The Cosgroves
robertcosgrove
Good morning and Merry Christmas to all.
I have been researching my family surname, Cosgrove, for over a year now and have run into the proverbial brick wall. I have been able to verify through public records and family history the name of my 2nd great grandfather, John Patrick Cosgrove. However, I cannot find any information regarding his early life until his marriage to Mary Ellen Samuelson in 1897 in Brockton, Massachusetts.
There are several conflicting pieces of information on John Patrick found in various public records. His marriage record, death certificate, WWI Draft Registration Card, 1900-1920 Federal Census Records, and his children's birth and death records state different information regarding:
1) Date and Place of Birth:
a. Fact: Born in Massachusetts (consistent across all records)
b. Discrepancy #1: Born in either 1872 or 1874
c. Discrepancy #2: Born in either Charlestown (Boston)(MA) or Watertown (MA)
2) Parents Names and Places of Birth:
a. Fact #1: Father's name was John (consistent across all records).
b. Fact #2: Mother's name was Theresa Dunn (consistent across all records)
c. Fact #3: Place of Father's Birth: Ireland
d. Discrepancy #1: Place of Mother's Birth: Ireland or Massachusetts
I could not find any records in either Charlestown or Watertown regarding John Patrick's birth. I did find a John Cosgrove in the city directories for both cities, which could be John P's father though this is just speculative in nature.
I was able to locate an 1890 Watertown (MA) death register for a Theresa Cosgrove. According to the death register, who parents names were John Dunn and Catherine O'Connor. Unfortunately, though the register stated she was married at the time of her death, it did not list her husband's first name. However, I believe this Theresa (nee Dunn) Cosgrove could possibly be John Patrick's mother.
Coincidentally, I found two more Cosgrove's who lived in Watertown in the 1880s and 1890s. First, I found an 1887 death record from Watertown for a Michael F Cosgrove whose parents appear to be John and Theresa Cosgrove. I found an 1893 Watertown marriage record for a Mary Beatrice Cosgrove who listed a John Cosgrove and Theresa Dunn as her parents. I was able to acquire a copy of her death certificate (1928) from Cambridge, MA which also listed a John Cosgrove and Teresa Dunne as her parents as well. Mary Beatrice's records consistently state that she was born in Wales in 1872 and immigrated sometime between 1882-1883.
Based on the above facts and assumptions, my hypothesis is that John and Theresa married in Ireland sometime around 1870 (there is an 1871 Limerick Marriage Record I am in the process of hunting down that lists 5 men and 5 women, two of who are John Cosgrove and Theresa Dunne). They immigrated to Wales, had Mary B, and immigrated to the States between 1872-1874, leaving Mary with either friends or relatives. They arrived or settled in Charlestown by 1874 (same year that Boston annexed Charlestown). The family eventually made its way to Watertown. I did locate a passenger list for a ship that arrived in Boston in Sept 1883. Two of the passengers listed on the passenger list were John Cosgrove (age 30) and Mary B (age 11). My assumption, if all of this information is factual and not merely coincidental, is that John returned in 1883 to Wales and brought Mary B back to Massachusetts to rejoin the family. While all of this is speculative in nature and possibly a bit of a stretch, the sequence of events does align with the information included in the publically available records.
Mary B Cosgrove went on to marry George Searles Douglas (sometimes spelled as Douglass)s They had two daughters together: Winifred and Irene. Irene married Leon Conant and had two sons: Leon Jr and George Malcolm. Both went on to have families though available information on George and his line is scarce. Leon Jr appears to have been married 3-4 times and had several children whose own offspring seem to be engaged in genealogical research.
If you are searching for Cosgroves from Boston and Brockton, or descendants of Mary B Cosgrove Douglas (ie, Douglas and Conant), pls contact me.
by robertcosgrove
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robertcosgrove on 2015-12-27 14:25:01Good afternoon and thank you for all of your efforts.
I have dug through several hundred pages of the 1880 federal census records for the Boston area and countless birth records from 1870-1880 and haven't found any clear evidence that leads me to John Patrick's origins. Most of the John Patrick Cosgroves you have listed can be eliminated due to dates. I have John P's death record from 1928 from Brockton Mass; my great grandfather was the informant so I know I have the right one. However, your Theresa Cosgrove/Dunns are great leads! The Limerick Ireland Cosgroves though seem to be the best place to look though . I have a cousin hunting down the Limerick marriage record for a John Cosgrove and Theresa Dunn (1871). If it lists their parents, then I may have hit the jackpot. I strongly believe that there is a Watertown connection with my John P since that is the place listed as his place of birth on some of his own children's birth records. The Theresa Cosgrove (nee Dunn) that died in 1890 in Watertown may be his mother since its the same name listed on his marriage and death records.......too many coincidences in terms of Watertown references and the maiden name Dunn for not to be considered. Appreciate all of the Cosgrove listings for Limerick! I hadn't gotten that deep yet and you just saved me a ton of time. Happy Holidays!
robertcosgrove on 2015-12-30 08:24:30Good morning,
So I looked through your messages again. Some of the techniques I have already done in the past but did again as you suggested because you never know (maybe you are like me and after the 100x of conducting the same search, you find something new!).
Anyways, Theresa Elizabeth Cosgrove's marriage record throws a huge monkey wrench into everything. I tracked her and found her brother, Christopher William Cosgrove (they live together in 1910, she is listed as the head of household in the Census Record) and he listed her (under her married name) on his WWI draft card. So here is what I have so far, all of it not making too much sense to me:
John Patrick Cosgrove (2nd Great Grandfather): born between 1872-1874 in either Charlestown or Watertown (MA). Parents John Cosgrove and Theresa Dunn (both parents names are listed on his marriage record and death certificate). No birth records or 1880 Census Records found for him after a very exhaustive search. Died in Brockton in 1928. Buried at Calvary Cemetery (been to his grave so I know I have the right John Patrick; buried with wife, two daughters and his only son, Roy (who is my great grandfather).
Mary Beatrice Cosgrove. Born between 1871-1874 in Wales. 1893 Watertown (MA) Marriage record suggest 1871; 1928 Cambridge (MA)death certificate suggests 1874. Parents according to marriage record: John Cosgrove and Theresa Dunn. Parents according to death record: John Cosgrove and Teresa Dunn. Immigrated between 1882-1883. I did find an immigration record (passenger list) a while back that listed a John Cosgrove (age 30) and Mary B (age 11) that arrived in Boston in Sept 1883.
Theresa Elizabeth Cosgrove. Born in Ireland in 1883. Immigrated to States in 1884. According to 1913 Marriage Record her parents were John Cosgrove and Theresa Dunn.
Christopher William Cosgrove. Born in Boston area in 1885. According to his birth record, his parents were John Cosgrove and Theresa. I am assuming Theresa's last name is Dunn because Christopher is Theresa Elizabeth's brother for reasons stated above.
Michael F. Cosgrove. Born and died in May 1887 in Watertown (MA). Parents: John Cosgrove and Theresa Dunn
Theresa M. Cosgrove. Died in 1890 in Watertown (MA). 36 at time of death placing date of birth o/a 1854 in Ireland. Parents names: John Dunn and Catherine O'Connor. Husband's name not listed on the Watertown death certificate. Assume she is the mother of one or more of the above persons (John P, Mary B, Theresa E, Christopher W, and Michael F).
I know for a fact John Patrick is my second great grandfather. His WWI Draft Registration Card states he was born on Sep 29, 1874. His Death Certificate stated that he was born in Charlestown (MA) suggests he was born in either 1872 or 1874 (died in April 1928, age 55). There has to be a Watertown connection since that town is mentioned several times on some of his own children's birth records as his place of birth. Not suggesting he was born there, but could have lived there at some point in time. Would be odd for a random town to be referenced on your children's birth records if there wasn't some type of connection.
I am wondering if John P was even born in the States. My wildest theory is that he was born in the UK and the family immigrated over in the early 1880s; only explanation for why two of his potential sisters were born in the UK and Ireland and immigrated in the early 1880s. Maybe he lied about his Irish origins in order to ease his ability to gain employment.
Also, one of the more confusing pieces of information is the place of birth for John P's mother (Theresa M). On several of his records (ie, 1900 Census Records), his mother's place of birth was Massachusetts but it states Ireland on other records such as his death certificate.
I hope to receive my Y DNA test from Family Tree DNA soon so that could possibly help me trace the Cosgrove surname back to a specific place in Ireland. Fingers crossed and thanks for the help.