William Cogswell

• General Notes
  • William [4] COGSWELL. Son of John [1] COGSWELL & Elizabeth THOMPSON. Born 1619 in Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire, England. Baptism Mar 1619 in Westbury Parish Church. Died 15 Dec 1700 in Chebacco, Ipswich, Mass. Buried 17 Dec 1700. He was sixteen years of age at the time he came with his parents to America in 1635, and about thirty when he was married. He settled on the home place, and lived in a house that then stood a little to the north of the site now occupied by the ancient Cogswell house. He possessed many of the traits of his father. He was a man of Christian character, and one of the most influential citizens in that part of Ipswich. It was largely by his efforts that the Gospel ministry was established in Chebacco. After two years of opposition, and several appeals to the General Court, at last, May 5, 1679, the Parish of Chebacco was established. Mr. Cogswell gave the land on which to erect a meeting-house, a lot thirteen rods by three. This first meeting-house in Chebacco stood on what was long known as Meeting-house Hill. Mr. Cogswell entertained at his house the Ecclesiastical Council that met Aug. 12, 1683, to organize the church and to obtain Mr. John Wise, their first pastor.
    
    William Cogswell was the defendant in the "historic" suit, Cogswell vs. Cogswell, brought by his nephew, John [26] Cogswell, son of John [5] Cogswell, who had appointed William guardian of his children, and who died at sea. After two years of trials and appeals, William was found innocent, and John was ordered to pay the court's costs, £13 4s.