Three Cosby Connections
The narrative that follows is reproduced from Alexander (Sandy) Waddell's uneffusive summary in his biographical document FINDLAY WHO'S WHO.1, 2
The book referred to is available as a paperback, entitled Picnic In A Foreign Land: Eccentric Lives of the Anglo-Irish. And it does look rather entertaining, but there is only a single mention (much briefer than Sandy's) of Stradbally itself and a couple of paragraphs about the undoubted eccentricity of a then recent owner, Ashworth Cosby.
I also remember my father Walter telling me (when I was a bored and uninterested teenager) that the family name in Ireland was Pettie-Cosby, though it doesn't come up on Google, Ancestry or anywhere else I've tried so far.
So was this rather exiguous notion of Annie Cosby's distant origins amongst the Tudor Anglo-Irish gentry simply moonshine? Sandy sometimes got things wrong, admittedly, but not that much wrong. And my father could be guilty of dramatic exaggeration, but he died well before Sandy began his family chronicles, and must have had his own reasons for mentioning it. So we have two bearings but not yet a cocked hat in which to locate Annie's precise origins.
Three questions have to be confronted: Who were these Cosbys anyway? Where did Annie fit in? Was she herself from Ireland? The latter issues will be dealt within her Profile.
This page deals with the first question – who were they? It's convenient to reverse our normal practice by starting with the most distant ancestors, as recorded in the Cosby lineage according to the Rodgers family tree in the ancestry.co.uk website – frustratingly however, this has now seemingly disappeared and so I can only summarise its drift (as per the table below), but can't provide chapter and verse.
In the absence of any documentation we needn't take the generations between Cossa of Cosby and Robert of Herm(e)ston too literally. And in isolated rural communities when the sukebind begins to flower, who knows who's the Daddy. Each generation is a communal enterprise; not for nothing do East Anglian GP's use the discreet abbreviation NFN in a patient's medical notes: Normal for Norfolk.
The Rude Forefathers
From their early emergence during Saxon times in what is nowadays called Leicestershire, they progressed via Lincolnshire in the Plantagenet era to relative eminence in Tudor Nottinghamshire. But with Francis Cosby in the reign of Elizabeth the First, whose military prowess in Ireland was rewarded with the grant of Stradbally Abbey in Queen's County (now known as Laois), the Cosbys became movers and shakers.
Francis and his eldest son Alexander both gained unenviable reputations for their savage, almost barbaric, treatment of the existing Irish population, but after their deaths in battle, and that of Alexander's elder son Francis likewise, I get the impression that the family started to mend their ways.
| # | Individual | Spouse / Partner | Family |
| 1 | Cossa (ca 1030) Thane of Cosby, Leicestershire |
Robert of Cosby (b ca 1060) | |
 | |||
| 2 | Robert of Cosby (b ca 1060) |
X of Cosby (b ca 1100) | |
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| 3 | X of Cosby (b ca 1100) |
"Lord" Y of Cosby (b ca 1140) | |
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| 4 | "Lord" Y of Cosby (b ca 1140) |
Z of Cosby (b ca 1180) | |
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| 5 | Z of Cosby (b ca 1180) |
A of Cosby (b ca 1220) | |
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| 6 | A of Cosby (b ca 1220) |
B of Cosby (b ca 1260) | |
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| 7 | B of Cosby (b ca 1260) |
Robert Cosby (b ca 1300) | |
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| 8 | Robert Cossby (b ca 1300) |
William Cosby (b ca 1340) | |
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| 9 | William Cossby (b ca 1340) |
John Cosby (b ca 1380) | |
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| 10 | John Cossby (b ca 1380) |
Robert Cosby (ca 1430 – 1516+) | |
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| 11 | Robert Cossby of Hermaston, Lincolnshire (ca 1430 – 1516+) |
Isabel Pare (b ca 1460) (m ca 1475) heiress of Great Leake |
John Cosby or Cosbie (b 1482) |
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| 12 | John Cosby or Cosbie of Great Leake, Nottinghamshire (b ca 1482) |
Mabel Agard | Richard Cosby (b 1508) Francis Cosby (1510 – 25 Aug 1580) |
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| 13 | Richard Cosby of Great Leake (b 1508) |
Bridget Cosby = Wm Towers of Thunnock | |
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| 14 | Gen Francis Cosby1, 2, 3, 4 of Stradbally (1510 – 25 Aug 1580) (k at Battle of Glandillough / Glenmalure) English soldier, settler in Ireland during reign of Henry VIII Granted 1562 suppressed Abbey of Stradbally and its estate by Elizabeth I |
Lady Mary Seymour, daughter of Lord Protector Somerset | Alexander Cosby (k at Battle of Stradbally Bridge, 19 May 1596) Arnold Cosby1, 2 (served under Robt Earl of Leicester in Low Countries; hanged 27 Jan 1590 for killing Lord Bourke in a duel) Henry Cosby (predeceased his father's move to Ireland) |
| Elizabeth Paulmers | Catherine Rose Cosby (b ca 1565) = Archibald Moore (m ca 1572) | ||
  Seeking glory, fame and fortune in the turbulent colony of Ireland | |||
The Cosbys of Stradbally Hall
As evident from the list of references, I've been heavily dependent on the Cosby of Stradbally entries in the 1836 and 1912 compendia of the Irish landed gentry as put together by John Burke and Sir Richard Burke respectively. Their format is tortuously discursive, and it's sometimes very difficult to work out precisely which member of the family they're talking about, I'm sure I've made mistakes – as for example the obvious discrepancy where Phillips Cosby (d 1808) was allegedly succeeded by Thomas Cosby (d 1798), and would be very grateful for any helpful advice regarding misinterpretations.
Wherever possible, I've supplemented the Burkes by Wikipedia entries and good old www.thepeerage.com.
| # | Individual | Spouse / Partner | Family |
| 14 | Gen Francis Cosby (1510 – 25 Aug 1580) (k at Battle of Glandillough / Glenmalure) English soldier and settler in Ireland (1535) Grant 1562 of suppressed Abbey of Stradbally site |
Lady Mary Seymour, daughter of Lord Protector Somerset Another wife, Elizabeth Palmer, is sometimes mentioned as well as, or instead of, Mary Seymour. There's a good deal of controversy about it! |
Alexander Cosby (d 19 May 1596) Henry Cosby (predeceased his father's move to Ireland) Arnold Cosby (served under Robt Earl of Leicester in Low Countries; hanged 1590 for killing Lord Bourke in a duel) NB Several family trees state that both Henry and Arnold Cosby died in London. Henry Cosby (predeceased his father's move to Ireland) |
| Elizabeth Paulmers | Catherine Rose Cosby (b < 1551) = Archibald Moore (m > 1572) | ||
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| 15 | Alexander Cosby (k at Battle of Stradbally Bridge, 19 May 1596) |
Dorcas Sydney (b 1565) Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I Bore 15 children to Cosby, but she never used his surname even in private correspondence. Rodgers family tree also identifies three additional daughters: Elizabeth (b 8 Sep 1584) Ann (b ca 1587) Edith (b 11 Aug 1588) Most of her children seem to have been born in England (Oxford and Salisbury) rather than Stradbally Hall. $ denotes recognition by www.thepeerage.com |
Francis Cosby $ (1 Jan 1571 – 19 May 1596) William Cosby (b 20 Jun 1573, d young) John Cosby (b 23 Aug 1574, d young) Richard Cosby $ (1576 – 6 Dec 1631) Humphrey Cosby (b 20 Sep 1581, d young) Rose Cosby $ (b 2 Nov 1582) = Richard St Lawrence (m 1609) Charles Cosby $ (b 12 Sep 1585) John Cosby (4 Aug 1589, d young) son (d young) Arnold Cosby $ (b 20 Jun 1591) Mable Cosby $ (12 Aug 1593 – 1632) = Geo Harpole of Shrule (m ca 1608) |
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| 16 | Francis Cosby (1 Jan 1571 – 19 May 1596) (k at Battle of Stradbally Bridge, 19 May 1596) |
Hellen Harpol (m ca 1595) |
Richard Cosby (1576 – 6 Dec 1631) Charles Cosby (b 12 Sep 1585) Arnold Cosby (b 15 Jun 1594) William Cosby (16 Mar 1596 – Jun 1596) plus daughters Mabel Cosby Rose Cosby |
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| 17 | William Cosby (15 Mar 1596 – Jun 1596) |
Succeeded by his uncle | |
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| 18 | Richard Cosby1, 2 (1576 – 6 Dec 1631) |
Elizabeth Pigott (ca 1584 – 1669) daughter of Sir Robert Pigott of Dysert "Through this lady, the family of Cosby descends from King Edward I [aka Longshanks and Malleus Scotorum] of England" Burke, 1912 |
William Cosby (d 13 Sep 1683) Dorcas Cosby Alexander Cosby (8 Feb 1610 – 6 Aug 1636) Francis Cosby (5 Jul 1612 – 1673) Sydney Cosby (b 2 Oct 1613) |
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| 19 | Alexander Cosby (8 Feb 1610 – 6 Aug 1636) |
Anne Slingsby
daughter of Sir Francis Slingsby of Kilmore |
Francis Cosby (d< 8 Feb 1638) |
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| 20 | Francis Cosby (d< 8 Feb 1638) |
Succeeded by his uncle | |
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| 21 | Francis Cosby MP (5 Jul 1612 – 1673) son of Richard Cosby (b 1576) |
Ann Loftus (d 1673) daughter of Sir Thomas Loftus of Killyan and Helen Hartpole |
Alexander Cosby (d 1694) Thomas Cosby (d 1713) = Elizabeth Smith Sydney Cosby (d 1716) |
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| 22 | Lt Col Alexander Cosby MP (d 1694) |
Elizabeth L'Estrange (d 1692) daughter of Henry L'Estrange |
George Cosby
Maj Thomas Cosby (d 15 May 1735) Loftus Cosby (d 3 Jan 1726) Arnold Cosby Isabella Cosby Lt Col Dudley Cosby (2 May 1662 – 24 May 1729) Anne Cosby (b 10 Mar 1667) Elizabeth Cosby (2 May 1669 – 4 Jan 1739/40) = Richard Phillips1, 2 Jane Cosby (b 1670) Henry Cosby (1673 – 1705) Dorcas Cosby (b 30 Apr 1683) Thomas Cosby (d 15 May 1735) Lt Col Alexander Cosby1, 2, 3, 4 (1685 – 1742) Lieut Governor of Nova Scotia = Anne Winn(i)ard (b 1712) (m ca 1726) Celia Cosby (1687 – 21 Aug 1773) Brig Gen Sir William Cosby1, 2 (1690 – 10 Mar 1736) Governor of New York & Jersey |
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| 23 | Lt Col Dudley Cosby MP
of Stradbally (2 May 1662 – 24 May 1729) |
Ann Owen (d 21 Aug 1698) daughter & heiress of Sir Andrew Owen |
sp |
| Sarah Pole (b 21 Jul 1682) (m 18 Apr 1699) daughter of Periam Pole of Ballyfin |
Sarah Cosby (2 Apr 1700 – Sep 1755) Elizabeth Cosby (6 Mar 1701 – 8 Mar 1714) Pole Cosby (14 Apr 1708 – 20 May 1766) | ||
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| 24 | Pole Cosby1, 2 of Stradbally (14 Apr 1708 – 20 May 1766) Portrait with Sarah |
Mary Dodwell (d 9 Jan 1742) (m 9 Feb 1727) Portrait with Dudley |
Dudley Alexander Sydney Cosby 1st and last Baron Sydney of Leix (ca 1730??? – 17 Jan 1774) Portrait Sarah Cosby (8 July 1730 – 1779) Portrait with parrot Mary Cosby (9 Apr 1732 – 8 Mar 1733/4) |
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| 25 | Dudley Alexander Sydney Cosby1, 2, 1st & last Baron Sydney of Leix (ca 1730??? – 17 or 22 Jan 1774, presumably with a smile on his face) Portrait |
Lady Isabella St Lawrence (d 28 Oct 1836) (m Dec 1773) daughter of Thomas St L. 1st Earl of Howth |
Succeeded by his cousin |
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| 26 | Capt (later Vice Adml) Phillips Cosby1, 2, 3 (1729 – 10 or 17 Jan 1808) son of Lt Col Alexander Cosby (d 1742) |
Eliza Hurst (née Gunthorpe) (m Aug 1792) |
succeeded by his kinsman Thomas... though odd that Thomas predeceased him! |
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| 27 | Thomas Cosby of Vicarstown and afterwards Stradbally (1742 – 10 Dec 1798) son of Francis Cosby gson of Thomas Cosby, gt gson of Francis Cosby (b 1612) |
Frances Booker (d Jun 1770) |
2 sons, both d young |
| Grace Johnstone /Annandale | Dudley Sydney Cosby (d 3 Jul 1789, drowned) Francis Cosby (d 25 Aug 1791, drowned) Thomas Cosby (1785 – 22 Jan 1832) | ||
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| 28 | Thomas Cosby of Stradbally (1785 – 22 Jan 1852) |
Charlotte Elizabeth Kelly (m 25 Aug 1802) (1786 – 1863) daughter of Thomas Kelly, Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas (Ireland) |
Capt Thomas Phillips Cosby (20 Sep 1803 – 1851) Rev William Cosby (1805 – 1 Dec 1872) = Dorothea Jephson Sydney Cosby (1807 – 7 Aug 1840) = Emily Ashworth (m 1 Nov 1834) Wellesley Pole Cosby (1809 – 1842) = Marie Ashworth (m 1841) Frances Elizabeth Cosby (1811 – 25 Mar 1841) Harriet Georgiana Cosby (1813 – 25 Feb 1845) |
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| 29 | Capt Thomas Phillips Cosby of Stradbally (20 Sep 1803 – 1851) |
Succeeded by his nephew | |
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| 30 | Col Robert Ashworth Godolphin Cosby QC JP of Stradbally (7 Apr 1837 – 29 Aug 1920) son of Sydney Cosby (d 7 Aug 1840) and so nephew & successor of Capt Thomas Cosby |
Alice Sophia Elizabeth Pocock (m 18 Oct 1859) (d 3 Sep 1878) daughter of Sir George Pocock Bt, Christchurch |
Dudley Sydney Ashworth Cosby (12 Jan 1862 – 28 Dec 1923) Sydney George Coventry Cosby (23 Jul 1864 – 1891) Violet Grace Cosby (d 2 Sep 1945) Edith Augusta Emily Cosby (d 3 Feb 1944) Mary Powlet Cosby (d 7 Dec 1945) Aline Islay Cosby Lilian Alice Cosby (d 31 May 1961) |
| Eliza Molyneux (m 22 Jan 1885) daughter of Rev Capel Molyneux, vicar St Paul's, Onslow Gardens |
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| 31 | Capt Dudley Sydney Ashworth Cosby (12 Jan 1862 – 28 Dec 1923) |
Emily Mabel Gubbins (1866 – 23 Jun 1918) (m 30 Apr 1895) his 1st cousin daughter of Lt Gen James Gubbins & Charlotte Cosby (who was sister of Col Robert Ashworth Godolphin Cosby (b 1837) – offspring of Sydney Cosby (b 1807)) |
lrene Mabel Alys Cosby (b 9 Mar 1897) Major Errold Ashworth Sydney Cosby (15 Dec 1898 – 1984) Eric James Dudley Cosby (20 Feb 1901 – Apr 1994) Dulcie Iris Violet Cosby (3 Feb 1903 – 9 Sep 1963) Ivan Robert Sydney Cosby (19 May 1910 – Jun 1987) |
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| 32 | Maj Errold Ashworth Sydney Cosby (15 Dec 1898 – 1984) |
Enid Elizabeth Hamilton (5 May 1915 – 11 May 2008 (m 14 Jun 1934) daughter of Maj Maurice William Chetwode Hamilton grand-daughter of Sydney Cosby (b 1807) |
Adrian Patrick Sydney Alexander Cosby (b 12 Jan 1937) Anthea Moira Enid Cosby (b 30 Jul 1940) lvan Patrick Sydney Godolphin Cosby (b 1 Aug 1945) David Ashworth Sydney Phillips Cosby (b 29 Apr 1947) Julian Charles Seymour Francis Cosby (b 29 Apr 1947 twin) |
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| 33 | Adrian Patrick Sydney Alexander Cosby (b 12 Jan 1937) |
Alison Margaret Wylie (m 10 Jun 1972) daughter of Lt Col Charles G. Wylie of Churt |
Mary Siobhan Elizabeth Cosby (b 9 Mar 1973) Thomas Sydney Ashworth Cosby (b 23 Jul 1974) |
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| 34 | Thomas Sydney Ashworth Cosby (b 23 Jul 1974) |
Gesa | Richard Cosby
Caroline / Carolets Cosby |
Francis Cosby references
"Mr Urban", The Gentleman's Magazine, London, Volume 155, Feb 1834, pp 179-182
Dictionary of National Biography, Francis Cosby
Cosby Family References
John Burke, A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank; but uninvested with heritable honours, Vol 3, 1836, pp 153-160 "Cosby, of Stradbally"
(Click here for facsimile page-turning version)
As always with such online facsimile versions, the maximal screen display can be achieved by using a judicious combination of the options Fullscreen / F11 / Hide Nav Bar / Zoom custom-
Sir Bernard Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Landed Gentry of Ireland, Revised by A C Fox-Davies; Harrison & Sons, Pall Mall 1912, pp137-139 "Cosby of Stradbally"
(Click here for facsimile page-turning version)
As always with such online facsimile versions, the maximal screen display can be achieved by using a judicious combination of the options Fullscreen / F11 / Hide Nav Bar / Zoom custom -
Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Irish Family Records. Burkes Peerage Ltd, London 1976 (though I can't claim to have consulted this yet, as it would require a pilgrimage to the city-centre library)
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The most authentic records of all, of which others are only derivative, are surely those originally drawn up formally by, or on behalf of, the Cosby family themselves, and fortunately the three most important of these (from my point of view anyway) are accessible from the National Library of Ireland in Dublin (to whom I'm most grateful for their helpfulness and technical expertise).
- Ms.161, pp.54-6 & 61
Pedigree of Cosby of Stradbally, Co. Leix, c.1480 -- 1767. - Ms.180, pp.26-35
Pedigree of Cosby of Stradbally in Leix, Baron Sidney of Leix and Baron Stradbally, of Vicarstown, Leix, c.1550 -- 1864.
The first of these is quite voluminous, and correspondingly more expensive to obtain, so I'm economising on that one for the time being. The others are accessible from the tables below, and are reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.
Ms.161 can be viewed as a single entity but that's not possible for Ms.180 (the pixel total would be too large for my pdf utility to cope with).
Ms.161 Click below as required These images are reproduced courtesy
of the National Library of Irelandpp54-55 19941_GO161_001 p56 19941_GO161_002 p61 19941_GO161_003 All 19941-GO161 Ms.180 Click below as required These images are reproduced courtesy
of the National Library of Irelandpp26-27 19941_GO180_002 pp28-29 19941_GO180_003 pp30-31 19941_GO180_004 pp32-33 19941_GO180_005 pp34-35 19941_GO180_006 Note that Ms.161, p.54 gives Richard Cosby's origin as Great Leake, in the county of Nottinghamshire, and that seems to be a well-founded belief within the family, despite doubts currently expressed in some quarters.
My own hypothesis is that he simply wasn't acknowledged by his father, either because he was illegitimate or because he was (by all accounts of his later behaviour in Ireland) such a very nasty individual!
But it still remains for me to find out what somehow connected him to Annie Cosby.
