Finding George Cottom and Family

Hi

Thank you for your message. 

Do you know much about their emigration? The dates, the reason why they left, who they may have travelled with?..etc..Generally more information was given at the port of arrival rather than the port of departure. If you knew which city they arrived at (e.g. Liverpool, New York, etc.), this could be a good place to find more information. -And perhaps even find out an exact place of origin.

To look for relatives of this family who may have stayed in Ireland you might try any of the following:

Civil registration records are available from the General Register Office (GRO). These start from 1864. You can access the website here: http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm Valuations office in Dublin (http://www.valoff.ie) will have a record of the land registry from 1855 to modern times. 

You can check for information about the frequency of the name in the mid-19th century and any other variant spellings of the name here: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/

There is lots of useful information to be found in the 1901 and 1911 census records. You can find this here: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/

The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/

Remember to post as much information as you can with regard to the people you are researching. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Kind regards,                    

Genealogy Support 

Hi,

I found your query after a Google search for George Cottom and Mary Sutton.  I am descended from their daughter Sarah (my great, great grandmother).  Along with another Cottom descendant in the UK (I am in Canada) I have been researching the family history for many years and have been to Wexford several times.  Are you descended from William?

George and Mary emigrated to Canada in 1848 from the Parish of Newbawn, where they leased land from the Leigh family of Rosegarland.  Several of their children were baptized at the Church of Ireland, Adamstown (including William, baptized Sep 1, 1833, born Jan 23, 1829).

George's ancestry can be traced back another 2 generations in the Newbawn/New Ross area.  Mary is connected via an illegitimate birth to the Suttons of Longraigue (not far from Newbawn), a gentry family that can be traced back a long way.  Sarah's youngest brother Caesar likely got his his name from Caesar Sutton (1727-1793) of Longraigue, his great grandfather.

I am currently updating a detailed account of the discovery of the ancestry of Sarah Cottom, that I wrote a few years ago.  It will fill in for you all the details I have of that ancestry, of which there is quite a bit, including the two farms the Cottoms left behind.  You are certainly welcome to a copy once it is ready - probably in the next few weeks.

Best regards,

John Patterson

John,

I too am descended from a Cottom from Wexford county born about 1779.  Her name was Margaret.  Given this Newbawn/New Ross family are the only Cottoms in Wexford county in that time frame that I can find, it seems logical that she is connected to this family.  She did have a son Richard, which makes me suspect she is a daughter of Richard Cottom and Sarah Sealy.  I would be very interested in seeing the information you have put together about this family in Ireland.

Regards,

Is that the Margaret who married Robert Griffith in 1802?  It is possible that she is the daughter of Richard and Sarah, which would make her a sister to my ancestor George, but I don't have any information that would prove it.  The family of Samuel Cottom and Hannah Sealy is very well defined and there is no Margaret there, which makes the family of Richard and Sarah Sealy more likely by default.  What else do you know about Margaret?

Another descendant of George Cottom and I jointly published an article on the Cottoms of Newbawn earlier this month in the just released 25th issue of the Journal of the Wexford Historical Society.  It has a detailed family tree showing what we know of the Wexford Cottoms, descended from William Cottom of Newbawn (father of Richard, Samuel and William).  You can contact whsjournal@gmail.com about getting the current issue.

A lot of new information has come to light recently, which has delayed my update of the ancestry of Sarah Cottom, but you are welcome to a copy when it is ready.

John

Hi John,

Thank you for your quick response.  I will definitely look up the article in the journal.  

Yes, this is the Margaret that married Robert in 1802 in Wexford county.  I have quite a bit of evidence that leads to her being a part of this Newbawn family, based on the fact that they lived in the same places as others from that family in Canada (Beckwith and Kitley, Ontario) and that a grandson was named Richard Cotton Griffith.  There are no Samuels or Williams for children's names in this Griffith family, just Richard.  Evidence suggests that Margaret and Robert lived in Wexford county for a time, and that several of their children were born there, but that their last residence was in Carlow county in the parish of Myshall due to a recommendation from the Rev. Wingfield, the Vicar of Myshall parish at the time of their emigration.  This evidence comes from the Upper Canada land grant papers, Beckwith township papers, Canada census returns, Robert's will, and his son Richard's obituary.  

Alyssa

Hi Alyssa,

You no doubt have seen George Cottom and family at Kitley in the 1851 census.  They emigrated in 1848 after the lease to the Newbawn farm was sold in April of that year.  This farm was originally held in the mid-1700s by William Cottom, George's grandfather. Several of the children ended up in Augusta Township including my great, great grandmother Sarah (Cottom) Reynolds.  I'm interested in the evidence you have collected and seeing how it relates to what is known about the rest of the family.

You can contact me directly at jrpatterson@gmail.com and we can begin comparing notes and perhaps make the link between our ancestors.

Merry Christmas,

John

Alyssa,

I see that I gave the wrong email address.  So sorry.  I will reply in detail directly to you.

John

Hi all,

Just wondering if there is a connection between these Cottoms and George Cottom of Waterford County. He was from the Ballymaclode / Blenhiem Hill area in the late 1700's to early 1800's. George was an alderman of Waterford Corporation. He married Mary Bates in Waterford City in 1792.

Batesy,

The Wexford and Waterford Cottoms are related, but I don't know the specific connection.

In the Virginia Chancery Court records there is an 1847 letter from Michael Walsh of Ballyverogue, Co. Wexford (descended from the Cottom family of Brownstown) to his uncle Peter Cottom in Richmond, Virginia. Walsh writes, "I am the only person in the family that has a little impediment in my speech. I believe it's from old Mr. Cottom of Waterford who was very much affected in that way."

That's as close as I have come to connecting the Wexford and Waterford lines.

John

Thanks John, much appreciated. Interesting about the speech impediment!!

I have been trying to link these Wexford and Waterford branches.  Between findmypast and this website https://wexfordcountyarchive.com I have not yet found their connection.

The earliest mentions in New Ross Corporation minute books for Cottom are as follows: Peter Cottom 1701, Mr Wm Cottom freeman 1740, William Cottom of Newbawn freeman 1754, Samuel Cottom eldest son of William Cottom of Newbawn freeman 1759, Richard Cottom son of William Cottom of Newbawn freeman 1761, William Cottom Junr of Newbawn Co Wexford farmer 1781, George Cottom of Newbawn 1830, William Cottom of Brownstown 1830.

Edward Cottom was nominated for bailiff between 1785-1790 and there is no freeman by that name so he is probably the one listed in 1781 shortly before these nominations as William Cottom Junr.

Wexford Borough freemen: Richard Cottom and William Cottom both of Newbawn 1782 yet original signatures lower on page are Richard Cottom and Samuel Cottom.  

Both the New Ross and Wexford Borough minutes with freemen are found on the Wexford County Archive website as scans of the original books.

The first mention of Cottom in Waterford freemen records are: George Cottom mariner 1728, Edward Cottom 1748, George Cottom 1750 gentleman, George Cotton 1770 son of Edward Cotton, Edward Cottom and George Cottom children of George Cottom 1801.

There is also a will for Richard Cottom mariner in 1737 in Waterford.  This is the eldest Cottom I have found in Waterford.

The Cottoms in Waterford appear as mariners first and then merchants.  Edward Cottom, son of George Cottom freeman of 1728 married Elizabeth Newton daughter of Robert Newton victualler.  Edward’s son George married Jane Finney whose father-in-law —- Roberts was a merchant captain and owned his own vessel.  George married second Mary Bates.  His daughter Jane Cottom married Richard Jones Jr of Ballybrennan, Co. Wexford son of Richard Jones and Frances Cottom.  The marriages expand their network as merchants in the area.

Thanks ARegan for that info about the Waterford Cottams. It appears to check out with the research I've done as well. At the end there you mentioned George Cottam's daughter Jane who married Richard Jones Jr. Do you know if Jane is a daughter from his marriage to Jane Finney or Mary Bates? I can try and find out myself, but just thought you might know.

Geoff

Jane's headstone is transcribed in Cantwell's Memorial of the Dead from the Old Ballybrennan graveyard.  It is transcribed "died 4th of September 1854 aged 72 years."  This would place her birth in 1782.  Presumably her eldest daughter Jane Jones is also buried with her.  Her death is transcribed "15th July 1858 aged 38 years" placing her birth in 1820.  Her son Richard Cottom Jones is also buried with them.  His death is transcribed "March 14th 1909 aged 82" placing his birth in 1827.  

If she was born in 1782, she was married at the age of 36 in 1818 and had Richard Cottom Jones at the age of 45.  Not impossible, but headstone transcriptions and even age given by descendants on the headstone could be incorrect.  It does seem like age 36 for her marriage would be fairly old in that day but so does 28 if she was born in 1790 before Jane Cottom nee Finney passed away on December 31st of that year.  Yet this was a family related to Cottoms already with Frances Cottom marrying Richard Jones Sr in 1785, so it could have been arranged and accepted even though Jane was older due to their family ties.  Richard Jones Jr was a son of his first wife Sarah Hughes, and Richard Jones Sr died "26th of December 1852 aged 80."  Typically, the eldest daughter is named after her mother, and her eldest daughter was named Jane Jones, but this could have been for her, not her mother.  Often the first daughter born to the next wife is named after the deceased wife, which could indicate her mother was Mary Bates.   Although she could have been born around the same time her mother Jane died, which would also often result in the child being named after her mother, in which case her mother was Jane Finney.  On the 11th of May 1796 three children were baptized at Holy Trinity in Waterford, children of George Cottom and Jane.  They were Edward Cottom, George Cottom, and Mary Cottom.  There are no prior baptisms and no later baptisms online for other children of George Cottom and Jane or his second wife Mary Bates that I have found.  George had another daughter pass away in 1795, which could be his daughter Elizabeth mentioned in his father Edward's will in 1786.  One would think if Jane Cottom had been alive in 1782, then she would also have been mentioned in her grandfather's will in 1786, but not necessarily.  Two of George Cottom's sons, George and Edward, were made freemen of Waterford in 1801.  If my facts are correct, they'd have to be 21 before they could be freemen, placing their births no later than 1780, unless the rules had changed to allow in younger men.  This brings me back to Jane Cottom, if she had been born prior to May 1796, then wouldn't she have been baptized with her brothers and sister Mary at that time?  Also, why were their baptisms delayed?  Did George leave the Protestant church for a number of years?  Become a Quaker perhaps?  Or was the family overseas managing their merchant business and then returned to Waterford after a number of years abroad?

I can make arguments for both, but I think the evidence fits the best with Mary Bates as her mother.

Hi All

I just discovered this website when searching for information on the Irish Cottom surname.

I’m researching Christianna Cottom born in Ireland between 1785-1790 died in Elizabethtown Leeds County Canada West in 1881.

She is one of my 3rd great grandmothers. 

The earliest record I’ve found is a land record of her buying 100 acres from Enoch Dockham on 16 May 1822. The land was on the 5th concession of Elizabethtown, Leeds County Canada West. 

On 20 May 1822 she marries Mr Dockham.

Their daughter Lucy Ann Dockham (my 2nd great grandmother) is born 23 March 1823. 

By 1830 Enoch Dockham has died and on 7 November 1831 she marries John Hanstock.

Christianna Hanstock along with John Hanstock appear in the 1851 through 1881 Canadian census. (Various spellings of Christianna and Hanstock appear in the four census)

She dies on 20 October 1881 and the Ontario death record shows her age as 96 and that she was born in Ireland.

Her age varies in each census as follows; 1851- age 61, 1861-age 72, 1871-age 84 and 1881-age 97. These compute to a birth year between 1785 and 1790.

Also in the 1851 census there is a Willimina Cottam age 25 and George Cottam age 16 living with Christianna and John. I’m assuming these are niece and nephew or perhaps cousins.

I’m hoping that you may have a Christianna Cottom in your research that has a similar birth date.

Thanks

Derwin

Hi Derwin,

I’m not aware of any other records that directly link Christianna to a Cottom family, but the available evidence suggests she is the sister of my ggg grandfather George Cottom (age 68 in the 1851 census for Kitley Township). He emigrated from Wexford with his family in 1848. I believe that Willimina and George Cottom, listed with Christianna in the 1851 census, are children of this George Cottom and Mary Sutton.

There are baptismal records from the Church of Ireland at Adamstown (Co. Wexford) for some of George and Mary’s children.

Child / Date of birth / Date of baptism

Jane / 21 Oct 1813 (probably 1823) / 14 Jul 1833

Not given / 21 Sep 1826 / 14 Jul 1833

Not given / 5 Jun 1831 / 14 Jul 1833

Maria / 15 Apr 1833 / 14 Jul 1833

William / 23 Jan 1829 / 1 Sep 1833

George / 1 Feb 1834 / 7 Jun 1835

Samuel / Not given / 8 Oct 1837

Caesar / 1 Jan 1939 / 7 Apr 1839

Willimina is not listed. Nor is my great, great grandmother Sarah (see Augusta Township census records for James and Sarah Reynolds starting in 1851), but her death record lists George and Mary as her parents, so I know she belongs. She and Willimina could be the two unnamed children. The two oldest sons (Sutton b.ca1818 and Richard b.ca1821) are also not listed, nor is John G., another known son. However, George, b.1834 is a fit for George in the 1851 census, and Willimina is almost certainly his sister based on residency in 1851. That there was a sibling named Willimina is reasonable as the name is common in the family. Sarah and Sutton both had daughters named Wilhelmina. As you suggested, Christianna would most likely be an aunt or cousin of George and Willimina. Her age suggests she is the sister of George (b.ca 1782), hence their aunt.

In the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries the Cottoms in Wexford can be divided based on their residence in the townlands of either Brownstown or Newbawn. The Brownstown Cottoms, descended from Samuel Cottom and Hannah Sealy, are very well defined based on records in the Chancery Court of Virginia, related to the Will of Samuel and Hannah’s son Richard Cottom. If Christianna was part of this family she should appear, but she doesn’t.So by elimination she is probably part of the Newbawn branch. Our knowledge of the Newbawn Cottoms, descended from Richard Cottom and Sarah Sealy (m. 1769), is incomplete, but George was their son and I would suggest that Christianna was a daughter. If not proven, I think it’s at least strongly suggestive.

If Christianna had multiple children and you know their names and birth order, you might be able to get her parents names if she followed the traditional Irish naming convention (oldest daughter named after maternal grandmother, second oldest son named after maternal grandfather) and confirm her placement that way.

I have attached a revised version of the chart that accompanied my 2015 article in the Journal of the Wexford Historical Society. Note that the chart and article title refer to the parish of Newbawn, which contains the townlands of Newbawn and Brownstown.

Thanks for posting. I thought Christianna might be a Cottom but didn’t know the details.

John

Hi John, thanks for the quick and informative reply.

You suggested reviewing her children’s names for clues to her parents however I have only found one child, a daughter Lucy Ann born in 1823, so no help there.

i will continue researching to see what other documentation I can find.

Derwin