Thomas Cosby b. 1807-1811

[emjsw]

Hello

I just wondered whether someone with more experience might be able to help me with something that I am stuck with please?

I found my 3rd great grampa's wedding certificate which has been passed down the generations to me. On 27/Oct/1877 at Woburn Sands he married Mary Ann Smith (her names was Draper but the family changed their name). Her father is Spenser Draper Smith. His father is listed as Thomas, a Bricklayer from Leighton Buzzard.

I can't find Williams birth certificate or baptism to find out any details about his mother and father.

The only record where I can find a Thomas with a son called William is the 1861 census where their surname is miss-recorded as Casby (His parents and siblings are Cosbys in the 1841 and 1851 census). All born Leighton Buzzard - Head Thomas Cosby b.1807, wife Eliza b. 1806, Ann b. 1833, Charles b. 1844, Henry b. 1847 and William b. 1851. The 1851 birthdate fits with William's census records after he marries Mary Ann.

The only record I can find of a Thomas and Eliza marriage is on ancestry, on marriage select it shows a Thomas Cosby married an Elizabeth Reeves in 1836 in Leighton Buzzard. Unfortunately this came from Family Search via ancestry, there is no ref for ordering a marriage certificate and when you search independently the record doesn't come up. I guess Eliza could be short for Elizabeth.

What I would like to find is a birth certificate for William b.1851, son of Thomas in order to find his mother.

Thomas and his wife's wedding certificate to confirm her name and maiden name and also to find out what Thomas' father is called (again I have a birth select result showing a Thomas Cosby being born to a James Cosby and Alice Simons but the result doesn't give any references in order for me to order proof).

Does anyone know where I might get 1) William's birth certificate, 2) Thomas's wedding certificate and 3) any proof to show James and Alice are Thomas' parents.

Sorry to ask, I have been working on this every day for the past 6 and am at a loss!

Best wishes,
Emma.

[rosie99]

Have you discounted this birth 
Births Jun 1851   
COSBY    William    mmn Pratt   
Leighton Buzz    6   89

It would tie in with Thomas & Eliza


brother to William
COSBY, HENRY       mmn PRATT     
1847  June Quarter in LEIGHTON BUZZARD  Volume 06  Page 79

[rosie99]

COSBY, THOMAS       mmn PRATT     
1839  Sept Quarter in LEIGHTON BUZZARD  Volume 06  Page 79   

COSBY, JAMES    mmn PRATT     
1842  March Quarter in LEIGHTON BUZZARD  Volume 06  Page 89

[rosie99]

Emma Pratt Cosby
Christening   30 Jun 1837
ALL SAINTS,LEIGHTON BUZZARD
Father   Thomas Cosby
Mother   Eliza

I am wondering if Thomas & Eliza/Elizabeth were married previously and the Elizabeth Reeves marriage is correct

If so could this be Ann's baptism

Ann Cosby
Christening 14 Sep 1834
ALL SAINTS,LEIGHTON BUZZARD
Father   Thomas Cosby
Mother   Hannah

poss first marriage for Thomas
Thomas Cosby
Hannah Row
11 Jul 1828
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire

[rosie99]

Eliza Pratt
Cornelius Reeves
Marriage date   17 Apr 1829
Leighton Buzzard

Cornelius was buried 04 Mar 1835 at Leighton Buzzard age 24

[emjsw]

Hi Rosie99,

Thank you so much for that, that explains things as I couldn't work out why one of the children was  a Pratt Cosby, I could understand it if she was born first but Ann was first so was confused, if Ann is the daughter of Thomas and Hannah Row and Eliza had Emma just before she married Thomas then that explains things.

Thank you so much for your help.

Please could you let me know what search you are using as the one I am using won't let me see the mother's maiden name and that seems really useful.

I would also like to use it to try and find the reference number for Eliza and Thomas's marriage as I want to order the certificate to find out who Thomas' father is. I am worried that I might not be able to find it though as the marriage was 1836 and I think 1837 was when they were recorded (but I might be wrong, I am new to this!!!).

I would also like to use it to find Thomas's birth certificate/registration if it goes back as far as 1808 to find out what his mother might have been called (to verify whether it was James and Alice).

Thank you so much for getting back to me and helping me to sort this riddle it had me very confused. I really appreciate all of the searches that you did to sort it out. Have a lovely evening.

Best wishes Em

[rosie99]

Registration did not start until late 1837 so you will not get certificates before then. Parish registers should show if Thomas and Eliza were widowed when they married.

The web site you need for birth registrations with mother’s maiden name is www.gro.gov.uk -I hope that is right as I am only on my tablet at the moment and don’t have the link.
You need to select order certificates, then register.  It will then allow you to just search