Francis Cobham

Francis Cobham M.D. of Barbados, whose widow and administrator Mary Harvey Cobham (q.v.) sought to recover debts from John Alleyne Beckles (q.v.) through the compensation process.

1. Of St Andrew's Parish, Edinburgh, 02/08/1820 when he married Mary Harvey McCrae. A newspaper announcement of the marriage describes him as "Francis Cobham, M.D. of the Island of Barbadoes". According to an unsourced online family tree, they had three children born in Scotland: Francis McCrae (1823-1902), Elizabeth Harvey (1826-1904), Mary Alleyne (1829-1886). A further son, Richard, was baptised in St James, Jamaica, in 1830. Mary Harvey Cobham moved back to Scotland following the death of her husband in 1831 and then emigrated to Australia with her children circa 1840. Their daughter Mary Alleyne married James Graham, a merchant, agent and politician.

2. "[Death] May 29 [1831]. At Barbadoes, aged 33, Francis Cobham, esq., M.D." His age at death corresponds to the baptism of Francis Cobham, son of Richard Cobham and Susanna, November 1797, in St Thomas, Barbados.

T71/895 Barbados claim no. 1; T71/899 Barbados claim no. 4364. T71/1611 MHC letter dated 29/07/1836, 17 York Place, Edinburgh: seeking to recover debts from John Alleyne Beckles and others as administrator of Francis Cobham.

1. General Registry Office for Scotland OPR Marriages 685/01 0540 0351. New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 14, p. 360 (1820). http://victoria.mypeoplepuzzle.net/getperson.php?personID=I540&tree=VictoriaPioneers [accessed 26/07/2012]. Strahan, Frank, 'Graham, James (1819–1898)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/graham-james-3650/text5689 [accessed 27/07/2012]. www.familysearch.org batch no. 51387-2. 

2. Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. 150, p. 94 (1831). www.familysearch.org batch no. C51386-1.