The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

lished. Mr. Cogswell gave the land on which to erect a meeting-house, a lot
tliirteen rods by three. This first meeting-house in Chebacco stood on what
was long known as Meeting-house Hill. The site in 1868 was occupied by the
residence of Capt. Joseph Choate. The meeting-house was dedicated April,
1680. Mr. Cogswell entertained at his house the Ecclesiastical Council, that
met Aug. 12, 1683, to organize the church and to ordain Mr. John Wise, their
first pastor.
Rev. Robert Crowell, D. D., in his " History of Essex," mentions William
Cogswell as the leading man in establishing the parish and the church and in
building the meeting-house. He was often chosen on the board of selectmen
of the town and the moderator of parish meetings. In 1693 the parish com-
mittee on the assignment of seats in ihe meeting-house, after the manner of
those quaint days, gave Mrs. Cogswell a seat witli the minister's wife, which
was significant of her respectability.
Mr. Cogswell, in his will, dated Aug. 5, 1696, states that his wife is
deceased, and mentions his four sons and four daughters. To the former he
bequeaths all his landed estate, and to the latter all his personal property.
One of his daughters, Ann, had previously died. Mr. Cogswell died at the
age of eighty-one years, Dec. 15, 1700. His burial occurred Dec. 17 following.
A town met iiig notified for that day was adjourned, "to give opportunity for
citizens to attend Mr. Cogswell's funeral."
Jttrniorantra.
The wii.i, or Wilmam- ConswFXL w.is proved Dec. 19, 1700. Elizabeth Wade, Thomas
Biirnhani. lleiijamin White, .-iiul William Xo\es gave receipts for their jiroportion of the estate,
Dec. 23, 1700. William Cog.swell was a .subscriber to " Denison's Compensation " in 1648 ; a
commoner in 1664; a surveyor of public ways in 1663; a tithingman in 1677 ; and a voter in
town affairs iji 1679. .A.t a parish meeting, .-^ug., 1693, '* ^^'^--^ voted that two .short seats in the
meeting-house be given to William Cogswell and his heirs, in consideration of the land he had
given on which the meeting-house was erected, u])on his securing the same to them by deed.
Mrs. Cogswell's parents are mentioned in 1634 as members of the First Church in Charle.stown,
Mass., where she \v.as born in 1633. .'^he had a twin brother, John Hawkes. Moses
Hawkes, son of John, married Margaret Cogswell, daughter of John and M.argaret (Gifford)
Cogswell. Mercy Hawkes. a daughter of I(jhn Hawkes, married Nathaniel Goodhue. In
1775-7 occurred a famous lawsuit bctHxen \\ illiam- and his nephew, John'' Cogswell.
The C.^se ok Cogswell vs. Cogswell, 1675-7.
William Cogswell and his father, John Cogswell, were " Executors of Estate of John Cogs-
well, deceased. Inventory ^^341 io.f. o