Marion Cossar, wife of Charles Mitchelson, was a daughter of John Cossar and Elizabeth Tennant. Marion's parents were married on 15 November, 1840, at Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland [Source: IGI Batch number: M116489, 1820-1854 1066596 , 0102954 Film 6900361]
The known children of John and Elizabeth Cossar are:
(1) James COSSAR, born 31 October, 1841, Douglas, Lanark, Scotland
(2) Mary Ritchie COSSAR, christened 10 Nov 1844 Douglas, Lanark, Scotland
(3) Marion COSSAR, christened 21 Mar 1847 Douglas, Lanark, Scotland
(4) Margaret COSSAR, christened 31 Dec 1848 Douglas, Lanark, Scotland
1. James Cossar, b. 1841, married Janet (Jessie) Finlay on 4th September, 1863, at 4 Barony Street, St. George, Edinburgh. The IGI records show:
(i) the birth of a child, Marion Finlay, to Janet Finlay on 23rd March, 1861 at Lanark. This child may be the Marion COSSAR shown in the 1871 Census as "Marion Cossar, age 10" (see Census notes at foot of page), and may also be the Marion Hamilton Cossar who married Frederick Smyth in 1886.
(ii) that a child named Eliza Tennant Cossar was born to James Cossar and Jessie Finlay at Kirkliston, West Lothian on 5 February, 1864. A further child names Eliza Tennant Cossar was born to the same parents the following year on 28th March, 1865. It is likely that the first child died and the second one was given the same name. N.B. A daughter Elizabeth was born some years later in USA, suggesting both children named Eliza Tennant Cossar may not have survived.
James and Jessie Cossar presumably left Scotland for America sometime between 1865 and 1877, as two daughters, both born in New Hampshire, appear in the 1880 Census, namely: Hattie Cossar, age 3, and Elizabeth Cossar, age 1.
On 22nd February, 1886, at Muirfoot, Carmichael, Lanark, Marion Hamilton Cossar, age 24, was married to Frederick Smyth, age 66, described as a widower, a banker and tax governor, of Manchester, State of New Hampshire, USA. The parents of the groom were Stephen Smyth, deceased, farmer, and Dolly Rowe, also deceased. The witnesses at the wedding were Oscar [Malmros?] (signature unclear) and David Dinwoodie.
2. Mary Ritchie Cossar, born circa 1844, married Alexander Hedley, widower, son of James Hedley and Jessie Steel, on 28th June, 1872, at Douglas, Lanark, They had at least one child, John Cossar HEDLEY, born 21 Sep 1873 at Hamilton, Lanark.
3. Marion Cossar (sometimes Marion Brown Cossar), born circa 1847, married Charles Mitchelson, son of Jacob Mitchelson and Mary Crosbie, on 26th October, 1871, at Douglas, Lanark. They had at least two children, Eliza Tennant Mitchell, born 23 February 1872, and Jacob (Jack) Mitchell, born 22 August, 1873. Both children were born at Hamilton, Lanark.
4. Margaret Cossar, born circa 1848, married David Dinwoodie, son of James Dinwoodie and Jane Johnstone, on 29th December, 1876, at Douglas, Lanark.
My thanks to Ann Cossar for a great deal of the information shown below. Visit her Cossar web site.Marion FINLAY Sex: F
Birth: 23 Mar 1861 Lanark, Lanark, Scotland
Father: Mother: Janet FINLAY
Batch number: C116481
1855-1875 6035516 REGISTER Film NONE
Eliza Tennant COSSAR Sex: F
Birth: 5 Feb 1864 Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: James COSSAR Mother: Jessie FINLAY
IGI Batch No. C116671
1855-1875 6035516 REGISTER Film NONE
Eliza Tennant COSSAR Sex: F
Birth: 28 Mar 1865 Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: James COSSAR Mother: Jessie FINLAY
IGI Batch number: C116671
1855-1875 6035516 REGISTER Film NONE
James COSSAR
son of John COSSAR & Elizabeth TENNANT
occ. joiner journeyman at Gogar, Parish of Ratho, Mln (-04 Sep 1863)
carpenter at Manchester, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, USA (-1880)
Source: 1880 Census Nh: National Archives film T9-0763, page 115A
b.31 Oct 1841 at Douglas, Lks from IOPRS; frame 825;
lived at: Manchester Hillsborough NH USA (-1880)
d. aft.1880-aft 22 Feb 1886?
m. 04 Sep 1863 at 4 Barony Street, 685/1 St George, Edinburgh,
entry 276; United Presbyterian Church;
to Jessie FINLAY
dau. of John FINLAY & Marion HAMILTON
occ. domestic servant at Begg Farm, near Kirkcaldy, Parish of
Auchterdinan, Fif (-04 Sep 1863)
Hattie COSSAR
dau. of James COSSAR & Jessie FINLAY
occ. not stated (age 3) at Manchester, Hillsborough, New Hampshire,
USA (-1880)
Source: 1880 Census Nh: National Archives film T9-0763,
page 115A
b.c.1877 at New Hampshire, USA Source: 1880 Census Nh:
National Archives film T9-0763, page 115A
lived: with parents at Manchester Hillsborough New Hampshire USA (-1880)
Elizabeth COSSAR (Lizzie)
dau. of James COSSAR & Jessie FINLAY
2. occ. not stated (age 1) at Manchester, Hillsborough, New Hampshire,
USA (-1880) Source: 1880 Census Nh: National Archives film T9-0763,
page 115A b.c.1879 at New Hampshire, USA Source: 1880 Census Nh:
National Archives film T9-0763, page 115A
lived: with parents at Manchester Hillsborough New Hampshire USA (-1880)
Mary Ritchie COSSAR
dau. of John COSSAR & Elizabeth TENNANT
occ. domestic servant (-28 Jun 1872)
b.c.1845-from marriage certificate;
C.10 Nov 1844 at Douglas, Lks, from IOPRS; frame 836.
lived at: Douglas Lks (-28 Jun 1872)
d. aft.28 Jun 1872
m. 28 Jun 1872 at 641 Douglas, Lks, entry 8; date from IGI; to
Alexander HEDLEY (mar. 2 times)
son of James HEDLEY & Jessie STEEL .
blacksmith journeyman (-28 Jun 1872) b.c.1848 -from marriage certificate;
lived at: Douglas Lks (-28 Jun 1872)
d. aft.28 Jun 1872
m.1 to (Mrs HEDLEY)
John Cossar HEDLEY
son of Alexander HEDLEY & Mary Ritchie COSSAR
b.21 Sep 1873 at Hamilton, Lks from IGI
Agnes COSSAR Sex: F
Birth: 8 Aug 1863 Douglas, Lanark, Scotland
Father: None shown. Mother: Mary COSSAR
IGI: Batch No. C116411
1855-1875 6035516 REGISTER
David DINWOODIE
son of James DINWOODIE & Jane JOHNSTONE
occ. mineral agent (-29 Dec 1876)
b.c.1852
lived at:
Sandilands Station, Carmichael, Lks (-29 Dec 1876)
m. 29 Dec 1876 at 641 Douglas, Lks, Est CoS: entry 22
to Margaret COSSAR
1871 Census
Bushhead, Douglas Sct
Ref: Lks 641:004:p34
John COSSAR head mar 54 surfaceman born Lanark Lks
Elizabeth COSSAR wife mar 52 --- born Lanark Lks
Mary COSSAR dau unm 24 milliner born Douglas Lks
Marion COSSAR* dau unm 10 scholar born Lanark Lks
Agnes COSSAR** dau unm 7 scholar born Lanark Lks
* The age of Marion matches the age of Marion Hamilton Cossar, later wife of Frederick Smyth
** The age of Agnes matches with the age of Agnes STUBBS, niece of Marion (Cossar) Mitchell, per 1881 Census
1881 87 Brandon Street, Dalziel, Lanark, Scotland
Agnes STUBBS, head, unmarried, age 17, born Douglas, Lanark
Occ: : Pupil Teacher
Marion MITCHELL, married, age 32, born Douglas, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Aunt Occ: Butchers Wife
1881 Muirfoot Toll Cottage, Carmichael, Lanark, Scotland
John CASSAR, head of household, age 64, married, born Lanark, Lanark
Occ: Road Surfaceman
Elizabeth CASSAR, wife age 61, born Lanark, Lanark
Jack MITCHELL, age 7, born Motherwell, Lanark, Scotland, Grand Son
1891 census.
There are 3 rooms with windows.
John COSSAR, head occ: road surfaceman
Elizabeth TENNANT, wife
Marion MITCHELL ms COSSAR, aged 44, Married
Jacob MITCHELL, grandson, unmarried, aged 17 occ: road surfaceman
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© 1998 by Irene Mitchell imitchel@uniserve.com
Last updated: 2001-10-01