Thomas Grace

Thomas was living at Ballycommon during 1856 with his wife Mary Cawley and seven children They departed in April 1856 from Landsend, England on the ship Sandford, destination Auckland, New Zealand where they arrived on the 9th of July 1856.

The passenger list showed the children as Catherine, Bridget, Michael - baptised 13 October 1845 Ballycommon, sponsors being John ??? and Catherine Cawley, Jeremiah, Patrick, Pierce baptised 3rd August 1854 Ballycommon, sponsors being Joe Slattery and Mrs Slattery. A second Patrick is named as family but must be a transcription error as Thomas is not shown on the manifest at all. Thomas was a Blacksmith and he establihed himself in business in Auckland as a Carter. His sons joined him in this business as they attained maturity.

The population of Auckland in 1856 was less than 1,500 european settlers and approximately 4,000 Maori natives.

The son Michael is my Great Grandfather. He married Bridget Mary Minogue of County Clare who arrived into Auckland about 1872. They married in St Patricks Cathedral, Auckland on 7 August 1876. Children: Mary 15 July 1877, Bridget Annie 6 April 1879 ( My Grandmother), Honora 22 June 1881, Thomas 3 May 1883, Catherine Bridget 6 October 1885, Joannes Henricus 8 July 1887.

Michael's daughter Bridget Annie married Peter Edward Hansen, a son of Norwegian settlers on 24 August 1914 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. They divorced during 1919 with the only child being my father John Joseph Hansen born 26 March 1915.

Bridget had a very eventful life with 4 marriages, several other children, many brushes with the authorities and sadly died quite young 14 September 1933 age just 54 years. She is buried with her father Michael in the Roman Catholic section at Waikumete cemetery, Auckland, NZ.

I would love to have my family history of the Grace and Cawley families of Ballycommon, Monsea, Nenagh, Tipperary brought to life. My DNA heart is deep in Akershus Norway, Tipperary Ireland and the small Isles of Scotland.

Robert Erin Hansen.