Genealogy Chat

I have an ancestor Catherine Costello born 1864, parents Owen and Cecilia. In the 1871 census she is at Pickins Court, Shrewsbury (Owen had died in 1865) with her mother and two sisters. I sent for her birth certificate and on it her father is Owen, she was born at Pickins Court, Shrewsbury but her mother is named as Sarah, even though on the 1871 and 1881 census her mother is named as Cecilia. Is it possible Sarah is her first name and Cecilia her second which she uses. Were they allowed to do that on censuses? Thanks, Susan

What is her mothers maiden name ? Do you have a marriage for mother + father ? June

Cannot find her in BMD's, maybe spelt differently 1861 census View Record John Costolow abt 1857 Shrewsbury; St Mary Son St Mary Shropshire View Record Margaret Costolow abt 1854 Shrewsbury; St Mary Daughter St Mary Shropshire View Record Mary Costolow abt 1857 Etershir, Warwickshire, England Daughter St Mary Shropshire View Record Owen Costolow abt 1815 Ireland Head St Mary Shropshire View Record Sescelia Costolow abt 1831 Ireland Wife St Mary Shropshire View Record Siscelia Costolow abt 1859 Shrewsbury; St Mary Daughter St Mary Shropshire

1881 British Census Has mother born holywell Ceclia COSTELLO Head W Female 50 Holywell, Wales Formerley Laundress John COSTELLO Son U Male 24 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Grinder Cotton Mill Ceclia COSTELLO Daur U Female 22 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Speed Tenter Cotton Mill John COSTELLO Grandson Male 1 Oldham, Lancashire, England Annie COSTELLO Daur U Female 19 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Speed Tenter Cotton Mill Catherine COSTELLO Daur Female 17 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Speed Tenter Cotton Mill -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Dwelling 15 Bank St Census Place Oldham, Lancashire, England Family History Library Film 1341977 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4083 / 91 Page Number 19

Thanks everyone. In 1871 the surname was down as Castello. I can't find a marriage certificate for them. On the birth certificate for Catherine, where it says mother's name as Sarah the maiden name is Cavanagh. It's just odd that on the birth certificate Catherine was born At Pickins Court and on the 1871 census she lived at Pickins Court, but mother's name is Cecilia and on all the other censuses. The 1871 census says Cecilia was born Co. Mayo, Ireland. Susan.

Is it possible that Catherine's mother had died and her father had married again? I have seen stepchildren referred to as daughter or son on the census without it saying they were stepchildren. Kate.

Looking at it a bit more, I see the wife was Cecilia before Catherine's birth too. I bet they got married in Ireland, so it may be very difficult to find their marriage. Perhaps if you go to an LDS Family History Centre and look at the Irish BMD's on microfilm there. Anyway, it could indeed be that her official name was Sarah but everybody called her Cecilia and so that was what they put on the censuses. You will often find that the name on the census is the name they were known by but the name on certificates is the name they were registered or baptised as. It is also possible that it is a mistake on the birth certificate. I wonder if there would be a baptism for Catherine anywhere so you could check the mother's name? Kate.

Oh, and / or you could try to get a birth certificate for one of the other children to see what it gives for mother's name. Might be easier though of course it would cost another £7. Kate.

Kate, That's what I was hoping that she was known as Cecilia but her real name was Sarah. Everyone who has very kindly found the censuses for me, two say her parents were born in Ireland, so I think you're right that they were married in Ireland. I will check the Family Research site, I didn't know they had an Irish section. Yes, I think I will spend another £7 for one of the other children. It's John that is my great grandfather but I've never been able to find any details to order his birth certificate, so I'll see if I can find another one of the girls. Thanks again to everyone who has helped me tonight. Best wishes, Susan

These look like daughters View Record COSTELLA, Ann 1861 September Births Shrewsbury (1837-71) Shropshire View Record COSTELLO, Catherine 1864 March Births Shrewsbury (1837-71) Shropshire View Record COSTELLO, Celia 1859 March Births Shrewsbury (1837-71) Shropshire

Thanks, Jim Susan

Hi With regard to 81 Census saying Cecelia was born Holywell Wales - this might be an enumerator assumption error - there is a Holywell in Wales - but there is also one in County Mayo, Ireland: 'St. Patrick’s Well and Church site is situated in Holywell about three miles outside Ballyhaunis, Cty Mayo'

Ann, thank you, I can't tell you how grateful I am for everyone's information, it gives me a lot more to go on. That's great knowing there's a Holywell in Co Mayo. Susan

Hi again Susan I noticed in the 61 Census it said John COSTELLO was born abt 1857 Shrewsbury, and sister Mary COSTELLO abt 1857 Etershir Warwickshire. It is possible I guess for 2 siblings to be be born so close together that for a small period of time each yr they have the same age. But I wondered - searched FREEBMD Shropshire and came up with these two: Births Jun 1857 Costellow Mary Wolverhampton 6b 362 Births Jun 1857 Castilon John Wolverhampton 6b 421 Wolverhampton spans the boundaries of the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire and West Midlands. With Mary 1861 saying Warwickshire, there was a Boundary change at some stage ? whereby some Staffs records became Warwickshire, (I think it was that way round) so one record may say one, yet a later may say the other. COuld that explain this? No idea at all what 'Etershir' is supposed to be? What did Mary and John say in Census 71 for their ages and places of birth if you've been able to find them there? I also wondered if Cecelia's death record may shed any light on the name confusion? There is this FREEBMD Deaths Mar 1902 COSTELLO Cecilia 66 Oldham 8d 435 Age is a bit off, but that's not unusual for deaths ages. Cheers Anne

1901 census Cecilia Costello abt 1824 Mayo, Ireland Pauper Oldham Lancashire xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx son and grandchildren? View Record Alice Costello abt 1899 Oldham, Lancashire, England Daughter Oldham Lancashire View Record Annie Costello abt 1888 Oldham, Lancashire, England Daughter Oldham Lancashire View Record Annie J Costello abt 1865 Liverpool, Lancashire, England Wife Oldham Lancashire View Record Cecilia Costello abt 1886 Oldham, Lancashire, England Daughter Oldham Lancashire View Record Helen Costello abt 1892 Oldham, Lancashire, England Daughter Oldham Lancashire View Record John Costello abt 1856 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Head Oldham Lancashire View Record John Costello abt 1896 Oldham, Lancashire, England Son Oldham Lancashire View Record Mary Costello abt 1890 Oldham, Lancashire, England Daughter Oldham Lancashire

Hi Anne and Jim, Jim - yes they are son and grandchildren, thank you. Anne - I've looked at the original transcript of the 61 census on Ancestry and they have her birth year wrong, her age is 7, so her year is 1854 not 1857 the same as John. Thanks for the info on Cecilia's death , I think I'll send for that certificate just in case. I know she moved to Oldham so chances are that it is her. And Jim, that's interesting on the 1901 census about Cecilia, poor thing a pauper, especially when her son and family lived in Oldham!! All the dates of her birth year vary, but I suppose that's expected. Thank you to you both for continuing looking for me, it's really appreciated. Best wishes Susan