Julie's Story of the Cossey Family

My information about the COSSEY FAMILY

by Julie Walker

Almost all the information I have was collected in the 1970s when I badgered my grandfather and his cousin for information, and used records at the East Suffolk Record Office at Ipswich (“ESRO”). Also, to a very limited extent, I tried to check post 1837 dates by looking them up in the Index at Somerset House - but funds (I was a teenager) did not allow me to obtain copies of Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates. So when a date is given as eg “QMarch1845” it means that I found what looked like the correct entry in the Index for that Quarter, but did not obtain a copy of the certificate itself.

My grandfather and his cousin put together a rough family tree based on their own recollections, documents, old Bibles etc, and I will refer to this as “the Tree”. Where I have been able to check the information from other sources, I have found almost all the information on the Tree to be correct, so I’m fairly confident of its accuracy.

The “family legend” is that the Cossey family were French Huguenots, “le Cosse” (with an acute accent of the “e”) who came to Norfolk because of persecution in France. When travelling in the Loire Valley many years ago, we did go round a (modest) chateau, and were told that the name of the family who owned it was “le Cosse” and that it was a Protestant family. However, it does seem more likely that the family hailed from Costessey near Norwich.

My grandfather (who was a Cossey twice over as both his mother and his father’s mother were Cosseys ie his parents were first cousins once removed) said that the Cosseys were a fun loving family, always joking and teasing - although his branch were also strict Baptists. They were also renowned for their good looks, and (although I would say this) the family photographs that I have do seem to bear this out!

Generation 1

At the “top” of my family tree is WILLIAM COSSEY, farmer of Syleham, who died between 30th July 1809 and 2nd September 1809 (source - his Will). He had a brother Richard (“of Langley, Norfolk” - the only Langley I can find in Norfolk is near Loddon - not too far away from Earsham) and a sister (and landlady) Mrs Diggens. I suppose that the reference to “sister” may be misleading - she might have been a sister in law. William appears to have come to Syleham in about 1797 (source - Poor Law Records), and I had always wondered where he came from - now I know that it was Earsham, a few miles to the east along the River Waveney (source - Valerie Denny’s website).

So far as the Langley connection is concerned, a “John Cossey - farmer” appears in the Langley section of White’s 1845 and 1854 Directories. The Church of LDS has an entry for a marriage of a John Cossey to a Mary Carver on 24th December 1816 at Langley.

The other information I have about William Cossey is in the Poor Rates for Syleham (Principal residents were assessed and paid what was essentially a tax for the maintenance of the poor). He first appears in April 1798, covering the period Michaelmas 1797 to Easter 1798. The entry reads:

Sum assessed £28 Occupier Mr Corsey Owner Late Robertson Sum paid £5 19/-

Amongst the disbursements for 1798 to 1799 are the following payments to “Mr Corsey”

for 60 bushels of faggots      8/-
for 8 [illeg] cheese                    1/8
for barley                  £12 9/-

For the period Easter to Michaelmas 1807 William Cossey is assessed for another £8 - but this time the owner is given as “late Smith”

Then there are some details of the Overseers of the Parish - sometimes there are references to William Cossey and sometimes to Francis - perhaps the post alternated between father and son? In fact, there is even a reference to “William Cossey” after his death (1810 and 1811) - of course this might be another “William Cossey” or a simple mistake.

From Michaelmas 1809 to Easter 1810 Sam Cole acted for “the late Mr Wm Cossey, Overseer”

I haven’t got a photocopy of William’s will, but I painstakingly made a transcript, which I will type out in full sometime. He could not sign his name, but made “his mark” - although it is recognisable as a “W”

Generation 2

From the details of William Cossey’s Will, I knew that he had 8 children - William, Richard, Francis, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Rhoda and Charlotte. These are well covered in Valerie Denny’s notes - the only one I really have any more information on is FRANCIS COSSEY, who is my direct ancestor.

FRANCIS COSSEY - he is buried at Horham Baptist Chapel (stone just inside the gate, along the wall). It states “of this Parish” and his date of death is 12th June 1837, aged 72 ie he was born in about 1775

This differs from Valerie’s information, which gives his date of birth as around 1785. I may have misread the stone, but I think that it is correct because at ESRO there is a Bastardy Maintenance Order in the village of Wingfield dated 15th October 1800 for the female child of Susan Foulger by Francis Cossey of Syleham, yeoman. Susanna’s baptism is in the Wingfield register - “born 15th July 1800 Suzanna daughter of Suzanna Foulger”. Of course, Francis may have been a precocious 15 year old!

Francis married MARY PERRY at Syleham Church on 29th January 1807 (she was baptised at Syleham on 29th October 1786). I think that she was still alive in 1851, because the 1851 Census entry for her son Richard (of whom more later) includes:

Mary Ann Cossey - Mother - Widow - 69 - place of birth Syleham

The age isn’t quite right (if one assumes that she was born shortly before she was baptised) but Richard Cossey only had one mother, so it must be her.

Neither Francis nor Mary could write their own names - on the marriage certificate they both made a cross as a mark. [incidentally, Rhoda also made her mark, but one of the witnesses to Rhoda and George’s marriage was “Elizabeth Cosey” - nicely written - who I assume was the sister of Francis and Rhoda. It seems strange that at least one of the siblings could sign her own name, but 2 of the others could not]

It seems that Francis and Mary moved about a bit (though not over a large area) because I know from Census returns that some of their middle children were born in Wingfield, but the younger ones were born at Horham. Has anyone seen any Census Returns which show where the elder children were born?

Francis and Mary had 11 children, and my grandfather was descended from 2 of them. The children were:

Generation 3

1. WILLIAM COSSEY born 14th April 1807 (source - Syleham Parish Register) died November 1819 (source - Valerie Denny’s notes). I should explain that until I received Valerie’s information I didn’t realise that this William died and there was a further son, William George. On the Tree, there was only one William.

2. JOHN COSSEY (source - the Tree). He had a son,

2.1 JOHN FRANCIS COSSEY who was a Major in the Army Service Corps.(source - the Tree). On the Church of Latter Day Saints site, I found a marriage of a John Francis Cossey to Harriette Johnston on 4th July 1865 at Woolwich which I assume is him. I have also seen a copy of a letter from him to his aunt Mary Ann Reynolds (nee Cossey) which mentions various family members. Major J F Cossey had 2 children (Source - the Tree):

2.1.1 ARTHUR ERNEST COSSEY (Engineer Commander). He was torpedoed on board The Hampshire in 1916, en route for Russia with Kitchener on board. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission says that he died aged 42 on Monday 5th June 1916, son of the late Maj.J.F.Cossey and is buried at Lyness Royal Naval Cemetary, Orkney . His date of birth must be c.1874.

2.1.2 a daughter (name not known)

3. SAMUEL COSSEY (source - the Tree). He married Mary Harvey (source - the Tree) in Q Dec 1844 (source Somerset House Index - Samuel Cossey cross referenced with Mary Harvey so I think this must be correct). According to the Tree Samuel and Mary had one son:

3.1 JIM COSSEY - who had 2 sons:

3.1.1 HARVEY COSSEY who lived in Halifax

3.1.2 JIM COSSEY

4. MARRIETTE COSSEY baptised 12th September 1811 (source Wingfield Parish Registers, though her name is given as “Meritte” and her parents as “Francis and Mary Corsey”). She married ZIBA BOLTON Q December 1846 (source Somerset House Index - cross referenced, though the registration district is given as Shoreditch, which seems odd). The Will of Ziba Bolton (ESRO) gives the following details : he died 8th June 1849 and described himself as “Farmer of Horham”. Executors were his brother John Bolton, his brotther in law Richard Cossey farmer of Horham and Robert Roe, miller of Horham. He left his wife Mariette his household furniture, £30 and his property for her natural life - to go to his child or children after his death . There was a codicil leaving bequests to his niece Jemima Bolton and his nephew Samuel Bolton.

Mariette appears in the 1851 Census in Horham as “Maria” Bolton widow aged 39, farmer of 76 acres employng 2 labourers, place of birth Wingfield,. Also in the house were her daughter Alice Jane Bolton aged 2, born at Horham, amd niece Jemima Bolton aged 24 and nephew Samuel Bolton aged 16, both of whom were born in Middlesex (perhaps this is the Shoreditch connection).

Marriette does not appear in the 1861 Census for Horham.

5. SARAH COSSEY born about 1813 (source - 1851 Census). Married DAVID PETTIT (Valerie Denny has the date of marriage as 16th June 1835, from Horham Parish Records). She had 3 children:

5.1   David Pettit (source - the Tree, 1851 Census and a family letter) born about 1838 (Census). David married (source - family letter)

5.2   Richard Pettit (source 1851 Census and a family letter) born about 1840 (Census)

5.3   William Pettit (source - the Tree and 1851 Census) born about 1846. According to the Tree, William Pettit had 2 sons:

5.3.1.1 Frank Pettit

5.3.1.2 Ernie Pettit

The 1851 Census has the following entry for Southholt:

Sarah Pettit Head 38 Farmer of 33 Acres born Winkfield (sic) [it doesn’t say whether she is married or a widow]

David Pettit Son 13 born Athelington

Richard Pettit Son 11 born Southolt

William Pettit Son 5 born Southolt

also 2 servants

According to the Tree she moved to London, and went into business. From a family letter (dated 1865) it appears that she went into business with her younger brother William.

6. RICHARD COSSEY born about 1814/5 (source - numerous including Census). Richard died 4th January 1864, probably of peritonitis. He farmed at Church Farm,Athelington, Oak Farm Horham, and Parkfield, Laxfield. I have a couple of photographs of him, and copies of 2 letters written by him. He married (date not known) Sarah Manser who was a daughter of Edward Manser, the founding Minister of Horham Baptist Chapel. I have been trying to trace the Manser family with no success as yet. From his Will, it is clear that Edward Manser was an educated man, with some property. After Richard’s death, Sarah and her daughter Charlotte (see below) ran a school at Wilby. Some time after 1871, Sarah married Fenn Moore of Bedingfield.

The children of Richard and Sarah were:

6.1 FRANCIS EDWARD COSSEY (occasionally appears as “Edward Francis”) born 88888 1843 died 3rd June 1916. He was known as Edward . This was my grandfather’s grandfather, and my grandfather knew him well and has told me a lot of tales about him. Edward married first 15th June 1869 Elizabeth Clayton Muir of Halifax (she died 1895) and secondly 17th March 1897 Sarah Tillyer Gregory (she died 1908).

Edward left the family farm and went to work for his uncle, Charles Wilson (see 11 below) in London. He decided to train for the Baptist Ministry and either went to the Manchester Baptist College or to a Baptist College in London (I have conflicting accounts). His first ministry was at the Bethel Chapel, Shipley, Yorkshire, and later moved to Park Road Baptist Chapel, Bingley. His first wife was about 8 years older than him, and came from a fairly well to do Halifax family (again, they were Baptists). At some time in the 1880s he came back to Suffolk, as Minister of the Baptist Chapel at Eye and the family lived at the Red House, Horham (which is actually in the lane leading down to the Horham Baptist Chapel where his father and grandfather were buried). After Elizabeth died, he married Sarah Tillyer Gregory, whom he had known since his days in London in the 1860s. She was known as “Little Grandma” by his grandchildren, and they were very fond of her.

His last Ministry was at the Baptist Chapel at Yiewsley, which is in West London.

Edward and Elizabeth had 4 children:

6.1.1 RICHARD EDWARD COSSEY died 21st June 1870 as an infant

6.1.2 MARGARET ELLEN COSSEY born 15th May 1871 died 18th March 1959 married 10th September 1896 Ernest Henry Reynolds (see 9.2 below for details of thier children)

6.1.3 AMY MANSER COSSEY born 11th December 1873 died 10th January 1953 married 10th July 1903 John Gregory Wild. The Wilds are an old Middlesex farming family (indeed, they had to move out of their family farm when it was developed as an airport, and it is now under Runway 1 at Heathrow). Amy had 2 children:

6.1.3.1 David Wild born 1904, died about 1985. David’s elder son has a lot of Cossey memorabilia and I will try to find out if he has anything that goes back further than Francis Cossey (1775- 1837).

6.1.3.2 John Wild - died a bachelor.

6.1.4 MARY COSSEY born 15th October 1874 died 1959 married 1918 Edward Taylor Thornton. Edward was a cousin on the Manser side, and rather late in life they had one daughter:

6.1.4.1 Winifred Thornton born 1920. Winifred is the only grandchild of Francis Edward Cossey who is still alive. She married Edward Paice in 1948 and her elder son, James (“Jimmy”) is a fairly prominent Conservative MP. He was a Junior Agriculture Minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government. I know that Winifred has some Cossey papers, and I’ll try to get copies from her.

6.2 CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH COSSEY born QJun 1847 married QMarch 1883 Thomas Burness Voysey (who died 1892). They had at least 3 children:

6.2.1 Winifred Voysey died 1919 (source - the Tree)

6.2.2 Thomas Harold Voysey who married Constance Few (source - the Tree)

6.2.3 Edward Voysey married 1913 Sarah Rapson (source - the Tree)

I think that they may have had another son because Margaret Ellen’s diary for 1892 mentions “little Spencer”, as if there was a child called Spencer in this family.

6.3 CELIA ALICE COSSEY born Q March 1851 died before 1863 (source - a letter from Richard Cossey to his son Francis Edward in 1863 in which he mentions “Charlotte and the two children”. Also, Celia does not appear in the 1861 Census)

6.4 ADELAIDE MARY COSSEY born 6th April 1855 died in the 1930s (source - the Tree). She left the Baptist Church and eventually became a Deaconess in the Church of England. She nursed at a hospital in Scarborough and during the First World War was matron of a hospital for Belgian Soldiers at Strathallan Castle in Scotland. After the War she nursed Albert, King of the Belgians, and was awarded a decoration by him. (source - notes of David Wild)

6.5 SPENCER RICHARD COSSEY born 6th June 1860 died ???? married Adelaide Wackett. They did not have any children (source - the Tree). At one time they lived in Canada, and I have a plate painted by Adelaide showing a Canadian Lake.

Richard Cossey appears in the 1851 and 1861 Censuses, but I won’t give details as they add nothing, other than to note that in the 1851 Census his mother Mary Ann Cossey, and his siter Elizabeth Cossey (aged 20) were also living with him and his family.

Richard Cossey had no male Cossey descendants, and so the name does not survive in this branch of the family.

7. CHARLOTTE COSSEY born before 7th July 1820 (the date of her baptism at Horham). She married firstly Q September 1844 JOHN HILL (source - the Tree and cross referenced at Somerset House) and secondly a Mr GARNHAM

8. WILLIAM GEORGE COSSEY (Valerie Denny has him born 17th September 1823 - source Horham Parish Records). He was still alive in 1865 and living in London (source - family letter). According to the Tree he married a lady called Mary and had a son ;

8.1 William (alive in 1865 if he is the “Willie” mentioned in a family letter)

9. MARY ANN COSSEY born 8th January 1826 died 13th November 1913 married 7th January 1862 HENRY REYNOLDS, farmer of Hill Farm, Tuddenham and later of Moat Farm, Burgh. She was my grandfather’s grandmother and he knew her well. I have some photographs of her, and although I can’t discern the “Cossey good looks”, it is true that her 4 children were all very handsome. She went to work for Henry Reynolds as a housekeeper, and to look after his baby daughter, Ellen - he having been recently widowed. His brother John Reynolds was a vet in Eye, and was a Baptist. The 2 brothers, Henry and John, married 2 sisters from Eye and I suspect that when Henry’s first wife died a new housekeeper was found for him via the Baptist connection. The story goes that the newly widowed Henry was so bad tempered that Mary Ann refused to stay, and was just walking out of the house when Aunty Nellie cried our from her cot. Mary Ann couldn’t leave the child, so came back and eventually married Henry (who, according to my grandfather, wasn’t bad tempered at all but was renowned for his good humour).

Mary Ann and Henry had 4 children:

9.1 Harry Augustus Reynolds born 21st October 1862 died 24th August 1941 married 10th July 1903 Florence Emmaretta Smith and had 2 daughters Oonagh and Dorothy. Both are now dead. Oonagh had 2 (adopted) children.

9.2 Rose Mary Reynolds born 27th March 1865 married William Ridley. They had no children

9.3 Ernest Henry Reynolds born 2nd October 1866 died 2nd October 1949 married 10th September 1896 his first cousin once removed MARGARET ELLEN COSSEY. They farmed at Hoxne Place Hoxne, then retired to Trimley St Mary just outside Felixstowe. They had 7 children (only 4 surviving into adulthood) - Henry Edward Angus Reynolds (“Angus” - my grandfather), Felix Cossey Reynolds, Elizabeth Mary Cristine Reynolds (married Jack Foister) and Richard Alexander Muir Reynolds. All these 4 are now dead, but they all have children, grandchildren and (in some cases) great grandchildren. I won’t give all the details now as it would go on for pages. There is no one now in farming, except my cousin Bill who has a crocodile farm in Zambia.

9.4 Jane Evelyn Reynolds born29th April 1869 died 27th August 1953 - never married

10. FRANCIS COSSEY (“Frank”) - born c 1830 (source - death notice in the paper) died 20th September 1892 married F....... Pollard (source - the Tree). He was the Publican of the White Hart at Stradbroke, and is mentioned in Margaret Ellen’s diary for 1892. Clearly, although they were strict Baptists, they were not so strict as to mind a publican in the family - actually, in all fairness, I believe the White Hart is more of a hotel than a pub.

Francis had 3 children (source - the Tree):

10.1 KATHERINE COSSEY married a Mr Mean (source - the Tree)

10.2 CHARLOTTE COSSEY married 8th August 1889 (source - cutting from paper) Charles Gooch

10.3 CLARA AMELIA COSSEY - married, but don’t know to whom (source - the Tree)

11. ELIZABETH COSSEY - born about 1831 (source - Census) married some time after 1851 CHARLES WILSON (source - the Tree). Mr Wilson was an egg merchant of Lissen Grove, London and Francis Edward Cossey worked for him before he became a Baptist Minister. I have conflicting notes about children - one set of notes says that Elizabeth and Charles had a daughter, Annetta who married Charles Harris - the other set says that they had 4 children Tom,Alice, William and Bertha. So I can’t be sure about this.