SOME NOTES OF EILEEN COSTIGAN (& Adrian Costigan)

 

re Daniel and Anne Costigan (Parts of the notes are missing)

…Mitchell St.- later moving further towards Thornbury. At one time they were on a small farm in Albert Street, Preston, and Anne, the mother, had a dairy produce round, driving a horse and cart to deliver the goods.
The son, James, married Johanna Sullivan of Gower St., Preston, on Oct. 24th , 1894, in the Sacred Heart church, newly erected in Bell Street and part of Clifton Hill parish- later of Northcote parish. Their first child, Mary, was born in 1895 in Claude St. Northcote, but they soon moved to Rae St. North Fitzroy, where Joseph, Frank and Eugene were born and where they ran a dairy produce shop, while James delivered similar goods with a horse and covered cart.

 When Eugene Sullivan married Elizabeth Costigan they took over the Sullivan farm in Gower St., Preston, but in…

 If Eugene Sullivan (of Preston) was the 7th child and born in 1834-35, then his father Eugene and mother, Catherine, were probably married in the early 1820’s. so they were probably born in the late 1790’s Eileen thinks that Catherine Horigan would have been born in County Cork in or near Grenagh- she died in the mid-1840’s.

 It may be that three Costigans – James, Patrick and John- arrived in Victoria together and settled around Castlemaine. James is the progenitor of the Costigans we know best, and John could be the father of Mary, Michael, John and Joseph- who was born in 1873, married Mary Keighran, and died in 1943; and may have been the father of Bernard Costigan, whom Adrian has met a number of times and is now (1995) managing a motel somewhere on the coast in Queensland.

 Notes from conversation with Eileen 5/7/95

Joseph Costigan was still living on the farm when he married Eileen Martin at Sacred Heart church, Preston. One of the “guests” at the celebration (which was held at no.1, Irene Street Preston) was the young “Perce” Coonan, who detested his baptismal name of Eugene. Suffering an attack of appendicitis, he was brought by his father (“Uncle Mick” Coonan) to the local doctor at Yea. When the doctor demanded 50 pounds in advance before performing the operation, Uncle Mick said a few choice words, bundled young Perce into his car, and drove to Preston, where Dr. John Horgan performed the operation. Perce then recuperated on the farm and was able to attend the wedding.

 Johanna Costigan (Sullivan) had to do some business with her aunt, Bridget M’Haffey (or “Meheron”?) of Werribee, who was one of the Doran women. As Aunt Bridget and her niece were great conversationalists they talked so long that Johanna missed the last train home and had to stay in Werribee overnight!

 As Eileen had obtained her teaching qualifications independently of the Education Dept. through winning scholarships, she was unable to obtain permanent employment, and at about the age of 25 was employed as a student teacher at Tyler St., Preston, primary school. The Head Teacher, whose name she can’t remember, had to travel a considerable distance to work by public transport, although he was elderly and not very well, and often used to arrive a bit late. One morning he was very late, and Eileen went out into the street to look for him. She saw him coming down Tyler St. from the tram very slowly and awkwardly, and went to his assistance. She got him into his office and found the senior male teacher to help, but he died within a few minutes. A great shock to the young teacher. His replacement was a much younger man who was very powerful in the teachers’ union (possibly president). When he realised Eileen’s qualifications he got onto the phone and roared up someone at the other end! The next day Eileen was given an appointment at Benalla High School, and so her real career in the Department began.

 When teaching at Stawell, finding board was very difficult- she tried 50 different homes before getting accommodation. A man boarding at the same place often went to Melbourne, and offered her transport, but on the condition that they left Melbourne early. On the way back he used to go to various country towns, where qualify trials for the Stawell Gift were held, to see the races, so Eileen got to see quite a bit of Victoria in this way.

 Adrian has a tape and transcript of an interview with Eileen about the tribulations of women trying to make their way in a profession controlled by men.

 Notes from conversation with Eileen 31/1/1996.

 Grandfather Sullivan used to come down to the farm from “the corner” nearly every day for a cup of tea with “Grandma” (Johanna Sullivan/Costigan). When Winnie was a baby Grandfather used to carry her around the house on a pillow or cushion!

 Mary Costigan taught Eileen at the new Sacred Heart School in Grade 3. Because she wasn’t a registered teacher, the nuns used to tell her to keep out of the way when the State School inspector was in the school! (Like the nuns used to hide their canes on top of the cupboards when the INSPECTOR was around!- Adrian) Later she taught music at St. Joseph’s Northcote (she was a very good pianist- I remember her playing the piano at Preston for a dance when I was a young feller!).

 Eileen has many photos and she has started sorting them out into families- perhaps a premonition of imminent departure. Although she said she had an envelope of our family I didn’t find it- but I didn’t go through all her drawers. There was a beaut photo of Mag Sullivan’s and Mick Coonan’s wedding in 1908. She wants the photos of Jerry (S.J.) and Tim (the Dean) to be given to the Catholic Historical Archives.

 Peter Costigan has met a women whose mother had known and was rather sweet on a handsome young feller from Preston named Joe Costigan- before he was married at the age of 27 or 28. So Ileen Martin was not the only pebble on the beach!!! Eileen Costigan has said that, in my words, Ileen Martin waged a pretty strong and persistent campaign to win the heart of Joe. And Ileen told Adrian of how one Eileen Crisp (sister of Dorothy Cahir, Royston’s wife) was pretty keen on Francis Eugene Costigan, but one Ursula Hoy, being on the spot as a nurse when Frank was at St. Vincent’s, waged a similar campaign to become Mrs. Costigan. Eventually Eileen Crisp married a man called O’Dwyer in her seventies, and is now (1996) a ninety- years old widow living at St. Joseph’s hostel with eighty-six years old Eileen Costigan! O’Dwyer’s first wife was friendly with Eileen Crisp, and she often used to visit their rural property (vaguely in the Jerilderie area- he was well known to Ned Dawes, Grandma Feain’s brother and Adrian’s children’s great-uncle). Some time after her death, they decided to marry.

 Birth Dates of the Costigan Family
James C. Costigan: D.O.B. 26/12/1868
Johanna Costigan (Sullivan): D.O.B. 18/5/1871
Married 24/10/1894 at Sacred Heart church, Preston, by Rev. Fr. Brazil.
Mary Ursula Costigan: 20/12/1895
Joseph Aloysius: 30/4/1899 Married Ileen Muriel Martin 21/4/27
Francis Eugene: 4/12/1902
Eugene Ignatius: 15/6/1905
Kathleen Veronica: 24/1/1907
Eileen Agnes: 14/6/1909
Winifred Margaret: 19/4/1911
Anne Monica: 1/9/1912

 Notes about passages to Melbourne.
(Assisted)
Name – Ship – Date – Reference
Mary Costigan Chonrinhee(?) 5/7/1852 107
Judith Costigan ” ” 8/107
Patrick Conroy Star of the South 5/8/1857 Bk.11p443
Mary Anne ” ” ” ”
Mary Conroy ” ” Bk 14p330
Johanna “ Ocean Monarch 23/1/1856 Bk.11p259
James” Medway 13/12/1856 Bk 11p281
Bridget ” ” 14/5/1858 Bk 12p458
Mary Scully Star of the South 5/8/1857 Bk 11p448
John Scully ” ” ”
Eugene Sullivan ?
Thomas Doran Wanata 22/1/1854 Bk 9p343
(Unassisted)
James & Mary Costigan Guy Mannering Nov. 1857 p.9
with Catherine, Anne, Patrick, Mary
Jane & Dan Costigan Titan Aug. 1857 p.13
(Also Daniel & James Costigan) Sir William Eyre July 1857 p.15
“Ship from Foreign ports 1852 (done)” (Eileen’s note on bottom of page.)

Coburg Cemetery
Name Grave Area
Thomas & Johanna Doran 648-649
Mary Sullivan
Eugene & James (died young
Catherine (Kate) Sullivan (Aunty Kate)
Elizabeth (Costigan) Sullivan
Dean Timothy O’Sullivan
Daniel & Anne Costigan 644
Walter & Ellen Martin R.C.A. 249
Michael & Elsie Martin
Christopher Costigan (Frank & Kate’s baby) H69
Judith Costigan (Eughie & Vera’s baby) K706

 11/4/1996 Further Notes
The photograph of Lil Costigan’s and Eugene Sullivan’s wedding which I copied from Aileen Pekin’s original has fascinated a number of people.

 Anne Costigan, not realising the significance of the archaic style of dress and hat, exclaimed “Kath Coonan” on looking at one of the figures. Others agreed, indicating that the figure may have been the young Margaret Sullivan (“Auntie Mag” Coonan). Later I compared it with the posed wedding photograph of Mick and Mag (November, 1908, I think) in Auntie Eileen’s possession. I reckon there’s 90% chance that it is, in fact, Margaret Sullivan.
Leo Mussett, on seeing the same photograph, exclaimed “Bernadette”, meaning Bernadette Aylward, who is the grandaughter of Maud Costigan (m.Michael Harper). Leo is sure the figure must be ‘Auntie’ Maud on the basis of this strong resemblance.
 I am certain of the identity of the remaining figures, but the identification of these two must remain only ‘highly probable’.
Following the visit to Leo Mussett, I visited the old farmhouse at 160 Gower St. Preston (at the corner of Sapphire St.) and compared it with the photo. There’s no doubt it’s the same house although the brickwork has been rendered and painted white, and the two veranda posts in the photo have been replaced with similar but not identical ones. I met the occupier, an Asian named Tony, who didn’t appreciate my interest as much as an Irishman named Eugene would have! Although he opened the front door for me to see, he didn’t invite me in. The house looked just as Auntie Eileen has described it: narrow front door flanked by two windows, a passage running down the centre of the house with two doorways on each side and running down to a large room across the back of the house- it would have been the great dining/living room of the farm. I took several photos of the exterior from the front and the side.

 I then visited Eileen to compare photographs (see above) and found out that Mick Coonan and his siblings lived for some time in Garnet St., Preston, following the death of his parents and being looked after by an aunt. His mother had been working on the Yea property following her husband’s death, but died following a fall. (It would be wise to check this story with ‘young’ Michael Coonan, since Eileen seems to confuse the personnel in some of her reminiscences.) I also asked Eileen if my father had had any girl friends before Ileen Martin, saying that Peter had met a woman whose mother had claimed an interest, but she either could not understand what I was getting at or she didn’t want to know- she kept talking about Peter instead of her brother.

Eileen remembers Grandfather Sullivan and ‘Micky O’Connor’ regularly smoking their pipes in the workshop and yarning; and he didn’t mind his grandchildren taking some of the fruit from the trees. (I’m not sure whether this refers to the farm itself or to the block at the corner of Gower St.and Plenty Rd., where the grandparents lived when the Costigans were on the farm and where the old man established a small orchard.)

Eileen Costigan notes on Dorans
Mary Doran was born in 1839. On her mother, Johanna Doran’s death certificate of 1899 she is named as the eldest daughter aged 60, hence she must have been born in 1839. She would have been born in County Kilkenny, somewhere near Waterford, her father, Thomas Doran, being a factor on an estate in the Waterford district. Mary Doran (Sullivan) died in Preston on October 24th, 1912.

Martin information from research in Scotland:
Walter Martin of 35 Westmuir St. , Glasgow, born 23rd May, 1865.
1871 Census:
George Martin, aged 38
Mary 40 (Mary Jane Gumbrak)
Margaret 11
William 10
Alice 7
Walter 5 Married Ellen Byrne, Ileen’s father.
Elizabeth 4
George 3
Gavin 1

Ruth Martin, who married Ian Johnstone, is the grandaughter of William
(NOT Walter) and lives in Scotland at the following address:
12 Corbiwood drive,
Bannockburn, STIRLING, Scotland. 5K.78.PY
Telephone 001 ############

 A few more notes on Costigans at the farm.
Eugene Sullivan and Lil Costigan had married and were looking after the farm. In 1906 they went off to a selection at Boranbola near Wagga in N.S.W., and James and Johanna Costigan were asked by her father to live on the 40 acre farm in Gower Street. They had a few cows, grew crops, pastured some animals on agistment, while James built up and continued the dairy produce round.

 On the farm the remaining children, Kathleen, Eileen, Winifred and Anne Monica were born, the latter two in Nurse Hooper’s hospital in Darebin Road, Thornbury.

 Mary and Joe attended a small private school, Mrs. Wayman’s Academy, in North Fitzroy till the Good Samaritan nuns came to St. Brigid’s which they then attended until the move to Preston, after which they all, as the years went by, were pupils at Sacred Heart School.

 After Johanna’s father, Eugene Sullivan, died, it was necessary to sell the farm, and the Costigans left Preston after 21 years and went to live at 11 South Crescent, Westgarth. So respected was this Irish Catholic family that they were presented on 21st December, 1927, with a fine silver plated tea and coffee set “..in recognition of the many services rendered to the Sacred Heart Parish Preston…” Later the eldest son and his family were to return to their roots to continue the Costigan tradition in the parish. James died in 1937 aged 68. In 1957 a move was made to 120 Westbourne Grove, Northcote, practically adjacent to the church, and there Johanna died in 1964, aged 92.

 Mary, Eileen and Winnie lived on in Northcote until after Mary’s death in 1977, when the remaining sisters moved back to (West) Preston, in a unit at 48 Cooper Street, close to St. Raphael’s parish church.

 Following Winnie’s death in 1984 Eileen moved to a unit in Glenhuntly, her last independent home, for increasing frailty saw her moving to St. Joseph’s Hostel in Hawthorn, and finally to the Bodalla Nursing Home in Kew where in 1999, at the age of 89 years, she enjoys football, cricket and current events per medium of the radio, mainly from station 3LO.

 SOME NOTES FROM EILEEN- need explanation.

 Sullivans in U.S.A. 1883-1884 living in New Haven, U.S.A, having gone there in 1863-64.

Timothy Sullivan, 248 James Street New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Left Ireland 29th April, 1863, after death of father. With him went brother Jerry and sister Catrina. Brother Denis and Hannah had been in Canada, but were then in New Haven- sister Maggie died in 1861 in New Haven, and Denis in Nov.1863 leaving two children, the son Eugene (dying?) at 17 and daughter, Mary Elizabeth 22 years old in 1883. Tim married with 4 children- 3 boys, | girl- in 1883, Eugene 12, Katie 10, John 8 and Denis 5. Tim worked at coal carting. Jerry married- 5 children- 3 boys, 2 girls but the eldest died young. Hannah not married Katie married Kell Callaghan- 3 sons- John, Tim and Don

 In Italy, in a cemetery at Fiesole (near Florence) are remains of Mary Sullivan (Sr. Mary Raymond) of the Little Company of Mary, who died in Italy in 1925 or 1926.

 More notes by Eileen Costigan
The Sullivans- U.S.A.:
The brothers and sisters of Eugene Sullivan who arrived in Australia in the 1850’s- the children of Eugene Sullivan and Catherine Horigan of County Cork, Ireland, and who lived in various places at different times, evidently wherever work was available- Grenagh, then Cloughroa and Courtbrack.

 Catherine Sullivan, the mother, died during the famine, as did a daughter. A son, Denis, and daughters Hannah and Margared went to Canada, but moved to Newhaven in Connecticut, U.S.A., where Maggie died in 1861 and Denis in November 1863 leaving two children, the son Eugene dying at 17, and daughter Mary Elizabeth still alive in 1883.

 Two brothers, Timothy and Jerry, and a sister, Catherine (Catrina) left Ireland 29th April 1863 after the death of their father.

 In 1883 Mary Serong (nee Horigan) found Eugene Sullivan in Preston, and wrote to the Newhaven people to tell them of her find; letters which Timothy wrote in reply are the source of much of this information. He lived at 248 James Street New Haven, was married, and in 1883 had four children- three boys and a girl- the eldest, Eugene, was 12 in 1883, Katie 10, John 8 and Denis 5.

 To America with Timothy went Jerry and Catrina. Jerry was married with five children living- 3 boys and 2 girls. Hannah had not married, and Katie (Catrina) was married to Kell Callaghan with 3 sons, John, Tim and Dan.

 The eldest son of Eugene and Catherine Sullivan, John, died on the voyage to America. The youngest son, Eugene, did not like America and disappeared, and was found by his cousin, Mary Serong, in Preston. The brothers Timothy and Jerry, made their living carting coal, Jerry being the more successful, according to Timothy, not only running a coal-carting business but owning two houses bringing $80.00 a month in rent. Eugene Sullivan & Elizabeth Costigan: It has been said that they took over the old farm on their marriage in 1902. However, in fact they were married on the 8th August, 1903, and a photograph of the wedding party in front of the Gower St. homestead has been preserved by Aileen McCunnie (Pekin) of Terang. Unfortunately the marriage lasted only ten years as Lil died in late 1912 or early 1913, leaving her baby Edward, then about a year old, and three older children.

“The Sullivans” (Notes by Eileen Costigan)
In County Cork in Ireland lived a family named Sullivan, three of whom are remembered- two sisters, Catherine and Margaret, and a brother, Eugene.
Catherine married Danial Regan and had nine children, John, Dan, Tom, Eugene, Pat, Mick, Jerry, Will and Tessa (?) – the last six dying young.
Margaret married Timothy Horigan and had five children- John, Con, James, Mary and Elizabeth.
John died in Australia
Con died at home.
James was killed in a London railway accident.
Mary became Mrs. Serong
Elizabeth married and died at home.

 Eugene Sullivan and Catherine Horigan had nine children-
In the late 1840’s or early 1850’s, John, Denis, Kate, Hannah, Eugene and Catherine set off for U.S.A.. John died on the way and the others settled in New Haven, Connecticut. Nothing is known of Eugene’s wanderings until he reached Melbourne, in 1858. There he worked at various jobs. A tale is told of him- that on the day of his arrival he was hired at the boat by a gentleman as a groom, but on being ordered to clean the said gentleman’s boots, he refused to do such a menial task and took his leave forthwith!

 Deaths
Kathleen Coonan Mar.31 1964 40
Edward Sullivan (Wagga) June 1965 52
Eugene Sullivan (“Mick”- N.S.W.) 1995 86

 Notes from Sands & McDougalls’s Directory 1872:
Bartholomew Cashman, farmer, Gowerville
Patrick Foley ditto
Denis Foley ”
John O’Keefe ”
Robert Mutimer ”
Michael Lynch ”
John Leahy ”
Eugene O’Sullivan ”
Christian Kupsch ”
Frederick Kupsch ”
J. Kupsch “

 1898:
James Cashman, Albert St East, South Preston (east side,between Dundas & RaglanSt)
Daniel Costigan, Dairy Prod., 256 High St. Northcote.
Andrew Serong, 42 Reilly-par Clifton Hill
Joseph Serong, 46 ditto
William Serong, Beal St. North Fitzroy

 1913:
James F. Cashman, Dundas St. Preston
Jeremiah Cashman, 580 High St. Preston
John Cashman, Station Hotel, 88 Swan St. Richmond
Daniel Costigan Albert St. East, South Preston. (West side, between Raglan & Bell St.)
Walter Martin, 48 David St. (2 doors from Presbyterian church & manse- Rev. G. Carson)

 1919:
Daniel Costigan, 29 Penders St., Thornbury.
William Kearney at address of Daniel’s farm in Albert St.
Michele Madigan, a Josephite sister at Coober Pedy, contacted me on 7/2/99. Her ancestor, Catherine Costigan, came to South Australia in the 1850’s as a single woman, married Denis Quigley in 1857 and settled down at Enfield. Their son, Michael Francis Quigley, is Michele’s great-grandfather. Michele wanted to know if there was any connection between the families. Her phone/fax number at Coober Pedy is 8672 3404 (plus, no doubt, state codes).

 LETTER TO PAUL CASHMAN, FRIEND OF EDWARD COSTIGAN
3 Olive Grove, MENTONE.
23rd January, 1999.

Dear Paul,
Enclosed you’ll find the photograph I promised you, of Michael Mescall Martin and his mate, Tom Cashman, shortly before they left to fight for king and country, for a lark, or because jobs were scarce at home. Take your pick of the possible motivations!

 While researching Costigans I noticed some facts about Cashmans, whom I was interested in because I knew some of the family and because they were old friends of my parents.

 On a tombstone in Heidelberg cemetery, not far from my grandparents’ grave, is commemorated “James Francis Cashman who died on 3/9/1915 aged 58 and who lies beneath, and his son, Thomas Joseph Cashman, who died of wounds near Ypres on the 29th September 1917 aged 23 years.”

 Sand & McDougall’s directory of Victoria, 1872, records a Bartholomew Cashman, farmer, of Gowerville (which is part of Preston).

 I suspect that ‘Bart’ Cashman was the father of the above James Francis, and hence the grandfather of Tom Cashman- and of Eddie, your grandfather- for the 1898 Directory records a James Cashman of Albert St. East, South Preston; this was on the east side of Albert Street, and a few years later my great-grandfather Daniel Costigan had a farm on the west side of the same street. It is extremely likely that this James Cashman was the father of Tom Cashman, and also of Bert and Eddie Cashman.

 The 1913 edition of the Directory records James F. Cashman of Dundas St. Preston (Albert St. ran off Dundas St., and the Cashman farm was probably a corner block at Albert/Dundas Streets). Other Cashmans in the 1913 directory are Jeremiah of 580 High St., Preston, and John of the Station Hotel, 88 Swan Street, Richmond; I’ve no idea if the latter two are related in spite of (a) the address of the first and (b) the apparent occupation of the second. If you see what I mean!

 Using the phone number I have had for some years I tried to contact Pat Molloy (Cashman) but it’s disconnected so I’ve no idea where she is or even if she is still ‘with us’. I wanted to verify that Tom Cashman was her father’s brother- I’m 99.99% sure that he was- and simply have a yarn.

 You now know just about as much of your ancestors as I do, but if you stir the memories of your surviving old folk you’ll certainly find out a lot more.

 Best wishes, (Adrian)