After all this time I have very little new Costen information other than my James had a brother John and their parents were John & Hannah "Todd" Costen and the time frame is late 1700s-early 1800s. I don't have positive proof but these were the only Costens in Mecklenburg Co.,NC in the correct time frame. James & Susanna "Berryhill" Costen are last mentioned in Mecklenburg Co., about 1822 and I can't find any further records on them. I'm not familiar with Gates unless you are talking about Gates Co., NC? Is this where your Sarah and Fred were from? If your John is the brother of James I would like his family information. I will be glad to exchange info with you. Are you also researching Berryhills?