James was the son of Amos Cogswell and Rebecca Chamberlain. He was one of twelve children born to them. His mother died in 1798 in Connecticut. His father then married Sarah Barnaby. The Cogswell Family book lists his death as Jan 4, 1845 in Conventry, CT. It is believed his wife Sarah died before the end of the year. Even though Amos was in Stewartstown and Colebrook for a while it seems he returned to Connecticut.
About 1800 in Stewartstown, NH he married Polly McAllister. Everyone believes she was the daughter of William McAllister and Nancy Learned, but the bio on William McAllister's memorial in OH lists all their children, who they married, etc. It lists that their daughter Polly McAllister, born Apr 27, 1796, married a Harry Cogswell on Nov 3, 1824 in Washington County, OH and died there before he remarried in July 1827. While it is true that William McAllister and his father Andrew were two of the seven pioneer settlers of Colburn, NH (Colebrook), I can find no records that this Polly was his daughter. There are no records of Polly McAllister at all, except that she is named as the wife of James Cogswell in "The Cogswells in America" by E. O. Jameson published in 1884. I have a feeling, going by the wrong birthdate of 1796, that James's wife was Polly McAllister, sister of William McAllister, and she was the daughter of Andrew McAllister and Rebecca Robinson. James wife, Polly, could not have been born in 1796, as in everyone's trees, and then married in 1800 and have had daughter Mary in 1801-1808. I have also found that both William McAllister and his brother Andrew McAllister named daughters "Polly", which also suggests they probably had a sister named Polly; or if they had older brothers who also might have named a daughter Polly. Without records the only positive thing is that this Polly was NOT the daughter of William and Nancy (Learned) McAllister.
Their seven children were Amos, Mary, Emily A, Abiah, Eliza Jane, Cyrus, and James S.
His wife, Polly, died in 1819, either in West Stewartstown or Colebrook, NH. Their son, Cyrus, born 1817, was taken in by Ebenezer Blossom and his wife of Lemington, VT in 1820. They didn't have any children and in 1823 James, being destitute of property, allowed Ebenezer to adopt Cyrus and give him the name of Cyrus Cogswell Blossom. The 1823 adoption papers said that James was living in Colebrook, NH and stated that his wife had died four years previously (which would have been 1819). It is not known how many of the other six children, if any, were taken in by a family when Polly died in 1819. The youngest five children were ages, 9, 7, 4, 3, and 2. Daughter Mary and son Amos were probably the first two born, but I haven't verified them yet.
In 1817-1819 James lived in West Stewartstown, NH and was the Town Clerk. He had moved to Stewartstown from Colebrook, I believe. It appears after his wife's death he had returned to Colebrook. His father had moved to Stewartstown about 1808 and was given one of the first liquor licenses in that town.
Many records state that his son James S. died in Petersburg, VA in the Civil War. James was mustered out of the Civil War in 1862 and died in Manchester, NH in 1863. One record states he died after the war of disease from the war. Both of these are incorrect. His death certificate on Mar 26, 1863 in Manchester, NH listed his cause of death as "Fell off a building (the roof)".
A death record hasn't been found for James yet.
Age: 83yrs
Note:
With the lack of old town records we often turn to history books of towns or family names. This often causes even more confusion and scrambled facts. Just because someone put it in a book does not make it gospel. The attached excerpt from "The Cogswells in America" book about James Cogswell shows they omitted the son Cyrus; wife Polly was not clarified; son James S. did not die in the Civil War; James listed as born 1778, (but as 1779 on his father's page in the book); son Amos only listed as having died in Gloucester, MA with no birth or death dates (IF he was born in 1805 in Colebrook and died May 8, 1867 in the Gloucester House of Correction at 62 and was a Carpenter... then I have found him); IF daughter Mary did indeed marry a Mr Carson and die in Illinois there is a Mary Carson who died Feb 13, 1880 in Shipman, Macoupin County, IL, listed as 79 born in NH as per the Illinois Mortality Scheddule, then there is another conflict; because that Mary, buried in Summerville Cemetery, was listed as born 1808 (because the 79 looked like 72 in the Mortality Schedule), and as the wife of William Harvey Carson who was born in TN and his wife was listed as Mary Goff born in TN (per marriage records). So that is all a mess and not clear who is who and who is the spouse.
About 1800 in Stewartstown, NH he married Polly McAllister. Everyone believes she was the daughter of William McAllister and Nancy Learned, but the bio on William McAllister's memorial in OH lists all their children, who they married, etc. It lists that their daughter Polly McAllister, born Apr 27, 1796, married a Harry Cogswell on Nov 3, 1824 in Washington County, OH and died there before he remarried in July 1827. While it is true that William McAllister and his father Andrew were two of the seven pioneer settlers of Colburn, NH (Colebrook), I can find no records that this Polly was his daughter. There are no records of Polly McAllister at all, except that she is named as the wife of James Cogswell in "The Cogswells in America" by E. O. Jameson published in 1884. I have a feeling, going by the wrong birthdate of 1796, that James's wife was Polly McAllister, sister of William McAllister, and she was the daughter of Andrew McAllister and Rebecca Robinson. James wife, Polly, could not have been born in 1796, as in everyone's trees, and then married in 1800 and have had daughter Mary in 1801-1808. I have also found that both William McAllister and his brother Andrew McAllister named daughters "Polly", which also suggests they probably had a sister named Polly; or if they had older brothers who also might have named a daughter Polly. Without records the only positive thing is that this Polly was NOT the daughter of William and Nancy (Learned) McAllister.
Their seven children were Amos, Mary, Emily A, Abiah, Eliza Jane, Cyrus, and James S.
His wife, Polly, died in 1819, either in West Stewartstown or Colebrook, NH. Their son, Cyrus, born 1817, was taken in by Ebenezer Blossom and his wife of Lemington, VT in 1820. They didn't have any children and in 1823 James, being destitute of property, allowed Ebenezer to adopt Cyrus and give him the name of Cyrus Cogswell Blossom. The 1823 adoption papers said that James was living in Colebrook, NH and stated that his wife had died four years previously (which would have been 1819). It is not known how many of the other six children, if any, were taken in by a family when Polly died in 1819. The youngest five children were ages, 9, 7, 4, 3, and 2. Daughter Mary and son Amos were probably the first two born, but I haven't verified them yet.
In 1817-1819 James lived in West Stewartstown, NH and was the Town Clerk. He had moved to Stewartstown from Colebrook, I believe. It appears after his wife's death he had returned to Colebrook. His father had moved to Stewartstown about 1808 and was given one of the first liquor licenses in that town.
Many records state that his son James S. died in Petersburg, VA in the Civil War. James was mustered out of the Civil War in 1862 and died in Manchester, NH in 1863. One record states he died after the war of disease from the war. Both of these are incorrect. His death certificate on Mar 26, 1863 in Manchester, NH listed his cause of death as "Fell off a building (the roof)".
A death record hasn't been found for James yet.
Age: 83yrs
Note:
With the lack of old town records we often turn to history books of towns or family names. This often causes even more confusion and scrambled facts. Just because someone put it in a book does not make it gospel. The attached excerpt from "The Cogswells in America" book about James Cogswell shows they omitted the son Cyrus; wife Polly was not clarified; son James S. did not die in the Civil War; James listed as born 1778, (but as 1779 on his father's page in the book); son Amos only listed as having died in Gloucester, MA with no birth or death dates (IF he was born in 1805 in Colebrook and died May 8, 1867 in the Gloucester House of Correction at 62 and was a Carpenter... then I have found him); IF daughter Mary did indeed marry a Mr Carson and die in Illinois there is a Mary Carson who died Feb 13, 1880 in Shipman, Macoupin County, IL, listed as 79 born in NH as per the Illinois Mortality Scheddule, then there is another conflict; because that Mary, buried in Summerville Cemetery, was listed as born 1808 (because the 79 looked like 72 in the Mortality Schedule), and as the wife of William Harvey Carson who was born in TN and his wife was listed as Mary Goff born in TN (per marriage records). So that is all a mess and not clear who is who and who is the spouse.
James was the son of Amos Cogswell and Rebecca Chamberlain. He was one of twelve children born to them. His mother died in 1798 in Connecticut. His father then married Sarah Barnaby. The Cogswell Family book lists his death as Jan 4, 1845 in Conventry, CT. It is believed his wife Sarah died before the end of the year. Even though Amos was in Stewartstown and Colebrook for a while it seems he returned to Connecticut.
About 1800 in Stewartstown, NH he married Polly McAllister. Everyone believes she was the daughter of William McAllister and Nancy Learned, but the bio on William McAllister's memorial in OH lists all their children, who they married, etc. It lists that their daughter Polly McAllister, born Apr 27, 1796, married a Harry Cogswell on Nov 3, 1824 in Washington County, OH and died there before he remarried in July 1827. While it is true that William McAllister and his father Andrew were two of the seven pioneer settlers of Colburn, NH (Colebrook), I can find no records that this Polly was his daughter. There are no records of Polly McAllister at all, except that she is named as the wife of James Cogswell in "The Cogswells in America" by E. O. Jameson published in 1884. I have a feeling, going by the wrong birthdate of 1796, that James's wife was Polly McAllister, sister of William McAllister, and she was the daughter of Andrew McAllister and Rebecca Robinson. James wife, Polly, could not have been born in 1796, as in everyone's trees, and then married in 1800 and have had daughter Mary in 1801-1808. I have also found that both William McAllister and his brother Andrew McAllister named daughters "Polly", which also suggests they probably had a sister named Polly; or if they had older brothers who also might have named a daughter Polly. Without records the only positive thing is that this Polly was NOT the daughter of William and Nancy (Learned) McAllister.
Their seven children were Amos, Mary, Emily A, Abiah, Eliza Jane, Cyrus, and James S.
His wife, Polly, died in 1819, either in West Stewartstown or Colebrook, NH. Their son, Cyrus, born 1817, was taken in by Ebenezer Blossom and his wife of Lemington, VT in 1820. They didn't have any children and in 1823 James, being destitute of property, allowed Ebenezer to adopt Cyrus and give him the name of Cyrus Cogswell Blossom. The 1823 adoption papers said that James was living in Colebrook, NH and stated that his wife had died four years previously (which would have been 1819). It is not known how many of the other six children, if any, were taken in by a family when Polly died in 1819. The youngest five children were ages, 9, 7, 4, 3, and 2. Daughter Mary and son Amos were probably the first two born, but I haven't verified them yet.
In 1817-1819 James lived in West Stewartstown, NH and was the Town Clerk. He had moved to Stewartstown from Colebrook, I believe. It appears after his wife's death he had returned to Colebrook. His father had moved to Stewartstown about 1808 and was given one of the first liquor licenses in that town.
Many records state that his son James S. died in Petersburg, VA in the Civil War. James was mustered out of the Civil War in 1862 and died in Manchester, NH in 1863. One record states he died after the war of disease from the war. Both of these are incorrect. His death certificate on Mar 26, 1863 in Manchester, NH listed his cause of death as "Fell off a building (the roof)".
A death record hasn't been found for James yet.
Age: 83yrs
Note:
With the lack of old town records we often turn to history books of towns or family names. This often causes even more confusion and scrambled facts. Just because someone put it in a book does not make it gospel. The attached excerpt from "The Cogswells in America" book about James Cogswell shows they omitted the son Cyrus; wife Polly was not clarified; son James S. did not die in the Civil War; James listed as born 1778, (but as 1779 on his father's page in the book); son Amos only listed as having died in Gloucester, MA with no birth or death dates (IF he was born in 1805 in Colebrook and died May 8, 1867 in the Gloucester House of Correction at 62 and was a Carpenter... then I have found him); IF daughter Mary did indeed marry a Mr Carson and die in Illinois there is a Mary Carson who died Feb 13, 1880 in Shipman, Macoupin County, IL, listed as 79 born in NH as per the Illinois Mortality Scheddule, then there is another conflict; because that Mary, buried in Summerville Cemetery, was listed as born 1808 (because the 79 looked like 72 in the Mortality Schedule), and as the wife of William Harvey Carson who was born in TN and his wife was listed as Mary Goff born in TN (per marriage records). So that is all a mess and not clear who is who and who is the spouse.
About 1800 in Stewartstown, NH he married Polly McAllister. Everyone believes she was the daughter of William McAllister and Nancy Learned, but the bio on William McAllister's memorial in OH lists all their children, who they married, etc. It lists that their daughter Polly McAllister, born Apr 27, 1796, married a Harry Cogswell on Nov 3, 1824 in Washington County, OH and died there before he remarried in July 1827. While it is true that William McAllister and his father Andrew were two of the seven pioneer settlers of Colburn, NH (Colebrook), I can find no records that this Polly was his daughter. There are no records of Polly McAllister at all, except that she is named as the wife of James Cogswell in "The Cogswells in America" by E. O. Jameson published in 1884. I have a feeling, going by the wrong birthdate of 1796, that James's wife was Polly McAllister, sister of William McAllister, and she was the daughter of Andrew McAllister and Rebecca Robinson. James wife, Polly, could not have been born in 1796, as in everyone's trees, and then married in 1800 and have had daughter Mary in 1801-1808. I have also found that both William McAllister and his brother Andrew McAllister named daughters "Polly", which also suggests they probably had a sister named Polly; or if they had older brothers who also might have named a daughter Polly. Without records the only positive thing is that this Polly was NOT the daughter of William and Nancy (Learned) McAllister.
Their seven children were Amos, Mary, Emily A, Abiah, Eliza Jane, Cyrus, and James S.
His wife, Polly, died in 1819, either in West Stewartstown or Colebrook, NH. Their son, Cyrus, born 1817, was taken in by Ebenezer Blossom and his wife of Lemington, VT in 1820. They didn't have any children and in 1823 James, being destitute of property, allowed Ebenezer to adopt Cyrus and give him the name of Cyrus Cogswell Blossom. The 1823 adoption papers said that James was living in Colebrook, NH and stated that his wife had died four years previously (which would have been 1819). It is not known how many of the other six children, if any, were taken in by a family when Polly died in 1819. The youngest five children were ages, 9, 7, 4, 3, and 2. Daughter Mary and son Amos were probably the first two born, but I haven't verified them yet.
In 1817-1819 James lived in West Stewartstown, NH and was the Town Clerk. He had moved to Stewartstown from Colebrook, I believe. It appears after his wife's death he had returned to Colebrook. His father had moved to Stewartstown about 1808 and was given one of the first liquor licenses in that town.
Many records state that his son James S. died in Petersburg, VA in the Civil War. James was mustered out of the Civil War in 1862 and died in Manchester, NH in 1863. One record states he died after the war of disease from the war. Both of these are incorrect. His death certificate on Mar 26, 1863 in Manchester, NH listed his cause of death as "Fell off a building (the roof)".
A death record hasn't been found for James yet.
Age: 83yrs
Note:
With the lack of old town records we often turn to history books of towns or family names. This often causes even more confusion and scrambled facts. Just because someone put it in a book does not make it gospel. The attached excerpt from "The Cogswells in America" book about James Cogswell shows they omitted the son Cyrus; wife Polly was not clarified; son James S. did not die in the Civil War; James listed as born 1778, (but as 1779 on his father's page in the book); son Amos only listed as having died in Gloucester, MA with no birth or death dates (IF he was born in 1805 in Colebrook and died May 8, 1867 in the Gloucester House of Correction at 62 and was a Carpenter... then I have found him); IF daughter Mary did indeed marry a Mr Carson and die in Illinois there is a Mary Carson who died Feb 13, 1880 in Shipman, Macoupin County, IL, listed as 79 born in NH as per the Illinois Mortality Scheddule, then there is another conflict; because that Mary, buried in Summerville Cemetery, was listed as born 1808 (because the 79 looked like 72 in the Mortality Schedule), and as the wife of William Harvey Carson who was born in TN and his wife was listed as Mary Goff born in TN (per marriage records). So that is all a mess and not clear who is who and who is the spouse.
Inscription
Age: 83yrs
Gravesite Details
Stone was sunken and cracked -- now it is broken off and laying on the ground
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
