Cousins of Whitton Completed

[Brian]

Hello

Sarah Ann Cousins was born in Whitton Lincolnshire about 1804 I believe there is a possibility that she was the daughter of a Thomas Cousins although there may well be a large family of them.  Does anybody have sight of the parish registers who could confirm or deny this please?

[JillJ]

Hi Brian,

I can neither confirm nor deny because I don't have access to Parish Registers, but I have taken a look at the IGI for Whitton using the Hugh Wallis site and I see baptisms there are covered up to 1812 and the only Cousins listed are children of Thomas & Ann, all born between 1783-1792. Included in this list are a Sarah and an Ann and I would suggest that if your Sarah Ann was also a daughter then both Sarah and Ann probably died as infants and their joint names were given to her, although I would have expected to find her baptism along with the others.

Baptisms at Whitton, Lincs:
James Shankster Cousins - 28 January 1783.  Parents:  Thos. Cousins & Ann.
Isaac Cousins - 15 August 1784.  Parents:  Thomas Cousins & Ann.
Sarah Cousins - 28 April 1786.  Parents:  Thos. Cousins & Ann
Ann Cousins - 21 May 1787.  Parents:  Thomas Cousins & Ann.
Margaret Cousins - 5 February 1790.  Parents:  Thomas Cousins & Ann.
Mary Cousins - 21 July 1792.  Parents:  Thomas Cousins & Ann

I also looked at marriages:

Marriages at Whitton, Lincs:
Ann Cousins = John Westoby on 6 December 1803.
Sarah Cousins = James Pickersgill on 9 May 1803.
Jane Cousins = James Stephenson on 16 November 1795.
Ann Cousins = Anthony James on 17 February 1789.
Robt. Couzons = Cath Clarvis on 15 May 1759.

My thoughts may not be of any use to you whatever, but nevertheless I shall give them!  All the above people would appear to be members of the same family.  There are four marriages of girls indicating that Thomas probably married out of the parish.  The one male marriage i.e. Robert could have been their father.  You say Sarah Ann was born 'About' 1804.  If this date is just a couple of years out it is not beyond the realms of possibility that she was an unbaptised illegitimate daughter of one of the four girls.

Sorry I can't be of more help!

Jill

[Brian]

Actually Jill you have been of tremendous help, thankyou.  One of the things that has been bugging me has been where the family name Westoby came into the equation.  Having answered that I think your other thoughts are on track too. One of Sarah Anns children rejoiced in the name Sabina Westoly Mottershall this is obviously a mistranslation of Westoby.
I am deeply grateful for your help - I thought this was going to be one of those unanswered questions!

Cheers
Brian

[JillJ]

Hi Brian,

I'm glad it was of use!  It looks as if your Westoby connection could go back quite a long way in Whitton - there is one baptism listed, again on the IGI using Hugh Wallis:

Elizabeth Westobie - 23 November 1606.  Father:  Anthony Westobie

Nothing for Stephenson or James but these for Pickersgill:

Mary Pickersgill - 14 September 1805.  Parents:  George & Ann
William Pickersgill - 28 August 1810.  Parents:  George & Ann
Thomas Pickersgill - 15 February 1813.  Parents:  George & Ann

It would seem to me that there are huge gaps and you are definitely going to have to consult the Parish Registers!   

I wish you well!

Jill

[Brian]

Thanks again Jill
I shall have to try and get to the Record Office.

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Hello Jill,
Some corrections and additional information on the above. 

The birth certificate for Sabina Westoby Mottershall (had to pay for it after all!) shows that she was the daughter of James and Sarah Ann (nee Pickersgill) who married in Gainsborough in 1823.
Sarah Ann Pickersgill being the daughter of James Pickersgill (probably from Winteringham) and Sarah Cousins who married in 1803 in Whitton.
So here is the Cousins connection.
Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Ann (probably Ann Grimsby who married in 1777 West Halton), had a sister Ann who married John Westoby in 1803.

I think that just about unravels the knots!  Thanks for your help.

[JillJ]

Well done Brian - you got there in the end!

Jill

[Brian]

Cheers Jill