Martin Costello : Short Biography

Martin COSTELLO was baptised at Killaloe, Kilmaley in April1834, son of John Costeloe & Mary McMahon. Sponsors were Pat & Eliza Griffy/Guffy? - Clonfugh (perhaps Clonrush?)
Martin Costello arrived in N.Z. in 1861 and lived in East Taieri for 2 years according to the Permission to Marry Form.
Martin applied for Rural Land at Dunedin between 10Mar to 17Apr1862 - 4756/30 North part of Section B II of North Harbour & Blue Skin District.
On 24Aug1863 he applied for permission to marry Ellen Kehely. They were married by the Rev M.Moreau the next day in Dunedin Roman Catholic Chapel after Ellen's father, Timothy, gave permission. She was aged 15 1/4. Martin was 28 and a Labourer. Ellen signed her marriage certificate with her mark. She had only lived in Dunedin for four months prior to her marriage, while Martin had resided for 2 years.
(A Martin Costello, aged 24 and single, arrived per 'Benjamin Heape' from Ireland via Melbourne. The ship departed Melbourne 13Sep1861. On board were 92 1/2 passengers (the 1/2 being a child) from England, Scotland and Wales, mostly miners and labourers - details from PROV VPRS 948 LDS Film No 0284487, Year 1861, No 6264)
From the National Archives in 1984 - "Martin enrolled as a Military Settler on 4Sep1863 at Dunedin (three days after his father-in-law Timothy Kehely). Martin had been born in the Parish of Clonrush, Galway, Ireland and was a tailor by trade. When he enrolled he was 28 years of age and 5ft 5ins in height. His rank was Private and he travelled from Dunedin to Taranaki on the "Airedale" with his wife Ellen and her parents". (The fares were paid for because they had become Military Settlers).
(The 'Airdale' was a Brig Steamer built in England in 1857 of 286 tons. Sank on 14Feb1871 after striking a reef near Atankwha Point in thick weather, en route Oamaru to Dunedin - now known as AIREDALE REEF).
On 20Oct1863 Private Costello 'reported sick with diarrohea (sic)'  (during the time of the Maori Land Wars)
Details from NZ National Archives - "He was granted Town Lot 118, sec.238 at Oakura,Lot 47 sec.87 at Koru, Farmland lot 47 sec.82 at Oakura, from 1866 to 1869".
Martin Costello also owned a section in Oakura town - Town Allotments 220/221 (in the Taranaki district around the coast from Mt Egmont) purchased on 27Oct1866 from George Smith - 2 roods for 6 pound, 10 shilling. On 1Feb1870 Lots 220/221, together with Town Allotment No 23 in Mokoia and Rural Allotment No 181 in Patea were resumed because Martin failed to repay mortgage.
All details and copies of maps of the land owned by Martin Costello obtained by descendant Bruce Madgwick, Jun2000 from the Lands Information Office, New Plymouth.
According to the New Plymouth Harbour Board Electoral Roll (not dated), Martin Costello was the owner of property in the Oakura district to the value of 12 pounds. (This does not necessarily mean that he was residing on his property, merely that he owned it and was thus entitled to 1 vote at the elections).
One of the people who gave evidence at the Inquest of Edward Kelly was Martin Costello. He says "On Friday 10th inst (Nov 1865) the father of Edward Kelly told me his son had met with an accident. I got a cart and brought him to the home of D Rawson." At the time Martin lived next door to his father-in-law Timothy Kehely.
Timothy, Edward, William and Daniel Kehely (spelt Kelly) owned land in Koru Township from 1867 to 1868. The township was never formed because fighting Maoris and bushfires deterred them. A detailed map of the planned town of Koru denotes the land owned by the Kellys. (Photocopy of map supplied by Hazel Madgwick of Oakura N.Z.)
From PapersPast - Resident Magistrate's Court - Friday Dec 14 - Larceny. Timothy Kelly, Daniel Kelly and Martin Costello of Oakura, were charged with having stolen at that place, on the 6th inst, nine pieces of timber, valued at 30 shillings,
the property of the Colonial Government. After hearing some evidence, the Magistrate remanded the accused til Friday next. Nil further found!
There were eight advertisements in the Taranaki Herald - Sheriff's notice of sale of real estate in re Thomas Colson, Plaintiff and Martin Costello, Defendant.
Amount recovered £23/9/6.
dd 24Feb1875 - Inquest into body found at Oakura - Jury included Martin Costello.
Anna Costella aged 9 deposed - I am the daughter of Martin Costello and live at Oakura - then she gave a detailed account of the last time she saw Mr Street.
dd 27Feb1875 - Good Templars' Lodge at Oakura - included in names of Officers for this quarter - Martin Costello.
Martin Costello died on 11Aug1875 at Oakura aged only 47 years (three documents state Martin was aged 28 in 1863 which would mean he was only 40 when he died!)
He is buried in the Manaia Cemetery. His Death Certificate states he died of consumption of long standing.

The Will of Martin Costello reads as follows -
6Jun1874
The Will of Mr M Costello in the office of Mr W Halse, Solicitor, New Plymouth
Property owned Oakura Town Potter Terrace -
Koru Town property between White Street and the reserve -
Oakura District two properties - Lots 86 and 158 bounded by Plymouth Road and the boundary line of Omata District.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Martin Costello of Oakura in the province of Taranaki, in the colony of New Zealand.
I devise and bequeath all the real and personal estate to which I shall be entitled at my decease to my wife Ellen absolutely.
And I appoint my said wife as sole executor of this my will hereby revoking all other testaments.
I have hereby set my hand to this my will on 6th day of June, 1874.
Martin Costello
Signed by the said Martin Costello as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other scribed our names as witnesses.

Signed W Halse Solicitor, New Plymouth
Clifford Marshall, Clerk for W Halse Solicitor, New Plymouth

Will transcribed by Bruce Madgwick, Jun2000.