Coster/Costard family of Benson

[Silkbraid]

Please can anyone help me to find the marriage of Thomas Costard whose first child was baptised in1593 in Benson and also his baptism. I have seen a spouse named on some Ancestry trees - Katherine - and also a father called Andrew, but search as I might, I cannot find either record!

[ElizabethMills]

I am a volunteer for the Oxfordshire Family History Society and have spent a little while scrutinising the Benson parish records from 1560 (when they began) to 1612 for Costar (and variants: Chostard, Costarde, Coastard, Chostard, Coster, Costerd(e), Costord, Coustard, and Costerr)

I am afraid I cannot find either a baptism or marriage in Benson for Thomas Coster.  The very first mention of the name appears in the baptism register:
12 May 1594 Edward, son of Thomas Coster followed shortly afterwards by
6 Jan 1595 Jean, daughter of Thomas Costerr

The only Coster marriage I can find is
1 Oct 1598 Thomas Nash married Florence Coster

And a search for burials brought up
17 Jun 1591 Susan Costerde, wyf
1 Apr 1618 Thomas Coster, senex
18 July 1635 Widdowe Costerd

There are however quite a lot of records of Costars in nearby parishes, e.g. Cholsey, For example, there is a Thomas Costard baptised in Cholsey in 1568

Nowhere in Oxfordshire can I find a Thomas Costar (or variants) marrying a Katherine so I would ignore that "hint" from other trees. 

I hope that this is helpful information.  Do respond if you would like any further research done by the Oxfordshire Family History Society

[Silkbraid]

Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will certainly look at some of the other areas you mentioned. I think you’re right about the ‘hints’, as I’ve spent quite a long time trying unsuccessfully to find them, so time to move on! Thanks again.

[bucksboy]

From the OxfordFHS marriage Index - 1538-1837.

Marriage - Andrew COSTORD to Joan Wigmore @ Henley. 19 Jan 1561.

Sorry, I can find no marriage in the index, for your Thomas Costard(and variants).  Possibly, he was married out of the county of Oxford.

As for the 'hint'.  Contact the tree owner, and ask for confirmation and sources.  Do not take this tree as 'gospel', unless they have sources.


Steve.

[Silkbraid]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for that - I think you helped me out once before!
As for the 'hint', I did send a couple of emails to owners of different trees, who had the same information, but unfortunately I didn't get any response. I won't add anything unless I find the proof myself, so maybe I will have to accept that I've gone as far as I can with that particular branch.
Thanks again

[bucksboy]

You know your Thomas Costard existed......you could trace him back a few more generations.  Baptism/birth search via OxFHS. 

You may not get his spouses name....so there'll be a gap in your tree.

You cannot rely on Ancestry and such, for online records.  They do not cover Oxfordshire entirely, nor Berks and Bucks.

Steve.

[Silkbraid]

Thanks Steve, maybe I won't give up on the Costers just yet!