Honorah (nee Costello) came to Australia in 1841 on board the ship 'Gilbert Henderson', leaving behind their daughter Mary in Ireland with family. They went on to have a large family and in 1858 their daughter Mary (along with her maternal Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle) migrated to Australia and was finally reunited with her parents. Michael Quirk died on the 26th October 1886 at Wagra of old age.  He was buried at Wagragobilly Cemetery on the 28th October 1886. Source: MEIDFIELD JOCKEY CLUB. (1886, November 2). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved September 7, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128767853 Transcript:  ANOTHER very old resident of the district has gone over to the great majority.  Mr. Michael Quirk of Adjenbilly, who had exceeded man's allott...

George William Last was the husband of my 4th great grand aunt Ann Last (nee Costello).  He married Ann in 1860 and together they raised a large family.  He died as a result of injuries received from a sulky accident in 1919. Source: SERIOUS ACCIDENT. (1919, January 23). The Gundagai Independent and Pastoral, Agricultural & Mining Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1928), p. 2. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123642911 Transcript: SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THROWN FROM SULKY. OLD RESIDENT IS BADLY INJURED. Mr. George Last, the squire of Fern Hill, met with a very serious accident on Tuesday last.  He was driving his daughter Mrs Dargin, when the horse bolted and broke the traces and part of the sulky.  The damage was fixed up, and Mr. Last started to drive home, Mrs Dargin preferring not to ride.  The horse again bolted, and, in crossing a gully, threw Mr Last out of the sulky, on to his head.  The animal then raced ...

Today's tragic event involves the death of Edwin J. Last, who is my first cousin five times removed.  He was born in 1863, the son of George Last and his wife Ann (nee Costello).  Edwin died  on 26th February 1896 and was buried  in the North Gundagai General Cemetery. Source: The death of Mr. Edwin Last. (1896, February 28). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123567529 Transcript: The death of Mr. Edwin Last. THE news of the death of Mr. Edwin Last, son of Mr. George Last, of Fern Hill, cast a gloom over Gundagai and Tumut and the surrounding district on Tuesday.  It gave a shock to the community, for the news was quite unexpected, and the popularity of the family is widespread.  Eight or none days ago the late Mr. Last was in excellent health and spirits.  Being strong and active and only 31 years...

Today's posting concerns my first cousin five times removed Rosa Dargan (nee Last).  Born in 1866 to George Last and his wife Ann (nee Costello).  In 1906 she married Laurence Joseph Dargan.  Laurence died in 1922 leaving Rosa and their daughter Mary extremely well provided for.  Rosa died in 1933 not long after returning from a grand European tour with Mary.  She was buried at Binalong , New South Wales. Source: MRS. ROSA DARGAN. (1933, June 12). Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), p. 3 Edition: DAILY and EVENING. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102854727 Transcript: MRS. ROSA DARGAN The death occurred in a private hospital at Kensington (Sydney) on Sunday last of Mrs. Rosa Dargan, of Elms Station, Binalong.  She was the fifth daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Last of Fern Hill, Tumut, and had resided at Binalong for 26 years., having returned six months ago from a trip abroad.  Her...

George W. Last married Winifred Pierse at St. Denis' Church, Wagra in 1902.  George was the son of George Last and his wife Ann (nee Costello).  While Winifred was the daughter of John Pierse and his wife Mary (nee Quirk).  John and Mary Pierse are my third great grandparents, and Ann Last (nee Costello) is my fourth great grand aunt.  George and Winifred had one son Edwin George Last.  Winifred died in 1926 and George in 1932, they are buried together at the North Gundagai General Cemetery.   Source: MARRIAGE. (1902, September 20). The Gundagai Independent and Pastoral, Agricultural & Mining Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1928), p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121737130 Transcript: MARRIAGE. At "Shadybrook," Darbalara, on Thursday last, Miss Winnie Pierse, daughter of Mr. John Pierse, of that place, was married to Mr. George W. Last, son of Mr. G. Last, of Fern Hill.  The ceremony took place...

My 4th great grand Aunt Ann Last (nee Costello) was born about 1836 in Ireland the daughter of Michael Costello and Ann (nee Hogan). In 1858 along with her mother Ann, brother James and niece Mary she left Ireland and came to Australia on board the ship Peter Maxwell .  Prior to her departure she had been a housemaid from Durra, Kings County, Ireland.  In 1860 she married George Last, with the marriage being registered at Tumut.  George and Ann raised a large family together, with George dying in 1919 and Ann in 1920. Source: OBITUARY. (1920, February 23). The Gundagai Independent and Pastoral, Agricultural & Mining Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1928), p. 2. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123642973 Transcript: OBITUARY. MRS LAST. SEN.  Mrs Last, relict of the late Mr. G.W. Last, died at her residence. Fern Hill, on Friday afternoon.  About two months ago she was stricken down, a paralytic stroke catchi...

The year I turned twelve my Great Great Grandmother Flora Ann Worldon nee McDonnell passed away just two months short of her 105th birthday.  She was born at the Inn owned by her Father and Uncle at Five Mile Creek, Gundagai in 1875; the ruins of which can be still seen today near the 'Dog on the Tuckerbox' and lived a full and interesting life. Growing up she had always been part of the family folklore.  I have always known her to be my oldest ancestor at the time of their death but now it seems that my 5th Great Grandmother Ann Costello nee Hogan at 105 years of age has overtaken her for top ranking. There do seem to be some embellishments and discrepancies in the article however, she had been in Australia for only twenty nine years not over half a century and her immigration files have her birth year c.1798 rather than c.1782 that would be required for her to die in 1887 aged 105, so more research is required for verification of her exact age. Source: DEATH OF ...