Croak and / or Hastings families

AUSTRALIA:Have you checked the immigration records in Australia? Generally, more informationwas given at the port of arrival rather than the port of departure. The University of Woolongong hasproduced, on microfiche, a complete index and transcript of all information concerning immigrantsof Irish origin recorded on ships' passenger lists between 1848 and 1867. These are useful for findingout an exact place of origin as well as parents' names. The Public Record Office of Victoria has goodonline databases of settlers at www.prov.vic.gov.au Otherwise, other records may be found in theColonial Office Papers of the UK National Archives, class reference CO 201. This class contains a widevariety of records, including petitions for assisted passages, emigrants' lists, records of emigrants onboard ship, petitions from settlers for financial assistance and much more. Do you know much about their emigration? The dates, the reason why they left, who they mighthave travelled with..etc.? Generally more information was given at the port of arrival rather than theport of departure. If you knew which city they arrived at (e.g. Liverpool, Ellis Island), this could be agood place to find more information, and perhaps even find out an exact place of origin. Shippingmanifests can be checked ?which may lead to more clues. The next thing you could do is find the counties and places in Ireland your family names are mostprevalent. Look at the website http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/ and perhapssomething will match some other clue you may have found elsewhere? If nothing turnsup ? it is advisable to try different variations of the spellings of the names. If you have a possiblefirst name you could try the Irish Census 1901, 1911 at www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ or the landvaluation record called Griffiths Valuationhttp://askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml The National Archives of Irelandhttp://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/ The National Library of Irelandhttp://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

My great grandmother was Ellen Angela Croak born 27 Oct 1828 in Ballasallagh, Kilkenny to John Croak and Bridget Coogan.  Ellen married James Dunne 2 Nov 1846, St. John's Parish, Kilkenny. James emigrated to Newport, Vermont, USA in 1848 and Ellen followed in 1849.  They had one child born in Johnswell, Kilkenny 1849 and 12 children born in Vemont.  Ellen had three brothers Thomas b. 1822, Michael b. 1825 and Edward b 1831.  I have been unable to find any other information on the brothers.

John Croak's parents were John "Jack" Croak 1743-1824 and Judy Brenan.  They had five known children Dominic, John, Michael, Anstice b 1781 and Bridget b 1791.  We know that Jack Croak came from Killaloe, Kilkeny before 1768 and settled in Kilmogar, Kilkenny.  It is possible that James Croak is descended for one of the children of John or Jack Croak. There are eight James Croaks baptized in Kilkenny between 1835 and 1845.

Hi Robert,

Thank you so much for your post on the Croak family.
I agree that it's possible that my James Croak came from one of the children mentioned. Can you tell me where you found the eight James Croaks who were baptised in Kilkenny between 1835 and 1845. It's more than likely that OUR James is one of them. In the past I've found a couple but as I have no idea of his parent's names, it becomes very difficult to ascertain "which is the right one" and your finding of EIGHT may give me further leads as to his parentage. (eg: via his children's names if they "match" etc).

Since my original post in 2013 I have found that he and his wife Mary called their home in Australia "Woodville" and I realise that this may have had some significance to either himself or Mary back in Ireland.

Any further advice or assistance would be very much appreciated and you never know "one day we may find ourselves to be 'cousins'."

Kindest regards,
Patricia

Hi Patricia,

The baptism records for the eight James Croakes are from http://ifhf.brsgenealogy.com/index.php.  It is a subscription based service.  Starting this summer parish records will be offered online, free, by the National Library of Ireland. I have included information from the baptism records below.

Some of the information on the Croak Family was forwarded to my family by a descendent of Canon William Carrigan.  Canon Carrigan's grandmother was Bridget Croak daughter of John "Jack' Croak.  Canon Carrigan wrote the four vol "The History and Antiquities of Ossory."  The information on the Croakes was found among his papers held at St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny.

James Croak, 12 Jul 1840, Gorebridge, Paulstown Parish, Martin Croak & Jeane Wall, Sponsors: Thomas Maher & Teresa Kelly

James Croak, 19 Aug 1841, Potlerath, BALLYCALLAN-KILMANAGH Parish, Patrick Croak & Catherine Brophy, Sponsors: Patrick Kenny & Catherine Connelly

James Croak, 5 Jan 1838, Gowran, Gowran parish, Michael Croak & Mary Sheehan, Sponsors: Richard Hoban & Anne Keefe

James Croak, 3 Apr 1838, Baywell, Johnstown Parish, Martin Croake & Mary Maher, Sponsors: Patrick Dowling & Margaret Maher

James Croak, 8 Jul 1836, Newgrove, Rosbercon Parish, Thomas Croak & Catherine Galavan, Sponsors: James Reily & Jony Barron

James Kroak, 7 Sep 1836, Ahenraheen, Danesfort Parish, Thomas Kroake & Margaret Shea, Sponsors: John Finely & Honora Shea

James Croak, 29 Apr 1835, Slieverue, Slieverue Parish, Thomas Croak & Ellen Maloney, Sponsors: John Fitzgerald & Mary Laffan

James Croak, 15 Aug 1835, Glenballyvaly, Rosbercon Parish, Patrick Crock & Mary Hogan, Sponsors:  John Weolsh & Catherine Ryan

Hope this helps. If you discover anything please let me know.

Bob Osgood

Thanks so much Bob,

I haven't taken out a subscription at Roots Ireland, although I am registered on their site.   Therefore I haven't been able to access their records, and have been anxiously awaiting the release of the Parish Records by the National Library of Ireland.   

It's very hard not having any idea of James' parents names (let alone the parish he came from), however from the list you have given me there are a couple of sets of parents names which are the same as he named his own children (good old Irish Naming Pattern) so I'll certainly try to follow up on those specific baptisms.  

I really do appreciate your help, and will certainly let you know if I manage to find out anything of interest or worthwhile.   

Thanks so much again,

Patricia in a drizzly old Sydneytown.

Hi Patricia,

I recently had a DNA match between my mother and a Greg ONeill from Melbourne. This caused me to take another look at my Croak Line.  Gerg's Ancestry user name is GregONeill35. First, I reread your message and noticed your mention of WoodVille,  Woodville is a townland in the Barony of Gowran and Parish of Kilmacahill. Griffith valuation only shows four residents none are Croaks.

Greg ONeill's 3x great grandfather, Michael Croak, was baptized 1802 to John Croak and Catherine Kennedy in Clara Parish.  They also had Michael 1803, and Margaret 1806 born in Clara Paris. They then had Elizabeth 1809, Anne 1810, Bridget 1813 and Patrick 1816 all baptized in Gowran Parish. Bridget emigrated to Newfoundland, married a Martin Cashin and died there in 1903,  Michael 1803 married a Mary Sheehan 1830 in Gowran Parish.  They had Catherine 1828, John 1831, Patrick 1833, Mary 1835, James 1837, Bridget 1840, Edmund 1842, Anne 1845 and Judith 1845 all baptized in Gowran Parish. (There is a problem with the baptism date of Catherine and her parents marriage date). Mary married a Richard Fitzgerald in Gowran Parish in 1856 and she died in Western Australia 18 Apr 1905.  Bridget married a Silas Byran 1868 in St. Kilda, Victoria, AU. She died 1910 in Port Melbourne.  I suspect that James baptized 1837 In Gowran Parish may be your James. I can't prove it yet  and can't find the connection between Greg's Croak line and my Croak line other then there is a DNA match.

Have you take an DNA test?  It will take more DNA matches to prove.

The search continues.

Bob Osgood