My shady family in Perth ...

[OchAyeTheNoo]

Hi All,

My G G Grandparents Giovanni and Rosa lived in Perth, their name was COSTADASI.  The last Statutory Register entry for them in Perth is 1903 (birth of one of their children), then in 1906 they pop up elsewhere but all named LEONARD/LEONARDI, which is the name they kept for the rest of their lives.

We (our extended family) only recently discovered this name change, we had always known them as Leonard so it is quite intriguing and I'm keen to find out why they and all their children changed their name and moved towns. 

They had an ice-cream shop according to the 1901 Census, I am wondering perhaps if they skipped out on some financial obligations or something, does anyone know if there is some kind of Debtor's List or something like that?  Or perhaps there might have been something in the newspaper, does anyone know if there are digital archives (I'm in New Zealand) of the Perth newspapers?

Any help appreciated, no piece of trivia is too small for me!

Thanks,  OchAye 

[bleckie]

Hi OchAye

you could try An*****y for an index, perhaps they took the name after the street they lived in in Perth, (Leonard street) hoping it maybe would change their fortune.

Yours Aye
BruceL

[Isabel H]

I was at Perth library today so had a look in the Newspaper index, but found no entries for Costadasi. However there are two in the National Archives of Scotland catalogue www.nas.gov.uk. These can only be viewed in Edinburgh, but perhaps if you ask some kind person will be going there and could look them up for you.

[OchAyeTheNoo]

Thanks Bruce, that is a good thought about the street name, I will try to find out more.

Thanks Isobel, for taking the time to look through the library index for me.  I was so excited with your National Archives find, it looks like that is my COSTADASI, I can't wait to get hold of the material.  I would never have come across that!

Much appreciated,
OchAye

[lfm]

OchAye,

Not sure how much info you got from NAS about the 1894 High Court appeal, but I've got a summary of the appeal from the Scots Law Times.

Your GG Grandfather Giovanni Costadasi, ice-cream maker at Kirkgate, was convicted in Perth Police Court on the 16th June 1894, of contravening the Public Houses Acts Amendment 1862. It appears he was selling alcohol without a licence. His appeal to the High Court was dismissed by the 3 Lords on the 20th July 1894.

Hope that helps!

[OchAyeTheNoo]

Thanks so much for your time Lauren, I only joined Roots Chat a week or so ago and I've found out so much from all you helpful people, I would have no clue where to look for these things.

I laughed when I saw that he had been selling alcohol without a licence, what a hoot.   

Thanks again Lauren, made my day.