Janet Nichol
ID # 8820, (1824-)
| Baptism | Janet Nichol was baptized in 1824 at Scotland. |
| Marriage | She married Nathaniel Cosens, son of Charles Cosens and Ann Goodchild, on 7 February 1859 at Waterloo County. MS248 reel 16, Vol. 75, page 35 Waterloo County Marriage Register Extracted from a list of marriages solemnized by Rev. James Sim, a minister of the Baptist Denomination for the year ending 31st December, A. D. 1859. Nathaniel Cosens, 46, born England, residing Waterloo. Janet Dustow, 34, born Scotland, residing Waterloo. Witnesses Jas. Watson of Waterloo and Wm Cadewell of Wellesley. On Feby. 7th, 1859. The above registration has its problems. The names of the parents of the bridal couple are not given. It becomes evident that Janet was a widow and that her married name was something like Dustow. This has been variously rendered, but the 1871 census in Tuckersmith Township shows a Thomas Dustow, age 24, with Nathaniel and Janet. It's entirely possible that he is Janet's son by her first marriage. Thomas' surname, Dustow, is clearly written in this census. It may or may not be entirely correct, but does work with the handwriting that appears on Janet's marriage registration. Janet's maiden name was almost certainly Nichol. When son Absalom married in 1899, he gave his parents' names as Nathaniel Cosens and Janet Nichol. This is the one record found thus far of Janet's maiden name. It does not appear on her gravestone. |
| Note | As mentioned under the marriage notes for Nathaniel and Janet: It becomes obvious that when Nathaniel married Janet Dustow they were both widowed. Janet was married to Nathaniel under her previously married name, Dustow or similar, which was the correct process. The only intimation that we have of Janet's maiden name is the marriage registration of her son Absolom Cosens. He married Lillie Grieg Robb in the town of Clinton in Huron County in 1899. He shows his parents as Nathaniel Cosens and Janet Nichol. To this point, another record of Janet's maiden name has not been found. Janet's married name of Dustow is poorly written on the Cosens Dustow marriage registration, but it is a reasonable interpretation, especially when we note who is in the Cosens household in the 1871 Tuckersmith Township census. Absalom, age 2, is present with his parents, but also present is Thomas Dustow, age 24. Thomas' surname is well written and there can be no question that his name is Dustow, at least so far as the writing would tell us. We may go further than that in saying that he is Janet's son for in 1872 Thomas, in Tuckersmith, married Sophia Mason, and he shows her parents' names as James and Janet Dustow. When Janet's first husband, James, died or where he is buried has not been found. The Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid, however, does show quite a number of Dustow burials in Huron and Bruce counties. Indeed, the Dustows are almost prolific. A marriage registration for James Dustow and Janet Nichol has yet to be found. One thing that may be said is that the Dustow name seems to come from Cornwall. Further research may yet provide rather more information on the family. |
| Last Edited | 15 Oct 2021 |