Tracing Family Branches

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...

Today's posting is for Laurence Joseph Dargan who was the husband of my first cousin five times removed Rosa Dargan nee Last.  Born about 1835 he was the son of Michael Dargan and his wife Mary. Originally from Fethard, Tipperary, Ireland he came to Australia around 1852.  He married Anastasia Mary Ryan in 1870, with the marriage registered at Binalong, New South Wales.  Anastasia died in 1904  (see here ) and the couple had no recorded children.  In 1906 Laurence married Rosa Last and together they had a daughter Mary Clare Dargan in the same year.  After a long and prosperous life he died in 1922 and is buried at Binalong, New South Wales. Source: MR. LAURENCE J. DARGAN. (1922, March 30). Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), p. 31. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116782234 Transcript: MR. LAURENCE J. DARGAN. The recnt death of Mr. Laurence J. Dargan, of "The Elms." Binalong, will be severely felt...

Laurence Joseph Dargan married Rosa Last at 'Fern Hill' on the 17th January 1906.  The bridegroom would have been about 71 years old and his bride 40 years old at the time.  From the information contained  in the articles below about the festivities, it seems to have been quite the occasion. Source: WEDDING. (1906, January 20). The Gundagai Independent and Pastoral, Agricultural & Mining Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1928), p. 2. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120260518 Source: WEDDING. (1906, January 26). The Burrowa News (NSW : 1874 - 1951), p. 2. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114459097 Source: PERSONAL, SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS. (1906, January 19). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127400272 Source: GOOD SUNLIGHT ...

My Trove Tuesday article for this week concerns my first cousin five times removed Rosa Dargan (nee Last) and my second cousin four times removed Mary Dargan (Rosa's daughter) and their overseas travels in 1932.  Laurence Joseph Dargan had left them well provided for when he died in 1922, as he left an estate valued for probate at £93,217 with £10,000 held in trust until his daughter Mary was 21 (which she would have been in 1927) and the residue of his estate after bequests, being left to his wife Rosa. Source: THE SOCIAL. (1932, January 21). Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), p. 16. Retrieved October 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118060209 Transcript: Mrs. R. Dargan, of "The Elms," Binalong, and Miss Mary Dargan motored to Bondi last week to get a breath of sea air.  They expect to be at the seaside for about a month, and then hope to turn their faces toward the Old World, and the Congress at Dublin.  Miss Kathleen Clo...