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My Great Great Grandfather was Michael Croake.  I think the same one, as the year of birth is correct, he was from Kilkenny and his father was called Dominic.  Didn't know about Jack, so thanks. Michael left Ireland during the potato famine and travelled via Liverpool to London where he worked as a tailor, just off The Strand.  He met his wife Jane, a children's nurse, in St James' Park and they married in 1848. They had 10 children. Their oldest Maria emigrated to Australia. The 2nd John was an actor but died relatively young. The third Jane had 20 children, many of whom died young or in the war. Thomas was a singer, including in Italian operas at Covent Garden. Lucy died age 7. Catherine was my Great Grandmother. George was in the King's African Rifles in Africa for seven years. Leonard died aged 12. Gertie died in childbirth during WW1. Bertie was in WW1 and suffered post traumatic shock after it. All of the boys worked in Michael's tailoring business at one time or another, except Bertie. Stephen remained a tailor all his life. George eventually sailed to Australia too, before returning, joining the army, and then becoming a Jesuit father at Westminster Cathedral for forty years. Michael died around 1895 in The Strand. I've seen various spellings of Croake - also Croke and Croak. Interested to hear of any other connections.