Happy Birthday to me and a Gift for you

It was just about a perfect weekend, even with all the rain that dampened our Homecoming events somewhat. Amy was home, Ryan's team won their game, Paula came over for a visit and I got a wonderful letter from Kathy. Actually it was a package from Kathy that had a wonderfully chatty letter within. She seems to be doing pretty well even if the job situation is demoralizing (her term). It was great to hear from her and it was the best birthday present I could get.

But I have a little present for you all. There's a new Irish name in our ancestry!! McDonough --it's Gloucester Irish and I'd like to say it was more of that good luck I've been having recently but this discovery came after years and years of searching for this woman.

You might remember John Bentley, the captain that went down on the Schooner Paul Revere. On that ship, Martin Costello was apparently the cook. Martin was John's father in law. When the Schoner Paul Revere was lost, John's wife Kate lost both her husband and her father. Julie Costello was Kate's mother and until last week, I couldn't find any record of her death. For a time after her husband was lost at sea, she lived in Gloucester with family but around 1900 she kind of disappeared.

I believe I have found her living in Boston with her niece. There are more Julia Costellos than you can probably imagine in the Boston Cape Ann area around 1900, but I am certain I found her. I feel a little like I've recovered somethin long lost. Her maiden name was McDonough. She was born in Ireland, may have sailed from Galway during the famine years. She died in Boston in 1901 age 72 (though that's a loose estimate), having outlived seven children, including our great great grandmother her daughter Kate Costello Bentley.

I am very happy to welcome McDonoughs to our ancestry. Also, happy birthday to Nanny Flynn today (born 99 years ago today).

TESTING 1 2 3

OK, TRYING TO POST FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE. THIS IS US ON THE "TAIL OF THE DRAGON" ON THE NC/TENN BORDER BACK IN MAY. 11 MILES, 318 CURVES. WE ALL MADE IT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTY ANNE!

Provenance and bragging

Wasn't it much nicer this weekend than you were expecting based on the forecast? We weren't looking forward to riding out to Livingston Manor yesterday for Ryan's game but it the day really wasn't so bad. We came into town right on top of their Homecoming parade, reminding me of Paula's appearance in one of our parades recently. Anyhow, they won and Ryan scored three touchdowns (maybe 4 yards total among all three but nevertheless....). I'm pretty sure that's a personal best for him.

Continuing the Provenance series, this is a bracelet I believe was probably Nanny Ryan's. You'll note that it has cousin Colleen as well as five of us so must be this was created between 1962 and 1966. I know that anyone would recognize this as having significance but it was of special significance to me because it gave me Colleen's birth date sooner than I got it otherwise. The birthdates are on the back side. Colleen's is June 9 1962. I am supposing Mom had it from Nanny Ryan's things but I don't remember ever seeing it too much. I have things of Mom's that hardly ever come out either but still need to stay with me.

Fall Splendor

Paula and I took a little ride yesterday to Ithaca to leaf peep and shop (not at the same time). We did more peeping than shopping and it was a great day. We went to Taughannock Falls which you see here from yesterday (October 2009) as well as from the summer trip we made out there with Kathleen and Nick. I got the same shot in the two different seasons and it's interesting to note the differences--especially in the flow of water. We had a nice time and I'm glad we had a little adventure over the long weekend.

My recent genealogical lucky streak led to an interview being broadcast by one of my favorite podcasts Genealogy Gems It's at the very end of episode 73 in case you are interested in the story. I've had luck with Italians and the Irish recently so I consider myself very fortunate. I even heard from long lost George Handran (after only a little bit of begging to a complete stranger who's a shared acquaintance). More on the Irish luck as soon as I get a couple of things researched a bit more.

Welcome to the zoo, Tank! Thanks Judy for sharing his picture. I can't believe you have 3 dogs! We have the 3 felines but they take up a whole bunch less space than those dogs must. He is cute, though. And welcome back to the online world too Judy.

Happy Birthday Jess tomorrow, Taylor on Friday and, of course, Jim on Saturday. October is a pretty big month for us, isn't it?

Last week I mentioned I hadn't done much Irish research lately but I have more news (and ancestors) to share with you. I have had 3 pieces of really good genealogical luck in this last week or so. Here you see an excerpt from the 1865 Massachusetts state census. These state census records are difficult to use because they aren't indexed and neither are most of them available online. But these have recently come online, although they are not yet indexed. I just took a chance and dove in to take a look page by page to see what I could find--and here's the Costello family just waiting for me to find them.

Prior to finding this last night, I only knew of one child from this family and this record shows me two additional children new to me! Great fun for me. Martin and Julia Costello are our 3rd great grandparents. Their daughter Mary is already married to John Bentley at the time of this census. It's still a thrill to find new information even if I'm about the only one really thrilled!

It was pure luck that I found them just by browsing but when you're hot, you're hot and I found the Ryans too! No real surprises there but it's good to find them as well. I also had a great Italian discovery last week so I'm feeling like I should go buy a lottery ticket.

New addition to the family

As most of you know, we have a new adorable addition to our family. Pat brought him home to me after a bit of teasing on my part. I have been feeling a bit useless due to the boys getting older and less dependent. His name is Tank (because he was 5 pounds heavier than his brother and sister)