Individual Details

Henry Duke, Councilor. His Descendants and Connections.; Comprising Partial Records of Many Allied Families, by Walter Garland Duke, The Dietz Press, Inc., Richmond VA, 1949
Most of the information about John Cosby's family has come from Internet databases. None verified by me except were actual records are cited. He is most generally considered to be the son of a John Cosby of York County whose wife was Sarah, some have named her Sarah Higginson. They are said to be descended from King Edward I of England.

Louisa Co VA Deed Book: C, Page: 0
Date: 26-May-1761
John Cosby of Louisa Co. Last will and testament: to son John Cosby 19 slaves and increase: Tom, Kate, Young Kate, York, George, Dick, Thebe, Sam, Aggy, Robin, Moll, Mingo, Jo., Dinah, Supio, Floro, Hannah, Lucy and Phillise; to my son William Cosby 22 slaves and increase: Old Will, mulatto Will, old Dinah, Matt, Bess, Sue, great Jenney, Dinah, Peter, young Tom, Abram, Jen, Adam, Aggy, Jemmy, Charles, Beck, Peter, Jolly, Bartlet, Milly and Cuzie. To daughter Elizabeth Snelson 8 slaves Sarah, Charles Rodal, Patt, Lot, Amey, Delcia and Pats child; to granddaughter Mary Anderson wife of Benjamin Anderson 2 slaves Ned and Emear; to grandson James Duke 1 Negro Sabry; to Grandson Cosby Duke 1 Negro Michael; to Grandson James Cosby son of James Cosby 1 Negro Pegg; to son John Cosby all my land in Hanover Co. being two plantations containing about 718 acres; To my son William Cosby 1200 acres to be laid off out of my tract of land in Louisa where I possess about 3,000 acres, the same 1200 acres is to be laid off where William now lives and where the quarter is that is called old Wills Quarter. The remainder of the above tract of 3,000 acres in Louisa after this 1200 acres is laid off for son William remainder 1800 acres to my two grandsons Charles Dickenson and Higgason Dickenson sons of Griffith Dickenson to be equally divided between them. to son John Cosby all my personal estate that lies in Hanover Co. To son William Cosby all my personal estate that lies in Louisa Co. to my daughter Elizabeth Snelson 1 Negro Betty. Appoint two friends Clevears Duke and Bartelot Andersons exors. 12 Sep 1760. Sig. John Cosby. Wit. Nathl. Talley, Israel Hood, Garland Anderson. Rec. 26 May 1761 proved by oaths of all the witnesses.

It is a bit curious that he never mention second wife Anne Meriwether Johnson in this will. However, she did own considerable property from her first husband, Thomas Johnson. Perhaps they had a pre-nuptial agreement.


The book, Henry Duke, Councilor. His Descendants and Connections.; Comprising Partial Records of Many Allied Families, by Walter Garland Duke, The Dietz Press, Inc., Richmond VA, 1949, p. 315-316 "Descendants of John Cosby and Martha Garland"
Exerpts: John was likely born about 1680. Will was probabed in Louis Co, VA, 16 May 1761. He was executor of his mother's will in 1749.
8 Sep 1730 - four grants, each of 400 acres were made to John Cosby and Charles Barret, of Hanover Co (VA Land Grants, Vo 3, p.501-510)
28 Sep 1720 - another grant of 400 acres for importation of four persons
Aug 1731 - John Cosby bought 400 acres on Tan Flat Fork of Little River, Louisa Co.
10 Jun 1740 - grant of 3,000 acres confirmed and included the former grants most of which was in Hanover that became Louisa County in 1742.
Married first, 1710, Martha Garland, daughter of Edward Garland, son of Peter Garland who was an emigrant from Wales in 1650. Martha b. about 1690, died 1749. Her sister Margaret Garland married William Overton; her sister Elizabeth Garland married Capt. James Overton.
John Cosby married 2nd, about 1750, Mrs. Anne (Meriwether) Johnson, b. 1694, who died 1785. She was the widow of Thomas Johnson and daughter of Nicholas Meriwether and his wife Elizabeth Crawford, daughter of David Crawford. Ann (Meriwether) Johson, widow, owed "Chericoke" in King William County.
Children were all by Martha:
1. John Cosby, b. 1711
2. William, b. 1713
3. James, b. 1715
4 . Mary, b. about 1716, married Bartlett Anderson and had daughter Mary who married Benjamin Anderson
5. Amy b. 1718, who married abt 1737, Clevears Chisholm Duke
6. Ann b. abt 1720
7. Elizabeth, b. abt 1722, married a Snelson

Birth	Abt 1680	York County, Virginia
Marriage	Abt 1710	Martha Garland
Marriage	Abt 1750	Louisa County, Virginia - Anne Meriwether
Death	By 1762	Louisa County, Virginia

Spouse

Anne Meriwether (1694 - 1784)

Spouse	Martha Garland (1690 - 1749)
Child	John Cosby (1711 - 1785)
Child	William Cosby ( - )
Child	James Cosby ( - )
Child	Mary Cosby ( - )
Child	Elizabeth Cosby ( - )
Child	Amy Cosby (1718 - )
Child	Ann Cosby ( - )