Cossar/Cosser family who emigrated from Midlothian, Scotland to USA around 1848

[sandir03]

Hi,
I’m trying to find some information on a particular branch of the Cossar family who lived in the Newbattle, Temple, Newton, Lasswade areas in Midlothian, Scotland.

The family consisted of William Cossar (Snr) b. 1802 in Newton and his wife Isabel/Isabella Black b. abt 1801 in Temple. Married 2nd Oct, 1827 in Temple. William’s parents were William Cossar and Beatrix Brown.

I have found the family in Scotlands 1841 Census –
Wm Cossar 39 Coal Miner
Isabel Cossar 40
Wm Cossar 18 Coal Miner
Walter Cossar 14 Coal Miner
John Cossar 10 Coal Miner
David Cossar 7
Beatrice Cossar 5
Rica Cossar 1 (from freecen, name is down as Ric'd, likely Richard  - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYSS-PRF)

Address: Whitehill, Dalkeith Midlothian

Information on the above children and others –
William (Snr) had a son with Isabel Black – Walter born 21st May 1827 in Temple; then they married on 2nd Oct 1827 in Temple. Other children followed – Agnes b. 26/04/1829 in Newbattle (doesn't appear in 1841 Census), John b. 20/11/1831 in Newbattle, David b. 1834, Beatrice b. 1836, Richard b. 1840.

Also found a death record for an Eisabell Cossur 31st Aug 1843 (d. 3 days old) in Dalkeith – father William Cossur.

Unable to find any signs of this family in Scotlands 1851, 1861, 1871 or 1881 Census.


After much searching I think I have tracked them down..... to Utah, USA in the 1850 Census!!
 - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCSX-44W -

    William Cosser  - United States Census, 1850
 
    birth: 1802 Scotland
    residence: 1850 Weber county, Weber, Utah Territory, United States
    other: Isabella Cosser, Walter Cosser, David Cosser, Beatrice Cosser, Richard Cosser


Can't seem to find the family in the United States Census for 1860.


Also, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZMW-ZZ1 - Wm Cosser, United States Census, 1870
         Who are these people?
                 L Cosser  M 36  Scotland   
                 I Cosser   F 13  Kentucky 


And, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDCC-B16 - Wm Cosser, United States Census, 1880


And this, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8P2-HKY - Richard Cosser, "United States Census, 1920"
        - according to son Richard, they immigrated in 1848. From where and to where?


    How can I find out when they left Scotland and when and where they arrived in the USA,  what happened to the family after they arrived in the USA, what about the children – who did they marry and where did they end up, did any of the family return to Scotland, finding marriage and death records, etc? 

    Also, what happened to two of their children - Agnes b. 26/04/1829 and John b. 20/11/1831 both born in Newbattle. Did they travel to USA or stay in Scotland?

     Any help would be appreciated as I'm not familiar with US records and searching through them.

     Regards,
          Sandi

[*Sandra*]

http://www.castlegarden.org/ tends to have early passenger lists - the family didn't appear for me but worth playing around with the name.

Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Isabelle Cosser born 1801 Loves Hill, near Edinburgh, Scotland. Died October 1886 Mottsville, Nevada.
Genoa Cemetery - Saints' Herald Obituaries, 1886, p. 687

This is the 1870 Census Douglas, Nevada you quoted showing Isabella -  - The original image looks more like Coper than Cosser 

Wm Cosser 68 Born Scotland. Farmer.
I Cosser 69 Born Scotland
L Cosser (Think that is D Cosser) 36 Born Scotland. Labourer
I Cosser 18 Born KY

Will follow them thru, see what else turns up.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

1880 Carson Valley, Douglas, Nevada - all born Scotland. Could look positive.

Wm Cosser  78 Farmer
Isabella Cosser  79
Walter Cosser  53 Farm Labourer

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

1875 entry for W Cosser aged 48 years. Born Scotland. County :- Douglas County. Occupation Wheelwright. Father William Cosser.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

History of Nevada and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, 1881 has a small piece about Walter crosser who arrived in Nevada 1852 and had remained there ever since - in the fall of 1852 he was mining in Gold Canon. Apparently a lot of Mormon Miners from Salt Lake City who went prospecting for gold in gold canon.

Another small piece says "In the fall or winter of 1953 - Walter Cosser started in the mercantile line at a place which later became known as Johntown and it was the first establishment of its kind at the time. Also references to Mrs Cosser - a kind Scottish lady.

Some info here :-  http://archive.org/stream/nevadahistorica00socigoog/nevadahistorica00socigoog_djvu.txt

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index shows David Cosser - died 1880 (alcoholism) aged 45 years - farmer.

David Cosser (along with Walter Cosser (seems to be 2 entries for Walter Cosser) was also listed  U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists May 1865 and 1866

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Richard Cosser appears divorced by 1880  Carson Valley, Douglas, Nevada - listed above Wm, Isabella and Walter.

The 1875 Nevada census has an entry for a W Cosser aged 9 years - Head of household R Cosser - Douglas County. Another brief entry quotes M Cosser (housekeeper - mother) with R Cosser.

This could be W Cosser with his mother and siblings (family of R Cosser  ) in 1880 listed directly below Wm, Isabella and Walter. Children with Mother born Ireland and Father Scotland.

Mary Cosser  32 Born 1848 Ireland. Divorced.
Wm. Cosser  13 Born 1867 Nevada.
John Cosser  12 Born 1868 Nevada.
Mary Cosser  10 Born 1870 Nevada.
Isabell Cosser  9 Born 1871 Nevada.
Agnes Cosser  6 Born 1874 Nevada.
Geo. Cosser  2 Born 1878 Nevada.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

The Reno Evening Gazette - Octiober 1926 has the headline " Richard Cosser Pioneer Dies"
Richard Cosser a descendant of one of the first mormon families to settle in Western Nevada died last night at the Reno Hospital after an illness of more than a year. He was in his eighty-sixth year. He came to Nevada with his father in 1852 with other Mormon settlers from the Salt Lake Valley. They first settled on a ranch at Dayton, later removing with the old Motts family to the location which has since been known as Mossville. He had made his home at Carson for many years where he was engaged in the upholstery business and at the same time conducting his rance at Genoa. He was a native of Illinois and is survived by 3 daughters, Mrs W J Swail and Mrs George Allerman of Carson and Mrs Belle Calhoun of Reno and one son William Cosser of Goldfield. The remains will be taken to Carson Valley tomorrow and the funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

It was the daughter Agnes Cosser who married George Allerman - here they are with his parents in 1910

Mottsville, Douglas, Nevada 1910

Herman J Allerman  67
Elizabeth Allerman  53
Henry H Allerman  34
George A Allerman  27 Son born 1883. Marriage 1 for 3 years. Labourer. Home Farm.
Agnes M Allerman  35 Daughter-in-law. Marriage 1 for 3 years.

1910 - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MKLQ-4LJ

1920 - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6PR-PHF  - living with Mary Cosser.

1930 - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XKJL-HXW

1940 - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VYHS-C8Y

George Andrew Allerman married Agnes Cosser 27 January 1902 Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada.
Witnesses :- N. D. and Nellie Wright
Couple don't appear to have had any children.

Sandra