GENERATION 14

GENERATION 13

Biography

ROBERT COGGSWELL was baptized Nov. 30, 1510, in Westbury Leigh, England. He was a manufacturer of woolen cloth. Tax records of 1545 show that ROBERT and his four brothers quite well established, especially ROBERT, who was the grandfather of JOHN COGGSWELL, the immigrant to America in 1635.

He married ALICIA ADLAM, the daughter of JOHN and MARJORIE ADLAM about 1541. She was born about 1518 and was buried on Aug. 1, 1603, at the Westbury Churchyard.

Tradition and probability identify the name Cogswell with the old English town of Coggeshall, which is located forty-four miles from London, in the County of Essex. Coggeshall was once held by the Romans and used as a military trading post. Still today can be found Roman bricks, broken urns, coins and other Roman relics.

In 1046 Coggeshall was give to the Church of Christ for use by the Benedictine monks of Canterbury. In 1139 the Abbey of Coggeshall was founded by King Stephen and Queen Matilda. The first Abbot was William.

The Westbury Parish Church dates to the time of William the Conqueror, who reigned from Dec. 25, 1066, to Sep. 9, 1087. A new church edifice was erected in 1315, during the reign of Edward II, which is still standing. The Gothic structure was built in the form of a cross. The bell tower is 84 feet high. The tower contains six bells, bearing dates from 1616 to 1738. Theclock on the church was erected in 1604, during the vicarage of Rev. WILLIAM THOMPSON.