| Notes |
- Notes from Manfred Lindner's data:-
His family emigrated from London after February, 1853, eventually settling in Albany NY of that year, when he was seven. Not much is known about those pre-Civil War years. His father, Aaron (AKA Henry, and Harry) was listed in the 1860 census
for Albany as a "master cigarmaker", his traditional trade in London. Sons Moses & Jacob both learned the trade from their father, Aaron. On Sept. 2, 1864 during the Civil War, Jacob enlisted in Co. A of the 91st Infantry Regiment from Albany.
He saw action in the Battle of Five Forks, and was wounded with a musket ball in his left thigh on March 31, 1865 at a site known as Gravelly Run (also as the Battle of White Oak Road). After being hospitalized for some weeks, he was honorably
discharged from the Army on June 21,1865. Fairly complete details of enlistment records, muster roll and pension papers are maintained in my file. Jacob returned to Albany and resumed the cigarmaking trade. The City of Albany business
directories listed him in the years 1868 and 1869, but nothing in later years. However, the Chicago City directory for the period 1869,70 shows that Jacob De Costa had gone into the grocery business with one James Day in Chicago. Whether this
geographical shift was motivated by economics or by family disagreements is not known. But of considerable significance to his descendants is the fact that he was a lodger at that time in the home of one Lewis and Jane Simons, this being
recorded in the Federal Census for Chicago for the year 1870. On Dec. 31, 1870, Jacob, at 24, was married by a Justice of the Peace to the oldest of the Simons children, Rayna (then 20 years of age). Perhaps by that time (or surely soon
thereafter) he became a partner of Lewis Simons in the latter's furniture store at 224 Blue Island Avenue, in Chicago. The De Costas were to raise their family of eight children, and to remain in the furniture business at this address for the
rest of their natural lives. In fact, the 1902 Chicago business directory still listed the Blue Island address as the residence of three of the De Costa offspring (Hannah, Harry, and Ray). The location was thus identified with the Simons-De
Costa union for a period of at least 32 years. The 1890 & 1891 business directories also listed a De Costa's Hall at the Blue Island address. This was well known among family members to the present time as a hall which was rented out for
parties, weddings, lodge meetings and other social occasions as a means of providing additional income to help support the large family. Jacob De Costa did not live to see any of his children grow to maturity. On July 25, 1886 he succumbed to
an embolism following an operation for rectal cancer, leaving his wife, Rayna, to raise their eight children. He was forty years of age at his death.
! Birth Certif. 181, b. 26 Feb, 1846. Reg'd. on 16 Mar, 1846. Sup. Reg. Distr. Whitechapel, Spitalfields, County Middlesex. Somerset House Index is Whitechapel, Vol. II, Pg 6xx(unclear). Spelled "Da Costa".
! 1851 census, England. On LDS microfilm roll 174,775, Pg 223, for Whitechapel, White's Row, St. Mary, at No.1 Old Castle Court. Aaron De Costa, head. Jacob a son, age 6.
! 1860 census, U.S.A. Albany, NY, 2nd ward, Pg 268. Dwelling visitation no. 125. Family visitation no. 312, home of Henry De Costar. Jacob, a son, age 14.
! 1870 census, U.S.A. Chicago, IL, 9th ward. Pg 2132. Dw. Vis. no. 2758, Fam. Vis. No. 3627. Home of Lewis Simons. Jacob De Kosta, lodger, age 23
! 1880 census, U.S.A. Chicago, IL, Enum Distr. 83, Pg 53, Dw. No. 286, Fam. No. 514. Jacob De Costa & Family.
! Decl. for Orig. Invalid Pension, No. 579906, Union Army Civil War Veteran, filed 12 July,1886 by Jacob De Costa.
! Death Cert. No. 86212, Chicago City Bd. of Health, dated 26 July,1886.
! Obituary, Chicago Tribune, Mon. July 26, 1886, Pg 8.
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Dave's Family History
1846 - 1886 (40 years)
Has no ancestors but 2 descendants in this family tree.
1850 - 1898 (48 years)
[1, 2, 3] 
