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CodeP/0014
Dates1544-1592
Person NameCotton; Thomas (1544-1592); High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire (1582); of Conington
SurnameCotton
ForenamesThomas
TitleHigh Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire (1582)
Epithetof Conington
ActivityA prominent landowner in Huntingdonshire, Thomas Cotton inherited a far more unsettled position as head of his family than most of his predecessors or successors. The confusion caused by his father's will meant that the family lands were divided, but the more pressing issue was that Thomas seems to have been a proud Catholic at a time where this hindered advancement. Despite his faith, he served as Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1582 and likely held a number of local offices as well.
RelationshipsFather: Thomas Cotton (c.1515-1574)
Mother: Lucy Harvey (m. before 1544) daughter of John Harvey of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire
Spouse: Elizabeth Shirley (c.1540-1579) daughter of Francis Shirley of Staunton Harold, Leicestershire
Dorothy Tamworth (born c.1560) daughter of Christopher Tamworth MP (1529-1571)
Children by first marriage: Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet (1571-1631)
Thomas Cotton (dates unknown) m. Mary Prince of Washingley, Huntingdonshire
Lucy Cotton (dates unknown) m. ? Talcarne of Ashton, Essex
Dorothy Cotton (dates unknown) m. Maurice Baude of Somerby, Lincolnshire
Johanna Cotton (dates unknown) m. John Baude of Somerby, Lincolnshire
Children by second marriage: Catherine Cotton (d.1613)
Frances Cotton (d.1620) m. Sir Edward Montagu of Broughton, Northamptonshire, 1st Lord Montagu
Rebecca Cotton (dates unknown) m. William Mulsho of Thingdon, Northamptonshire
Henry Cotton (d.1614)
Frederick Cotton (dates unknown)
John Cotton (dates unknown)
Linked entries in the catalogue
RefNoTitle
KCON/2/4/A/20Quitclaim
KHAC4/4179Robert Cotton's notes on Hunts (copies)
KCON/2/4/A/16Quitclaim
KCON/2/4/A/23Settlement
KCON/1/A/8Court Orders
KCON/5/12/1Lawyer's Opinion (draft) re the entail made by Thomas Cotton who died in 1592. (information of dorse) Opinion of Mat(thew) Wolmer.
KCON/2/4/A/24Settlement (and Counterpart)
KCON/2/4/A/11Quitclaim
KCON/2/4/A/15Quitclaim
KCON/2/4/A/3Lease (and copy)
KCON/2/4/A/13Quitclaim
KCON/2/4/A/5Inquisitio Post Mortem
KCON/2/4/A/19Quitclaim
KCON/2/4/A/14Quitclaim
KCON/2/4/A/4Settlement; (Deed to Lead Uses of Fine)
KCON/2/4/A/6Covenant
KCON/3/1/E/2Letters of Attestation; From Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury, (the See of Lincoln being vacant).
K588/F/34Pedigree book and cartulary of Cotton family of Conington with ink sketches of achievements and monuments of a knight.
K588/F/41Pedigree roll of Cottons of Conington, Huntingdonshire, with parallel pedigree of Sir Robert Cotton and Scottish royal family from Bruce to Mary Queen of Scots.
KCON/2/4/A/21Quitclaim
K588/Z/1Volume of manuscript historical notes upon Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire parishes by Sir Robert Cotton, baronet, of Conington (Huntingdonshire) [the antiquary].
KCON/2/4/A/10Covenant
KHP17/6/2List of Cotton family monumental inscriptions.
KCON/8/1Pedigree of the Brus-Cotton family, showing the descent of the lordship of Conington, Hunts, from Waltheof Earl of Huntingdon to whom St. Edward the Confessor gave it after he had banished Turkill the Dane.
KCON/2/4/A/9Declaration
KCON/3/1/A/8Declaration
KCON/1/A/5Court Rolls (and drafts)
KCON/2/4/A/7Gift
KCON/2/4/A/8Gift
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