This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: TLBChicago1 Surnames: Croak, Croake, Croke, Shea, Mangan, Cleary, Lynch Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dunphy/163.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Charlie: The baptismal record of Alice Croak says she was baptized on 7 Nov 1847 in Danesfort Roman Catholic Church in County Kilkenny. Her brother, the future Rev. Walter Croake buried in Janesville, Wisconsin, was baptized there on 30 Dec 1843. Their parents were Thomas and Margaret (Shea) Croake, and they lived in the Townland of Grove (Civil Parish of Tullaghanbrogue), which is 3.8 miles southwest of Kilkenny City. Thomas and Margaret were married in Danesfort RC Church on 23 Feb 1829. Margaret's residence at the time was "Ahenraheen," otherwise known as the Townland of Aghinraheen. On the May 1849 Griffith's Valuation, the family lived in the Townland of Coolapoge, which borders both Aghinraheen and Grove. One Croak researcher has suggested that Thomas was born in "Ballingarry," County Tipperary, and I have been looking for documentation of this. My ancestor John Croak [John Joseph Croake of Chicago, husband of Catherine Smith, daughter of Joseph], was a son of Thomas and Margaret (Mangan) Croak, who resided in Sheastown, which is 5.5 miles east of Aghinraheen, at the time of John's baptism on 18 Jan 1849 in St. Patrick's RC Church in Kilkenny City. On the 25 Apr 1876 tax assessment roll of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, John lived at 15 Dalhousie, a building owned by Michael Croake, who was baptized on 2 Sep 1842 in Ballingarry RC Church, County Tipperary, a son of Edmund and Ann (Cleary) Croke, of Mohober. On 18 Feb 1876, John's brother Peter [Pierce] was a baptismal sponsor at St. Paul's RC Church, Toronto, for Bridget Croake, daughter of James and Margaret (Lynch) Croake. James, who was baptized 26 Jul 1840 in Ballingarry RC Church and resided in Gragaugh, was Michael's brother. I am interested in exploring the connections of the Croakes of Ballingarry, Danesfort, and St. Patrick's further. Ted L. Bartlett Chicago, Illinois Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.