| Code | P/0014 |
| Dates | 1544-1592 |
| Person Name | Cotton; Thomas (1544-1592); High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire (1582); of Conington |
| Surname | Cotton |
| Forenames | Thomas |
| Title | High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire (1582) |
| Epithet | of Conington |
| Activity | A 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. |
| Relationships | Father: 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) |
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