Ellen COSTELLO appears in the 1841 census, living in Great Bolton East (in the greater Manchester area), Lancashire. The census states that Ellen was 16, and born in 'N.S.W.'. Ellen was living with her family ; Thomas, 50, an 'army p(ensioner)' born in Ireland and Ellen, 45 and born in Ireland. Also at the residence were sisters Ann (13 and born in India), Julia (10 and born in Ireland) and Bridget (7 and born in Ireland).
Who was Ellen? How did the COSTELLO (also COSTELLOW) family come to be in Australia and what became of them after 1841?
Ellen's father was Thomas Costello. Thomas was born about 1793, and according to his regimental records was born in "Armagur" (a town of that name has not been found - possibly the parish of Aghamore?), County Mayo, Ireland. Thomas' occupation as a young man was as a weaver. He was in Chelmsford, Buckiinghamshire (England) on 4 Jan 1813 when he officially joined the 48th Regiment of Foot. Thomas COSTELLOW was 20 years old, 5 feet 4 and a half inches tall, with grey eyes, light hair and an oval face.
Thomas served in the regiment for over 16 years. While Thomas' movements aren't clear, the 48th Regiment were in the thick of the peninsular wars in 1813, and then moved to Ireland in 1814. In 1817, the Regiment sailed for New South Wales on the "Larkins" guarding convicts. The excellent Biographical Database of Australia (http://www.bda-online.org.au) site includes a summary of each member of the 48th Regiment based on pay lists, and Thomas Costellow appears:
Thomas Costellow, Regiment: 48th Regiment;
Rank: Private, Employment: Soldier; Enlisted: 4 Jan 1813 Military Company: 7 & 5 & 6 & 8 & 4;
Arrived per Larkins Arrival Status: Military; Duty in AUS began: 25 Sep 1817
Original Remarks:Enlisted 7 years, Joined from England per ship Larkins 25 Sep 1817 doing duty over convicts, Command Bathurst from 25 Mar 1819, Command Cox's River from 25 Sep 1819, Command Bathurst from 25 Dec 1819, Detachment Port Macquarie from 25 Dec 1821. At Sydney 25 Feb 1824 to 24 Apr 1825. [Biog Item No. 150610214]
As can be seen above, Thomas spent time at sites where convicts were working: Sydney, Bathurst, Cox's River, Port Macquarie. I can find not trace of a marriage for Thomas and Ellen in NSW, no a baptism for any child including Ellen who was born about 1824 in New South Wales. The COSTELLO/COSTELLOW family were Catholic (see below) and Catholic services were being performed in NSW, but these are not captured in any indexes (NSW BDM, Ancestry, Findmypast, BDA, etc.). In fact, Thomas and Ellen leave no trace at all in the NSW records between 1817-1825 that I could find.
About 1826 the 48th moved to India, and while Ann was born there (see 1841 census sheet above) again I can find no record. In March 1829, Thomas Costello retired from the 48th Regiment and took his pension. The limited records indicate that his conduct was good, and that at the time of being pensioned due to "opacity of the eyes (blind) - this man arrived at Chatham {barracks in Kent} totally blind, has now good vision of the left eye, the right eye gone".
{A ten year old boy named Thomas Costellow joined the regiment in 1827 as a drummer, aged 10 and born in County Mayo - this is consistent with Thomas and Ellen having a son born immediately prior to sailing for Australia. He pensioned from the 48th in 1853, and stated his intended place of residence to the Bolton, Lancashire where the Costello family had settled. Thos Jr lost an eye to small pox, so shared eye afflictions with his father}.
After leaving the Regiment, the Costello family spent some time in Ireland, evidenced by the birth of two daughters Julia (born Ireland about 1831) and Bridget (born Ireland about 1834).
By early 1838 the family had re-located to Bolton, Lincolnshire, as Catholic registers in Bolton (St Peter and St Paul Roman Catholic Church, Bolton) show that a son Miles was born 16 Mar 1838 to Thomas and Ellen, and Miles 5 months later. The last child, Richard, was born 4 Dec 1839. As described above, the family were in Bolton in the 1841 census.
In 1851, the COSTELLO family were living in a 'cellar' in Bolton. Thomas was a Chelsea pensioner and 'nearly blind', while Ann, Julia and Bridget were all 'cotton piecers' working in the textile industry. Son Richard was at school, and daughter Mary was the 'servant':
On 20 Mar 1856 the mother Ellen died, with her funeral two days later at St Peter & St Paul Roman Catholic Church - she was aged about 58. Ellen's abode was entered as "Grundy's Buildings, Bk Cross St." and this is consistent with Thomas' address in 1861 census: Grundy’s Court, Bolton. Thomas was listed as a "pensioner from 48th Foot" and living with him was his daughter Ann. Thomas died before 1871, but I have not identified the specific date.
What about Australian-born Ellen - what became of Ellen?
Ellen was with her parents in 1841. In 1842 she married Richard DILLON at St Peter & St Paul Roman Catholic Church. Richard was born in Ireland abt 1815. Following marriage, Ellen had the following children in Bolton - all baptized at the Catholic church: Mary (1843, died 1845 of scarlet fever), Margaret (1845), Ellen (1847), Catharine (1849), Anne (1853) and Richard (1856). In the 1851 census Richard stated he was a shoe maker, and Ellen re-affirmed that she was born in New South Wales.
At some point after 1856 the DILLON family left Bolton and emigrated to Quebec, Canada. They appear in the Canadian census of 1871, with Richard continuing his trade as a shoe maker, and Ellen's place of birth given as Australia. Children Richard and Ann were erroneously listed as being born in Australia also, and Margaret (24) is listed as married with 'husband in England':
In 1881, Richard and Ellen were still to be found in Quebec, possibly living with their daughter Ann (married to William Barnes).
In 1889, Richard died in Quebec, and the next (and final) sign of Ellen appears to be her death in Chicago (Cook County), Illinois, USA in September 1903. The death index states that Ellen was a widow, aged 68, and born in Australia. She was buried at Mt Carmel cemetery, Chicago.
Ellen is yet another amazing Australian expatriate, born in New South Wales, she travelled to India as an infant, then Ireland for several years before spending about 20 years of her life in Bolton. As a young mother, Ellen travelled to Canada with her family where she settled in Quebec, before dying in Chicago USA.
What about Australian-born Ellen - what became of Ellen?
Ellen was with her parents in 1841. In 1842 she married Richard DILLON at St Peter & St Paul Roman Catholic Church. Richard was born in Ireland abt 1815. Following marriage, Ellen had the following children in Bolton - all baptized at the Catholic church: Mary (1843, died 1845 of scarlet fever), Margaret (1845), Ellen (1847), Catharine (1849), Anne (1853) and Richard (1856). In the 1851 census Richard stated he was a shoe maker, and Ellen re-affirmed that she was born in New South Wales.
At some point after 1856 the DILLON family left Bolton and emigrated to Quebec, Canada. They appear in the Canadian census of 1871, with Richard continuing his trade as a shoe maker, and Ellen's place of birth given as Australia. Children Richard and Ann were erroneously listed as being born in Australia also, and Margaret (24) is listed as married with 'husband in England':
In 1881, Richard and Ellen were still to be found in Quebec, possibly living with their daughter Ann (married to William Barnes).
In 1889, Richard died in Quebec, and the next (and final) sign of Ellen appears to be her death in Chicago (Cook County), Illinois, USA in September 1903. The death index states that Ellen was a widow, aged 68, and born in Australia. She was buried at Mt Carmel cemetery, Chicago.
Ellen is yet another amazing Australian expatriate, born in New South Wales, she travelled to India as an infant, then Ireland for several years before spending about 20 years of her life in Bolton. As a young mother, Ellen travelled to Canada with her family where she settled in Quebec, before dying in Chicago USA.
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