Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Michael Costello - Limerick Ireland to New Zealand

Tipperary

I am trying to find the exact birthplace of my great grandfather, Michael Costello who arrived in NZ 1877 (if it was the same Michael as per the shipping list). His death certificate reads that his parents were Patrick Costello (occupation "contractor")and Hanora (spelling?) Punch Limerick. Michael was born 18th May 1856 in Limerick but I don't know exactly where. I have had 3 genealogists so far try and find him but to no avail. I will be in Ireland for the first time next month and I would love to find out more. I have foud Michael's grave in Waihi New Zealand but it tells no more. He married Alice Hogan in NZ and she was from Knocklong. Thank you!

armstrong.kay@…

7 replies

Dear Kay:

Thank you for your post to the Ireland Reaching Out message board.

The surnames of Punch and Costello are both listed in the following parishes:

St. Michael's (Limerick City)

Croom

Kilkeedy

Ballycahane

Mungret

St. Munchin's (LimerickCity).

These are parishes where it might be worth concentrating your search on.  Most marriages in the mid-19th century occurred where both bride and groom lived very close (within 5 miles) of one another.  

We have a number of Limerick volunteers who will be happy to meet with you.  If you want to send me more specific details about when you will be in Limerick, I can let them know.  You can email me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com

Kind regards,

 

Jane

jhalloranryan@…

Hi Kay
I have been unable to find any baptism for any Costello in Co. Limerick with a mother called Punch but judging from your post I guess you already know that.  I have a personal experience of a relative from NZ who identified me as a relative using DNA.  I was able to identify one of his ancestors as a great aunt of my mother from Kildorrery parish. He also knew the correct parents from a death cert.  It is a bit of a long shot but you might consider a DNA test to see if you can turn up a cluster of DNA matches from a particular area in County Limerick.

Regarding Hogan, this seems much easier.  I can find 5 children for David Hogan & Mary Hoare in Garryspillane, Knocklong.
First Name     Year
Edmond         1860
Alice                1858
Bridget            1857
John                1863
Thomas          1865

My approach here would be to visit the Valuation Office in Dublin and ask for the Land Revision books for Garryspillane.  If David Hogan was a rate payer it should be possible to follow the family down through the generations as far as about 1970.  That should allow us to identify the exact homestead that Alice came from and there is the possibility of identifying relatives locally.

If you would like to meet I live in Limerick City and I come from Glenroe, a parish that borders on Knocklong & Glenbrohane.  I am available until Sept 14th.

Best wishes

Tim O'Connell (darragh@Irelandxo.com)

 

Tim O'ConnellIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello again Kay

I queried on the name Hanora Punch with a husband called Patrick and a son called Michael and found Michael Cosgrave B: 16-May-1853 in Barna, Pallasgreen.  The family later moved to Cappamore where the surname was spelled Cosgriff.  There are civil and baptismal records after 1864 which show that Patrick's occupation as 'Labourer'.  They had 11 children.

I can't say with certainty that this is what you are looking for because the similarity between Costello and Cosgrave/Cosgriff is not that strong.  Also while the baptismal date is similar, it is in the wrong year.  On the other hand it seems to sort of fit.  There are only 16 births listed with a mother called Hanora Punch and this couple owned 11 of them.

Tim

Tim O'ConnellIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello to all the Costellos out there

 

        My name is Jack Burns and I am the great great grandson of Edmond Costello and Mary Devine. He had two brothers Dennis and Maurice. I would love to find if we are all connected. I know that I have two 3rd cousins living in New Zealand and another cousin living in Dublin. Maybe we can all match ot up. Looking forward to your response;

 

                                   Jack Burns

                                      USA

jblb60lk98@yahoo.com

 

Hi Kay, 

My name is Margaret Fiander, from Weymouth, Massachusetts. I just read your story about your search for your Greatgrandfather, Michael. I think my Greatgrandmothet, Johanna, is his sister. My Greatgreatgransparents are also Patrick Cosgrave and Hanora Punch. Johanna would have been about 9 yrs. old when your Gr.grandfather emigrated.

My previous research showed they had only 9 children, all born in Cappamore. After reading your story I found your gr.grandfather's baptismal recorded, and another sister, Johanna, in the Pallasgreen church. Your Gr.grandfather was baptized May 16, 1853, as Tim O'Connell told you, Johanna was baptized Feb. 17, 1855. They must have settled in Cappamore after that.

I feel , from the info I have, they didn't live in one place in Cappamore, but lived in several places,probably because of Patrick's work. My Grandmother was born in1883, emigrated to the U.S. ( New York)  about 1905, married my Grandfather in 1913, settled in Charlestown, Ma.( part of Boston).

Thanks for sharing your story, it's nice to know we have distant relatives in New Zealand, and I wanted you to know you have distant relations in the U.S. 

Take care, Kay, and thanks again for your story.

 Marg Fiander

margfiander@me.com

Thank you very much for this information.  I now have some more information to add to the theory that Michael Costello - my great great grandfather was actually Michael Cosgrove.  So many naming patterns are falling into place.  I would like to keep in touch and see if we ever find anything definitive to validate the change of name (seems like New Zealand only accepted immigrants without convictions and as he had some, this could be the reason).  All the best and thank you,  Kay

 

armstrong.kay@…

 

It was nice to hear from you. It does seem likely your great grandfather changed his name so he could emigrate to New  Zealand. It could be he used the name of another relative, hopefully we will find something one day.

Take care and keep looking.

Marg

margfiander@me.com

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.