1. Alexander¹ Cosby Captain was born in England about 1720. Alexander died October 1759 in Surat Castle, Surat, India, at 39 years of age. His body was interred 1759 in Surat, India.

He married twice. He married Sarah Cummings. Daughter left 2000 poonds in will of William Cummings of the British Colonial Service. ***Will needs to be checked to verify name****

He married Ann Shorthose in St Annes, Soho, London, England, December 2, 1740. Ann was born Abt 1719. Ann was the daughter of Hugh Shorthose Rev and Jane Hester Cox. Ann must have died in Minorca since so far no record of her death has been found. COSBY, Captain Alexander Dictionary of National Biography COSBY, Sir Henry Augustus Montagu (1743-1822), son of Alexander COSBY. 1). Descendent of Francis COSBY of Stradbally Hall. 2). Stationed Minorca where son Henry was born in 1743. 3). Served as a Captain in the Duke of Montagu's Regiment of Foot. 4) Sent to India with the East India Company. 5) Second in command to Major Stringer Lawrence, in the Madras Presidency. 6). Transferred to Bombay and was the second in command at the taking of Surat. 7). Died as Commandant of Surat in 1759.

Gentleman's Magazine, February 1822 page 177. Obituary of COSBY, Major General Sir Henry Augustus Montagu (1743-1822) The longest obituary in GM magazine, 1). Descendent of Francis COSBY of Stradbally. 2). Served as a Captain Ordnance Regiment of Foot, commanded by the Duke of Montagu. 3). Sent to India after being on half pay to discpline the East India Company troops. 4). Served on the Coast of Coromandel under General Stringer Lawrence. 5). After the taking of Surat died as Commandent in 1759. 6). Children were Henry Augustus Montagu, Elizabeth Grace and Charlotte Jane Emma.

Notes and Queries 6th series, vol xii, 1885 Page 147. In reference to the will of Henry COSBY . Mentions an engraving of Stradbally Hall as being the home of my ancestors. Tradition was that Henry's aunt was Lady Augustus Fitzroy. (AIS-If he was the progeny of Henry (1721), William (1720) or Grace (1716) his dates of service (1740) and marriage in 1740 conflict.)

Page 216. "Painting is probably the one published in Anthologia Hibernica, Dublin 8 vo 1794 vol iv p184."

Notes and Queries vol clxxvii 1939: Page 194. Younger son of George COSBY and Ann Murray, said to be a cousin of the Duke of Atholl. Married Ann SHORTHOUSE. {AIS-There are problems with the first statement since the author refutes it on page 448. }

Page 229. Captain on the Bombay Establishment. HEICS August 6th 1753 on transfer from HMS. Died between March 1759 and November 1760. Widow married Mr Richard MOORE January 21st, 1761 at Bombay. Daughter Mary MOORE. Daughter Charlotte Jane Emma COSBY married a Lt-Col Robert JACKSON and their son was a General Alexander Cosby JACKSON. Charlotte (COSBY) died 13 March 1834 at Cheltenham. (AIS-Married 12 FEB 1772 Bombay. Lt. Gen. Jackson died Dawlish 29 JAN 1827 MI St. Gregory Dawlish.)

National Army Museum 2nd Lt 1st Marines 27th January 1740 (AIS-Wolfes's) Captain Ordnance Regiment of Foot (Montague's) 1st LT 8th Marines 23 April 1748. *** Regiment disbanded 8th November 1748. *** Adjutant 41st Invalids 25th April 1751. {Now the Welsh Regiment} *** Succeeded 27th March 1753, having gone into East India Company Service. *** Order for passage by the Tavistock 28 Febuary 1753 to Bombay with wife Sarah, son Henry and daughter Grace COSBY. Left in Garrison at Surat 21st April 1759. Information marked *** ex W.R Williams. Historical Records of the Marine Corps! Richard Cannon c.1830. Formation and service of the Marine Corps. No reference to Alexander Cosby.

AIS-The 1st Marines was led by Col. Edward Wolfe, the father of General James Wolfe who was also commissioned a 2nd Lt in the regiment in 1741. James Wolfe exchanged his commission into the 12th Foot as an Ensign in 1742. [Dictionary of Canadian Biography]

AIS-James Wolfe died in the arms of Philips Cosby later an Admiral of the Red. Philips was the son of General William Cosby's brother Major Alexender Cosby sometime Governor of the garrison at Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. [DCB] Often mistated as being Gov. of Nova Scotia. AIS Sir Henry Motague COSBY named a son Philips.

COSBY of Stradbally. Philips Cosby Admiral of the Red, was with James Wolfe when he died. Phillips Cosby was the son of Alexander Cosby, brother of William Cosby Governor of New York. Col Phillips Colonel of the regiment at Anappolis Royal married the sister of William and Alexander (Elizabeth?).

NOTES: COSBY Possible association with Alexander to William Cosby Governor of New York and Grace Montagu, 24 Jun 1687 Saint Margarets Westminster, Edward Montague and Elizabeth Pelham. ???? (Also a note of her being baptized St Martin in the Field}

Wills: Available--Grace Montague, William Cosby, Henry Cosby. Not found--Son Capt William Cosby, lunatic alive 1786. Daughter Elizabeth (Fitzroy) Jeffries or Grace (Freeman) Murray. William Cosby had a home at St Leonards Hill and one in Soho Square. Soho Square was freehold lease and sold. Need to read Graces will again to review disposition of the property at St Leonards Hill. Sons William and Henry were christened at St Annes Soho (Same church as Alexander Cosby's marriage.) Grace christened at St. Martins in the Fields, same as her mother.

Daughter Grace married 1. (1733) Thomas Freeman Jamaica. 2. (1735) Joseph Murray Afterwards Duke of Mansfield. Gave library to Kings College NY. (Now Columbia University)

Early New York pedigrees. Etienne DeLancey (1663-1741)--- Anne Van Cortlandt 1. James DeLancey (1703-1760)-- Anne Heathcote 1.1 Capt James DeLancey--?? 1,2 Dau?-- John Watts (Bought William Cosby land at New Rochelle 1786) 2 Peter DeLancey 1705 -- Elizabeth Colden 2.1 John DeLancey 3. Susanna Delancey--- Sir Peter Warren (1 Wall Street NY Commander of the attack against Louisburg. 3.1 Ann Warren-- Charles Fitzory Duke of Southampton. Born NY (1737-1797) mother Elizabeth Cosby (Brother of Henry Augustus Fitzroy (1735-1811))

COSBY FAMILY.

William Cosby 1690-1735 --- Grace Montagu 1687-1766 William Cosby (1720-aft1786) Lunatic New Rochelle New York. Returned England ? Henry Cosby (1721-1753). Died New Brunswick New Jersey. Captain RN. Elizabeth (Cosby)Jeffries (abt 1722-1788). Noted a Jeffries in Montague pedigree possible cousin. Customs official. Grace Freeman (1716-bef1786) married a Thomas Freeman of Jamaica. Married Joseph Murray, later Duke of Mansfield.

Chadwick "Ontarian Families" claims that William Cosby (Son of Gov. William ) had descendents in Toronto. No actual verification in his published pedigree.

Sir Walter Fitzgerald's pedigree of the Cosby Family of Stradbally has Grace as daughter of George rather than sister. This is incorrect. Edward Montague -- Elizabeth Pelham, cousin to the Duke of Newcastle is correct.

Antiguan Pedigrees also has a vague association in the geneology of Sir Henry Augustus Montague COSBY. It refers to the ancestory to Stradbally but gives no detail. Admiral Philips COSBY married Elizabeh GUNTHORPE and Sir Henry married Ann ELIOT, (sister of Alicia Countess of Erroll and Lady deSpencer) both of Antigua,

Alexander Cosby Captain and Ann Shorthose had the following children:

2 i. Elizabeth Grace² Cosby.

+ 3 ii. Henry Augustus Montagu Cosby Sir was born 1743.

Alexander Cosby Captain and Sarah Cummings had the following children:

4 iii. Charlotte Jane Emma Cosby was born in India 1746. Charlotte died March 15, 1834 in Cheltenham, England, at 87 years of age. She married Robert Jackson Lt Col in Bombay, India, February 12, 1772. Robert was born 1739. Robert died July 7, 1786 in Bombay, India, at 47 years of age. (See Robert Jackson Lt Col for the continuation of this line.) Died at Cheltenham at 78 See N&Q clxxvii.194 Left 2000# in will of William Cummings BCS.

5 iv. Carolina Cosby was born in Bombay, Presidency, Bombay, India September 15, 1758. Carolina died March 8, 1759 in Bombay, India, at less than one year of age.

Send email to preparer: tony@tunnels.com

Return to Table of Contents or Index

Go to Next Page

Go to Previous Page