Hello, I have just joined this List because for a month I've been attempting to create a family-tree for a large FITZGERALD family in Massachusetts that we are close to. I've been posting queries and looking on-line and asking members of that family. Helpful researchers in New England have found more information for me. I don't have time this morning to offer a lot of information, so I'll just mention the Ireland part of the story. As of last night, I can take the family back to Michael FITZGERALD and Julia PHELAN in County Cork, possibly in Rosscarbery. Before yesterday, I could only go back to John H. FITZGERALD, b~1858 in County Cork. I don't know when he migrated to Massachusetts. All I know is that in Boston 5/19/1881 he married Catherine Mary SMITH, she b.~1855 Ireland. The marriage record showed the above parents, and then Catherine's parents as Michael and Julia (?) SMITH. (Some records have the wife as Mary SMITH.) I don't know anything about the SMITH family or when Catherine migrated to Massachusetts. I believe that John H. and Catherine (SMITH) FITZGERALD only had 2 children, a son Michael Albert FITZGERALD, b1882 in Boston, and a son, John T. or F. FITZGERALD, b1887 in Boston. The parents both died in Boston in 1893 (epidemic or something?). The 1900 census had the 2 sons living with a COSTELLO family in Stoneham, MA. From 1910 to 1930 the 2 brothers remained close. Michael married Ella BLAKELEY, and had 4 children but then divorced ~1918. John married Margaret ADAMS and lived in Stoneham, MA. Our friends are descended from Michael and Ella (Michael might have had the nickname, "Al," as his older son did. How many children Michael and Ella had is a mystery. Probably ~1921 in Cambridge, MA, Ella remarried to Thomas J. "Jack" KELLEY. Jack might have adopted Ella's 2 younger children, and Ella's 2 older sons did not have with them. Then Jack and Ella might have had 4 children of their own. Ella's EX, Mike or "Al" did remarry to a Hazel (?), but nothing is known about them, and he seems to have been estranged from the family. His grandchildren know nothing about him. But, they did know their "Grammy Kelley" who lived near them, and they considered her KELLEY children as their uncles and aunts. Thank you for your time. Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) FYI: The Fitzgerald family always believed they were somehow connected to the famous, former Mayor in Boston, John F. "Honey Fitz" FITZGERALD, father of Mrs. Rose KENNEDY. But, from books and articles and on-line investigating, and I don't believe they are. Important researchers have his ancestors going back to County Limerick. So, I think it is just a coincidence that both FITZGERALD families in Boston in late 1800's had a child, named John Francis Fitzgerald. By the way, I took a quick look in the archives of the Board and List last night, and saw many postings about the FITZGERALD name. ( on Lists for almost 9 yrs.; now an Admin for 9 Lists, including GAVIN, CORKILL, CAN-USA-Migration, and the brand-new CHILD-MIGRANTS-UK )