My grandfather had three cousins who were given full titles - Cousin Sarah, Cousin Gertie and Cousin Annie - whenever they were spoken of, and even spoken to. They were not closely related to each other, coming from different parts of the family. They signed Christmas cards with these names, too. These titles were handed down to younger generations, so my mother also referred to them in the same way and down another generation so did my brother and I. Cousin Annie's daughter signed her cards to us as Cousin Vera. Just a quaint family custom, I suppose. Curiously my mother's true cousin was known to us children as Auntie Hilda.
