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ENGLISH ANCESTRY
OF BOSTON.
M H. ft. SOMBRBY OF LONDON.
REPRINTED FROM TUB HERALDIC JOURNAL FOR APRjU^, 1868.
BOSTON, U. S. A.
HENRY W. DUTTON fe SON, PRINTERS,
90 AHD 92 WASBIHaiOH STBSn.
1868.
'tat'
THE

ENGLISH ANCESTRY

EEV. JOJrTN COTTON

J

OF BOSTON.

BY H. G. SOMERBY OF LONDON.

REPRINTED FROM THE HERALDIC JOURNAL FOR APRIL, ISSS.

BOSTON, U. S. A.
HENUY \V . DUl'TON & SON, PIlIXTEllg,
90 A5D 92 Washisgton Str-bkt.
1868.

THE COTTON FAMILY.

A great interest attaches to the personal history of the
Rev. John Cotton, one of the most noted of the ministers
of the Massachusetts Colony, and it is with much pleasure
that we now lay before our readers a well authenticated
account of his ancestry. This ped
igree was prepared by a most com
petent antiquary, H. G. Somerby,
Esq., for the Hon. Caleb Cushino- ;
and it is to the kindness of the
latter-named gentleman that we
are indebted for this opportunity to
publish all the essential portion of
the record.
The family of Cotton has been
one of importance in the county
of Cambridge for many genera-
Akms of Cotton.* tions, several generations being of

* Sable, a chevron between three {rriffin's heads erased, argent, quar
tering Fleming, Hastings and Doggett. In Drake's History of Boston,

i THE COTTON FAMILY.
knightly rank, and the senior line was, in 1641, raised to
the dignity of Baronet, a title extinguished in 1863.
In Cole's MSS., in the British Museum, Vol. XI., p.
237-345, is an account of the family, prepared in 1763,
which has served as a basis for the present pedigree. It
is held to be most probable that the family derived its
name from Cotton in Kent, but was settled in Cambridjie-
sliire in 1374, when Sir Henry' Cotton was living there,
who married Anne, dau. and heir of Sir Henry le
Flcminir. His son and heir was Thomas^ Cotton, who was father
of Humphrey'^ Cotton, who m. Anne, dau. of Sir Thomas
Holbrooke. The son of this marriage was Sir Thomas^ Cotton, who
m. Alice, dau. and heir of Sir John de Hastings of
Landwade, co. Cainb., which manor became the chief
seat of the Cottons.
John^ Cotton of (^otton Hall and Landwade, oldest son
and heir, married Bridget, dau. of Richard Grace of
Norfolk, and d. in 1393, leaving sons, Thomas^ and
AV alter," of whom Thomas" died unm. Walter'' Cotton
i^uccceded his brother in 1434, and married Joan, dau.
of Sir Robert Keade of Oxfordshire. He built a church
at Landwade, and dyinir 14 May, 1445, was buried

]i 157. is an ensrravinjr of the arms of the totally ilis'inct family of Oitfon
of Ki(lwan\ lo wliirh family ihe anthor wiimfrly Mipjiiisdl that .John
Cotton helontifd. This family, lK)wt'Vi'r. had fx<'hany('<i these arms tor the
coat of the Uiriwares, Aznre, an eayle displayed argent, ami the |jeili(iree
is iiiven l>v Bnrke (Kxtinct Haronetcies) under Cotton of (^onnineton.
The Hrst Baronet was Sir Koliert Cotton, who died May 6lh, 16.'il, and who
itnniortalizeil his name as the eollcetor of the Cottonian I.ilirary. The
sixth Haronet died,,. ;;. m. in 175'2, when the liaioneie\ hiiame extini-t.
There were several other families of the name hut they aic in no way con
nected with the subject of which we treat.

THE COTTON FAMILY. 5
there. PIls children were William,'' Walter,'' Thomas,''
Edmund'' and one daughter.
At this point the family was divided into two branches.
William,' the eldest son, inherited Landwade, and his
descendants continue to possess it. The successive gen
erations were AVilliam,'' Vice-Chamberlain to King Henry
VI., Thomas,^ (d. 80 July, 1499), Sir Robert,' Sir John,'"
(Sheriff of Camb. and Hunt., d. 21 April, 1593), Sir
John," (M. P. for Camb., d. in 1620), Sir John,'^ and Sir
John'' created Baronet 14 July, 1641, whose descendants
are easily traced.
This first Baronet, born in 1615, was distinguished for
his loyalty, and was obliged to live abroad for some years.
He obtained the manor of Maddingley, co. Camb., with
his wife Jane, only daughter of Edward Hinde. He died
about 1690, and was succeeded by his son Sir John"
Cotton, M. P. for Camb., who m. Elizabeth Sheldon, and
left one son and nine daughters. Sir John-Hinde'" Cotton
succeeded his father, was M. P. and held several high
offices. He died 4 Feb., 1752, and was succeeded by his
only son. Sir John-Hinde'° Cotton. This last named d. 23
Jan., 1795, and by his wife Anne Parsons had six sons
and three daughters, yet the baronetcy expired in 1863,
on the death of his grandson. His second son. Admiral
Sir Charles" Cotton, inherited the title and dying 24
Feb., 1812, was succeeded by his son. Sir S' Vincent'^
Cotton, who died in 1863.
The representation of the senior line must therefore be
carried back first to the descendants of Sir Robert'' Cotton
of Wood Ditton, co. Camb., grand-uncle of the first
Baronet, or to the Cottons of Clavering, co. Essex, and

6 .THE COTTON FAMILY.
Redgrave, co. Suff., descended from William® and Edmund®
Cotton, younger sons of W^illiam' Cotton of Landwade.

The second son of Walter' Cotton was Walter'' of
Cotton Hall and Trumpington, who by wife Blanch had
Clement* Cotton, who received Cotton Hall by gift of his
grandfather. By his wife Madwen, dau. of  Doggett,
he had children, Clement,' John,' (who left issue),
Gregory' and Blanche.'
Clement' Cotton m. Constance, dau. of Nicholas Lever-
thorpe of Hatfield in Essex, and had Roger,'" Thomas,'"
d. s. p., George'" and Jane.'" Of these, Roger'" Cotton
left numerous descendants.
George'" Cotton, grandfather of the Rev. John, resided
in London, in the parish of St. Giles-without-Cripplegate,
where he made his will Oct 14, 1558, proved. Prerogative
Court, 21 March, 1559-60. He mentions wife's brother
Thomas Whittacre, sons Roland and Thomas and daugh
ter Tymothy. His wife Margaret was buried at South
Ockenden, co. Essex, 20 Sept., 1557, and his son Thomas
d. s. p. about the end of the year 1557, his will being
dated 2 Dec, 1577, and proved 27 Jan. following.
Roland" Cotton, only surviving son of George, was
instructed in the law under the charge of his relative
John Cotton, and removed to Derby, where he married
16 Aug., 1582, Mary Hurlbert ; and dying in 1604 was
buried in the church-yard of St Alkmund's.
His children's baptisms recorded in that church are as
follows, —
Mary,'2 bapt. 1 Sept., 1583; m. 3 Aug., 1608,
Robert Bamford.

THE COTTON FAMILY. 7
John,'3 bapt. 15 Dec, 1584.
Roland,'^ bapt. 17 March, 1587-8.
Thomas,''^ bapt. 19 May, 1594.
His will, dated 29 Jan., 1603-4, mentions these four
children and his wife. Nothing more is known of these
younger sons ; though Mr. Somerby thinks from the sim
ilarity of the arms, that one was the Thomas Cotton of
Boston, whose will was proved 15 May, 1646, and men
tions wife Mary, and kinswoman Bridget Gill. Thomas
Cotton m. Mary Gill at Boston, 1 May, 1624, but prob
ably left no issue.

John'^ Cotton, born in Dec, 1584, was placed at Trinity
College, Cambridge, where he took his degree of A. B.,
in January, 1602-3, and of A. M. in 1606. From Trinity
he removed to Emmanuel College, where he took his de
gree of Bachelor of Divinity. In 1612 he was inducted
Vicar of the church of St. Botolph, in Boston, co. Line,
and on the 3d July, 1613, he married at Balsham, co.
Camb., Elizabeth Horrocks.
By this wife Cotton had no children, and she dying
about 1631, he married at Boston, 25 April, 1632, Sarah,
daughter of Anthony Hawkridge, and widow of William
Story. The marriage is recorded as of John Cotton and
Sarah Story, but we shall hereafter show that she was
doubtless a widow, as in fact Cotton Mather terms her.
In the Magnalia, Mather adds the following touches :
" Our John Cotton, besides the advantage of his Chris
tian profession, had a descent from honorable progenitors
to render him doubly honorable. His immediate progeni
tors being by some injustice deprived of great revenues.

8 THE COTTON FAMILY.
his father, Mr. Rowland Cott6n, had the education of a
law yer bestowed by his friends upon him, in hopes of his
being the better capacitated thereby to recover the estate,
whereof his family had been wronged ; and so the profes
sion of a lawer was that unto which this gentleman applied
himself all his days." " Settled now at Boston, his dear
friend, holy Mr. Bayns, recommended unto him a pious
gentlewoman, one Mrs. Elizabeth Horrocks, the wife of
Mr. James Horrocks, a famous minister in Lancashire, to
become his consort in a marjled estate." " Nevertheless
by the same sickness, he- then lost his excellent wife, who
having lived with him childless for eighteen years, went
from him now to be forever with the Lord ; whereupon
he travelled further a field, unto London and some other
places, whereby the recovery of his lost health was further
perfected. About a year after this, he practically appeared
in opposition to Tertullianism by proceeding unto a second
marriage ; wherein one Mrs. Sarah Story, a virtuous
widow very dear to his former wife, became his consort ;
and by her he had both sons and daughters."
Cotton had gradually become attached to the reforming
portion of the Church of England, and at last letters mis
sive was issued against him from the High Commission
Court. His friends were unable to protect him, and by
their advice he decided to seek shelter in New England.
He arrived at Boston, Sept. 3, 1633, in company with
Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Samuel Stone, and about
two hundred passengers, " men of good estates." On the
10th of October he was ordained Teacher of the First
Church, John Wilson being the Pastor thereof; and this
office he held till hi.« death, Dec. 23d, 1654.

THE COTTON FAMILY. 9
During this long period of nearly twenty years. Cotton
was one of the most important actors in our history. His
advice was always sought, and his counsels often pre
vailed. In the two exciting controversies with Roger
Williams and Mrs. Anne Hutchinson he was conspicuous,
and has naturally incurred blame as well as praise for his
action. One custom of his indeed became universal here,
as Mather writes : " The Sabbath he began the evening
before : for which keeping of the Sabbath from evening
to evening, he wrote arguments before his coming to New
England : and I suppose that 'twas from his reason and
practice that the Christians of New England have gener
ally done so too."
His published books are numerous, and several of them
have been reprinted for their historical interest.
American Genealogy.
1. John'- Cotton had children by his second wife, Sarah,
only, and these were the following :
2. Seaborn,'? b. 1633.
Sarah,'* b. 12 Sept., 1635 ; d. 20 Jan., 1650.
Elizabeth,'' b. 9 Dec, 1637 ; m. Jeremiah Eg-
glnton.
3. John," b. 15 March, 1640.
Maria," b.,16 Feb., 1642 ; m. Rev. Increase
Mather.
Rowland," b. Dec, 1643; d. 29 Feb., 1650.
He died 15 or 23 Dec, 1652. His widow m. 26 Aug.,
1656, Richard Mather, and died 27 May, 1676.
2. Rev. Seaborn" Cotton m. l?t, Dorothy Bradstreet,
and hal, with several daughters, a son. Rev. John" of

10 THE COTTON FAMILY.
Hampton, father of Rev. Thomas'' of Brookline. He
married 2nd, Prudence Wade, and had a son Rowland,'*
who settled in England.
3. Rev. John'* Cotton, younger son of the first minister,
was of Wethersfield, Guilford, and finally of Charleston,
S. C, where he died 18 Sept., 1699. He married Joanna
Rossiter, and had sons, John,'' Rowland,'^ Josiah,'" and
Theophilus." Of these. Rev. John'' was of Yarmouth, and left six
daughters ; and Rev. Theophilus" was of Hampton Falls,
was married, but left no children. Rowland" and Josiah''
both left large families, and the number of their descen
dants must be very large. A tabular pedigree is given in
the first volume of the Register, and another in the folio
edition of Drake's History of Boston. We have room,
however, only for one branch, that of the gentleman to
whose liberality we are indebted for these thorough re
searches in England.
Elizabeth" Cgfton married 1st, Rev. James Ailing, and
2nd, Rev. Caleb Cuehing of Salisbury, Mass. She was
undoubtedly a grand-daughter of Rev. John C, of Boston,
though accounts differ as to whether she was the daughter
of Seaborn or John. Savage is inclined to consider her
the daughter of Seaborn and Dorothy (Bradstreet) Cot
ton. By her first husband she had three daughters, all of
whom were married.
She married 14 March, 1697-8, Rev. Caleb Gushing of
Salisbury, son of the first John Cushing, of a family re
corded in our second volume, p. 123-4. Their children
were, Caleb," b. 10 Oct., 1703.

THE COTTON FAMILY. 11
James,'" b. 25 Nov., 1705 ; min. of Plaistow, d. 13
May, 1764.
John,'" b. 10 April, 1709 ; min. of Boxford, d. 25
Jan., 1772, leaving issue.
Joanna.'^ Mary."'
Elizabeth.'^ .
He died 24 Feb., 1752, aged 80.
Hon. Caleb'' Cushing of Salisbury was Col. of the
Essex Regiment, of the (/ouncil, and C. J. Court of
Common Pleas. He married Mary, dau. of Rev. John
Newmarch of Kittery, Me., and had, with four daughters,
Benjamin," bapt. 20 Jan., 1739.
Caleb," bapt. 23 Sept., 1750, d. unm.
Benjamin" Cushing of Salisbury m. Dec. 17, 1767,
Hannah Hazeltine, and had —
Hannah,'® b. 30 March, 1769.
Caleb," b. 21 May, 1770.
Mary,'® b. 11 May, 1772.
Benjamin,'® b. 21 June, 1776.
John Newmarch,'® b. 18 May, 1779 ; d. 5 Jan., 1849,
father of Hon. Caleb Cushing.
Nathaniel,'® b. 29 July, 1782.
Mary, b. 22 March, 1789.

Hawkridge Family.
In relation of the second wife of Rev. John Cotton,
" the widow Story," Mr. Somerby has discovered the fol
lowing facts :

12 THE COTTON FAMILY.
She was undoubtedly the Sarah Hawkrit who married
William Storey at Boston, Eng., 1 May, 1619; and her
first husband was buried there 16 March, 1627-8. Her
marriage to John Cotton was 25 April, 1632. By her
first marriage she had a daughter, Elizabeth Story, bapt.
11 June, 1622, who doubtless married a person named
Day, and had at least one daughter named Elizabeth Day,
who m. a Symonds. This is rendered positive, as John
Cotton mentions dau. Elizabeth, and grand-daughter
Betty Day; Rev. Richard Mather mentions his wife's
grand-daughter, Elizabeth Day, and Sarah (Cotton)
Mather, mentions her grand-daughter, Elizabeth Symonds,
and mentions also a Sarah Symonds. Savage believes
that this grand-daughter was the wife of Harlakenden Sy
monds. As to the parentage of Sarah Hawkrit, Hawkridge or
Hawkredd, as the name is variously spelt, it seems clear
that she was the daughter of Anthony H., of Boston.
Rev. John Cotton in his will mentions " my brother
Coney," and his wife Mary.
The will of Anthony Hawkredd, da'-cd Aug. 12, 1626,
mentions sons Anthony, John, and Samuel, Mary, wife
of Thomas Coney, and Elizabeth, wife of John Coney.
Though Sarah is not mentioned, she is evidently another
daughter. It seems that Hawkredd had been twice mar
ried. His second wife was a widow Ascoufjh, and his
first was a Tuckney, aunt of Anthony Tuckney, who suc
ceeded John Cotton at Boston. Tuckney was thus first
cousin to Cotton's wife, Sarah Hawkridge.

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