Theme: October | Images: Click on many to enlarge
St Mary's Church, Hassingham, Norfolk where Samuel COSSEY was baptised in 1704
Courtesy of google maps
October is the time to harvest summer’s bounty and admire the turning colors of the autumn leaves. Days get shorter and the temperatures cooler, and in Canada it is the designated time to celebrate Thanksgiving. October can also be a time of new beginnings. My 6-times-great grandparents started a new life together when they married on 13 October 1730 in Norwich, Norfolk, England.
Samuel COSSEY was baptised 14 Jan 1704 in Hassingham Norfolk, a small rural village on the north side of the Yare river valley, less than 10 miles east of Norwich, and slightly farther west of Yarmouth on the east coast. Samuel (Junior) was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth COSSEY; their family lived in Buckenham Norfolk about a mile from Hassingham. We do not yet know his mother’s maiden name, and are still trying to locate and verify possible siblings, potentially Jane 1702, Joseph 1706, Elizabeth 1713 and Mary 1715. Records in this period are skimpy!
Samuel COSSEY was baptised 14 Jan 1704 in Hassingham Norfolk, a small rural village on the north side of the Yare river valley, less than 10 miles east of Norwich, and slightly farther west of Yarmouth on the east coast. Samuel (Junior) was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth COSSEY; their family lived in Buckenham Norfolk about a mile from Hassingham. We do not yet know his mother’s maiden name, and are still trying to locate and verify possible siblings, potentially Jane 1702, Joseph 1706, Elizabeth 1713 and Mary 1715. Records in this period are skimpy!
Locations of COSSEY and GILLINGWATER ancestorsCustom Google map
We believe that Samuel's bride Mary GILLINGWATER (1706-1780) came from Stoke-by-Nayland in Suffolk, baptized there on 16 Mar 1706, the daughter of John GILLINGWATER and Jane SANKSTER. Mary had an older brother John and two younger sisters Elizabeth and Margaret. As Stoke-by-Nayland is north of Colchester and more than 50 miles to the south of Norwich, it is still a puzzle as to how Mary met Samuel COSSEY prior to their courtship and marriage in 1730.
The parish of St George Tombland, where their marriage took place, is in the heart of Norwich city. Perhaps Mary’s family had moved north sometime after the children were born, or perhaps Mary moved there as a young adult seeking a new life in or near the big city. By 1700, Norwich was a boom town of 25,000 people. People there worked in weaving, wool manufacturing, leather works, brewing and import / export businesses as well as agriculture. The city would have provided greater opportunities for meeting new people. Records of potential GILLINGWATER ancestors in Norfolk near Norwich and Yarmouth suggest there might have been relatives in the vicinity to take Mary in. I wish I knew more.
In 1730, Mary was about 24 years old and Samuel was 26, both of full age at the time of their marriage. As Samuel was a husbandman (free tenant farmer or small landowner), they likely did not remain in the city, but returned to working the land nearby. They quickly started a family, but baptism records continue to be illusive except for a daughter Mary who was baptized 4 Mar 1738 in Hassingham, and daughter Amy who was christened in Claxton on 16 Sep 1744. Claxton Norfolk is on the other side of the Yare river valley opposite Hassingham and Buckenham, SE of Norwich, so they didn’t move far. Estimates for the births of their other four children have been extracted from burial and other types of records. I am descended from their oldest child William COSSEY who was born about 1731, dying 3 Aug 1809 in Claxton Norfolk at the age of 78. (One of William's female descendants later married into my COATES line, and the next generation married a COMPTON.)
The parish of St George Tombland, where their marriage took place, is in the heart of Norwich city. Perhaps Mary’s family had moved north sometime after the children were born, or perhaps Mary moved there as a young adult seeking a new life in or near the big city. By 1700, Norwich was a boom town of 25,000 people. People there worked in weaving, wool manufacturing, leather works, brewing and import / export businesses as well as agriculture. The city would have provided greater opportunities for meeting new people. Records of potential GILLINGWATER ancestors in Norfolk near Norwich and Yarmouth suggest there might have been relatives in the vicinity to take Mary in. I wish I knew more.
In 1730, Mary was about 24 years old and Samuel was 26, both of full age at the time of their marriage. As Samuel was a husbandman (free tenant farmer or small landowner), they likely did not remain in the city, but returned to working the land nearby. They quickly started a family, but baptism records continue to be illusive except for a daughter Mary who was baptized 4 Mar 1738 in Hassingham, and daughter Amy who was christened in Claxton on 16 Sep 1744. Claxton Norfolk is on the other side of the Yare river valley opposite Hassingham and Buckenham, SE of Norwich, so they didn’t move far. Estimates for the births of their other four children have been extracted from burial and other types of records. I am descended from their oldest child William COSSEY who was born about 1731, dying 3 Aug 1809 in Claxton Norfolk at the age of 78. (One of William's female descendants later married into my COATES line, and the next generation married a COMPTON.)
St Andrew Church, Claxton, Norfolk where Samuel and Mary COSSEY are buried. Google map photo
Samuel was buried in St Andrew church yard, Claxton Norfolk on 25 Oct 1772 at the age of 68. His wife Mary joined him there on 22 Oct 1780, reportedly at the age of 80 years. If true, she would have been born about 1700. But as Mary’s parents weren't married until 1703 and her older brother John was baptized late in 1705 before Mary in 1706, I think Mary was closer to 75 when she died.
This story is more of an outline, including many guesses and assumptions along with only a few substantial details from primary source records. Census didn’t happen that far back, and there is a shortage of accessible alternatives. But I still dream of finding a lengthy will, more parish records, or land tax records. A family bible would be nice too. With so many blanks still to fill in, I don’t yet know if the month of October held any other significant milestones for this family. But I am truly grateful for their October marriage record. This year their 285th anniversary fittingly falls on the day after Thanksgiving, soon to be celebrated.
This story is more of an outline, including many guesses and assumptions along with only a few substantial details from primary source records. Census didn’t happen that far back, and there is a shortage of accessible alternatives. But I still dream of finding a lengthy will, more parish records, or land tax records. A family bible would be nice too. With so many blanks still to fill in, I don’t yet know if the month of October held any other significant milestones for this family. But I am truly grateful for their October marriage record. This year their 285th anniversary fittingly falls on the day after Thanksgiving, soon to be celebrated.
REFERERENCES and FURTHER READING
Hassingham, Norfolk Genealogy - familysearch site
Hassingham - origins site
St Mary, Hassingham, Norfolk Church - norfolkchurches site
Norwich History - localhistories site
Claxton, Norfolk Genealogy - familysearch site
Claxton, Norfolk Village - norfolkparishes site
Stoke-byNayland, Suffolk - wikipedia
COSSEY / GILLINGWATER Locations Map - custom google map
Hassingham, Norfolk Genealogy - familysearch site
Hassingham - origins site
St Mary, Hassingham, Norfolk Church - norfolkchurches site
Norwich History - localhistories site
Claxton, Norfolk Genealogy - familysearch site
Claxton, Norfolk Village - norfolkparishes site
Stoke-byNayland, Suffolk - wikipedia
COSSEY / GILLINGWATER Locations Map - custom google map
I have posted additional information on my COMPTON families elsewhere on this website.
"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
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